Acapulco, Mexico
The
tropical beaches, romantic sunsets, and glamorous nightlife
that attracted Hollywood's hottest celebrities in the 1950s
are still very much a part of Acapulco today. This "Queen
of Mexican Beach Resorts" is set around a crescent-shaped
bay and framed by verdant mountains that plunge into warm,
sapphire waters. Add to that the non-stop excitement of countless
nightclubs, discos, and restaurants, and you have an exotic
Mexico vacation spot that's fantastic night and day.
It's no wonder so many of the jet-set made Acapulco’s
paradise their honeymoon or wedding destination. John and
Jackie Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Liz Taylor and
Michael Todd, to name just a few, all celebrated their nuptials
in Acapulco. The widespread water sports, golf, tennis, shopping,
and dancing and dining - not to mention the world-famous La
Quebrada cliff divers - guarantee there's always something
to do and see. And if doing nothing sounds more appealing,
the miles and miles of white-sand beaches in Acapulco are
just perfect!
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ACAPULCO RESORTS
ACAPULCO ACTIVITIES
Acapulco City Tour: Get to know the city
with an expert local guide, who gives you an overview of the
main sights, including a cliff-diving exhibition!
Mexican Fiesta: Enjoy a 3-hour party with
dinner, open bar, mariachis, folk dancing and the Famous
Flying Indians from Papantla entertainers.
Acapulco Yacht Cruise: Cruise around Acapulco
Bay for 2½ hours with both live and recorded music
and drinks.
Shotover Jet: Spend 3 hours aboard a jet
boat that thrills you with 360° turns at high speed
along the Papagayo River.
La Quebrada Cliff Divers: This is the
most popular attraction in Acapulco. From a towering cliff
high above the city, divers plunge 130-feet into shallow
waters several times a day. The show often varies, for example
they may carry torches, dive in pairs, or perform stunts
on the way down.
Plaza de Toros: Tradition and spectacle
collide every Sunday from Christmas through Easter, when
the bullfighters enter the ring. The festivities are often
kicked off by Spanish dancers and live music.
El Fuerte de San Diego: Originally built
in 1616 to guard against pirates, this fort was destroyed
by earthquake and rebuilt in the 18th century. It is now
home to the History Museum of Acapulco, with exhibits that
illustrate the city from prehistoric times through Mexico's
independence from Spain in 1821.
Casa de la Cultura: For a quiet experience
of the local culture, head to this complex featuring the
Ixcateopan art gallery, with changing exhibits, an archaeological
museum, and an exhibit of local and international crafts.
Zocalo: A more contemporary setting of
Acapulco's culture is seen at this town square in the heart
of Old Acapulco. Several vendors sell all sorts of goods
during the day, while nighttime often brings live music
in the bandstand. Nearby is the town church, Nuestra Senora
de la Soledad, with its blue bulb-shape and bright yellow
spires.
Mercado Municipal: Devout shoppers will
be delighted with this market. Both locals and tourists
come to this sprawling marketplace to find whatever they
may want, from fresh produce to love potions. Craft vendors
sell everything from handmade pottery and baskets to mythical
charms and talismans.
Papagayo Park: Off the Costera, this 52-acre
park includes a life-size model of a Spanish galleon, an
aviary, a roller-skating rink, a racetrack with miniature
cars, and bumper boats on a small lagoon.
Magico Mundo Marino: Some of the best
toys to enjoy the beach are for rent here, including jet
skis, inner tubes, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment. There
is also an aquarium, a sea-lion show, and swimming pools.
CiCi: If you're traveling with children,
don't miss this water theme park with water slides, an aquarium,
seal and dolphin shows, and a wave pool.
Taxco: Known as the silver capital of
the world, and located about 4 hours by car from Acapulco
and slightly more by bus, Taxo is a quaint town that seems
never to age.
Isla la Roqueta: (Roqueta Island) Only
a 10-minute boat ride from Caleta Beach. The island is located
right in front of Acapulco Bay, and the area is known as
one of the best places to hike and snorkel in Acapulco.
There is also a zoo on the island.
Golf: Golf enthusiasts find championship
courses at many of the larger hotels. There is also a public
course on the Costera called the Club de Golf.
Beaches: The beaches in Acapulco are unsurpassed
and plentiful - you could spend your whole vacation just
trying to enjoy them all! Fortunately, they're all open
to the public - even those near luxury hotels. Some favorites:
- Barra Vieja: A long, uncrowded stretch of beach about
20 miles east of Acapulco, where the Tres Palos Lagoon
meets the Pacific Ocean. Coconut, palm, and banana trees,
and exotic birds create a tropical setting.
- Playa Caleta: A family-oriented beach with typically
calm waters. At this spot on the peninsula in Old Acapulco,
you can rent small sailboats, paddleboats, and kayaks,
or take a 10-minute motorboat ride to the Isla de la Roqueta
- an oasis with soft sand, crystal-clear water, and gentle
surf.
