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.
Best photo spots
Iconic and lesser-known locations worth shooting.
La Quebrada Cliff Divers at Sunset
The La Quebrada cliff divers, performing since 1934, leap from cliffs 25-35 metres above the surf at scheduled evening shows, with the sunset-lit cove and cliffside architecture forming a dramatic backdrop for both wide establishing shots and tight telephoto sequences of the dive itself.
Best time: Sunset, during the evening dive shows when divers leap from the cliffs into the surf below
Tip: Use a telephoto lens (200mm or longer) to isolate divers mid-air against the cliff · Set a fast shutter speed (1/1000s or faster) or burst mode to freeze the dive · Arrive at least 45 minutes before the last show for a front-row tripod spot · Paid terrace seating at El Mirador restaurant guarantees a fixed vantage point · Restrooms and drinks are available at the cliffside restaurants near the viewing platform · Drones are not permitted over the dive area
Taxco Hillside Townscape from Mirador del Cristo
From the Cristo Rey statue above Taxco, the town's white walls and red-tile roofs cascade down the steep hillside toward the twin domes of Santa Prisca church, with the surrounding Sierra Madre del Sur ridgelines forming a layered backdrop.
Best time: Golden hour, when low sun warms the white-and-red rooftops spilling down the hillside
Tip: Bring a wide-angle lens for the full hillside sweep and a telephoto to isolate the Santa Prisca domes · Use a polarizing filter to cut haze over the distant ridgelines · Shoot in late afternoon so the low sun rakes across the rooftops without flattening the domes · A tripod helps for the low-light blue-hour shot just after sunset · Taxis are the easiest way up the steep access road for those not wanting to walk
Santa Prisca Church Facade
The pink-stone, richly carved churrigueresque facade of the Church of Santa Prisca dominates Taxco's Plaza Borda, with twin bell towers and a tiled dome that catch warm side light in the late afternoon and stand out clearly against evening sky.
Best time: Late afternoon golden hour, when low sun rakes across the pink-stone churrigueresque facade
Tip: Use a wide-angle lens from the plaza to fit the full facade and towers · A polarizing filter cuts glare off the pink stone in direct sun · Shoot in late afternoon for warm side light that brings out the carved detail · Visit early morning to avoid the plaza's midday vendor and visitor crowds · Restrooms and cafes are available around Plaza Borda
Zihuatanejo Bay Sunrise from the Malecon
Zihuatanejo's small horseshoe bay, framed by the Paseo del Pescador boardwalk, is calmest at sunrise, when local fishing pangas return with the morning catch against pastel light reflecting off the still water.
Best time: Sunrise, when fishing boats return to the bay and the water stays glassy before the wind picks up
Tip: Use a wide-angle lens for the full bay curve and a telephoto to isolate returning boats · Shoot right at sunrise before the onshore breeze roughens the water · A neutral-density filter helps for longer exposures of the still water · Arrive early since the boardwalk is quiet at dawn but fills with vendors and visitors later · Cafes along the malecon open early and offer restrooms and coffee
Playa La Ropa Sunset
Playa La Ropa's wide, palm-fringed white-sand beach faces open water toward the setting sun, with beachfront palapas and small hotels silhouetted against the sky as fishing boats and sailboats cross the frame.
Best time: Sunset, when the sun drops directly over the open bay water beyond the palm-lined shore
Tip: Use a wide-angle lens for the palm-lined panorama and a telephoto to compress the sun over the horizon · Shoot the final twenty minutes before sunset for the strongest backlighting · Move to the beach's quieter northern or southern ends to avoid dinner crowds near the palapas · A polarizing filter helps manage glare off the wet sand and water · Beachfront restaurants offer restrooms for paying customers
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa Cavern Interior
The illuminated chambers of Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, one of Mexico's largest known cave systems, reveal towering stalactite and stalagmite formations along the guided walking route, with the fixed interior lighting creating dramatic pools of light and shadow across the cavern walls.
