Bahía de Zihuatanejo

Bahía de Zihuatanejo is a protected bight along the Pacific Coast with several beaches including Playa Las Gatas, Playa La Ropa, and Playa Municipal. The bay curves gently in a horseshoe shape with calm waters tucked between forested headlands.

The bay served as a launching point for Spanish expeditions across the Pacific in the 1500s, including early voyages toward the Philippines under Hernán Cortés. This deep anchorage provided a natural base for long ocean journeys during the age of exploration.

Fishing remains central to daily life here, with boats leaving early in the morning and returning with fresh catches sold to local restaurants. This rhythm shapes how people use the waterfront and gives the bay its working-village character.

Water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming work best from November through April when weather is stable and conditions calm. The shallow, sheltered approach to the beaches makes it easy to enter the water and launch activities directly from shore.

The sheltered waters attract a variety of fish species that snorkelers often spot, particularly near Playa Las Gatas. The beach's name comes from nurse sharks that once inhabited these waters, though they are rarely seen today.