Troncones Surf Day Trip from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

The surf town 30 minutes north of Zihua

Troncones is a small Pacific surf town about 30 km north of Zihuatanejo on the Costa Grande coast. Population around 600. It’s been a working fishing village since long before tourism arrived, and the surf community started forming in the 1970s when American expatriate surfers discovered the consistent sand-bottom break that runs along Troncones’ main beach. Today it’s the surf alternative to Zihua’s calm-water beaches — for travelers who want bigger waves, a quieter scene, and a different feel from Ixtapa’s resort zone.

For Krystal Ixtapa guests, Troncones is a 35-45 minute drive north on Federal Highway 200. It’s a half-day or full-day trip — and a worthwhile overnight if you want a totally different version of the Costa Grande for one or two nights of your stay.

What’s actually there

Playa Troncones is the main beach — a 4-km open-Pacific beach with consistent sand-bottom break running its length. Wave heights typical 3-6 feet, occasionally 8-10 in winter swell weeks. The northern third is the beginner zone (gentler waves, surf school operations); the central section is intermediate; the southern third has the more advanced break.

Surfing. Troncones has 5-6 surf schools and 2-3 board rental operations. Standard 90-minute group lesson runs $40-60 with board included. Instructors are mostly long-term local expatriates and Mexican surfers who’ve worked the break since the 1990s. Private lesson $80-120, recommended if you’re a beginner-intermediate trying to break into intermediate waves.

Restaurants. Troncones has a real food scene for its size. Tropic of Cancer (the long-running restaurant on the beach, breakfast and dinner). Lupita’s (casual Mexican lunch). The Inn at Manzanillo Bay (upscale dinner, on the south end of the beach, sunset reservations recommended). Caracol Restaurant (regional cuisine, beachfront).

Yoga. Troncones has a small but established yoga community. Daily drop-in classes at the Present Moment Retreat (long-running studio), occasional retreats at the various small beach hotels. $15-25 drop-in.

Hotels and overnights. A handful of small beach hotels and rental houses — none over 25 rooms. The Inn at Manzanillo Bay, Casa de la Tortuga, Hotel Troncones are the established options. $80-300 per night depending on season.

Wave conditions by season

• April-October — generally smaller, more consistent waves (3-5 feet). Best for beginners and intermediate surfers. Warmer water (78-82°F).
• November-March — bigger swells (5-8 feet typical, occasionally 10+). Better for experienced surfers, harder for beginners. Cooler water (72-76°F).
• Hurricane season (June-October) — occasional large swells from passing storms. Some weeks have great surf, others have flat conditions. Less predictable than winter.

For first-time surfers, April-June is the smartest window. Consistent gentle waves, warm water, and lighter crowds than the high-season weeks.

What to bring

• Reef-safe sunscreen — required in the surf zone, sun is intense
• Rash guard or surf shirt — saves you from rash from the board
• Cash — many Troncones spots are cash-only
• Closed-toe shoes for the beach if you’ll be walking on hot sand mid-day
• Light rain gear during hurricane season — afternoon storms are common June-September

Half-day vs full-day vs overnight

Half-day (5-6 hours): Drive up, surf lesson + practice (2-3 hours), lunch, drive back. Doable from 8 AM resort departure to 2 PM resort return.

Full day (9-10 hours): Add a yoga class in the morning OR sunset dinner at the Inn at Manzanillo Bay. Recommended for return visitors who want to spend a real day in the village.

Overnight or two-night stay: The smart pick if you want to sample the Troncones vibe properly. Sunset dinner, beach evening, sleep in a beach hotel, dawn surf the next morning, leisurely beachfront breakfast, drive back. Materially better experience than a day-trip if you have the schedule flexibility — Troncones at night, when the day-trippers leave, is a different town.

How to get there from your resort

• From Krystal Ixtapa: 35-45 minute drive north on Federal Highway 200. Taxi $35-50 each way (one-way booking is fine; return taxis are easy to find from the village). Self-drive saves $40-60 round trip; rental car at $40-60 per day for the day’s drive.
• By bus: ATM/Vallarta Plus buses run from the Ixtapa-Zihua bus station to Troncones roughly every 2 hours from 8 AM to 6 PM. About $4-6 each way. 50-minute ride.
• Guided tour: A handful of operators run Troncones surf-day packages from Ixtapa hotels. $90-150 per person. Most include transport + lesson + lunch.

What to skip

Trying to drive Troncones-to-Ixtapa after dark on Highway 200. The road is unlit in stretches and has occasional cattle, debris, or stopped vehicles. Daylight only for self-drivers.

Booking a Troncones day trip during a major hurricane warning. The break can become genuinely dangerous, and rip currents along the entire 4-km beach intensify. Local surf schools will close on bad-weather days; respect the closure.