Zihuatanejo: Las Gatas Kayaking & Snorkeling with Lunch

Paddle to a Sheltered Reef, Snorkel the Seawall, Eat on the Sand

You get picked up at your hotel, paddle 45 minutes to a protected beach, snorkel a coral seawall for an hour, eat lunch on the sand, and paddle back: all with a guide, gear, and transportation included. The fixed schedule means you're back by mid-afternoon, and the calm water inside the seawall is what makes the snorkeling reliable.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayaking and snorkeling at Las Gatas

• Pick up at hotel in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo
• Travel to La Ropa Beach
• Get fitted with kayak and lifejacket
• Paddle 45 minutes to Las Gatas Beach
• Pause for cold drink
• Snorkel for one hour at seawall
• Return to shore for lunch on beach
• Relax on beach for 1 hour 45 minutes
• Kayak back to La Ropa Beach
• Drop off at hotel around 3:30 P.M.

The experience

The guide meets you at your hotel in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo and drives you to La Ropa Beach, where you get fitted into a kayak and lifejacket. He's fluent in English, patient with questions, and doesn't rush the gear check. Then you paddle. Forty-five minutes alongside him to Las Gatas Beach: the water stays calm because of the seawall that protects the cove, which is also why the snorkeling works so well here. You're not fighting current or swell. About halfway there he'll pull up and ask if you want a cold beer or water before the next part.

The snorkel happens on the inner surface of that seawall, where hermit crabs, sea urchins, and tropical fish live among the coral formations. You can swim out to the underwater Jesus statue (locals call it the king of kings), and the visibility is usually good enough to see it clearly. An hour in the water, moving at your own pace, with the guide nearby. After that you come back to shore and eat lunch on the beach: fish filet, shrimp, chicken fajitas, or cheese quesadillas, depending on what you choose. Then you have almost two hours to just sit there, swim again if you want, or do nothing at all.

The paddle back to La Ropa takes another 45 minutes, and the whole tour wraps up around 3:30 p.m. when the driver drops you at your hotel. Bring cash if you want an extra drink. That's not included. The tour lasts five hours total, and you'll need at least a moderate level of fitness for the kayaking, but it's not a race. The seawall keeps the water manageable, which is the whole reason this spot works for snorkeling in the first place.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, air-conditioned transportation to La Ropa Beach, a fitted kayak and lifejacket, a 45-minute paddle to Las Gatas, a one-hour snorkel tour of the seawall with all gear provided, lunch on the beach with a choice of fish filet, shrimp, chicken fajitas, or cheese quesadillas, nearly two hours of free time to swim or relax, and the return paddle back to La Ropa Beach with drop-off at your hotel around 3:30 p.m. Your guide speaks English fluently and stays with you throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Luis de la Maza Ixtapa Zihuatanejo tours

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want snorkeling and kayaking in one morning without arranging your own transport or equipment. The seawall keeps the water calm enough that you're not fighting conditions, and the fixed schedule gets you back to your hotel by mid-afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the kayaking part?

The paddle to Las Gatas takes 45 minutes, and the return paddle is another 45 minutes. You'll also have about two hours of free time on the beach after lunch.

What's included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation, kayak and snorkel gear, lifejacket, lunch, and an English-speaking guide. Drinks beyond lunch are cash only.

Is the snorkeling difficult?

No. The seawall creates a sheltered cove, so the water is calm. You snorkel at your own pace for about an hour. You need moderate fitness for the kayaking, not the snorkeling.

What can I eat for lunch?

You choose from fish filet, shrimp, chicken fajitas, or cheese quesadillas.

What time does the tour end?

The tour concludes around 3:30 p.m. with drop-off at your hotel.

Do I need snorkeling experience?

No. The guide is with you, the water is protected by the seawall, and the coral and fish are close to the surface.

What should I bring?

Beach clothes, sunscreen, and cash if you want drinks beyond what's included in lunch.