For travelers looking for adventures beyond Cabo and Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s idyllic west coast, IXP/ZIH International Airport is a short 3.5-hour flight from Los Angeles. Direct flights are also available from Houston, Phoenix, Chicago and Minneapolis. The most recommended time to visit is November through April, otherwise known as the dry season. However, if a quieter vibe is more your style, May to October, while called “rainy season” still offers plenty of sunny beach time in between short showers. From the airport, taxis are plentiful and reliable, waiting to bring you to Zihuatanejo which is less than 30 minutes away.

Stay at the beautifully renovated Thompson Zihuatanejo, where sleek mid-century modern elements meet barefoot luxury. The various artist collabs on the 56-room property make it an aesthetic dream, mixing lush palm trees and cool lagoons with graphic murals, custom furniture, and natural materials. Groups will enjoy the new swim-up suites that surround a shared private pool, complete with views of Zihuatanejo Bay. Booking the Thompson Suite will ensure that a chef is there whipping up fresh guacamole and margaritas in the open-air kitchen upon your arrival.

Stroll barefoot on the velvety sand of Playa la Ropa, easily the most picturesque beach in Zihuatanejo, and many say, in Mexico. Named for the clothing that tumbled onto the beach after a shipwreck during the pirate era, it's also a nesting spot for sea turtles which are a common sight from fall to early spring.

LOOT, named as a tribute to Zihuatanejo’s famed pirate history, began as a coffee shop with their own local roast and has since grown into a haven of artists and creatives. From the art gallery on the second floor that overlooks the stylish retail space to the Friday night DJ sets spun by an endless stream of visiting and local musicians, to the restaurant on the third floor helmed by Montauk Surf Club’s Robert Sieber, LOOT is the place to immerse in Zihua’s creative energy.

Breathtaking vistas, majestic palms, and an infinity-edge pool greet guests at Casa Angelina’s mountainside retreat overlooking the Sierra Madre del Sur coastal mountain range. The Enrique Zozaya designed estate is set amongst four levels of jungle above Zihuatanejo’s famous Playa la Ropa beach, offering Zihuatanejo’s most expansive views. Casa Angelina has become the venue of choice for brides and grooms across Mexico and the world. Artfully designed spaces for up to 120 guests and overnight accommodations for 14 make for the perfect destination wedding weekend.

Grab a seat on the colorful patio and sip on handcrafted mezcal created in house by brothers Antonio and Felipe. Set in the heart of festive downtown Zihuatanejo, Angustina is part of a wave of young local entrepreneurs infusing a cosmopolitan energy into the community. Among the kitchen’s offerings are a tasty local ceviche topped with flowers, herbs and chile paste.

It’s pretty bucket list-y but horseback riding on an expansive beach with friends as the sun dips below the horizon is an epic way to work up a dinner appetite. Soak in Zihuatanejo’s dazzling natural beauty along the way and end at Barrio de Potosi, a fishing village that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time.

Ceniza, which translates to ash, is the Thompson’s dinner offering centered around indigenous fire cooking techniques. The open roasting cage made from upcycled metal that sits in front of the restaurant infuses meats and produce with a deep smoky flavor. Finish the savory feast with the lemongrass creme topped with burnt palm sugar and coconut compote, ginger and lime.

A boat ride around Zihuatanejo’s diamond-shaped bay is the perfect way to take in a different view of the surroundings. Sail towards the rocky cliffs of Playa Madera and past tree-lined Playa la Ropa towards Playa las Gatas, a sheltered lagoon and beach at the opposite end with an active coral reef known as one of the best snorkeling spots in Zihua.

Immerse your culinary senses by visiting Zihua’s main market, Mercado Municipal, ideally with Chef Miguel Baltazar, who will guide you to his favorite vendors, purchase fresh catch and local spices, and then show you how to cook it all up beachside on an open-air charcoal grill. The best part? Sitting down to devour everything you’ve made under a shady palapa.

With 3 miles of pristine beachfront and legendary breaks, Troncones Beach is a quiet surf town about 20 minutes away from Zihuatanejo. Lined with many charming shops and casual eateries that accommodate the surf lifestyle, there’s plenty to see and do in between sets of waves.

Bliss out at Present Moment Retreat, a boutique hotel with daily yoga and meditation offerings on a pavilion facing Troncones Beach. Rejuvenate with the diverse array of wellness treatments or the vegan detox menu or simply enjoy an afternoon poolside with a day pass.

This dreamy, design-driven hotel is home to Terraza, an open-air bar and restaurant in Troncones. Under the handmade pergola and lush palm fronds, guests and visitors can sip refreshing craft cocktails and nosh on bites that range from a green salad with broad beans to Ensenada style fish tacos.

Local favorite Carmelitas is a cozy breakfast spot specializing in Mexican specialties that have been passed down in Carmelita’s own family for generations. The food and atmosphere are as warm as Carmelita herself and it continues to be a must-stop for all the chefs and culinary experts who visit Zihuatanejo.

Cultura Tropical is an oasis of sustainably-made dresses and accessories that fit right into the laid-back Zihuatanejo lifestyle. Created by local designer Zayury Jimenez, all the pieces are made from raw material in Guerrero and evoke the warmth of the Mexican Pacific.

Sip on seasonal cocktails and light bites like crudités with passion fruit and avocado dip at HAO, Thompson Zihuatanejo’s all-day restaurant. The chic midcentury interior will make aesthetes feel right at home while the menu ranges from fresh seafood crudos to more traditional items with a Mexican twist, like the crispy calamari with habanero black mayo.

Along the coast is a scenic walkway aptly named Paseo de Pescador, “fisherman’s walk” that leads from the rocky cliffs of Playa Madera right to Zihuatanejo’s dock, Playa Principal. Stroll along the charming path and end at Playa Principal, where the fisherman dock their bright blue fishing boats and sell their catch directly to locals.

The Paseo de Pescador walkway also ends at the Costa Grande Archaeological Museum, with six exhibition rooms that showcase the ceramics, tools, and artifacts from prehistoric cultures in the region. The adjacent courtyard is also home to a lively vegan farmer’s market on Saturday mornings.

A short hike up a rocky path leads to these magnificent ruins, a surreal visual of lavish Greek architecture and a sweeping view of Zihuatanejo Bay. Once the residence of a cop with dubious ties, its formerly legendary parties are now part of local lore.