Aura del Mar

Our first time in Zihuatanejo, and what a great pick for a hotel. It's on the beach, okay there's a few steps from the top to the beach and restaurant but we didn't find that a problem. The pool is good too with a water slide. The view from our balcony was amazing. The staff were so kind and helpful. The restaurant was fantastic with a great menu. We will be back again!!!

It took me a while to decide how to rate the Aura Del Mar and finally decided on a 4. The room we had was really spacious and comfortable. We had the use of a kitchen, sunbeds on out balcony and a sofa. There was an infinite supply of water and the staff were really helpful. The downside is there are not alot of sunbeds on the beach or by the pool so in high season this maybe a challenge. As the pool area was small, any noise echoed badly which wasn't great when there were screaming kids about. Would I return, probably not but the location was awesome.

Rustic Mexican style boutique hotel, right on Madera beach. Room was large, with an outside kitchen area and water fountain. Ceiling fan and aircon in the room.|Pool was fine when quiet, but difficult to swim if 6 or more people were in there at the same time.|Sun terrace gave great views from the loungers.|Two different WiFis, one is much stronger for the beach and pool area.|Easy walking distance into downtown, lots of restaurants nearby, giving this hotel a premium location.|Only negatives were that the loungers on the beach were all in the shade, tucked in alongside the restaurant. The price per night is also very high when compared to the Thompson.

Quick context: we stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on Playa La Ropa for 5 nights before checking into Aura Del Mar for 1 night Pro’s - friendly staff and quick to help us when we had questions - nice views from the room and lobby Con’s - no central air conditioner, only mini split which wasn’t that cool - no hot water in the shower only luke warm - the sheets of the bed were horrible quality, warm and rough feeling - bathroom appliances very outdated - only one available outlet, all outlets were taken up by a mess of cords from antiquated technological appliances - the beach it’s on is nice but not nearly as nice as playa la ropa with its crystal clear water and snorkeling possibilities - tap water wasn’t filtered If you have the capability, I would HIGHLY recommend the Hilton Grand on Playa La Ropa. At minimum, don’t miss out on playa la ropa when traveling to Zihua!

We went back and forth whether to stay here (playa madera) or somewhere on playa la ropa instead. While playa la ropa definitely had the better beach (longer, wider, softer, whiter sand), we were pleased with our choice to stay here in the end. Particularly since we were adjacent to the beach boardwalk and walking distance to the cute stores and restaurants in the downtown. I definitely think we had a more local, authentic, less touristy experience staying here in the heart of it all than if we had stayed on la ropa and there was no need to spend money on taxis back and forth. The resort itself is like stepping into the garden of eden. The rooms, grounds and landscaping are so well kept and while you will undoubtedly get a workout climbing 3 flights of steep stairs several times a day to get from your room to the pool, restaurant or beach, but the reward is that your room will have an impeccable elevated view of the bay to wake up to each morning. While the breakfast offering during the week is simple and adequate, we could not wait for the weekend breakfast buffet which was a spread unlike anything I have ever seen. The staff are all top notch from the front desk, to the bartender, waitstaff and housekeeping who provided nightly turn down service. We especially appreciated Carlos who arranged the airport transportation for us and our snorkeling tour on el Picante along with any other adventure your heart desire during your visit. Do visit Alicia in the spa for a relaxing massage. Small areas for improvement would be providing a holder in the shower to place soap, shampoo, conditioner etc. along with small size washcloths. While the King bed was comfy, the rooms with 2 beds had mattresses that were very hard and the sheets were thick and not as breathable as should be for the warm weather so not the best sleep quality in the double rooms. We will definitely be recommending Aura del Mar and the beautiful town of Zihua to our family and friends!

The pictures of this hotel don't do it justice. It is gorgeous! Small, quiet and perfect location on Playa La Madera. Lobby is open and airy, beautiful view with a perfect little bar area to the side. The staff was welcoming and very helpful. We felt at home immediately. All the landscaping was immaculate...creating privacy for all the rooms and hotel. The hotel has two resident bilingual parrots to greet you and a turtle about halfway down the stairs. The kids loved saying hola to all of them each day. ||Hotel is walking distance to downtown Zihua, all the restaurants, shops and pier. The rooms were spacious and comfy. The AC worked great. We had two adjoined rooms - one king with a jacuzzi and one double. The rooms adjoined through a balcony door. Both had fabulous views. A small fridge, waters, coffee and tea, hairdryer, ironing board, shampoo/conditioner/body lotion/soap and pool towels were included. WiFi was included and worked perfect. ||Beach and pool areas were never crowded. Always a sitting area to be found no matter what time of day. We didn't have to wake up early to reserve chairs. Pool was smaller but perfect for this size hotel. My kids (and husband) had a great time on the waterslide. There are also hammocks, and loungers. the pool area had a fooz ball table which the kids loved. The pool area has lungers, Adirondack chairs, tables, umbrellas and hanging chairs. Food and drink service are both offered at the pool and beach areas. I would highly recommend the tuna tostadas!! ||Breakfast each morning was a buffet which was fabulous. Fresh fruit and juices, granolas, cheeses, many Mexican breakfast offerings such as tamales and chilaquiles. ||My only warning is there is no elevator, only stairs. There was 77 stairs from the beach up to our rooms. More to the lobby. We didn't mind, we like the exercise, but if you have any mobility issues this probably isn't the place for you. Otherwise, we highly recommend Aura Del Mar and will stay again when visiting Zihua.

