Guerrero is a Pacific coast state in southern Mexico best known for the resort city of Acapulco, the colonial silver town of Taxco de Alarcón, and the twin beach towns of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. The state pairs dramatic coastline and mountain scenery with a serious, well-documented security situation that shapes how and where visitors should travel.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Guerrero.
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Acapulco Bay Beaches
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Acapulco Diamante and Puerto Marqués
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Zihuatanejo Bay Beaches
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Ixtapa and the Northern Coast
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- Beachfront hotels and restaurants along the Costera
- Sun lounger and umbrella rental
- Calm, gentle swimming conditions
- Water sports rental including jet skis and banana boats
- Public beach access along the boulevard
Playa Icacos
Playa Icacos anchors the northeastern end of Acapulco's Costera hotel strip, a wide sandy beach with calm bay water suited to swimming and casual water sports, backed by hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs along the boulevard.
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- Beach clubs and bars along the Costera
- Sun lounger and umbrella rental
- Calm swimming water within the bay
- Parasailing and jet ski rental
- Busiest nightlife strip on the beach after dark
Playa Condesa
Playa Condesa sits at the lively midpoint of Acapulco's Costera strip, known for its beach clubs, bars, and daytime energy, with calm bay water and water-sports rental stands running the length of the sand.
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- Sheltered cove with calm, clear water
- Beachfront restaurants and palapa service
- Boat trips to nearby Isla de la Roqueta
- Glass-bottom boat tours over a small reef
- Traditionally considered Acapulco's original tourist beach
Playa Caleta
Playa Caleta occupies a sheltered cove on the Las Playas peninsula, historically Acapulco's first developed tourist beach, with calm, clear water and boats departing nearby for Isla de la Roqueta.
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- Small, sheltered cove adjoining Playa Caleta
- Calm, shallow water suited to children
- Beachfront palapa restaurants
- Boat access point for Isla de la Roqueta tours
- Quieter than the main Costera beaches
Playa Caletilla
Playa Caletilla sits immediately beside Playa Caleta on the same sheltered cove, a smaller and generally quieter stretch of shallow, calm water popular with families.
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- One of Acapulco's most established surf breaks
- Board and boogie board rental on the sand
- Beachfront resorts along Acapulco Diamante
- Strong waves and undertow - swimming not recommended
- Wide, open stretch of sand with room to spread out
Playa Revolcadero
Playa Revolcadero is Acapulco's original surf beach, a wide open stretch of sand along Acapulco Diamante known for powerful waves and a strong undertow, making it better suited to surfing and boogie boarding than swimming.
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- Sheltered bay with calm, shallow water
- Beachfront palapa restaurants serving fresh seafood
- Banana boat and jet ski rental
- Family-friendly swimming conditions
- Sunset views across the bay
Puerto Marqués
Puerto Marqués fills a rounded, sheltered bay just south of Acapulco's airport, offering calm, shallow water and a row of palapa seafood restaurants that make it a popular family alternative to the open-water beaches nearby.
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- Long, calm swimming beach inside Zihuatanejo Bay
- Beachfront restaurants and hotels
- Sun lounger and umbrella rental
- Paddleboard and kayak rental
- Considered the main beach of the Zihuatanejo area
Playa La Ropa
Playa La Ropa curves along the southern edge of Zihuatanejo Bay, a long, calm stretch of sand widely considered the area's best all-around beach, lined with restaurants and small hotels facing the water.
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- Calmest, most sheltered water in Zihuatanejo Bay
- Snorkeling among a partly artificial reef
- Beachfront palapa restaurants
- Water taxi access from the Zihuatanejo pier
- No direct road access
Playa Las Gatas
Playa Las Gatas sits at the sheltered southern tip of Zihuatanejo Bay, reachable only by water taxi or a coastal footpath, with the calmest water in the area and a shallow reef that makes it the bay's main snorkeling spot.
