Pros

  • Five-minute walk to Ixtapa's bars and restaurants, like Senor Frogs
  • Spacious and modern suites with private terraces and kitchens -- plus two bathrooms
  • Open-air restaurant, El Molcajete, serves Mexican breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Two casual bars: poolside swim-up and lobby bar
  • Two massive pools, one with a slide and a hot tub
  • Room service is available throughout the hotel
  • Sports field with soccer nets and ping-pong table
  • 24 hour front desk and lobby
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
  • Plenty of free parking around the hotel
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Cons

  • 15-minute walk to Playa el Palmar
  • Spotty Wi-Fi in the rooms
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Bottom Line

The two-and-a-half-pearl Puerta del Mar is an inviting Ixtapa hotel with Colonial Mexican decor and relaxed family-friendly ambience. All 45 guest rooms are one- or two-bedroom suites with separated living rooms and spacious private terraces with lounge chairs. The spacious suites also feature full kitchens, dining tables, and TVs. The hotel is an ideal choice for couples and families, with two pools (one with a slide), an open-air restaurant, and two casual bars. The gated hotel has beautifully manicured soccer fields and grounds with lovely tropical flowers. The biggest downside is that it's a 15-minute walk to Playa el Palmar. For those looking to be closer to the beach, consider the Park Royal Hotel. It has similar amenities and a lively vibe -- but at a higher price. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Puerta del Mar

Scene

Relaxed and laid-back hotel, with a lively pool and swim-up bar

Puerta del Mar (which means "Sea Door") is hidden from the street behind a wall and gates. The relaxed and laid-back hotel is filled with Mexican inspired charm via colonial inspired architecture, open-air spaces, and stunning tropical flowers. Centered around two massive pools, a poolside swim-up bar, and an open-air patio restaurant, most of the action at the hotel is around pool from morning until night. Some of the common areas can get fairly busy with kids playing, but with massive suites featuring spacious private terraces, there are plenty of places for guests to get away for quiet. Two bars have daily specials and some theme nights, so there is a small social scene at the hotel. With one- and two-bedroom suites, expect to see lots of families and young children, hanging out at the pools or playing sports on the spacious soccer field. 

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Location

In Ixtapa, a 15-minute walk to the beach and a 25-minute drive to the airport

Renting a car isn't necessary as Puerta del Mar is centrally located by the popular Boulevard Ixtapa, running through downtown and bordered by restaurants, bars, and shops. Taxi service is easy and fairly cheap from the hotel as well. It's an easy seven-minute walk to the main shopping center in town. The hotel is a four-minute drive or 15-minute walk to the white sands of Playa el Palmar. Zihuatanejo's downtown is a 25-minute drive from the hotel, with plenty of restaurants, traditional Mexican street food, and the bustling Mercado. The less populated Playa la Ropa is a 22-minute drive from the hotel, while the busy Paseo del Pescador, the busy boardwalk bordering Playa La Madera, is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Allow 25 minutes of travel time to get to the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport.

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Rooms

Massive suites with full kitchens, separate living rooms, and private balconies

There’s a lot to like about the massive suites at Puerta del Mar. There are two categories: Junior Suite and Master Suite, with the main difference being the size. Junior Suites have one bedroom and Master Suites have two bedrooms. All suites feature microwaves, blenders, and refrigerators. Suites come with both flat-screen and tube-style TVs, most rooms have two TVs. Doors to all the rooms are textured glass. All rooms come with a dining area, separate living room, and full kitchen. Wi-Fi is free, but can be spotty. The vibrant and colorful rooms feature white walls with color in the decor skewing towards greens, oranges, and reds. Expect to see heavy stone dining tables, cushioned concrete banquet couches, and blue stone headboards. There are a few pieces of artwork for extra pops of color, as well as a few small pieces of traditional Mexican sculptures. 

Bathrooms are moderately sized and come with standing stone showers. All suites come with two full bathrooms -- which is a nice extra for families. Bathrooms feature plenty of stone vanity space and toiletries. The spacious furnished terraces are one of the highlights of the spacious suites.

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Features

Two massive pools -- one with a slide, poolside bar, open-air restaurant, and free Wi-Fi

Puerta del Mar offers plenty of features to keep its vacationing guests busy. The hotel is centered around two massive pools nestled amongst beautiful manicured grounds and gardens. The main pool has a slide and separate children's area, while the second pool has a small whirlpool. There are plenty of lounge chairs and straw-thatched palapas around both pools for guests to hang out and sunbathe. A casual poolside bar is open throughout the day and it features different drink specials. 

