Playa Las Gatas
A 400-meter sheltered beach on the southern shore of Zihuatanejo Bay, protected by a 15th-century Tarascan-built breakwater and accessible only by water taxi. The best snorkel beach in the region with the densest fish population on the Costa Grande coast.
The boat-only snorkel beach across the bay
Playa Las Gatas is a 400-meter sheltered beach on the southern shore of Zihuatanejo Bay, accessible only by water taxi from the Zihua pier (10 minutes across the bay). It’s the best snorkel beach in the region — protected by an ancient man-made breakwater built by Tarascan king Calzontzin in the 15th century, with calm clear water inside the breakwater and the most concentrated fish population of any easily accessible beach in the Costa Grande.
For Ixtapa visitors, Las Gatas is a half-day excursion: 15 minutes from resort to the Zihua pier, 10-minute panga across the bay, 3-4 hours on the beach, return by 4:30 PM.
Why Las Gatas is the snorkel pick
The breakwater. Calzontzin (the Tarascan ruler) built a stone breakwater across the small bay in the 1400s, creating a calm shallow swimming pool inside it. The breakwater is still there today — submerged but visible from above water. Inside the breakwater, the water is essentially flat and crystal clear, with sand bottom and abundant reef fish.
The reef. The shallow zone inside the breakwater has the densest fish population of any accessible Costa Grande beach. Common sightings: parrotfish, sergeant majors, blue tang, butterflyfish, snappers, the occasional sea turtle. Visibility 30-50 feet most days.
The setting. The beach itself is small and palapa-lined, with maybe 8-10 working restaurants along the back of the sand. Mountains rise directly behind. The vibe is unhurried — the hotels haven’t reached this beach because there are no roads.
The legend behind the name
“Las Gatas” means “the cats” in Spanish, but there are no cats on the beach. The name refers to a small species of nurse shark (tiburón gato, “cat shark”) that historically inhabited the protected pool inside the breakwater. They were docile, harmless to swimmers, and locally regarded as a pet population. The shark population has largely disappeared due to development pressure, but the name stuck.
How to get there
Public water taxi from Zihua pier. $5-8 round trip. Pangas leave the pier about every 15-20 minutes from 8 AM to 5 PM (last return around 5:30). Open-air pangas, 10-passenger capacity, 10-minute crossing. Buy tickets at the pier office.
Snorkel tour bundles. $40-75 per person, includes round-trip pier transport, boat, snorkel gear, and beach time. Most operators in Ixtapa run this as a half-day excursion.
The panga is the better pick for travelers who’ll provide their own snorkel gear and want flexibility. The bundled tour is fine if you don’t have your own gear.
What to do at Las Gatas
Snorkel — the obvious thing. Walk the beach to the breakwater (eastern end of the beach), enter the water from the rocks at the base, and swim along the inside of the breakwater for 30-90 minutes. Best visibility is the eastern half of the breakwater.
Lunch at a palapa — fresh fish, ceviche, frozen drinks, regional Costa Grande cuisine. Notable spots: Daniel’s (the long-running locals’ favorite), El Manantial (next door, similar quality), Otilia’s (the cheapest, most basic, popular with budget travelers).
Beach time — the swim zone outside the breakwater is also calm and good for general swimming. Sand-bottom, no rocks in the swim zone.
The lighthouse hike — a 25-minute trail goes up the headland behind the beach to a small lighthouse and an overlook. Free, decent hike, good views back across Zihua Bay. Bring water shoes for the rocky path.
Diving — Las Gatas has a small scuba operator that runs a single-tank shore dive at the breakwater for $40-60. Nothing dramatic — same fish you see snorkeling — but a useful introduction dive for first-time divers wanting a calm protected entry.
What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Cash ($30-60 budget for the day — panga, snorkel rental, lunch, drinks)
- Snorkel gear if you have it (rentals at the beach are $8-12 for the day)
- Underwater camera or GoPro
- Water shoes — for the lighthouse hike and the breakwater entry rocks
- Light cover-up
When to go
Mornings (8-11 AM) — Best snorkeling visibility, fewest people, calmest water. Strongly recommended for the snorkel-focused visitor.
Mid-day (11 AM-2 PM) — Beach gets busy. Lunch at the palapas is fine, snorkeling visibility drops slightly from boat traffic and stirring.
Afternoon (2-5 PM) — Crowds thin, light is good for photos, last good 2-hour window. Last panga back is 5:30 PM.
How to get to Zihua pier from your resort
- From Krystal Ixtapa: 15-minute taxi to the Zihua pier (the Muelle Municipal in old town centro). $7-10 each way.
- By bus: Sitio bus to Zihua centro, then 5-minute walk to the pier.
- Drive yourself: Free street parking near the pier or a paid lot ($3-5 for the day).
The 15th-century breakwater is the actual story
Calzontzin, ruler of the Tarascan empire, ordered the stone breakwater built in the 1400s — 50 years before the Spanish arrived in the region — specifically to create a calm protected swimming pool for the royal family who summered in Zihuatanejo. It's still there today, submerged but visible from above water, and it's the entire reason the beach has the snorkeling it has. Most visitors don't know any of this. Walking to the eastern end of the beach and recognizing what you're seeing transforms a routine snorkel into one of the more historically interesting swims you'll do in Mexico.
What you'll see
Stay closest at Krystal Ixtapa
Krystal Ixtapa is the closest Vacation Club Promo property for this excursion. Promotional packages from $435 for 5–7 nights. Resort concierge handles tour booking and pickup directly from the lobby.
View Krystal IxtapaThe resort is 15 minutes from the Zihua pier — easy combination with old town Zihua market visit on the morning of a Las Gatas afternoon.