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Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Vacation Packages

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Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Vacation Packages – photo 1
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Vacation Packages – photo

Photo: eurimaco via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Talk to a travel expert — call +1 (323) 800 6001, 24/7. Tell us your departure city, dates and who is traveling; we price flights, hotel and transfers together and book it for you. Prefer to start online? Use Plan My Vacation and we call you back.

Ixtapa vacation packages from Fond Travels combine round-trip flights from the US, a beachfront resort on Ixtapa's Playa El Palmar or a boutique hotel above Zihuatanejo's Playa La Ropa, airport transfers and optional fishing or island excursions, all arranged by a real travel expert. To book from anywhere in the US, call +1 (323) 800 6001 day or night and we will price your exact dates and confirm everything in a single call.

Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are two very different places sharing one bay-studded stretch of the Guerrero coast, about ten minutes apart by road. Ixtapa is the planned resort strip: a long beach lined with high-rise hotels, a marina and a golf course. Zihuatanejo is the old fishing town it grew out of: a working harbor, a cobbled waterfront, small hotels tucked into the hills and some of the loveliest swimming beaches on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Why Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for your vacation

The appeal is choice without crowds. On the Ixtapa side, Playa El Palmar delivers the classic big-resort experience. Ten minutes away, Zihuatanejo Bay is a natural amphitheater of calm water with four distinct beaches: Playa Principal by the fishing pier, Playa Madera below a clifftop walkway, wide and sandy Playa La Ropa with palapa restaurants and gentle waves, and Playa Las Gatas, a reef-protected cove reached by water taxi where the water is glassy enough for children to snorkel.

Add Isla Ixtapa, a small island offshore with three snorkeling beaches, and world-class sport fishing for sailfish and marlin, and you have a destination that feels like Mexico did before mega-resorts. Ixtapa vacation packages are ideal for travelers who want the beach to be the whole point.

What's included in a Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo package

A typical Fond Travels package bundles:

  • Round-trip flights on major airlines from your home airport, with connections through Mexico City
  • Your hotel or resort: all-inclusive properties on Playa El Palmar, mid-size hotels on Playa La Ropa, or hillside boutique inns above Zihuatanejo Bay
  • Private or shared transfers between Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) and your hotel
  • Optional extras: a half-day sport fishing charter, a boat trip to Isla Ixtapa, a Zihuatanejo food walk, or a car through our car rental desk

Every quote is built for your dates, departure city and room category. Call for current pricing on your dates and we will explain what each resort's plan includes.

Best time to visit Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

The dry season runs from November through April, with sunny days in the mid-80s Fahrenheit, cool onshore winds and very little rain. This is high season; holiday weeks and US spring break book first, and winter is when nonstop flights from the US are most likely to operate. The rainy season runs June through October, with afternoon or nighttime storms, lush hillsides and quieter beaches; September is typically the wettest month. Sport fishing is good year-round, with sailfish most abundant from roughly December through May.

Where to stay: areas and resort styles

Ixtapa (Playa El Palmar) is the resort zone: large full-service and all-inclusive hotels lined up along a wide beach. It is the easiest choice for families who want kids' clubs, multiple pools and everything on property. The surf can be strong, so many guests swim in the pools and head to Zihuatanejo's beaches for calmer water.

Playa La Ropa in Zihuatanejo is where many repeat visitors stay: mid-size beachfront hotels and boutique properties along a long, calm, swimmable beach with beach restaurants at your feet.

Playa Madera and the hillsides hold small inns and villas with bay views, well suited to couples.

Downtown Zihuatanejo offers simple hotels near the pier and market. Fond Travels works with well-known resort brands and independent hotels in every area and will match the style to your trip.

Things to do in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

  • Take the water taxi from Playa La Ropa or the pier to Playa Las Gatas for a day of snorkeling and beach-restaurant lunch
  • Charter a sport fishing boat out of Zihuatanejo harbor, one of the Pacific's best sailfish grounds
  • Boat over to Isla Ixtapa for snorkeling at Playa Varadero and Playa Coral and a seafood lunch on the sand
  • Walk the Paseo del Pescador along Zihuatanejo's waterfront, then browse the municipal and crafts markets
  • Play golf in Ixtapa or book a sunset cruise on the bay
  • Watch a sea turtle release on Playa Linda or Playa Larga during nesting season (roughly July through December)

Getting there from the US

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) sits a short drive south of Zihuatanejo. Nonstop flights from the US are limited and mostly seasonal in winter, so most itineraries connect through Mexico City. Expect roughly 2 to 2.5 hours in the air from Houston or Dallas to central Mexico, 3.5 to 4 hours from Los Angeles and 5 to 5.5 hours from New York to Mexico City, followed by a connection of one to two hours and a flight of about an hour to ZIH.

