Zihuatanejo Surf Guide
A quiet little town in Guerrero, full of solid waves for all skill levels
Quick Facts
Quieter waves than many other Mexican spots
Good longboard/mid-length waves nearby
Most breaks are out of town to the north
Fun, hip town that is continuing to grow
Introduction to Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo is a rad little city that has gone through a lot. It experienced rapid growth in the mid and late 90’s after it’s cameo in The Shawshank Redemption. It experienced some high crime rates in the following decade, only to be revitalized in the last 10 years or so. It’s a fun place with some solid waves. There’s consistent swell hitting the area, and access to some amazing surf spots in places like Ixtapa, Troncones, and La Saladita. The waves are not empty, but there are far fewer crowds than the Riviera Nayarit.
Zihuatanejo Surf Season
Zihuatanejo, or Zihua, can get swells year-round. However, the winter will generally have the best waves on offer. The southern swells come in strong during this time and you’ll find super good consistency. In the winter, some solid NW swells come in and can create the bigger waves more advanced surfers are looking for. However, the consistency will be much lower. The crowds will also be heaviest during holiday season in the winter, although this spot doesn’t get quite as crowded as beginner-oriented spots like Sayulita.
Where to Surf in Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo doesn’t have the most amazing surf right in town, but there is plenty of surf nearby. Here we’ll focus on Las Gatas, the main break in town. It’s not very consistent, but when it works it works. It’s a solid left-hander that has bowly sections and a solid paddle channel back out. You’ll find lots of longboarders here.
Crowds - When it’s on, yes
Surfer Level - Intermediates
Ideal Swell - S/SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Point
Consistency - 40%
Be Aware: Rocky and reefy
Surf Camps, Classes, and Lessons in Zihuatanejo
If you’re just looking for rentals, head to the beach and look around. There are stands up and down the beach offering board rentals. If you want classes or a surf camp, we have you covered!
Troncones Point Hostel - Not in Zihuatanejo, but north in Troncones. It’s a true surf camp, so makes our list as it’s nearby. Troncones Point has dorm room options, rooms for families and kids, and some offerings for everyone. It’s a chill place with hammocks and a beautiful garden, and their guides can take you to all of the different breaks in the area depending on what’s firing! Troncones Point offers 5 day surf camps and 7 day camps.
Wave Warriors - A surf school right in Zihuatanejo. Waves Warriors has classes for groups and individuals, SUP tours, surf guides to organize trips to other breaks, and a huge selection of rentals. They also have coaches to work with every skill level!
Alber Tours - Actually located in nearby Ixtapa, Alberto is an experienced ecotourism guide with years of experience teaching individuals and groups to surf. Alber Tours offers group and invididual lessons in Ixtapa. He’s known to be super nice, helpful, and a great instructor.
From the Store
Nearby Surf Spots
There are a few solid surf spots nearby. For other options near Zihua, check out our Guide to Troncones Surfing.
Barra de Potosi
Some solid lefts that are perfect for mid-lengths and longboards. On bigger days, can get quite punchy.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Beginner, Intermediate
Ideal Swell - S/SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE, Low
Break Type - Rivermouth point
Consistency - 90%
Be Aware: Not much
Jetties
Bowling barrels on the right day, with a lot of locals. Good place to get a tube, unless it gets too big and blasted out. Swells do some wild things off the jetty here.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Advanced
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Point
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Wild, strong, like a mellower Wedge
Playa Linda
Way at the northern end of the beach near the RV park is a solid long right that breaks over a sandy bottom. Solid intermediate wave to practice turns!
Crowds - Not much
Surfer Level - Intermediate
Ideal Swell - S/SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Point
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Rocky point
Other Things to Do in Zihuatanejo
Troncones isn’t a huge tourist hub, so you won’t find the things to do that you might find in other parts of Mexico. However, there are still plenty of activities for those times you’re not in the water.
