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Hotel Fontán Ixtapa

Ixtapa, Mexico
4(11,533 reviews)
Family

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Hotel Fontán Ixtapa is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Ixtapa, Mexico with 474 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Buffet Dining, Fishing and Snorkeling. Travelers rate it 4/5 across 11,533 Google reviews.

Price Range
$$$ est.
Rooms
474

Amenities

Beach
Buffet Dining
Fishing
Snorkeling

Quick answers

Is Hotel Fontán Ixtapa adults only?
No — Hotel Fontán Ixtapa is a family-friendly resort that accepts children of all ages.
Where is Hotel Fontán Ixtapa?
Hotel Fontán Ixtapa is in Ixtapa, Mexico. Its address is Blvd. Paseo Ixtapa S/N, Fontán, 40880 Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Gro., Mexico.
How many rooms does Hotel Fontán Ixtapa have?
Hotel Fontán Ixtapa has 474 rooms.
Is Hotel Fontán Ixtapa all-inclusive?
Yes — Hotel Fontán Ixtapa is an all-inclusive resort, so meals, drinks and most on-site activities are covered by the rate.

Traveler Insights(21 discussions)

Hotel Fontan Ixtapa sits on Palmar Beach in the planned resort zone of Ixtapa, Guerrero, offering a family all-inclusive experience on one of Mexico's most reliably uncrowded Pacific beaches. The defining characteristic of Ixtapa as a destination is the combination of wide, wave-friendly beach with the nearby fishing village of Zihuatanejo just 7km away - close enough for cultural day trips but far enough that the resort zone stays calm and uncluttered. Families tired of the Cancun hotel zone crowds often discover Ixtapa as a revelation: similar beach quality, significantly less tourist infrastructure, and a genuine Mexican Pacific atmosphere.

The practical hotel experience at Fontan is solidly mid-tier. The beach is the hero of the stay - Palmar Beach is wide, the waves are good for bodyboarding, and the lack of overwhelming crowds makes it feel genuinely restful. Food quality is competent buffet territory rather than a dining destination. Water taxi access to Isla Ixtapa's four snorkeling beaches and to Playa Las Gatas near Zihuatanejo adds significant excursion value to a stay. The proximity to Zihuatanejo means evening meals in real Mexican restaurants are accessible by short taxi ride, letting families supplement the all-inclusive with authentic local cooking when desired.


Fontan Ixtapa works best for families seeking an affordable Pacific Mexico beach vacation who prioritize beach quality and cultural access over elaborate resort amenities. Compared to Cancun family properties at similar prices, you trade amenity volume for dramatically less crowded conditions and the unique Zihuatanejo combination. Travelers who've done Cancun multiple times and want something distinctly different on the Mexican Pacific with good family infrastructure will find Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo a compelling upgrade to their Mexico travel repertoire.

Pros

  • +Ixtapa's wide, uncrowded Palmar Beach directly in front of the hotel delivers a beach experience dramatically less crowded than Cancun or Los Cabos alternatives
  • +Proximity to Zihuatanejo, a genuine Mexican fishing village 7km away, provides cultural access that fully isolated resort zones cannot offer
  • +Playa Las Gatas near Zihuatanejo offers some of the most sheltered and calm snorkeling waters on the Mexican Pacific, accessible by water taxi
  • +Isla Ixtapa, 10 minutes offshore by water taxi, has four beaches with clear water, snorkeling, and basic restaurants for excellent day trips
  • +Family-friendly all-inclusive structure covers kids and offers children's programming, making it manageable for parents traveling with young children
  • +Significantly less expensive than comparable Cancun family all-inclusives while offering comparable beach quality on a less-crowded stretch of coast
  • +Ixtapa Golf Club (Robert Trent Jones Jr. course) is minutes from the resort for golfers wanting to play during a family beach vacation
  • +Humpback whale watching season runs December through March in the Zihuatanejo Bay area with excellent sighting rates on local boat tours

Cons

  • Ixtapa is a planned resort zone without the organic character of other Mexican beach towns - the area can feel artificial and resort-y
  • Beach has strong currents and wave action at certain tide conditions - Palmar Beach requires awareness of swimming conditions, particularly for children
  • Restaurant and food quality receives mixed reviews - the all-inclusive buffet is functional rather than excellent, and specialty dining options are limited
  • Ixtapa hotel zone has fewer independent restaurant and nightlife options than Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo San Lucas
  • Getting to Ixtapa requires flying into Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) which has limited direct international routes - often requires connecting through Mexico City
  • Rooms and facilities at Fontan reflect mid-tier positioning - comfortable but not recently renovated or design-forward
  • Limited water sports and activities infrastructure compared to Cancun mega-resorts at similar price points
  • The resort's scale means less personalized service than boutique properties, and peak season crowds can diminish the quiet beach advantage

Common Questions

What's the difference between Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo?
Ixtapa is a planned government-developed resort zone from the 1970s with the hotel strip, shopping center, and all the resort infrastructure. Zihuatanejo is the original fishing village 7km to the south - narrow streets, working harbor, excellent seafood restaurants, and an authentic Mexican beach town character. Most travelers stay in Ixtapa but take regular day trips to Zihuatanejo for dinner and the fishing village atmosphere. The combination of both in a short taxi ride is the main regional selling point.
Is Palmar Beach safe for swimming with children?
Palmar Beach has open Pacific Ocean exposure with waves and currents that vary by tide and season. On most days it's suitable for confident swimmers and great for bodyboarding and surf lessons. However, parents with young children should check daily surf/current conditions with the hotel lifeguards before entering the water. For the most protected swimming, day trips to Playa Las Gatas near Zihuatanejo - accessible by water taxi - offer extremely calm lagoon-like conditions ideal for children.
How do I get to Ixtapa and which airport should I use?
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) is 30km from the hotel zone and handles the majority of tourist arrivals. Direct flights from the US and Canada are available from some cities including seasonal charters, but many travelers connect through Mexico City (MEX). Book airport transfers in advance. The airport is small and straightforward. Some travelers fly into Acapulco (ACA) which has more routes but adds 3-4 hours of road travel.
What are the best day trips from Ixtapa?
Isla Ixtapa by water taxi (10 minutes, very affordable) has four different beaches with clear water, reef snorkeling, and basic palapa restaurants. Playa Las Gatas near Zihuatanejo has exceptional calm-water snorkeling with the remains of a pre-Columbian breakwater. Zihuatanejo town itself for the Mercado de Artesanías, the central market, and dinner at waterfront seafood restaurants. Humpback whale watching boat tours from December through March. Sport fishing is excellent in the area.
How does Ixtapa compare to Cancun for a family vacation?
Cancun has dramatically more resort infrastructure - more dining options, more elaborate pools and amenities, more entertainment, and much better international flight connectivity. Ixtapa offers a less crowded beach, more authentic Mexican atmosphere through the Zihuatanejo combination, generally lower prices, and a more relaxed pace. Families who've done Cancun and found it overwhelming or overtouristy often prefer the Ixtapa experience. Families on their first Mexico all-inclusive trip who want maximum convenience and amenities should probably start with Cancun.

Google Rating

4(11,533 Google reviews)

Google Reviews

Aida (.
5 months ago

Cristian Morales in The Main Restaurant, was super nice and attentive to service exided expectations, Dulce Cristal in the Zumba class was excellent, very nice music and very fast ritdem, it was hard to keep up, but it was a lot of fun.The food in th...

Manuel G.
6 months ago

Very nice place and service. Food is good, nice pools and the beach is beautiful right in front of the hotel. The facilities could use a little more maintenance.