7 Best Family All-Inclusive Resorts in Ixtapa

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Book the Hotel Zone for a first family trip to Ixtapa. It sits on Playa Palmar, 23 to 25 minutes from the airport. Punta Ixtapa and the Playa Linda road add ten minutes, hold three of the seven resorts, and sit next to the boats for Ixtapa Island. Read the safety FAQ first.

Best Family All-Inclusive Resorts in Ixtapa

Hotel Zone or Punta Ixtapa for Families

The airport transfer is the quickest difference between the two areas. The beach and the kids’ facilities do the rest.

• Hotel Zone The Hotel Zone is a 23 to 25-minute drive from the airport and runs along Playa Palmar. Four of the seven resorts sit here, so a family can compare pools and kids’ clubs along one strip, and the beach is on the doorstep.
• Punta Ixtapa Punta Ixtapa is 33 to 34 minutes from the airport, along the road to Playa Linda. Two resorts sit on the point and a third sits on the Playa Linda road, apart from the Hotel Zone strip. Boats for Ixtapa Island leave from Playa Linda, which makes this the shorter trip for a boat day.

Rooms That Sleep a Family of Four

Two adults and two children need two beds. Card prices are per night for that party, from February to March and June.

• Two beds in one room Five cards list a Best Room with two double or two queen beds for two adults and two children. At Barceló and Krystal you choose between two double beds and one extra-large bed when you book, if available. Request the two-bed set-up for a 6 and 9-year-old.
• Suites and villas A suite or villa gives children their own space. Barceló lists a 73 m2 Family Villa and Azul lists a Family Suite, but neither states its beds, so the cards stick to rooms with beds confirmed.

Kids’ Clubs, Pools and Slides

Facilities for children differ more than the star count suggests. These are the ones the hotels publish.

• Kids’ clubs Barceló’s Barcy Club takes children aged 5 to 12 and runs a morning and an afternoon session. Azul lists a kids’ club among its services but gives no ages or hours. Ask any resort for club ages and hours for your dates before you book.
• Pools and slides Krystal has two pools, one with a slide and one for small children. Holiday Inn Resort has a children’s pool with a lifeguard on duty during pool hours. Qualton has a family pool with a splash area, and a separate adults-only pool.
• Water park Azul describes a water park with slides and umbrella fountains on its own pages. Slide counts and age limits are not published, so confirm them with the resort.

Beaches and Boat Trips From Playa Linda

These are Pacific beaches with real surf. Swim only where flags are green and a lifeguard is posted, and keep children within standing depth.

• Playa Palmar Playa El Palmar runs along the Hotel Zone. Surf and red flags change swimming conditions, and the Pacific can send a strong shore break or currents even when the water looks calm. Ask the front desk which stretch is safest that day. Barceló lists the beach as a 3-minute walk from the hotel.
• Ixtapa Island Boats to Ixtapa Island leave from Playa Linda. The island beaches Cuachalalate and Varadero have places to eat, so a family can spend the day there without packing lunch.

When to Go to Ixtapa With Kids

Dry weather runs from mid-November to mid-May. That is also when the resorts fill.

• Dry season Climate data puts the best beach and pool weather between mid-November and mid-May. Easter week and the end of December are the busiest weeks: hotel owners projected 95 percent occupancy for the last Easter week, and year end ran near 89 percent.
• Rainy season Rain falls from early June to mid-October, and September is the wettest month. October is calmer and cheaper than the winter holidays, but the Pacific hurricane season is still active.

Getting From the Airport to Your Resort

Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa International Airport is 23 to 34 minutes from these resorts by road. Local taxis are not allowed to pick up at the terminal.

• Airport transfer Pre-book a private transfer or use the airport’s own ground transportation service. Give the transfer company your flight number.
• Between towns Zihuatanejo town lies 6.5 km from Ixtapa. A local bus links the two in about 15 minutes.

FAQs

1. Which Ixtapa resort has the best kids’ club?

Barceló Ixtapa All Inclusive publishes the clearest one. Its Barcy Club takes children aged 5 to 12, with sessions from 9:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. Azul Ixtapa All Inclusive Resort lists a kids’ club among its services but gives no ages or hours. Barceló is the only one of the seven that publishes ages and hours.

2. Is Ixtapa safe for families?

The U.S. State Department puts Guerrero state, which includes Ixtapa, at Level 4: Do Not Travel, its highest level, because of crime. U.S. government employees are barred from traveling anywhere in Guerrero, including the tourist areas of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. Read the full advisory and its issue date on travel.state.gov before you book, and again close to your travel dates. Ask your insurer whether the policy covers a trip to Ixtapa.

3. How far is the airport from the Ixtapa hotels?

Hotel Zone resorts are 23 to 25 minutes from Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa International Airport by car. Punta Ixtapa and the Playa Linda road take 33 to 34 minutes. Local taxis are not allowed to pick up at the terminal, so pre-book a private transfer or use the airport transportation service, and give the company your flight number.

4. Which rooms sleep two adults and two children?

Look for a room with two double or two queen beds. Each Best Room on the cards is built around that set-up and listed for two adults and two children. Barceló and Krystal let you choose between two double beds and one extra-large bed, if available. Request the two-bed set-up for children aged 6 and 9 when you book.

5. Is the tap water safe to drink in Ixtapa?

Tap water in Mexico is not safe to consume, says the CDC. It also advises against swallowing water while swimming, pools included. Ask which water is treated for drinking and ice at the resort bars and restaurants. Sealed bottled or purified water is the safer pick for children, brushing teeth included.

6. What do families need to enter Mexico with children?

Each traveler needs a passport or travel document valid for the length of the stay. A completed Multiple Digital Migration Form (FMMd) is also required, and you can fill it in online, through the airline or on arrival. Keep the form until you leave. Officers can ask for a hotel reservation and a return ticket.

7. When is the best time to visit Ixtapa with kids?

Mid-November to mid-May has the best beach and pool weather. Easter week and the end of December are the busiest weeks, and hotel owners projected 95 percent occupancy for the last Easter week. Rain starts in early June and September is the wettest month. October is calmer and cheaper, though hurricane season is still active.

8. How do you get to Ixtapa Island?

Boats to Ixtapa Island leave from Playa Linda, so Punta Ixtapa resorts are the closest base. The island beaches Cuachalalate and Varadero have places to eat. Hotel Zone families drive to Playa Linda first. Qualton Club Ixtapa All Inclusive also lists a guided kayak trip to the island of roughly two hours.

9. Is every resort on the list all-inclusive?

Six of the seven are sold as all-inclusive resorts. Emporio Ixtapa sells it as an optional rate, and the price on its card is the all-inclusive rate. Room-only and breakfast rates also exist there. Check the meal plan on the rate you pick before you pay, and confirm that children’s meals are covered.