Live Music in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones

Live Music

Don't miss the Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival!
The festival runs a full week every spring...

Latin and Mexican music, salsa, mariachis and more .... click here!

Daytime

The Zihuatanejo area has a number of live music options, beginning on the beach in the morning and continuing until sunrise.   Start off your musical tour on the beaches of Zihuatanejo Bay where you will encounter wandering minstrels alone or in groups up to quartets who will play just for you, charging from 30 to 50 pesos per song.  These groups play a wide variety of instruments, including, but not limited to, a variety of guitars, mandolin, violin, stand up bass, snare drum. bongos, accordion, trumpet, saxophone and even a full size harp.  The music is mostly latin, and styles vary from the lively northern corridas to haunting melodies of lost love.  They will often perform a number of songs at a discounted rate but be sure to agree on a price before they begin.

Canta Bars (Karaoke) feature popular music to sing along to and also provide dance floors and disco music.  This is a great way to learn the words to all those songs you have loved for years and improve your Spanish while having fun.

A regular sight at local restaurants in the evening are larger bands of Mariachis in groups of up to twelve.

Below is a listing of the main music venues in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. There are also occasional Concerts at La Casa de la Cultura (The House of Culture) and the Centro Social (Social Center) on Avenida Jose Ma. Morelos.

The municipality also hosts Sunday evening Cultural concerts at the Cancha or basketball court & plaza beachfront in downtown Zihua. These evenings can be great fun mingling with the townspeople along the beachfront, enjoying music, dance, children's shows, clowns and other spectacles.

MP3 Music downloads...

Zihuatanejo Music Spots:

Bandido's - 5 de Mayo & Pedro Ascencio next to the Church in downtown Zihua - live music every night starting at 10 or 10:30 on, mainly tropical rhythms and salsa. Dance floor.

Barracruda II- on Pedro Ascencio (one of the pedestrian streets in towntown Zihua) - live music sometimes available.

Bay Club - on the road to Playa la Ropa. During high season jazz sessions often get going in the evening.  This restaurant and Bar overlooks Zihuatanejo Bay, a great romantic view.

Caprichos Restaurant - 5 de Mayo No. 4 (next to the church) in downtown Zihuatanejo. Periodically has special music appearances through the winter season.

Casa de la Troba - on the corner of H. Galeana and N. Bravo, upstairs. Live tropical ballads and music. Dance floor.

Coconuts Restaurant - Live music from 7 to 10pm in garden dining area. Entrances off V. Guerrero and Agustin Ramirez streets, downtown. Coconuts occasionally hosts special music events

Jarocho Restaurant - on the corner of H. Galeana and N. Bravo often has the dinner guitar music of Eric Reid in the early evenings

Paccolo - On Nicolas Bravo, downtown Zihuatanejo - often has a variety of music and entertainment. .

Rick's Bar - Calle Cuauhtemoc (the main pedestrian street leading into town from the basketball court) - Live music nightly throughout the winter season; Dancing does often happen. A miscellany of musicians entertain with guitars and vocals in the early evening, Monday thru Thursday, Friday serves up a Jam Session and Saturday Rick has been known to offer an evening of Folkloric dancing that will knock your socks off.

Black Bull Midnight Rodeo and Dance Club - corner of V. Guerrero and N. Bravo, Zihuatanejo

Sacbe Disco and Club - located on calle Ejido near the corner of V. Guerrero

A personal favorite is El Canto de la Sirena (Song of the Mermaid) across the street from the main bus station, above Carnitas Uruapan II.  Live music is presented Tuesday through Saturday, from 10pm, when the owner, Jose Luis Cobo, begins to play.  Other musicians play during their breaks and the dance floor may be full till dawn. Late in the evening spontaneous jam sessions may erupt as other performers join in. Dancing.

Tequila Town (Canta Bar - Karaoke) - Cuauhtemoc Street in Zihuatanejo, next to Rick's. Sing along to popular music; also dance floors and disco music.

Ventaneando Canta bar - Canta Bars (Karaoke) located above the Koyuca Pharmacy at the corner of V. Guerrero and N. Bravo.

Troncones Entertainment:

The Burro Borracho often has entertainment on the weekend during the high season.

Nightclubs and music in Ixtapa

There are a number of Piano Bars in the area including El Faro (The Lighthouse) in Marina Ixtapa, located on top of the lighthouse with a beautiful view of Ixtapa.

Night Owls should visit the popular Discos in Ixtapa: Carlos and Charlie's (on the beach), Señor Frogs, Zen and Christine (with an upscale dress code) in Ixtapa.

Many hotels in Ixtapa have weekly shows or themes such as Mexican, Tropical, International and Pre-Hispanic nights. Please check with the individual hotels for information on these events.

Regional Overview