Gay travelers who want a beach vacation in Mexico default to Puerto Vallarta. It has the gayborhood, speedos, pool parties, and bar crawls. It makes sense for a certain crowd. But if you’re looking for somewhere calmer and just as welcoming, there’s a small city tucked into a bay further down the coast that deserves your immediate attention.
Another Mexico to Love
Zihuatanejo isn’t famous. That’s what makes it perfect for a couple or anyone looking for relaxation more than a party-like atmosphere. The small town is conveniently located near an international airport, less expensive than the bigger cities, and boasts one of the Pacific coast’s best beaches.
The town doesn’t have a Zona Romantica, but it does have an annual Pride parade, rainbow flags scattered through the village, a gay bar, and a gay-owned boutique B&B perched above Playa La Ropa that caters specifically to LGBTQ+ guests.
Where to Stay in Zihuatanejo
The Thompson Zihuatanejo, right on the beach, is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by Queer Destinations. Within an hour of checking in, my partner and I had met a lesbian couple who’d been coming back every year to escape the midwest. They’d found their place and before we left, we understood why.
The Pacific coast of Mexico is famous for pounding surf, but Zihuatanejo’s protective bay blocks all of that. The water is calm, clear, and warm enough to float in for hours without thinking about anything in particular. We spent a full day doing exactly that, neck-deep in the bay, letting the gentle current rock away our cares.
I hurt my knee shortly before the trip and walking long distances was painful. Without making a production of it, they put us in a suite with a sunken living area and a private plunge pool, and kept the itinerary manageable. With the wide, smooth paths and ramps, the property was disability friendly.
Exploring Zihuatanejo
When we wanted to see the town, they arranged a driver who steered us through the flat parts of the village, stopping at the mercado, the touristy shopping district, and a beach cantina where we ate fresh ceviche while he explained what it was like to live behind the postcard.
The big resort chains weren’t reinvesting in the town, he said, but Canadian and LGBTQ snowbirds who stayed for the winter months had stabilized things, and their tax contributions were funding infrastructure improvements. It wasn’t a chamber of commerce pitch, it was a refreshingly real conversation with someone who loves their hometown, but knows not everything is perfect.
We stopped at a hilltop Parthenon, where local artists sell out of small boutiques and the view of the bay below will make you pull out your phone for selfies, before heading back to the resort. Back at the Thompson, we considered taking the water taxi over to nearby Las Gatas beach, where crystal blue waters provide the perfect snorkeling conditions, but opted for a tequila tasting instead. After several shots of tequila and the day’s walk, the cool plunge surrounded by foliage was a tranquil way to relax for a while before dinner at one of the resort restaurants.
Relaxation in Zihuatanejo
The next day, we opted to spend the entire day lounging on the sand under umbrellas and splashing in the water, but when we ventured back out of the waves for tuna tostadas and pina coladas, the staff had arranged a couple’s massage for us. They had figured out quickly that we were there for romance, not adventure.
They even built a cabana on the beach for us. Two chairs and cocktails sat waiting under a gauzy white curtain wound with roses and tropical flowers as the sun set behind the mountain. Friendly guests strolled by, offering to take photos and asking if we were celebrating a landmark anniversary or engagement. When they found out it was just a weekend getaway, several told us that the resort had provided special moments for them too.
Am Amazing Option You Won’t Want to Miss
Zihuatanejo won’t replace Puerto Vallarta on anyone’s list. It’s not trying to. But if what you want is calm water, a town that’s figured out how to welcome queer visitors without building a whole industry around it, and a resort staff that pays attention, it’s the best Pacific coast weekend you haven’t taken yet.
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Bil Browning and Uriel Zambrano (Uriel & Bil – @the.tagalongs are friends of Instinct Magazine. We’ve joined them on other fabulous excursions in the past and hope to do so again in the future, but we missed out on the one covered above. Thanks Uriel and Bil for sharing your journey with our readers.