Playa La Madera

Playa La Madera (Wood Beach), a stretch of sand punctuated by rocks between Zihuatanejo’s Municipal beach and the promontory over which the road to La Ropa passes, offers occasional waves for the surfer as well as a number of sea-view restaurants, bungalows, condominiums and hotels.

There is a beachfront walkway affording a pleasant stroll and view of Zihuatanejo bay, that takes one over the rocky outcroppings between La Madera and town, and carries on toward La Ropa along the shoreline rocks affording a great view into the bay and back toward town. It is not long and only takes a short time to traverse. Although lighting is provided along the path, it is suggested that you always walk it accompanied rather than alone, especially at night.

The walkway begins near town and the museum as a continuation of Fisherman’s Walk (Paseo del Pescador) and is accessible via the arched footbridge over the flood control canal in that area. It winds along the shoreline giving view of La Casa Que Canta and Villa de la Roca perched on the rocks on the way to La Ropa. Halfway along the walk is a small pebble beach and a view towards Puerto Mio, the boat moorings and the entrance to Zihuatanejo bay. Waves wash up along the walkway in a refreshing spray — watch out, though: Sometimes they’re strong enough to really soak you!

Once at La Madera Beach, the walkway disappears into the sand, to reappear again around further rock promontories as you progress toward the end of the walkway below Villa Xihuacán, at which point the walkway ends.

The accommodations along the Playa Madera hillside and beachfront, given the slope that rises directly behind the beach, generally provide great views of Zihuatanejo Bay and are washed with cooling sea breezes. They are also extremely convenient to town via the walking path or more inland streets. A block or so back from the beach, on the other side of the beachfront hill, is Calle Adelita, where a growing selection of excellent and interesting small restaurants has sprung up and continues to evolve year-by-year.