Activities in Zihua and Ixtapa
So much to do in Zihua. There are road trips to the Xihuacan Archeological Site, golf outings, ATV tours, zip line and canopy tour, turtle release watch, 300 peso massages on the beach, bicycle the ciclopista to the mirador in Ixtapa, and shopping in Centro Zihua or Ixtapa. Or take a half-day trip to Petatlan, or all-day trips to Acapulco or Patzcuaro & Janitzio. Here are some other things that you can do. Prices can change, so the below pricing are estimates. The owners of the activities set pricing, not us.
Boogie Board Rentals. We rent boogie boards at a cost of $12 USD for one week. You can also rent boogie boards on the beach, generally at a cost of 50 pesos per hour, or 100 pesos for the day.
Surf Board Rentals. We have a surf board available at $45 USD for a one week rental. It is a 7′ long BZ Square Tail Tri-Fin Board. It only weighs 4.8kg (11 lbs), so it is perfect for any beach in the area, any size wave.
We have adult sizes and one child size snorkel.
Snorkeling. 4 hours of snorkeling at two locations, including the beautiful Playa Manzanillo will cost about $35 per person. We rent snorkel masks with breathing tubes and camera mounts for $10 USD per week.
Surfing. Catcha L’Ola in Ixtapa will rent you a surf board, give you a ride to and from Playa Buenavista, and 2 hours of surfing for about $40 USD.
If surfing is a little too intense for you, then head to Playa La Ropa and rent a Stand-Up Paddleboard for 300 pesos per hour. If you’re friendly, the guy renting the board may give you an extra 20 minutes for free.
Putt-Putt Golf. Golfito Ixtapa has an 18 hole mini golf course open in the evenings. If you are here with your family, or want to do the Summer vacation thing, which is play putt-putt golf, then there’s a place to do that here.
Visit Ixtapa Island. The ferry to Ixtapa Island is located at Playa Linda, where you can see crocodiles, turtles, iguanas and birds. The ferry to Ixtapa Island costs 100 pesos round trip. Bring your snorkel gear!
Hike or Bike to Mirador Playa Linda. There are 20 miles of bike paths and trails, plus great paths for hiking, including a 45 minute hike to the Mirador, with terrific views of Playa Linda and Ixtapa Island.
Petatlán Day Trip. Visit the gold & silver markets of Petatlán. Combine a trip here with the archaeological site below.
The Xihuacan museum and archaeological site. This is a small museum and site located a short distance away. If you are a big fan of this type of stuff then you’ll enjoy it. Read about our visit to the site here
Barra de Potosi. Located on a saltwater lagoon, this is a great place to rent kayaks and explore the local wildlife, followed by relaxing in a hammock and lunch on the beach.
Visit Playa Las Gatas. You can walk to this great snorkel spot from Playa La Ropa, or take a 80 peso round trip ferry from the Zihua pier. Read about our trip to Playa Las Gatas here.
Visit Playa La Ropa. In addition to Stand Up Paddle Board and kayak rentals, you can always find a jet ski for rent at Playa La Ropa. Or pay 350 to 600 pesos to parasail. If you want to ride the banana boat around the bay it will cost 100 pesos per person. Or sit at one of the many beach bars and restaurants and drink 50 peso beers and 110 peso margaritas.
Horseback Riding. We were picked up at our casa, driven to Playa Larga, and rode horses along the beach for 45 minutes. The entire excursion took 2 hours and cost 800 pesos each.
Fishing. There is no shortage of people offering you an all-day fishing and snorkeling expedition. It doesn’t matter if you have 2 people or 8 people that want to fish; you can expect to pay $200 to $300 USD total for this outing. If you don’t want to fish, then make sure to walk to Paseo del Pescador in Centro by the water for the fish market. Every morning the local fishermen bring in their catches from the previous night for restaurants and people to buy.
Scuba Diving. It’s about $125 per person for everything to scuba dive here in Zihua. I went scuba diving for the first time in Zihua and wrote about it here.
Sunset Cruise. A 2 1/2 hour cruise with views of the Pacific of Ixtapa and Bay of Zihuatanejo. It includes an open bar and meal. The sunset cruise costs about $70 USD per person.
Swim with the Dolphins. I saw this place with a giant water tank from overhead while parasailing in Ixtapa. Delfiniti offers a 45 minute swim with the dolphins in their giant tank for $127 USD. Seems high to me, but if I had kids I’d probably get sucked into doing this. I heard there are discounted rates (buy 2 get 1 free) during the week.
Golf. There are two courses a 15 minute drive away in Ixtapa. Palma Real costs 1,800 to 2,500 pesos during high season (greens fees, and golf cart). After 2pm and during low season the price is a little less expensive. Marina Ixtapa Golf Course is a little less expensive. You can hire a caddy at both courses, and expect a beer cart to pass you every two holes.
Pickleball. One of my favorite activities. There are courts all over town. One court is behind Scotiabank near Centro, there is a dedicated pickleball court in the La Ropa neighborhood near the Oxxo, another court is located in the Vicente Guerrero neighborhood, one court is in the El Hujal neighborhood, one is in La Noria, there is one court at the Sunscape Dorado Hotel in Ixtapa, another new pickleball dedicated outdoor facility in La Puerta, and several other courts. Cost is between 80 and 200 pesos.
Volunteer to Walk Dogs. Casa Marina is open for volunteers Monday to Saturday from 9am to 11am. The animal shelter is located at the main basketball court in town. Just ring the front door bell and let a staff member know you are there to walk dogs. The animals will appreciate it! Donations and cat and dog toys are always accepted as well.
Cooking Class. There are two cooking schools. One is located near Barra de Potosi and the other is located here in Zihua. The cost per person is 400 to 600 pesos. We’ve done both of them. Read about that here
Artisans’ Market. Located on Calle 5 de Mayo in Centro, three blocks of stalls offering many handmade items. You can also find typical souvenirs, like t-shirts and hats.
Mercado Municipal. Another great place to purchase souvenirs, as well as meats, fish, fruits and vegetables. We often enjoy a cheap lunch here. This is the place to go to watch the hustle and bustle of local Zihua.
Farmers’ Market. From 9am – 2pm every Saturday you will find these organic farmers and local artists behind the museum in Centro. If you walk to Centro you can’t miss it.
Movies. Cinemex has movies in English, and costs about 75 pesos. Buy Row E or higher.
Scooter Rental. A few places in and near Centro will rent scooters for $30-$50USD per day. If you do rent, good luck!
ATV 4×4 Ride. We haven’t done this, but Ixzi Tours in Pantla charges 2,500 pesos for a single or 3,500 for two people on one ATV. A 2 1/2 hour tour that takes you through woods and along the beach near Troncones. There are buses at the Mercado that go to Pantla every 15 minutes or so.