Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
Peso & US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 690,000 people call Acapulco home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Acapulco Mexico:
Climate is tropical. Expect winter highs in the upper 80°F/27°C. Winter in Acapulco is divine, it's warm and dry most of the time. May to August can be very hot, humid and rainy. Expect daily afternoon showers June-September. Year-round temperatures range 81-90°F/27-33°C during the day and 70-81°F/21-27°C at night.Summer highs are only a degree or two warmer. Rain may fall during any month, but the summer months see the most precipitation.
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In the 16th century, Spanish explorers came across the Bay of Acapulco and were captivated by its naturally protected shores and beautiful surroundings. Today, Acapulco remains a stunning Mexican hideaway that caters to all the needs of the modern tourist.
Cruise ships dock at the Costera Miguel Aleman Acapulco's cruise terminal, with direct access to the main boulevard in Acapulco. The terminal offers basic services and a handful of tourist shops. Acapulco's old city is a ten minute walk from the cruise terminal. From the port, taxis and bus services are readily available to take you to your destination on the Bay. Taxis are extremely abundant in Acapulco, and very affordable if you use them to travel to the downtown region. If you need transportation for a longer ride, than the local bus service is a more economical option. The minimum taxi fare is $1.50, and be aware that hotel taxis are far more expensive than those hailed from the street. As cruise vacationers will discover, Acapulco is fondly referred to by natives as the finest resort in Mexico. Acapulco is considered a second home to residents of Guadalajara, Mexico City and other urban centers. Acapulco is the largest, most luxurious of all the resort cities in Mexico. Here you will find a wide variety of dining, entertainment, and sporting options are available. You will never run out of things to do while visiting or places to eat. This city is great for either having a relaxing or an exciting day under the sun. On an average day you will find yourself spending the majority of your time outdoors. Acapulco enjoys some of the finest year-round weather in the world. If you spend the day on a beautiful beach, you can either lie peacefully, soaking in the sun, or enjoy the many daring water sports offered. Some of these water sports include scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and water skiing. In addition, you should not miss La Quebrada, where daring cliff divers take a 130 feet plunge into the ocean. Other sites you should see is the beautiful vegetated lagoon of Coyuca, the historical Fuerte de San Diego, built to protect Acapulco from dangerous pirates in 1616, or a glass bottom boat where you can view the submerged Virgin of Guadalupe on the ocean floor off Roqueta Island. Acapulco, has been inhabited for way over 5000 years, and for all but the last 50, was known primarily as a fishing and trading port.
The Nahua Indians (predecessors to the Aztecs) arrived about 3000 B.C. For the next two and a half millennia the city served the role as provider and protector of a growing regional fishing and trading industry. This role continued even after the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521, through centuries of Spanish rule, through Mexican independence in the 19th century, and the industrialization of the 20th century. As evidenced by Acapulco's bustling piers and warehouses, this role continues to this day. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers came across the Bay of Acapulco and were captivated by its naturally protected shores and beautiful surroundings. The seed for Acapulco tourism was first planted in the 1940's. It took root in the 1950s and blossomed with the arrival of jet travel in the early 1960s. Once the playground of the rich, Acapulco's tourism role began to broaden and deepen. Increased development brought in increased pollution, hillside squatters, over-commercialization, and an often "tourist-unfriendly" environment of aggressive beach vendors and corrupt tour vendors. Serious efforts have been underway to change the tarnished image and for the most part, they've been successful. But Acapulco has changed. Thanks mostly to the growth of Mexico's middle class and the completion of a super highway from Mexico City, the average visitor to Acapulco is as likely to hail from Guadalajara as from Grand Rapids. Today, Acapulco remains a stunning Mexican hideaway that caters to all the needs of the modern tourist. Although Cancun has now topped Acapulco as Mexico's top international resort, this beautiful city on the bay continues to hold its own on the short list of the world's favorite resorts. In the center of Acapulco’s coastline is the old city, Acapulco Viejo. The traditional Mexican zocalo, or plaza, is backed by the onion-shaped domes of the downtown church and fronted by a shoreline filled with fishing skiffs and tour boats. No stay is complete without an evening spent in the zocalo, sampling local beer and seafood at a sidewalk cafe and taking in the lively activity in the plaza.
The real city of Acapulco, wit h the bulk of its 1.5 million residents, sprawls inland from the plaza. Few tourists see this congested and poorly maintained community, which suffered heavy damage when hurricanes struck Acapulco in the summer of 1997. In the wake of the destruction, the federal government is attempting to improve conditions in this area. When the government got the vendors off the streets and beaches, it set up several outdoor markets where you can buy trinkets and goods (leather jackets to plastic sandals) from all over Mexico. Bargaining is alive and well, so don’t forget to haggle. Silver is best bought in shops that specialize in it, and some advertise Taxco silver. The prices usually make it a pretty good value—about the same as what you’ll find in Taxco itself.
At the end of a tiring, sun-splashed day, head over to Pie de la Cuesta and watch the beautiful sunset. Once the sun is down, Acapulco turns into a city of the night. There are delicious cafes, shops, boutiques, and lively clubs throughout the charming streets of Acapulco.
