Tourist Atracctions

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Zihuatanejo Beaches

ZIHUATANEJO BAY, a picturesque,oyster-shaped natural harbor, is only 5,448.77 miles wide (14´190.05 MTS. 2). The following beaches surround thsheltered shores of the Bay, in clockwise order:

Playa Principal ("Main Beach") 225.72 miles

Fishermen return from the sea to theirbase on this sandy beach with their morning catch that they sell right hereto housewives and chefs for same-daymeals. They tend to their skiffs, nets and gear,a lively scene and the quintessence of Zihuatanejo. The beach borders theedge of town, flanked by thepedestrian Paseo del Pescador ("fisherman's walkway") which extendsabout a half kilometer from the Municipal Pier to the ArcheologyMuseum. The charming, tree-shaded Paseo is lined with shops, craft stands andrestaurants. A town square, site of frequent festivities, faces the Paseo and the beach.

Playa la Madera 262.50 miles

Just east of town, this small, sandy beach is accessible from the street, or by a paved pathway cut into the boulders that separate it from Playa Principal. Good for sunning and swimming, it hasgentle rolling waves. Small restaurants and hotels are located on the beachand the hill above it. The name Playa la Madera, "wood beach", originates from colonial timeswhen Spanish trading ships loaded oak, pine and mahogany, cut from thenearby Sierra Madre del Sur mountains.

Playa la Ropa 606.19 miles

Along the east side of Zihuatanejo Bay, this broad, soft-sand kilometer-long beach is considered one of the most beautiful on the Costa Grande, and is great for swimming with because of its calm surf and sandy bottom. Visitors and residents enjoy walking, jogging, and admiring the sunset and moonrise -- sometimes they occur simultaneously, especially with the full moon. There are seafood restaurants, beachfront and cliff-top hotels and luxury homes, as well as professionally-operated water sports (water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing and banana-boat riding). Local legend explains the name, "Clothes Beach": a Spanish galleon returning from the Orient trade route shipwrecked here, and its cargo of fine silks and clothing washed ashore.

Playa las Gatas 242.51 miles

This small picturesque cove on the south side of the bay is a favorite for swimming and snorkeling. The shallow water is especially tranquil because of a legendary protective "breakwater" of sunken boulders just offshore. Palapa-topped eateries serve fresh seafood and provide beach lounge chairs. Outboard canopied skiffs (pangas) run frequently between the Municipal Pier and the small dock at Las Gatas. The scenic ride across the bay takes about 10 minutes. (Round-trip costs $35 pesos per person.) Note: gatas, in this context, is spanish for "nurse sharks" (not "female cats"). The beach was named for this docile, harmless, bottom-dwelling species of shark that used to linger here long ago.

Playa Blanca (also known as Playa Larga) 871.26 miles

Facing the open sea, down the coast from Zihuatanejo Bay, this pristine, wide, sandy and swimmable beach is dotted with just a few rustic seafood eateries, beach houses and small hotels. It is ideal for beachcombing, running and horse-back riding. Larga means "long" - this beach extends for 12 kilometers!