With a year-round semi-tropical climate and average temperatures ranging from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius (73-93 degrees Fahrenheit), Zihuatanejo enjoys approximately 300 days of sun annually.

The rainy season generally starts in late May or June and carries on through the end of September or into October. The rains usually fall in the late afternoons or evenings and infuse the region with an intense greenness. Historically, June and September are the rainiest months of the year. Storms off the Pacific can bring tremendous electrical activity and deluges of heavy, warm rain during the height of the rains.

Light and casual clothing is recommended year-round - but remember to also bring a sweater or light jacket for evenings as the sea breeze at night can sometimes become unexpectedly chilly, particularly from late December through March. Regular attire for wandering around town is simply shorts and a t-shirt or sleeveless top. You may want to bring something a bit more dressy if you're planning to take in a gourmet meal at one of the better restaurants in town, or go to an Ixtapa discotheque or club - something along the lines of light-weight long pants and a light cotton shirt for the men, a short-sleeved sun-dress or skirt/blouse combination for the women, as some of the fancier locales prefer that shorts and flipflops are not worn.

Even when the sky is overcast, the sun can be dangerously strong and visitors of all complexions should take care to use sun screen and protective clothing when spending long periods in the direct sunlight. If you're planning to go out fishing or boating, make sure you take a hat, sunscreen and some kind of cover-up for exposed skin, as the reflection off the water intensifies the effects of the sun.

If you're travelling here during the summer rainy season, you might want to carry around an umbrella or keep a plastic rain cape on hand, just to avoid getting soaked in a downpour. Usually you won't have to worry about temperatures in these deluges... the water may come down in heavy buckets and you could get thoroughly wet but still not feel cold - you can just enjoy the feel of the rain against your skin.