Acapulco
Acapulco, nestled on a large and beautiful bay on the Pacific coast of Mexico, was an important port during the colonial era; through it flowed important commercial trade from the Orient — particularly the Philippines and China — in an exchange of spices, silks and other goods. The protection of the bay also made it a target of pirates and buccaneers.
The mid-20th C brought it into the public eye and it became the prime tourist destination in Mexico, serving a the mecca of the rich and famous of Hollywood throughout the 1950s, and by the 1960s it had exploded into a resort coveted by the droves of tourists who were being liberated by the increasing ease of ground and air travel around the world.
As a touristic destination, Acapulco today has many competitors: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco and Cabo San Lucas being some of the strongest. Nevertheless, Acapulco continues to attract large amounts of tourists; cruise ships come regularly into it’s port during the winter season, a wide selection of airlines provide domestic and international flights, and a steady stream of visitors arrives to its beaches by car and bus along the toll highway constructed in the 1990s from Mexico City.
The Acapulco Convention Center hosts quantities of events during the year, including a popular Christmas / New Year fair with plenty of fun rides, games and food, as well as music festivals, trade shows and presentations of the Acapulco Philharmonic Orchestra. Every spring, the Acafest music festival takes place, featuring noted Mexican and Hispanic artists and bringing music-loving crowds into Acapulco´s streets and beaches.
Fort of San Diego
El Fuerte de San Diego is a pentagonal-shaped stronghold dating from the 18th century overlooking Acapulco bay and housing the Acapulco Historical Museum with artifacts from colonial times with a visual timeline of examples of lifestyles of the era and the goods traded between Mexico and the orient.
La Quebrada Cliff Divers
Everybody who knows or as heard anything about Acapulco most likely has heard of the spectacular La Quebrada divers who plunge into the sea from cliffs high (some 35 meters) above the waves crashing against the rocks below. The dive is performed every day at 1 p.m., and there are also night sessions between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. which can best be viewed from the la Perla Restaurant of the Hotel El Mirador, overlooking the diving site.
Papagayo Park (Parque Ignacio Manuel Altamirano)
This municipal park and natural protected area features over 200,000 sq. meters of land within the city of Acapulco and bounded by mountains and sea. Within its confines are collections of exotic birds, regional wildlife species and tropical vegetation. The park includes a library, auditorium, food concessions, 3 artificial lakes, a replica of the galleon Nao de China, sports installations and children’s rides.
Pie de la Cuesta and the Laguna de Coyuca — Coyuca Lagoon
Pie de la Cuesta (literally meaning “at the foot of the hill”) is a beach located to the northeast of Acapulco . It is, at its name suggests, at the bottom of the hill and at the end of the windy road coming out of Acapulco on the way up the coast toward Coyuca and Zihuatanejo. It is an open-ocean beach and caution must be exercised here with the waves. A great spot for beach walks, beach volleyball, soccer and other sandy sports, it features a selection of simple beachfront restaurants that serve fresh fish and local cuisine. Sunsets here are spectacular. [ More Pie de la Cuesta photos ]
The Laguna de Coyuca, a bird and wildlife sanctuary lined with coconut palms, mangroves and other tropical vegetation, is situated a short distance beyond Pie de la Cuesta. It is a popular spot for a variety of activities that include bird watching and fishing. Boats can be taken to the two islands in the lagoon: Isla de los Pájaros, a wildlife refuge, and Isla Montosa, where visitors can partake in and enjoy the typical dishes of the area.
Acapulco Hotel Reservations on-line
Secure on-line hotel reservations for a number of Acapulco’s finest hotels and in all areas of the city..
Acapulco Convention & Visitors Bureau
Official website of the Acapulco Convention and Visitors Bureau
