Casa Angelina Zihuatanejo

Worth getting out of bed for

Days at the hotel could be easily spent doing very little at all: laze by the pool, lose yourself in the latest page-turner, sway gently in a hammock, and make a point of catching every sunset over the bay with a chilled margarita in hand. For those of a less languid disposition, spirited Zihua has bags of bohemian charm. John Wayne and Mick Jagger used to hang out here in the 1960s, but the surfing town, thankfully, has since kept its profile low-key. Downtown, take a walk through historical cobbled streets, meandering between happy-hour bars, street-food carts and a handful of artisan shops. If you’re after pulse-raising thrills, the hotel’s staff will happily organise memorable day outs: try your hand at cigar-rolling at a nearby tobacco plantation, watch just-hatched turtles on their first daring dash to the sea, or go horse-riding on Playa Larga’s photogenic stretch of sand. The Xihuacan archaeological site is worth a visit, too, with its red-brick pyramid and intriguing museum housing hundreds of pre-Columbian artefacts. Zihua’s turquoise waters, naturally, are a major draw for surfers and snorkellers alike – particularly on nearby Isla Ixtapa, where the coral reef teems with marine life. Time a visit between December and April to catch a glimpse of the humpback whales come to loll in the warm waters.

Local restaurants

On busy Calle Heroico Colegio Militar, no-frills Carmelita’s Café is a local institution. Stop by for huevos en chile pasilla (tacos bowls filled with refried beans, plantain and a fried egg), or a comforting, savoury helping of pork pozole stew. Framed by palm and banana trees, Jungle Pizza is aptly named, and a casual spot for margheritas and margaritas. Beachfront Hao is elegant but relaxed: feast on zingy ceviches, quinoa-stuffed chillis and lobster tacos.

Local bars

A surf shop, gallery, café and bar rolled into one, Loot sprawls across three floors. Sip on head-turning cocktails in the garden; if you’re in the mood to mingle, look out for DJ nights and weekly supper clubs.