Visit Ixtapa Island -Located just out from Ixtapa, the island is a nice little day trip. You can take a ferry or water taxi over to Isla Ixtapa from Playa Linda straight to the island. They leave every 10 minutes or so and cost about $4/person.
Go Hiking - There’s plenty of hiking to be found in the area, especially if you head up north. If you’re looking for something in town, check out La Ropa trail. It’s a relatively short, but steep hike that is often fairly empty.
Walk the Paseo del Pescador - A nice free thing to do, the Paseo del Pescador is a bit like a boardwalk or walkway that runs from Playa Principal to Playa Madera. It can get hot during the day, so time accordingly.
Release Sea Turtles - This is one of our favorite things to do with the kids. There are plenty of places working to protect sea turtles, and you can play a part in helping the little turtles make their way to the sea. Please go with a reputable company. We like Ayotlcalli, as they actually work to protect the turtles.
Watch the Whales - This is a winter-specific activity. From December through March, the humpback whales pass through Zihuatanejo. You might see some from shore with binoculars, but there are plenty of whale watching tours headed out to sea to get a closer look during this time.
Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo
If you don’t want to stay at one of the many surf camps in Jacó, don’t worry! We have you covered. There are seriously a ton of hotels in town. The town can get rather rowdy with parties at night. This may be what you’re looking for, or not, so keep that in mind.
La Casa que Canta
Adults-only luxury hotel
La Casa Que Canta is absolutely gorgeous. Sitting up on the cliff overlooking the bay, this boutique hotel has infinity pools, ocean views in every room, and an overall romantic vibe.
Troncones Point Hostel
Surf hostel and camp at the point
Not in Zihua, but up in nearby Troncones. A surf camp in the area that offers dorm rooms starting at around $25 a night. They also have private room available.
Thompson
Higher end resort for families
The Thompson is a line by Hyatt that offers a upper midrange resort experience. Their hotel mixes modern styles with local Mexican art. Sitting right on the beach, you’ll find plenty to do for couples, families, or groups here.
Casa Arcoiris
Eco-friendly, inclusive BnB
Casa Arcoiris is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, inclusive, eco-conscious vacation. Sitting up the hill a bit, you hvae beautiful views of the bay from their pool.
Casa Susurro
Hillside private house with a view
Sitting up on the hill, this VRBO has an infinity pool, peaceful terrace, and the option for meals to be cooked. You can walk down the hill to the beach, and get a taxi easily from the bottom to wherever you need to go.
Getting to Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo is one of the easiest surf spots to get to. You fly straight into the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport. We use Expedia for our flights. From there, it’s about 15-20 minutes into town! You can take a taxi or rent a car. Once you’re in town, you won’t really need the car. But, if you want to head out to the various surf spots without a guide, a car will definitely be helpful.
Restaurants in Zihuatanejo
Carmelitas Café - One of our favorite places to start the day. Delicious and filling Mexican breakfasts, fresh juices, and relatively economic with the prices! Ask someone about the best breakfast in town, and this will be the answer.
Los Braseros - A solid option for tacos. Super casual, super reasonable. Get some quesadillas or some tacos al pastor!
El Arrayan - This is a small family-run restaurant. The chef, Mauricio, cooks everything on a charcoal grill, giving his food some amazing flavor. It’s basically run out of a modified house, and has a cute and somewhat romantic atmosphere. I believe they only take cash.
Sr. Aguachile - As you may have guessed, a restaurant that specializes in aguachiles. It’s one of my favorite Mexican seafood dishes. Think ceviche but with more chiles. Be aware, a lot of the dishes are spicy! They also have tacos with tuna, shrimp, octopus, etc.
Vegan Ruby - One thing that really grabbed my attention when we went to Vegan Ruby was that the prices are super reasonable. Sometimes vegan fare has a huge markup, but not here. They make classic Mexican dishes, but vegan! We’ve taken meat-eating family here and even they loved the burritos and sandwiches.
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