Villas El Morro

The appeal here is the position rather than a packed programme: Villas El Morro sits high above the bay, surrounded by nature and away from the louder side of town. You come back from the water to a terrace, a garden and a view that reaches across Zihuatanejo. The hotel’s website is available in English and Spanish, giving English-speaking guests clear information before arrival, even though no hotel staff languages are listed.

This suits divers who want a quiet base, couples who would rather look across the bay than listen to a bar below the window, and families who need more room than a standard double can provide. The setting is uphill, and the property has several staircases with no lift. That is the practical trade-off for the views; knees and heavy luggage should be part of the booking conversation, not a surprise on arrival.

There is free WiFi throughout the property, an outdoor pool and free on-site public parking. Daily housekeeping, a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage and a tour desk keep the useful business of a holiday reasonably close at hand.

You are in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, on Paseo del Morro, at the top of the hill rather than beside the sand. Principal Beach is about 0.9 miles away on foot, or 1.5 miles by car. La Madera Beach is around 1.3 miles on foot, while La Ropa is about 1.9 miles away on foot. Las Gatas is a longer outing, at roughly 4 miles on foot or 4.5 miles by car.

The town centre and pier are described as a five-minute drive away, with the centre also around a 15-minute walk. The pier is useful for more than admiring the boats: around it, you have restaurants and bars for the evening meal or a post-dive drink. Casa Bahía and Coco Bahía Botanas & Tapas are around 100 metres away by road, while Mariscos Chuy is about 0.7 miles away.

The hilltop location gives you city, mountain, landmark and sea views, but it also means that beach access is not a matter of stepping through a gate. You will want to plan the return journey, particularly with wet kit, tired legs or a full stomach.

For two people, the Standard Double Room keeps things straightforward, with a king-size bed, air conditioning, television, minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The air conditioning matters in Zihuatanejo: after a day of heat, salt and neoprene, being able to cool the room before sleep is more useful than another decorative cushion. A mosquito net is also provided.

Couples wanting more space can look towards the Master Suite, while the Two-Bedroom Apartment is the sensible choice when four people need separate sleeping areas and somewhere to spread out. The Apartment with Sea View goes further, with two bathrooms and room for four. Family rooms are available, and cots can be requested for children aged two and under; extra beds are not available.

Views vary by accommodation, from city and mountain outlooks to the sea. Selected accommodation has a coffee machine, microwave and cleaning products, which gives you a little more control over drinks and simple food between outings. Private entrances, wardrobes, linen, towels and private bathrooms cover the basics, while flat-screen TVs and cable channels handle the occasional evening when the sensible plan is to do absolutely nothing.

Food is part of the location rather than an in-house ritual. The nearby town and pier give you access to restaurants and bars, with Casa Bahía and Coco Bahía Botanas & Tapas around 100 metres away by car and Mariscos Chuy around 0.7 miles away. That puts a proper meal within reach without turning every evening into a major expedition.

Inside the accommodation, a minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities are available, and selected units add a microwave and cleaning products. For a diver, that means the option of a quiet drink or a simple snack without immediately putting on shoes and heading back down the hill. It is not the same as a restaurant serving dinner downstairs, but it can be handy when the appetite is real and the enthusiasm for socialising has been safely left underwater.

For drinks beyond the room, Splash Canta Bar and Centro Botanero Mi Oficina are about 1.2 miles away, while Zancantaritos is roughly 1.3 miles away. The town therefore supplies the evening choices: seafood, tapas, bars and the general Mexican holiday habit of letting dinner take its time.

The outdoor pool is the main place to reset between outings. Pool and beach towels, sun umbrellas and loungers are available, with a separate children’s pool for younger swimmers. After a morning in the sea, that gives you the choice of one more splash without arranging another excursion, or a horizontal afternoon with a book and no timetable.

The outdoor space includes a garden, terrace and sun terrace with outdoor furniture. The elevated position gives these areas their purpose: you can sit outside with the bay below rather than spending the whole afternoon in a room with the curtains drawn. City, mountain, landmark and sea views are part of the visual setting, depending on where your accommodation is placed.

There is also a tour desk for arranging time away from the hotel. For couples, the rhythm is simple enough: swim, sit, take in the view, then head towards the centre for dinner. For families, the pool, children’s pool and larger apartment options make the non-diving hours easier to organise without turning the place into an activity camp.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is about 10 miles away by road. Journey estimates range from 15 to 40 minutes by car, so allow room for traffic and the final climb into the property. The hotel has free public parking on site, but spaces cannot be reserved.

Check-in starts at 15:00. Check-out runs from 09:00 to 12:00, giving you a useful morning window if your departure is later in the day. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, alongside a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. A tour desk can help with arrangements away from the property, while laundry and ironing services are available as chargeable services.

Children of all ages are welcome. Children aged seven and over are charged as adults, cots can be requested for children aged two and under, and there are no extra beds. Pets are not allowed. The property has several staircases and no lift, a point worth considering before choosing an upper-level room or arriving with substantial dive luggage.

WiFi is free throughout the property. Payment arrangements depend on the booking arrangement, and the cardholder may need to sign a receipt at check-in, so keep the booking card and its details to hand.