Acapulco vs Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: which is sunnier?
🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇲🇽 Mexico · 204 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Acapulco is the sunnier overall: about 3,241 hours of sunshine a year to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo's 3,154. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Acapulco | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,241 | 3,154 |
| Sunniest month | December (98/100) | March (97/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 71/100 | 70/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,239 mm | 1,136 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 12 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Acapulco vs Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | Acapulco | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | Acapulco | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | Acapulco | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | |
| January | 97 | 96 | 32° | 31° | 10 | 9 | 28° | 28° |
| February | 87 | 95 | 33° | 32° | 8 | 13 | 28° | 28° |
| March | 78 | 97 | 34° | 32° | 5 | 6 | 26° | 27° |
| April | 69 | 88 | 35° | 33° | 2 | 1 | 27° | 26° |
| May | 71 | 83 | 34° | 33° | 50 | 33 | 28° | 28° |
| June | 71 | 70 | 32° | 32° | 212 | 182 | 29° | 29° |
| July | 71 | 70 | 31° | 31° | 197 | 173 | 31° | 30° |
| August | 71 | 70 | 31° | 31° | 279 | 252 | 31° | 31° |
| September | 71 | 70 | 30° | 30° | 300 | 289 | 31° | 31° |
| October | 72 | 72 | 31° | 31° | 142 | 140 | 30° | 30° |
| November | 93 | 92 | 31° | 31° | 30 | 32 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 98 | 97 | 32° | 31° | 4 | 6 | 29° | 29° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo · Mar Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo · Apr Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo · May Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Acapulco averages 94/100, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 95/100. Daytime highs are similar (32°C vs 31°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (average score 89/100 vs 73). Daytime highs are similar (34°C vs 33°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Acapulco averages 71/100, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 70/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Acapulco averages 72/100, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 71/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Acapulco all year, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Acapulco weather by month · Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo weather by month · Best time to visit Mexico.
More comparisons: Acapulco vs Toluca · Acapulco vs Puerto Escondido · Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo vs Toluca · Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo vs Morelia · all head-to-heads