8 Best Hotels in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

This hotel was formerly the Viceroy Zihuatenejo. The main draws at this luxurious resort are striking rooms with winning Mediterranean-Mexican architecture and the spectacular location on perfect Playa la Ropa. Paths meander through lush gardens, passing coconut palms, fountains, and ponds en route to the beach. Rooms are artistically and individually designed with bright but not overpowering textiles and folk art, cream-colored adobe walls, and vaulted ceilings in some units. All rooms have terraces or balconies; suites have private (and chilly) plunge pools. Service is downright deferential, with "beach butlers" delivering everything from sunscreen to fruit skewers to your palapa. For extra wellness, there's also a small Moroccan-themed spa, an octagonal fitness center, and vegan and vegetarian dining options at the resort's restaurants. Pricey though the place is, Viceroy offers numerous Web-only promotions.

The House That Sings clings to a cliff above Playa la Ropa. All guest quarters have lovely furnishings, folk art, down pillows, and generous patios with bay views, though the decor, especially the pink-marble bathrooms, is beginning to look dated. Suites have outdoor living areas and some have jetted private infinity plunge pools. The hotel's central infinity pool seems to be airborne; tucked into the cliff below, a saltwater pool overlooks the pounding surf. The Mar y Cielo restaurant serves guests breakfast and lunch; dinners here are more formal and are open to the public, offering breathtaking views of the sun setting over the bay. Service is warm, thoughtful, and hardly noticeable (in a good way); the only trace may be the intricate flower-petal mosaic left on your bed each day.

Local architect Enrique Zozaya has created an unlikely rustic-luxury property with this six-suite boutique hotel nestled almost undetectably into the hills above Bahía Zihuatanejo. It's as if Gilligan won the lottery—which you may need to do to stay here for any length of time. An open-air palapa suite is surrounded by six air-conditioned units, all exquisitely appointed with furnishings and decorations of elemental stone, ceramic, and wood. Four of the rooms have their own private infinity pools, and there's also a small central pool for common use. The emphasis on tranquillity prohibits intrusive technology: there aren't any TVs, radios, or sound systems.

This new seven-room B&B is one of the more remote in Zihuatanejo, and the location has its plusses (tranquillity, sweeping bay views) and its minuses (it's a long walk to get anywhere, so expect to take a lot of cabs). Suites are spacious and airy, nicely decorated in neutral tones and polished concrete, each with its own private entrance, though the cheapest garden-view room is a bit cavelike. The grand suites have vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings, outdoor showers, and bay-view terraces equipped with lounge chairs and hammocks. A tasty breakfast is served daily in a palapa overlooking the infinity pool and small sundeck; with only a few snack options available (guacamole, quesadillas), it's not the best place to lounge poolside all day, though there is an honor bar stocked with beer, wine, and juice for those who want to do just that.

There's a B-movie quality to this old hotel, constructed in an angular 1960s style and now surrounded by tall trees and thick vegetation; it was last renovated and expanded in 2011 and 2012. Guest quarters are plain but well maintained and priced according to the quality of the ocean view. The cheapest, boxlike rooms on the first floor have no view; the spacious ones on the top floor scan the entire bay from hammock-equipped terraces. Furnishings are nothing special; bathrooms are tiled in blue and green; and the quality of mattresses varies from room to room—give 'em a bounce before you decide. The crashing waves below may lure you down more than 200 stairs to beach level, where there are lounge chairs, a pool, and a bar.

This is almost as enchanting as any of Zihua's luxury hotels—and at a price that won't haunt you when you get home. Rooms and services aren't extravagant, but there are many nice touches, from the lobby's unique wood-inlay floor to the staircases that wander the lush cliff-side grounds. Rooms have Talavera ceramic sinks in wooden surrounds, carved doors and furnishings from Michoacán, molded plastic bathtubs, and large balconies with hammocks, jetted tubs, and fabulous bay views, especially from the higher floors. Situated right on La Madera beach, Bistro del Mar offers simple, delicious Mediterranean food, a wonderful view, and a welcome breeze.

This intimate property above La Ropa beach has some terrific bay views from its infinity-edge pool. An all-white motif is brightened by colorful throw pillows and terra-cotta accents, as well as a few whimsical touches. All rooms have terraces with ocean views and heated plunge pools. The Grand Suite has an open-air living room with even more expansive views of the water and the countryside.

Though the namesake owner of this small, sharp hideaway overlooking Playa Madera passed away in 2005, the family has stayed true to the founder's high standards. Rooms have pristine white walls, tile floors, and balconies. The little suites still have wonderful sitting areas, bedrooms, mini-patios, and small dining areas (toasters, blenders, and coffeemakers available upon request).