Cruises to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

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

About Cruising to 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 Cruise to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?

  • Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Cruise Port Facilities?

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Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Jewel

17 Night
Repo - Panama Canal

2,355 Reviews
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Insignia
Insignia

20 Night
Panama Canal Cruise

231 Reviews
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Azamara Onward
Azamara Onward (Photo: Azamara)

17 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern Cruise

75 Reviews
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Zaandam
Zaandam Cabins

14 Night
Solar Eclipse & Mexican Riviera

558 Reviews
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37 Night
World Cruise

231 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

57 Night
World Cruise

231 Reviews
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10 Night
Central America Discovery

17 Reviews
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More about Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Why Cruise 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
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Bunkie2100
Another inaccurate tour description. There was a visit to a coconut plantation and then on to the archaeological site.Read More
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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
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Overthewaves
Charming little park at the pier, endors, food and entertainment, we liked it.Read More
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BerkshireBob

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