• Write a Review
  • Boards
  • Deals
  • Find a Cruise
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Cruise Tips

Cruises to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

54 Reviews
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (Photo:Julia Dorofeeva/Shutterstock)

About Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

The tranquil town of Zihuatanejo, located on the Mexican Riviera, was largely neglected after the Spanish Conquest. With its ancient roots as a matriarchal society (the original name, Cihuatlan, means "place governed by women"), Zihua -- as it's affectionately known by locals and frequent visitors -- remained a sleepy fishing village until fairly recently. Inhabited by a few families, visited only by intrepid fishermen who moored in its protected harbor in the evenings, Zihua's charm and beauty was mostly undiscovered until the Mexican government decided to create a tourist paradise out of a nearby spit of land known as Ixtapa.

No building, by city code, is allowed to top four stories in Zihua, in order to preserve the "village look." Ixtapa, in contrast, has plenty of high-rise hotels and trendy shops. Zihua is a city with a municipal government; Ixtapa, a "created resort," is actually "governed" by a resort management company which oversees everything from traffic lights to law enforcement. Together they provide "two vacations in one."



At certain times of the year, while sailing to or from Zihuatanejo Bay, you might be lucky enough to see humpback whales as they migrate to their breeding grounds. And at other times, you might be able to assist in the preservation of the Green Ridley sea turtles as they lay their eggs in the sand along the bay's beaches. The ecological programs of the region include building pens along the beach where the eggs are placed until they can mature.


The nicest thing about a stop in the area is that there isn't much to see or do here, except to enjoy the natural charms of the locale. Young, hip, active and muy Americano, Ixtapa is where you'll find most of the water-sports vendors, the ubiquitous Carlos'n Charlie's, Senor Frogs and the other shops and watering holes that cruisers have come to expect. Zihua, on the other hand, is home to fishermen, craftsmen, small waterfront bars and cafes, and a more relaxed atmosphere.

  • More about Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

  • Why go to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?

  • Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Cruise Port Facilities?

Loading...

We found you 12 cruises

Loading...
Loading...
Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Sun

20 Night
Repo - Panama Canal

2,108 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker
Insignia
Insignia

20 Night
Panama Canal Cruise

210 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker
Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Jewel

17 Night
Repo - Panama Canal

2,323 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker
Insignia
Insignia

20 Night
Panama Canal Cruise

210 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

18 Night
Panama Canal - Miami

2,108 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

14 Night
Solar Eclipse & Mexican Riviera

541 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

12 Night
Mexico & Sea Of Cortez Holiday

572 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

24 Night
Historical Baja Peninsula & Sea Of Cortez Holiday

572 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

17 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

44 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

28 Night
Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera Solar Eclipse

541 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker
Cruise Critic Favorite

37 Night
World Cruise

210 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker
Cruise Critic Favorite

57 Night
World Cruise

210 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Ship
  • Reviews
  • View All Prices
  • Fare Insight
  • Price Tracker

More about Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Why go to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?

Pros:

This peaceful island is a great place to spot whales and sea turtles

Cons:

There isn't a lot to do here beyond beaches and a village market

Bottom Line:

Blissfully serene Zihua is terrific for families and cruisers seeking a quiet beach escape

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Cruise Port Facilities?

If you aren't taking an excursion or going off to the upscale shopping and hotels of Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo provides some fabulous "hanging around" spots. Just walk to the end of the tender dock, turn right on the Paseo del Pescador, and you'll see several small bars and bodegas fronting the beach. There's also an Internet Cafe and some shops. For serious shopping, keep walking to the end of the path that fronts the beach, turn left and walk about three blocks to the open marketplace.



In Ixtapa you can hang out at any of the beaches in front of the hotels or at any of the bars, or simply shop, shop, shop.

Getting Around?

You don't need transportation to take advantage of Zihuatanejo, as everything you need is within walking distance. If you want to explore Ixtapa, taxis are readily available and not very expensive (about $4 each way). Several shore excursions feature bus transportation to Ixtapa. Buses have the destination listed on the front so you can easily tell which one to board. There are water taxis to the little snorkeling beaches of Las Gatas and La Ropa.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted. Note, though, that the symbol for the U.S. dollar ($) is also used for the peso, so make sure you know which currency you are being charged for goods and services. The peso is currently trading at about 10 to one U.S. dollar.

Zihuatanejo has a few banks with ATMs in its "downtown" area, about a 15-minute walk from the dock. Ixtapa has several. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most locations for purchases.

Language?

Spanish is the official language of Mexico. Most of the shopkeepers in Zihua and almost everyone in Ixtapa speaks and understands some English, so communication is not a major problem.

Where You're Docked?

Cruise ships anchor in Zihuatanejo Bay and tender to the small dock in Zihua; walking to the shops of Zihuatanejo is an easy three minutes; Ixtapa is approximately three miles away and is accessible by bus, taxi or shore excursion.


Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Cruise Reviews
We had been told that Ixtapa was dangerous. On the entire 1/3 mile walk from the tender docks to the town, there was a highly visible police, army and private security presence which negated the issue. The town itselRead More
User Avatar
Bunkie2100
Another inaccurate tour description. There was a visit to a coconut plantation and then on to the archaeological site.Read More
User Avatar
KathnBri
We walked along beach and then into town. The only point of interest was the museum which describes the history of successive centuries of Indian presence.Read More
User Avatar
Overthewaves
Charming little park at the pier, endors, food and entertainment, we liked it.Read More
User Avatar
BerkshireBob

Related Cruises

Cruises to Ocho Rios

Cruises to Ocho Rios

1,206 Reviews
Cruises to Newport

Cruises to Newport

250 Reviews
Cruises to Puerto Limon

Cruises to Puerto Limon

390 Reviews
Cruises to Saint John (New Brunswick)

Cruises to Saint John (New Brunswick)

435 Reviews
Cruises to St. Vincent

Cruises to St. Vincent

133 Reviews
Cruises to Santiago (Valparaiso)

Cruises to Santiago (Valparaiso)

124 Reviews
Cruises to Berlin

Cruises to Berlin

230 Reviews
Cruises to Portland (Maine)

Cruises to Portland (Maine)

382 Reviews
Cruises to Punta Arenas

Cruises to Punta Arenas

187 Reviews
Cruises to Salalah

Cruises to Salalah

34 Reviews
Cruises to Falmouth

Cruises to Falmouth

1,556 Reviews
Cruises to Saint-Malo

Cruises to Saint-Malo

14 Reviews
Cruises to Manila

Cruises to Manila

85 Reviews
Cruises to Suva

Cruises to Suva

125 Reviews
Cruises to Apia, Samoa (formerly Western Samoa)

Cruises to Apia, Samoa (formerly Western Samoa)

1 Review
Cruises to Gothenburg

Cruises to Gothenburg

87 Reviews
Cruises to Hvar

Cruises to Hvar

36 Reviews
Cruises to Tournon

Cruises to Tournon

35 Reviews
Cruises to Skagen

Cruises to Skagen

95 Reviews
Cruises to Pinhao

Cruises to Pinhao

38 Reviews
Want to cruise smarter?
Get expert advice, insider tips and more.
By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critic’s Privacy and Cookies Statement and Terms of Use.
About UsCruise DestinationsFirst Time CruisersFind A Cruise

International Sites

© 1995—2023, The Independent Traveler, Inc.

  • Privacy and Cookies Statement

  • Terms of Use

  • Site Map