- Playa La Condesa: This is the most popular beach in
town and faces the middle of the bay. The rough surf makes
swimming difficult, but the open-air bars and al fresco
restaurants make it the ultimate hangout.
- Pie de la Cuesta: About 8 miles from downtown Acapulco,
is the "official" sunset beach. Locals and visitors
alike arrive in the late afternoon to await the sensational
view.
- Puerto Marques: The sheltered waters of this beach,
tucked under the airport highway, are perfect for water
sports.
- Playa El Revolcadero: Starting behind the Princess Hotel,
this beach offers horseback riding and body surfing. Dolphins
are often seen swimming offshore.
Dining
Dining out is one of Acapulco's most popular activities
- and the quality and variety of the restaurants prove
it. Diners can fulfill any craving they may have, including
Italian, Belgian, Japanese, American, and of course, the
best Mexican food around. The food is consummately fresh,
since the chefs buy their fish, poultry, and produce in
the Mercado Municipal the same day they serve it. And
these days, the water is safe, with most restaurants purifying
their drinking and cooking water. Most establishments
open daily for lunch, close briefly, and re-open at about
6:30 for dinner. For dinner, the dress code spans the
range from shorts and T-shirts to ties and jackets, so
call ahead if you are unsure.
Gourmet: Madeiras offers a view of Acapulco
Bay. The décor includes sensational wood-carved
animal table bases and table settings hand-crafted by
silversmiths in nearby Taxco. Dinner, which includes choices
from a4-course prix-fixe menu, is served in several intimate
dining areas that are open to the evening breezes. The
delicious selections include roast quail stuffed with
tropical fruits, fresh fish in orange sauce, frogs' legs
in garlic and white wine, and red snapper baked in sea
salt (a Mexican specialty). Carretera Escénica
#33, Fracc. El Guitarron
Highly Recommended: Casa Nova is carved
out of a cliff that rises up from Acapulco Bay, offering
spectacular views from both the terrace and the glassed-in,
air-conditioned dining room. Marble floors, beautifully
draped curtains, and tuxedoed waiters add to the ambiance.
The menu, comprised of prix-fixe and a la carte meals,
features ravioli in lobster sauce, trout with artichoke
hearts, cappellini alla primavera, and veal chops with
mushrooms. Carretera Escénica #5256
Local Flair: El Amigo Miguel is among
the best of the downtown seafood restaurants. In the lively,
open-air dining room, chefs serve up delicious camarones
borrachos (drunken shrimp), seafood-stuffed red snapper
with poblano pepper sauce, and grilled shrimp with garlic.
This restaurant is so enormously popular that the owners
opened a second El Amigo directly across the street. Juárez
31, at Azueta
Romantic: Coyuca 22, once a private
villa, is elegantly set on a series of terraces floating
off a mountainside. The splendid view features Acapulco
Bay on one side, and the Pacific on the other. Flickering
candles and Italian columns and fountains create an atmosphere
so beautiful it was featured on TV's Love Boat series.
Choose from 2 fixed menus or order a la carte. The sophisticated
entrees include duck a l'orange grand mariner, shrimp
provencal, imported prime rib, New Zealand lamb chops
with fine herbs, and veal scallopini. Avenida Coyuca 22
, Fracc. Las Playas
Nightlife
Sunset in Acapulco means one thing - party time! Glittering
lights and happenin' music from the Costera's innumerable
bars and dance clubs fill the air with excitement. People
of all ages don their party clothes to dance the night
away in clubs with million-dollar interiors and state-of-the-art
sound and light systems. The club scene starts as late
as 11:00pm, and often lasts until dawn. If you're something
of an early bird, you can opt for several sunset cruises
and concerts. But wherever you go, frosty margaritas and
dark Mexican beer abound.
Baby-O: This Costera club maintains
the glitz of Acapulco's original discos, and plays everything
from swing to hip-hop to rock 'n' roll. Tiers of tables
and tropical, cave-like walls surround the main dance
area. A small snack bar and a hot tub give you a chance
to catch your breath.
Señor Frogs: Very popular among
tourists, this Costera hotspot is legendary for its over-the-top
sangria chugging challenges.
Enigma: A lavish, Egyptian-themed club
on the Scenic Highway, with murals by a famous Cuban artist.
The dance floor holds some 700 people, and glass walls
offer a spectacular view of Acapulco Bay. Fireworks light
up the sky on the weekends.
Palladium: A waterfall cascades downhill
from the dance floor level, which is surrounded by 50-foot
high windows that allow a fantastic view. Scenic Highway
Carlos 'n' Charlie's: A serious party
place, with pounding music and great food. Step outside
for a view from the terrace overlooking the Costera.
