Danielle & Kevin

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH)

Guests should fly directly into ZIH airport. If you've traveled to Mexico City before, ZIH is the exact opposite! It is a small, chill airport that's typically very quick to get in and out of.

Most lodging options are a short 20 minute drive from the airport; please let us know if you'd like us to arrange transit for you! We don't recommend renting a car; taxis are cheap and plentiful in Zihua.

Direct flights into Zihuatanejo are available from a number of cities in the US and Canada. If you're not a frequent international traveler and a direct flight isn't available from your city, we'd recommend connecting in the US. That said, the best flight deals connect in Mexico City, so if you're comfortable in a busy Spanish-speaking airport, go for it (or come in early and enjoy a few days in La Ciudad-- it is a very lovely place)! Our one warning is that Mexico City sits in the mountains and can be prone to unpredictable weather patterns/flight delays, so just ensure you leave yourself some time in case of an unexpected delay.

East coast guests, if you want to connect stateside, you should plan to connect in Houston or Dallas (or Toronto, if you don't mind backtracking).

CHICAGO GUESTS: Some sad news about the direct United flight that once existed... the route was changed for our dates and the direct flight no longer exists. :( :( This means the two quickest options are the United flight that connects in Houston (inbound 11/11, outbound 11/18) or the American flight that connects in Dallas (inbound 11/11 or 11/15, outbound 11/18). If you want to fly with us, we will likely be taking the American flight as it's currently the best-priced option. We tried to negotiate a group rate for this flight but unfortunately American said the route doesn't qualify!

Direct Flights to Zihuatanejo:

From Chicago:
-United from ORD: Connection in Houston, Saturdays
-American from ORD: Connection in Dallas or Phoenix, Saturdays and Wednesdays

From California:
-Alaska: SFO, Saturdays - 4h26 (currently there is no direct flight on the schedule for Sat Nov 11; however there is a direct return flight to SFO on 11/18. We always took the layover in LAX back when we'd fly down. It's fairly painless!)
-Alaska: LAX - Outbound to ZIH: Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays - 3h55; Inbound to LAX: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

From the rest of the country and Canada:
-United: Houston (IAH), Saturdays - 2h39
-American: Dallas (DFW), Wednesdays & Saturdays - 2h50
-American: Phoenix (PHX), Wednesdays & Saturdays - 3h05
-Air Canada: Toronto (YYZ), Saturdays - 5h30
-Multiple daily connections in Mexico City via AeroMexico, Volaris, AeroMar - 1h10

Is this that place from the Shawshank Redemption?

Yes.

What weather should I expect?

Hot and humid (but honestly quite a bit drier than most tropical destinations)! Expect daily highs in the high 80s and overnight lows in the 70s. Zihuatanejo has a rainy season and a dry season; November is in the dry season, so rain is unlikely (but not impossible). The ocean water will also be very warm-- like a bath :)

Will it be buggy?

In the dry season, mosquitoes are much less of a nuisance, but Zihua is a beach town surrounded by jungle so be prepared. In our three trips to Zihua, we only needed to break out the bug spray on one night, but nature is unpredictable!

What are some fun activities to do in Zihua?

Too many to name here! Besides lounging on the beach, Zihua is a destination surf and fishing location. There are many tour companies in town that arrange private fishing and surfing excursions. Las Gatas beach (near our venue) would be the best surfing beach in Zihua proper, but if you're really interested in catching some waves, consider arranging a trip an hour north to Troncones. Basically any ocean-related activity can be arranged: private catamarans out on the bay, jet-skis, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, riding horses on the beach (for some reason this is exceptionally popular in Zihua), you name it. If you're a city-lover, take a short 5 minute taxi to the center of town for shopping and restaurant/bar-hopping (but note that it is HOT and you may wither quickly). We love Zihua because it's both a real city AND a gorgeous tropical beach destination all rolled into one, without feeling like a manufactured resort town. You can make your trip as high energy or as low key as you want.

How should I pack?

First off: Don't forget to pack your passport. As for clothes, focus on packing lightweight, breathable fabrics (linen, cotton, etc.; this goes for your wedding attire, too!) and an assortment of beach/swimwear. It is very unlikely that you will feel chilly at any point in Zihua. Sun hats are a good idea and sunglasses are absolutely essential. Zihua also features a bit of terrain, with a number of lodging options set in the hills that surround the coastline; if you plan on walking a lot, bring secure footwear that allows you to walk up and down steep-ish inclines.

Do they accept dollars? Do I need pesos?

Yes and yes. Local businesses are accustomed to American travelers and many will accept USD (especially tour guides), but it's not guaranteed and we wouldn't recommend showing up without pesos handy. Plus, you'll probably get a better deal if you're paying in pesos. We typically hit the ATM at the airport as soon as we land so we have plenty of currency on-hand. ATMs are hard to come by in the part of town where we'll be staying; there are a number of ATMs in downtown Zihua, but I would avoid these as they're in very heavily foot-trafficked areas and could attract the wrong kind of attention. Zihua is a real city, which means exercising basic caution. Use your street smarts.

Is Ixtapa the same as Zihuatanejo?

No! They're very different. Ixtapa is the nearby resort town. If you love a good all inclusive, feel free to come down early or extend your stay and enjoy one of the big Ixtapa resorts.

Is Zihuatanejo safe?

The area surrounding the Bay of Zihuatanejo (Bahia de Zihuatanejo), where all of our lodging recommendations are located, is very safe. As always when traveling internationally, use common sense and caution (meaning: don't leave valuables unattended on a public beach or wave around big wads of cash). In full transparency, the US Dept of State advises against travel to the state of Guerrero, including Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. However, the Canadian government explicitly deems Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo safe for travelers. We think this plays a role in why we like visiting so much! We feel much safer wandering around Zihua than we do in most of the US and have never had a scary encounter (though once Danielle did get in a fight with a cab driver who was trying to charge us too much-- always verify your fares BEFORE you ride), and the lack of American tourists is quite nice!

Just to build on this point: A noticeable portion of Zihua's population is made up of retirees from the US who now live in Zihua full time. They move to the area because it's gorgeous with great weather-- but also affordable and safe. Please know that we wouldn't ask our closest friends and family to travel somewhere that isn't safe. Your biggest danger in Zihua is getting overcharged on cab fares for being a gringo :)

Will my cell work?

Yep! The major US carriers (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T) all work seamlessly in Mexico, typically for free. Some Verizon plans do upcharge for data usage in Mexico however, so if you don't have an unlimited data plan, double check before traveling.

What's the food scene? I have major dietary restrictions; will I be okay?

The highlight of the local food scene is definitely the incredible fresh seafood. Zihua is a fishing town at its heart, and the fish here is as fresh as it gets. Zihua is also known for its excellent pozole, which is a city-wide tradition every Thursday. Most sit-down restaurants are willing to cater to dietary restrictions. Food here is already very low in dairy and gluten, and vegetarian options are plentiful. Vegan options are also available at a number of great restaurants-- there's even a dedicated vegan pozole restaurant, Vegano Entre Zankas in downtown Zihua, which is supposed to be very good! If you have a specific dietary restriction you're concerned about, let us know and we can send you some restaurant recommendations ahead of time.

Why are you getting married on a Thursday?

Because the majority of direct flights back to the US are on Saturday and we don't want to ship everybody home with a hangover. We're being thoughtful!!

Can kids come?

Sure! There are quite a few on the guest list. We'd still like the parents to be able to enjoy a few mezcals at the reception so let us know if kids are coming and we can arrange for on-site childcare.