The Pacific coast

The Pacific coast is another ideal beach destination, with year-round good weather. This area covers a beautiful stretch of coastline, including the popular town of Puerto Vallarta, once a small fishing village and still maintaining part of its quaint charm. Along the coast are a scattering of boutique beach hotels, many in very remote locations and offering everything from birdwatching and riding to world-class golf.

Away from the coast, Guadalajara, a modern metropolis built around a historic quarter, has several fine museums, and the town of Tequila with its many distilleries is just an hour away.

Although sprawling Acapulco is Mexico’s most famous Pacific resort, there are a number of exclusive hotels stretching north to Manzanillo offering a more intimate and secluded experience. To the south, the small resort of Zihuatanejo has grown from a fishing village and coconut plantation, and its lovely beaches and charming yet luxurious hotels have ensured its popularity.

The coast south of Acapulco is very pretty and quite dramatic in parts. Isolated as a region until fairly recently, it has some wonderful stretches of beach and attracts surfers and turtle-watchers alike. Puerto Escondido, once a sleepy fishing village, is now a thriving travellers’ destination, and Huatulco further along the coast has top class luxury hotels, casinos and golf-courses.

Our preferred accommodation

Best Western Hotel Ceballos

City hotel - Colima
Just inland from Manzanillo, this is a nice hotel on the main square in the colonial town of Colima.
Camino Real - Zaashila

Beach hotel - Huatulco
A large hotel of Moorish design, on a secluded beach on the outskirts of town.
Casa Delfin Sonriente

Beach hotel - Trocones, Zihuatanejo
A small and simple beach-side lodge, on a long beach with excellent surfing opportunities. The village has a couple of bars and restaurants and it has a safe and tranquil feel.
Hacienda de San Antonio

Estancia/Ranch - Near Colima
A stunning luxury property set in a beautiful area of the country, surrounded by rolling hills and volcanoes. There is a large pool with views to the volcano of Colima and there are plenty of living rooms and terraces from where to enjoy the views and relax.
Hotel Santa Fé

Beach hotel - Puerto Escondido
A pretty hotel set around two pools on an enormous surfing beach. The restaurant has lovely views of the sea and specialises in vegetarian dishes.
La Casa Que Canta

Beach hotel - Zihuatanejo
Cut into the hill-side, this gorgeous hotel has stunning views over the sea. A path leads over the hill and round the bay to Playa Ropa - a five minute walk.
Las Alamandas

Beach hotel - 1½ hours north of Manzanillo
Owned by Isabel Goldsmith, who inherited the tract of land the property now sits on from her grandfather. Las Alamandas is a tastefully decorated villa hotel on a secluded beach and surrounded by lush gardens and 1,500 acres of nature reserve.
Las Hadas

Beach hotel - Manzanillo
A large golf and beach resort in the Hotel Zone of the town.
The Viceroy Zihuatanejo

Beach hotel - Zihuatanejo
This hotel is currently closed. In a prime beach-front position on Playa Ropa, overlooking Zihuatanejo. The hotel is very stylish, with a lagoon and two pools (one of which is salt water) and tropical flowers and shrubs in the grounds. It was formerly called Villa del Sol and Tides Zihuatanejo.