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- Small, calm beach within walking distance of downtown
- Beachfront restaurants and small hotels
- Gentle swimming conditions
- Quieter than La Ropa but closer to town
- Short walk to the municipal pier and market
Playa Madera
Playa Madera sits just a short walk from downtown Zihuatanejo, a small, calm beach backed by low-key hotels and restaurants, offering an easy alternative for visitors who prefer to stay close to town.
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- Main departure pier for boats to Isla Ixtapa
- Horseback riding along the sand
- Beachfront palapa restaurants near the pier
- Moderate surf suited to bodyboarding
- Estuary and mangrove area nearby for birdwatching
Playa Linda
Playa Linda sits at the northern end of the Ixtapa coast, best known as the boat departure point for Isla Ixtapa, with open surf, horseback riding operators, and a handful of palapa restaurants near the pier.
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- Calm, sheltered water suited to swimming
- Alternative, quieter boat access point to Isla Ixtapa
- Mangrove estuary nearby
- Fewer crowds than Playa Linda
- Limited beachfront dining
Playa Quieta
Playa Quieta lies just south of Playa Linda on the northern Ixtapa coast, a calmer and less crowded beach that also serves as an alternative departure point for boats to Isla Ixtapa.
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- Long open beach beside a mangrove lagoon
- Lagoon boat tours for birdwatching
- Beachfront palapa restaurants serving fresh seafood
- Quiet, undeveloped setting away from resort crowds
- Kayak rental on the lagoon side
Barra de Potosí
Barra de Potosí sits on a sandbar between the open Pacific and a mangrove-fringed lagoon south of Zihuatanejo, offering a quiet, undeveloped beach setting paired with lagoon boat tours and simple seafood restaurants.
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- Long, largely undeveloped stretch of sand
- Palapa restaurants serving fresh fish
- Adjacent lagoon with birdwatching
- Simple guesthouses rather than large resorts
- Moderate surf and currents typical of the open southern coast
Playa Ventura
Playa Ventura is a quiet, largely undeveloped beach on Guerrero's southern coast, backed by a lagoon and a small fishing village, offering a low-key alternative to Acapulco's resort beaches for visitors willing to make the longer drive.
Beaches by vibe
Pick by the mood you want — quiet, social, family, or active — and we point you at where that style lives along the coast.
Family Friendly
Family Friendly
Playa La Ropa, Puerto Marqués, and Playa Icacos offer the calmest water and easiest access, making them the best choices for families and less confident swimmers
Surf Scene
Surf Scene
Playa Revolcadero draws Acapulco's dedicated surfing crowd, with board rental available directly on the sand
Quiet And Local
Quiet And Local
Barra de Potosí and Playa Ventura see mostly local and independent travelers, offering an unpolished, low-key alternative to Acapulco's and Ixtapa's busier beaches
Scenic
Scenic
Playa Las Gatas' sheltered reef and boat-only access make it the most distinctive beach experience in the state
Things to do at the beach
Beyond swimming and sunbathing — the activities that make a coastal day in Guerrero memorable.
Practical beach info
What to know before you head to the coast — season, getting there, facilities, and what it costs.
What To Bring
Sun protection, water shoes for rockier stretches near Las Gatas and Caleta, and plenty of drinking water, since facilities thin out quickly at Barra de Potosí and Playa Ventura
Safety
Currents strengthen noticeably at Playa Revolcadero and Playa Ventura; swimmers should stay close to shore and heed any posted flags or local guidance, and travelers driving to Playa Ventura should keep to the main coastal highway and travel by day
Best Visiting Hours
Morning through early afternoon is best for calmer winds and cooler temperatures; Acapulco's Costera beach clubs get busiest in the late afternoon as the heat eases
Combining Sites
Playa Icacos, Condesa, Caleta, and Caletilla can all be combined in a single day around Acapulco, while La Ropa, Las Gatas, and Madera pair naturally in Zihuatanejo, and Playa Linda and Playa Quieta combine easily with an Isla Ixtapa boat trip
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.