The mayor of Zihuatanejo, Lizette Tapia Castro, announced that the tourist destination is ready to receive more than 350,000 visitors during the upcoming long weekend and Holy Week, which also includes the official start of Carnival 2026 this Friday.
In an interview, Tapia Castro explained that travel agencies have been promoting the Carnival dates since December, which has boosted hotel reservations.
The Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Carnival will begin this Friday the 13th with a parade of floats, dance troupes, and a program full of cultural and musical activities, complementing the region’s natural attractions.
She said they are prepared for this long weekend and are currently cleaning and maintaining the “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town) of Zihuatanejo and the Ixtapa tourist area because they expect a large influx of tourists.
Currently, the two destinations boast 8,200 hotel rooms, and according to municipal projections, occupancy rates are expected to exceed 90% in both tourist hotspots.
He stated that between the long weekend, the second of the year, and Holy Week, the two destinations anticipate attracting 350,000 visitors by air and land. Zihuatanejo maintains an average occupancy rate of 72%, and Ixtapa 83%.
“Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa are experiencing sustained occupancy rates, aiming for peak season during Holy Week, where we expect very high occupancy,” he explained.
Source: oem
