Safety Question Playa Madera

We're longtime visitors to Zihuatanejo and this trip in April are staying at Playa Madera at Villas Kau Kan. We want to walk to downtown using the malecon walkway access by the beach but is it safe to return that way after dark definitely before midnight?

Depending upon how late you are referring to, there are usually plenty of locals and tourists along the walkway. Once you reach the beach area, it is usually very dark and there are some hidden pathways behind the buildings (or at least there used to be before the current redestruction). That could put a bit of scare into some folks.

For what it is worth, I have traveled alone on this path dozens of times and have never had a problem. You could turn halfway onto Calle Adelitas and continue on that street if you are worried about the second part of the walkway.

Turning onto Calle Adelitas

We're longtime visitors to Zihuatanejo and this trip in April are staying at Playa Madera at Villas Kau Kan. We want to walk to downtown using the malecon walkway access by the beach but is it safe to return that way after dark definitely before midnight?

I am definitely the one to answer your question since I do the same walk often with the same concerns.
Everyone else will tell you 'NO'.
I can tell you I do it but with concern.
Sometime I think I should carry a laser light or some kind of spray for protection...I don't know what's legal/illegal.
Sometimes depending on how I feel I will take Adelita back because there will likely be more 'activity' at that time, but not necessarily.
Why do I do it?
Because it's one of the joys of being here to walk that stretch of beach late at night.
But there are reasons not to...