US passport holders need a valid passport and must complete the FMM entry form, which is now often handled electronically or on arrival; no visa is required for tourist stays under 180 days, but verify before travel. Currency is the Mexican peso, the language is Spanish with English widely spoken in resorts, and the area is on Central Time.

Who this package suits

Couples and honeymooners love the hillside inns above Zihuatanejo Bay and sunset dinners on Playa La Ropa. Families are well served by the Ixtapa resorts, with Las Gatas and La Ropa for calm-water days. Seniors appreciate the slow pace, mild winter weather and short transfers; ask about senior travel reservations. Fishing groups, wedding parties and reunions can book blocks of rooms and charters through our group travel flights desk. Solo travelers find Zihuatanejo friendly and walkable. For extra comfort on the connection, ask about business class or first class seats.

How booking by phone works

  1. Call +1 (323) 800 6001 with your dates, departure city, number of travelers and whether you lean Ixtapa resort or Zihuatanejo town.
  2. Your expert prices two or three hotel options with flights and transfers and explains what each plan covers.
  3. Pick your package; we confirm flights, hotel and transfers and email one consolidated itinerary.
  4. Call the same number any time before or during the trip for changes, questions or add-on excursions.

Plan it online

If you would rather start in writing, send your dates and preferences through our vacation request form and an expert will follow up by phone or email. You can also browse flights, hotels and our full list of vacation packages first.

Why book by phone with Fond Travels

Fond Travels, LLC is an independent US travel agency based in Woodbridge, Virginia, and real travel experts answer the phone 24/7. They book Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo regularly and know which beaches are swimmable and which hotels sit on La Ropa versus a cliff above it. We are rated 4.8 of 5 with 2,200+ Google reviews.

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Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Vacation Packages: frequently asked questions

December through March brings dry, sunny days, cool evenings and the widest choice of flights, which is why those months fill first. November and April are nearly as pleasant with fewer people. For lush scenery, quieter beaches and softer rates, consider June or July, when storms usually arrive late in the day.

Nonstop service to ZIH is limited and mostly seasonal in winter, so most trips connect through Mexico City. Plan on roughly 2 to 2.5 hours from Texas gateways, 3.5 to 4 from Los Angeles and 5 to 5.5 from New York to Mexico City, plus a connection and a flight of about an hour to Zihuatanejo.

US citizens need a passport valid for the length of the stay and must complete Mexico's FMM entry form, often done electronically or on arrival. No visa is needed for tourist visits under 180 days. Requirements can change, so verify before travel; your Fond Travels expert will confirm current rules when you book.

All-inclusive suits the large Ixtapa resorts, where the pools and restaurants keep you on property. In Zihuatanejo, breakfast-included or room-only hotels make more sense because beach palapas and town restaurants serve outstanding, affordable seafood. Many travelers split the week between the two. We will price both approaches.

Yes. Ixtapa's resorts have kids' clubs and big pools, while Playa Las Gatas and Playa La Ropa offer calm, shallow water for swimming and snorkeling. Boat trips to Isla Ixtapa and seasonal turtle releases are hits with children. Transfers from the airport are short, which helps after a connecting flight.

Very much so. Winter weather is warm without being oppressive, the pace is slow, beaches such as La Ropa have gentle water, and hotels can arrange ground-floor rooms. Ask about senior travel reservations so we can plan unhurried connections, wheelchair assistance and hotels with limited stairs, since Zihuatanejo is hilly.

The resort zone and Zihuatanejo's beach areas are long-established tourist districts with a steady visitor flow. Use ordinary travel sense: registered taxis, the room safe for valuables, and daytime beaches. Check current US State Department guidance for Guerrero before you go, and stay within the tourist areas; your expert can advise.

The Mexican peso is the local currency. Resorts and larger restaurants take cards; beach palapas, taxis and market stalls prefer cash. Tip about 10 to 15 percent in restaurants, a small amount per bag for porters, and a daily amount for housekeeping. Fishing crews and boat guides also appreciate a tip.

For December through March, especially the holiday weeks and spring break, book three to six months ahead, since winter nonstop flights and beachfront rooms sell out early. Summer and fall trips can usually be arranged four to eight weeks out. Call once your dates are firm and we will hold options.

Call +1 (323) 800 6001 at any hour and a real travel expert will price flights, hotel and transfers for your dates and email a single itinerary. If you prefer to begin online, submit our vacation request form and we will call you back with options and current pricing on your dates.