The open-air patio restaurant, El Molcajete, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving casual Mexican fare. The menu mainly consists of traditional Mexican dishes -- tacos, enchiladas, and guacamole. The restaurant also serves room service throughout the day. Adjacent to El Mocajete, is a small, casual lobby bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails in the afternoons and evenings. 

The spacious grounds include lovely soccer fields, a 24-hour lobby, and ping-pong tables. There is plenty of free parking on offer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel's common areas. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Puerta del Mar

Scene

Relaxed and laid-back hotel, with a lively pool and swim-up bar

Puerta del Mar (which means "Sea Door") is hidden from the street behind a wall and gates. The relaxed and laid-back hotel is filled with Mexican inspired charm via colonial inspired architecture, open-air spaces, and stunning tropical flowers. Centered around two massive pools, a poolside swim-up bar, and an open-air patio restaurant, most of the action at the hotel is around pool from morning until night. Some of the common areas can get fairly busy with kids playing, but with massive suites featuring spacious private terraces, there are plenty of places for guests to get away for quiet. Two bars have daily specials and some theme nights, so there is a small social scene at the hotel. With one- and two-bedroom suites, expect to see lots of families and young children, hanging out at the pools or playing sports on the spacious soccer field. 

See More Scene

Location

In Ixtapa, a 15-minute walk to the beach and a 25-minute drive to the airport

Renting a car isn't necessary as Puerta del Mar is centrally located by the popular Boulevard Ixtapa, running through downtown and bordered by restaurants, bars, and shops. Taxi service is easy and fairly cheap from the hotel as well. It's an easy seven-minute walk to the main shopping center in town. The hotel is a four-minute drive or 15-minute walk to the white sands of Playa el Palmar. Zihuatanejo's downtown is a 25-minute drive from the hotel, with plenty of restaurants, traditional Mexican street food, and the bustling Mercado. The less populated Playa la Ropa is a 22-minute drive from the hotel, while the busy Paseo del Pescador, the busy boardwalk bordering Playa La Madera, is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Allow 25 minutes of travel time to get to the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport.

See More Location

Rooms

Massive suites with full kitchens, separate living rooms, and private balconies

There’s a lot to like about the massive suites at Puerta del Mar. There are two categories: Junior Suite and Master Suite, with the main difference being the size. Junior Suites have one bedroom and Master Suites have two bedrooms. All suites feature microwaves, blenders, and refrigerators. Suites come with both flat-screen and tube-style TVs, most rooms have two TVs. Doors to all the rooms are textured glass. All rooms come with a dining area, separate living room, and full kitchen. Wi-Fi is free, but can be spotty. The vibrant and colorful rooms feature white walls with color in the decor skewing towards greens, oranges, and reds. Expect to see heavy stone dining tables, cushioned concrete banquet couches, and blue stone headboards. There are a few pieces of artwork for extra pops of color, as well as a few small pieces of traditional Mexican sculptures. 

Bathrooms are moderately sized and come with standing stone showers. All suites come with two full bathrooms -- which is a nice extra for families. Bathrooms feature plenty of stone vanity space and toiletries. The spacious furnished terraces are one of the highlights of the spacious suites.

See More Rooms

Features

Two massive pools -- one with a slide, poolside bar, open-air restaurant, and free Wi-Fi

Puerta del Mar offers plenty of features to keep its vacationing guests busy. The hotel is centered around two massive pools nestled amongst beautiful manicured grounds and gardens. The main pool has a slide and separate children's area, while the second pool has a small whirlpool. There are plenty of lounge chairs and straw-thatched palapas around both pools for guests to hang out and sunbathe. A casual poolside bar is open throughout the day and it features different drink specials. 

The open-air patio restaurant, El Molcajete, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving casual Mexican fare. The menu mainly consists of traditional Mexican dishes -- tacos, enchiladas, and guacamole. The restaurant also serves room service throughout the day. Adjacent to El Mocajete, is a small, casual lobby bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails in the afternoons and evenings. 

The spacious grounds include lovely soccer fields, a 24-hour lobby, and ping-pong tables. There is plenty of free parking on offer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel's common areas. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Babysitting Services

  • Business Center

  • Children's Pool

  • Internet

  • Laundry

  • Pool

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.