This was our first visit to Aura Del Mar, and we already can’t wait to come back!||We came here after a week at an AI in Ixtapa and the vibe here was very calm. There are a lot of stairs to contend with, but the place is so tastefully decorated with flowers, plants, pictures, statues, parrots, turtle, etc.. it was a pleasure to walk around. ||The pool area was nice and we never had a problem getting a couple of chairs around there. There is also a dedicated beach area which we never used, but it appeared there were always chairs available there. ||The room was also tastefully decorated and had a nice traditional Mexican feel to it. We had a room with a Jacuzzi tub on the balcony which we didn’t get a chance to use, but the balcony was huge, with a great view and large enough to choose sun or shade if you wish.||Front desk staff were great and really made us feel welcome and were very helpful in answering any questions.||A couple of area things:|Right across the street there is a small grocery store for snacks, beer, etc..|Down the hill from the street is a great little coffee shop – Café Caracol|Beachside, there are two massage tents, for which we paid 300 Pesos for 1 hour massage, a great price. |Zihua is such a walkable town, and you can explore by either taking the walkway beachside, or head out the front door and go along the canal. I really enjoyed discovering Zihua. ||Thanks Aura Del Mar for a great stay – we’ll be back!

Simply the finest hotel I’ve ever spent a week. On the beach, luxurious rooms and service, brilliant happy hour with a view (thanks Abel). Close walk to Centro and tacos. Amazing pool and many places to just chill. Hidden surprises everywhere (turtles? Parrots? Birds? Jacuzzi on my balcony??). This hotel is paradise and I wouldn’t even consider staying anywhere else

This is not a "modern" hotel, per se. It has all the modern amenities but is designed to feel like you have stepped back in time to a tropical paradise. The Garden of Eden comes to mind. The staff was excellent, esp the wait staff in the beach front restaurant! Martin is an amazing head chef and was very attentive. He gave us a cooking class, which was a total blast! We booked a cooking class with Martin and it was soo fun to walk to the local farmers market with him, pick out all the fruit and veggie ingredients than go back to the hotel to have him cook it all for you. Then - you get to eat and drink everything you made as a group! The beds were super comfy and each room has an ocean front view. The pool is also beautiful and immaculate. It's huge, with a slide and plenty of chaise lounge chairs. They even have some hammocks and chaise lounge chairs facing the ocean, on the 2nd level of the pool deck area. Every room has a private hot tub, but you must re-fill it daily if you want it to have hot water. There is a store right across the street to buy beer, wine, booze and water from. Cabs are incredibly easy to get out the front of the hotel lobby. Downtown Zihu is just a 15 minute walk (or less, if you are a fast walker) along the beach. There is a cement path that will take you straight there. Loads of shopping and restaurants are there. It is also where you will find the best deals and a pier, to watch all the fishing boats and yachts come in and out. Going the other direction, you can walk to Playa La Ropa Beach, which is also loaded with restaurants and some shopping. You can't get there by beach, but a road right out front of the hotel. There are stairs and a very steep hill, so if you have a hard time with 1 mile hikes you would want to take a cab. That would cost you about $3 USD. I would not advise booking your transportation through the hotel. That will cost you $48 USD, instead of $15 USD from the cabs at the airport. I'd also recommend getting your beach massages on the beach, 100 feet from the hotel restaurant, because they are $10 USD and the hotel charges $50 USD. They have a loud, onsite parrot, so if you are a light sleeper, ask for a room far from it's habitat. She is huge and absolutely beautiful, but becomes talkative at about 9:30 am. If I was to come back to Zihu, I'd definitely stay here again. It's in the middle of everything and right on the beach. The staff doesn't get any better either.

