Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Travel Risk — Elevated Risk (65/100)
Is Ixtapa Zihuatanejo safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo scores 65/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates Mexico Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 29 May 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 13 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). The US State Department rates Guerrero, where Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is, Level 4: Do Not Travel, higher than Mexico overall (Level 2). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. CDC travel health notice: Level 1, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico (23 Dec 2025). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Disease & health (score 30)
Government advisory (score 55)
September 27, 2026
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 65 out of 100 (elevated risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is government advisory at 55/100; the lowest-rated category is disease & health at 30/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Mexico travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Ixtapa Zihuatanejo to visit in 2026?
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo currently sits at 65/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the elevated-risk tier. Travelers should plan more carefully than the global average — read the Actions section below before booking. The highest-rated risk category for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is government advisory (55/100), and the lowest is disease & health (30/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: The US State Department advises against all travel to Guerrero, so the score is held at 65 or higher.
A score of 65 is higher than 87% of the cities we score.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 10, 2026
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico currently has a baseline composite risk score of 65 out of 100 with a US State Department advisory level of 2. An active orange disaster alert is in place for tropical cyclone SIMON-26 affecting the region, alongside a Level 1 global dengue health notice from the CDC.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Government advisory (score 55/100): Read your country's current official advisory within 7 days of travel. Register with your embassy on arrival if available.
- Political instability (score 50/100): Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings. Monitor news the morning of travel. Have a flexible departure plan.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime conditions are generally secure along major corridors and commercial districts. Keep bags zipped and avoid displaying high-value items openly.
Risk levels elevate noticeably after dark outside main central zones. Avoid walking alone through unlit parks, alleys, or quiet transit stations; favor pre-booked door-to-door transport.
Safety by Traveler Type in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Local laws and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ travelers vary widely by country and are not captured in our category scores. The official advisory/political indicators are elevated. Read your government LGBTQ+ travel guidance carefully and weigh trip purpose against current conditions.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo for solo travelers (Crime 45/100 · Transport 35/100), women traveling solo (Crime 45/100), families with children (Health 30/100 · Natural disaster 40/100), older travelers (Health 30/100 · Transport 35/100) and business travelers (Digital 25/100 · Money 40/100 · Transport 35/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
View complete category score breakdown & baseline metrics
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Mexico Travel Advisory - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-07-03
The Drought notification level is Orange.
-
Green notification for tropical cyclone TRUDY-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 2195 . GREEN · ~353 km away · 2026-10-13
From 13/10/2026 to 16/10/2026, a Hurricane/Typhoon > 74 mph (maximum wind speed of 222 km/h) TRUDY-26 was active in EastPacific. The cyclone affects these countries: México (vulnerability Medium). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 219
-
Green flood alert in Mexico GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-18
On 17/08/2026, a flood started in Mexico, lasting until 12/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 21 deaths and 1663 displaced .
-
Drought is on going in Mexico, United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-04-30
The Drought notification level is Green.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 17:23:17 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Wildfires | — | — | 1 | 10 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tropical Cyclones | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Most wildfire events within 100 km of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo happened in April (10 of 19 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
Significant Earthquakes (USGS M5.5+ within 150 km)
1 major seismic event recorded within 150 km over the past 5 years.
- Largest: M6.0 on 11 Dec 2022 (120 km away) — USGS details
CDC Traveler Health Notices for Mexico
- Level 1 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico (Level 1, 23 Dec 2025)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Domain).
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Mexico travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Mexico entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico WATCH · 2025-12-23
Illness and death due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) have been reported in the northern region of Mexico along the U.S. border, particularly in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
The most weather-stable two-month window for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 21°C to 29°C and monthly rain averages 12 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include hurricane season in June–November; heavy rain season in July–September. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 5, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has 3 hospitals and 2 pharmacies within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Cruz Roja
- Hospital: Hospital General
- Hospital: Seguro social Instituto Mexicano
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Koyuca
- Pharmacy: Farmapronto
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Mexico)
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General | 911 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
Most hotels provide on‑site doctors or 24‑hour on‑call medical services, though fees and night surcharges apply. Ambulance services are available via Cruz Roja Mexicana in Zihuatanejo, and clinics such as CEDIZ offer imaging and basic care.
Common scam patterns
- Accommodation fraud. In the summer of 2026 the Zihuatanejo Tourism Department received two complaints about fraudulent lodging offers. False advertisements on Facebook promoted rental homes that either did not exist or were misrepresented. Tip: Verify the legitimacy of rental listings through official tourism channels or reputable booking platforms before paying.
Area notes
- Ixtapa (resort strip). Purpose‑built beach resort with organized hotel corridors and wide boulevards, generally considered safe for visitors.
- Zihuatanejo (fishing village). Traditional town with narrow streets, local markets and family‑run hotels; popular with families and generally low‑risk.
- Outskirts of Ixtapa. Crime rates are higher on the city’s periphery; keep valuables secure and stay alert.
Frequently asked questions about Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
Is Ixtapa Zihuatanejo safe to visit?
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo currently scores 65/100 on our composite travel risk index (elevated risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Mexico (Level 2 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Ixtapa Zihuatanejo · Methodology
Run a personalized assessment for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
Every editorial change to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
View full data sources, coverage scope, and registry notes
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.