Best time: During the guided tour, when fixed interior lighting illuminates the largest chambers
Tip: Use a fast wide-angle lens and raise ISO rather than relying on flash, which washes out the formations · Ask the guide for a brief pause at a chamber that suits a tripod setup · Bring a lens cloth for condensation in the humid cave air · Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes for the damp walking route · Restrooms and a ticket office are available at the park entrance
Barra de Potosi Lagoon Mangrove Reflections
The mangrove-lined channels of Laguna de Potosi near Barra de Potosi village hold calm water that mirrors the tree canopy at sunrise, with herons, egrets, and other resident wading birds feeding along the shallow margins.
Best time: Sunrise, when still lagoon water mirrors the mangrove tree line and resident wading birds are most active
Tip: Bring a telephoto lens (300mm or longer) for herons and egrets · Shoot from a boat trip departing early, before wind breaks up the reflections · A polarizing filter helps manage glare off the water surface · A tripod works best from the shoreline near the boat launch rather than aboard a moving boat · The village at Barra de Potosi has small restaurants with restrooms near the launch
Isla Ixtapa Coral Cove
Playa Coral on Isla Ixtapa sits over a shallow coral patch reached by a short boat taxi from Playa Linda, where direct midday sun brings out the clearest turquoise water tones against the small island's palm-backed shoreline.
Best time: Midday, when overhead sun reveals the shallow water's turquoise and coral tones most vividly
Tip: Use a waterproof housing or action camera for in-water shots of the coral · Shoot near midday when overhead sun gives the clearest water color · A polarizing filter cuts surface glare for shots looking into the shallows · Arrive on an early boat taxi to beat the midday crowd of tour boats · Palapa restaurants on the island offer restrooms for paying customers
Troncones Beach Golden Hour Surf
Troncones' long, undeveloped beach break catches warm, low side light at golden hour, backlighting spray off breaking waves and silhouetting surfers against the open Pacific horizon.
Best time: Golden hour, when low side light catches breaking waves and backlights spray off the surf
Tip: Use a telephoto lens to compress breaking waves and surfers from the beach · Set a fast shutter speed or burst mode to freeze wave and surfer action · Protect gear with a waterproof housing or rain cover near the shorebreak spray · Shoot into the light at golden hour for backlit spray · Small beachfront restaurants along Troncones offer restrooms
El Veladero National Park Acapulco Bay Panorama
Ridge overlooks inside El Veladero National Park give a wide panorama over Acapulco Bay's curving shoreline and hotel strip, with the clearest views in the dry season and the most dramatic light as the sky colors at sunset and the city lights begin to switch on.
Best time: Sunset, when the Costera hotel strip and bay curve are backlit and city lights begin to appear
Tip: Use a wide-angle lens for the full bay sweep and a telephoto to isolate the Costera skyline · Bring a tripod for blue-hour and early-evening exposures as light fades · A polarizing filter helps cut coastal haze in the panorama · Arrive thirty minutes before sunset to secure a clear spot at the overlook rail · A modest park entry fee applies at the gate
By subject
Match your shooting interest to Guerrero's strengths.
Overview photography
Guerrero spans the hillside silver-town streets of Taxco, the high-rise bay curve of Acapulco, and the laid-back beaches and lagoons around Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, giving photographers subjects from cliff-diving drama to intimate mangrove reflections.
Items photography
Best times to shoot
Light, weather, and seasonal considerations.
- Overview
- Taxco's hillside streets sit at moderate elevation with crisp, cooler morning light, while the coastal lowlands around Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa stay warm and humid, favoring early or late golden hours over the flat midday sun.
Photography tips
Make your shots stand out.
Check show schedules before visiting La Quebrada, since the cliff-diving performances run at set times rather than continuously
Bring a telephoto lens for both the La Quebrada divers and the wading birds of Barra de Potosi lagoon, since both subjects call for distance
Pack a fast, wide-aperture lens and a high-ISO capable body for the low interior light inside Grutas de Cacahuamilpa
Bring a polarizing filter for the coastal and lagoon shots around Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, where glare off water is constant
Visit Taxco's Mirador del Cristo and Santa Prisca facade in the November-to-April dry season for the clearest hillside and sky visibility
As with any visit to Guerrero, check current local conditions before traveling and keep to the well-established, commonly visited photography spots covered here