I was in Zihuatanejo for 3 days and I had one of the best times of my life. I've been traveling around Mexico and the U.S for the past 3 years and I have to say that Zihuatanejo is definitely on my top 10 favorite places. The hotel is absolutely amazing and it really feels like paradise. The rooms were clean, nicely set up and the views were breathtaking. If you travel with little kids I would recommend to always have an eye on them. My sister and I were approached by an older man who offered us to take us to a different beach to "see baby turtles hatch" he looked really suspicious and under the influence of drugs. Other than that, this hotel and the area around it seemed really safe and friendly. I made a little video about it in case anyone wants to check it out. https://youtu.be/XgJwITTp48I

Hotel Aura del Mar went far above any expectation I had of it. The property oozes with lush foliage and a welcoming atmosphere. I was greeting by friendly staff, a Corona, and whisked off to my room. I stayed in a Junior Suite with a Jacuzzi which was spacious and decorated authentically to the local area. My primary concern is always cleanliness which was a nonissue. Everything was sparkling clean and beautiful. The service crew did a fantastic job each day cleaning the room - and even leaves you with 2 bottles of water. You also get coffee and tea. During my stay I heard ZERO noise from the rooms around me, which I know were occupied. The rooms are well insulated keeping the warmth and noise out. There is also a great air conditioning. I thoroughly enjoyed the patio. I spent a lot of time in the jacuzzi and lounge chairs enjoying the ocean and reading. Each room has a beautiful view of the bay. A above mentioned the property is stunning. Tons of native plants and local decorations. The only warning I would have is for someone with mobility issues, there are a lot of stairs. For me, it was nice because I was so lazy on vacation it was at least nice to know I would have to walk up and down stairs daily or else I would've gotten no exercise at all. There are a few common areas to kick back and relax. The pool is well maintained and there is an awesome water slide. Your stay can come with breakfast for a little extra, which I recommend. The staff is friendly, and the food is good. I tried a number of dinner items during my stay which were also nice. They have plenty of beach chairs you can hang out on and order food/drinks from. The beach the hotel is on was hands down my favorite in the area. The water is calm and good to swim, and it wasn't too crowded. When I come back to visit there is no doubt in my mind I will stay at Hotel Aura del Mar. I could not recommend it more.

Paradise.... when I think of Mexico.... this is it! I don't even know how to begin saying how wonderful this place is. This trip was our second to this wonderful hotel and it will not be our last. I want to start off by saying this is a traditional charming Mexican hotel. It is not fancy. You will not find modern décor or amenities. You can't drink the water. There is no elevator and there are lots of stairs. There is no room service, and most of the time no pool service either. So if those things are things you are looking for - look elsewhere. However if you are looking for a small charming hotel, where you are greeted as family when you return. This is your place. The staff here is amazing, from the time you book until the time you check out they are always looking to make your stay the best. You are greeted with a shot of tequila or a corona when you arrive along with smiles and you are taken to your room. The rooms are decorated with Mexican style and tile details. They have a real coffeemaker (no Keurig here) in each room so you can enjoy coffee every morning on your balcony and enjoy the view. There is a refrigerator for drinks and snacks. And they give you two bottles of water each day. The hotel is built into the hillside (hence all the steps) but the bonus is that almost all of the rooms have amazing views. We don't mind the stairs at all and got a room high up - amazing view! The patios feature chairs and loungers and there is a hammock that can be hung up also. Some patios have hot tubs. The common areas are very lush with lots of greenery. The pool is somewhat small, but it was never crowded. The chairs are nice and there is plenty of shade if that is your thing also. There is also a waterslide at the pool. There are loungers on the beach which is nice. There is a restaurant down on the beach and we had breakfast included in our rate, but that was the only meal we ate there. The location of this hotel is perfect and there are so many wonderful restaurants within walking distance that you can enjoy. You can walk the beach to a small boardwalk to town, or down the hill and through the side streets. There are taxis nearby too. There is a small store across the street that has all of the things you might need to stock up your little fridge for your stay. I can't say enough good things about this hotel - top notch in my opinion! Can't wait to return!

We loved this place. The front desk guy was very helpful, the staff friendly. This place is beautiful and well kept. We came back to flower peddles on the bed every day, pretty cute.

Magic place! Very clean, super nice staff and fantastic balconies. The restaurant offers delicious food in an astonishing location. Highly recommended!

Terrible hotel. I got food poising eating their steak also their fruit. When I got to the United States, my doctor said I had salmonella. Waiters do not wash their hands. They would fail a health inspection test. Waiters take advantage of American money, they over charge. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. Their employees scam tourist. I paid $100 USD for a 1 hr boat ride per person. They said that the boat ride would include a meal and free drink. They never did. Absolutely horrible. However, their housekeeping staff was wonderful! Once again, I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.