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Attractions |
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Acapulco welcomes approximately 200 cruise arrivals each year. It is located 300 miles south of Mexico City. Acapulco has since changed as a result of the resorts built along the Pacific Coast. Located on a peninsula, across from the Acapulco bay are the cruise docks. The distance from the pier to town is so far, visitors will need to take a taxi. Be sure to establish where you want to go and agree on the fare before getting into the taxi. When you get downtown, most sights and attractions are within walking distance. However, if you are planning on getting to the cliffs at La Quebrada, be prepared for a one mile, uphill walk from town.
Some of the most popular attractions are:
Fort San Diego:
Built in 1697 as protection from invading pirates, Fort San Diego was reduced to ruins in 1776. It was an earthquake - not pirates - that besieged the fort. A replacement was quickly erected on the original's foundations to protect Acapulco's vital harbor and town. Today, the ex-fort offers up The Historical Museum of Acapulco, a popular visitor attraction. Ready to have some fun, visit CICIs, if it's wet, it's here. The water park features water slides, a wave pool, water toboggans, a dolphin encounter, and a seal show. The park is great fun for the kids, but one look at the adults and their wet clothes proves the universal appeal of water!
Papagayo Park:
Another park, especially fun for the kids, sits across the bay on the Costera. Go-karts, roller rinks, carnival rides, and video arcades fill the bill here.
Bullfights:
Perhaps not on your "A" list of activities, but popular here, nonetheless. The closest ring is the Caletilla Bullring. The season runs from January through March and the action takes place each Sunday at 5:30 PM.
The Zocalo:
The town square is lined with ice cream stands and sidewalk cafes shaded by giant rubber and mango trees. Music plays from a gazebo most Sunday afternoons. Any day of the week the mood is festive. As in any town square, the "balloon man" is a special hit with the kids. At one end of the square stands a cathedral, erected in 1930 as a movie set. When the filming was finished, the set builders left the building, which was soon modified - thank you very much - to its present appearance.
Cathedral on the Plaza: For centuries the Moors occupied parts of present day Spain. That occupation influenced Spanish architecture and, in turn, influenced the architecture of Spanish Colonial Mexico. The sky-blue domes of this Moorish-style church dominate the plaza.
Nightlife:
Many cruises begin or end here in Acapulco, allowing passengers to extend their stay in this 24-hour city. Be patient, Americans - "nightlife" here is just that. The action begins after 11 PM and often continues until well after sunup. All areas of the city offer nighttime fun, but the Condesa Beach area along the Costera is the busiest.
La Quebrada:
Acapulco Cliff Divers: Timing is everything. Divers must keenly anticipate the movement of the onrushing sea so that it precisely matches their arrival into the water. An error of one second can result in serious injury or death. The best views of this spectacle are from the terraces of the Mirador Hotel, high above the inlet. The evening divers carry torches as they plummet the 130 feet into the sea, creating a special show for nighttime viewers. This is Acapulco's premiere, if somewhat overworked, tourist attraction.
The Fuerte de San Diego is an early 17th century fort built to protect the Bay of Acapulco from pirate invaders during the time in which Acapulco functioned as a major trade partner of the Philippine Islands. Inside the fort, be sure to pay a visit to the Museo Historico de Acapulco, which highlights the city's history throughout the days of the Spanish Empire and beyond.
Acapulco Bay:
By day or night, the views from the cliffs surrounding the bay are spectacular. Measuring four miles across, this natural harbor ranks as one Mexico's most scenic. For centuries, Spanish galleons sailed from this bay, heading to the exotic Asian ports that provided a vital (and enormously profitable) trade link between Spain and its far-flung colonies.
Avenida Costera Miguel Aleman(the "Costera" to locals): This is the main artery through town. To the east the avenue passes the fashionable shops and beaches that have made Acapulco famous. Weekend traffic jams at 5 AM are not uncommon along the busiest stretches. This avenue has probably found its way onto more postcards than any other sight in Acapulco, save for the cliff divers. Playa Condesa on the Zona Dorado ("Golden Zone") with its beachfront restaurants, bungee jumping, and "see and be seen scene" is located off the avenue.
Cliff Diving:
Acapulco's infamous cliff divers perform off La Quebrada. Performance times vary (check with your ship's shore excursion desk). You can watch from the public area on the beach or, more comfortably, head for Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirado (Quebrada 74) which overlooks the cove, and enjoy it with a margarita in hand.
Beaches:
There are simply so many beaches to choose from in Acapulco that it would be impossible to visit them all in one trip. However, several are very famous and are worth paying a visit to. Caleta and Caletilla beaches are located south of the downtown area on the Peninsula de las Playas. While there, you can visit the Magico Mundo Marino water park, or take a ferry to the beautiful Roqueta Island. The best beach for swimming is the Playa Marques, located at Puerto Marques Bay. Another fine beach is the Playa Manzanillo, a wide, white sandy beach with convenient access to the charter fishing boats that will make your dream catch come true!
Water Sports Galore:
For an introductory lesson in the world of scuba diving, take a trip to the Caleta Beach. There, you can arrange for personalized diving instruction as well as charter trips to surrounding reefs. Or, if you prefer to enjoy a day skimming the waves on a pair of water skis, then contact the Club de Esquis (tel. 7/482-2034) to arrange for a boat and guide.
If you are a true adventure seeker, than head on over to Condesa Beach and try your hand at Parasailing. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Bay from hundreds of feet in the air as you are towed behind a powerful motorboat.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Acapulco :
Acapulco Visitor's Bureau
Acapulco Vacations Guide
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