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Beachin' It:
You'll have fun exploring Acapulco's 12 miles of fab beaches, including
Caleta, Caletilla, Papagayo, Homos, Icacos, and Bonfil. Each has a
distinct personality. Every morning at Homos Beach, for instance, fishermen throw their large net and haul in the catch.
And pristine Puerto Marques boasts the area's most tranquil
waters, breathtaking sunsets, and charming little
restaurants.
~
Try to sample beaches outside of town, as well. Pie de la Cuesta, a low-key fishing village
northwest of Acapulco, is a peaceful spot that nonetheless offers much to do,
including a gorgeous on-water tour of mangrove jungle.
~
For swimming, you can’t
beat the calm waters of adjacent, palm-lined Coyuca Lagoon, a natural fresh
water sanctuary of hidden coves, tiny islands and jungle-shrouded canals.
Reachable by hired motorboat or lancha, the Lagoon teems with exptoc
wildlife, coconut and palm groves, and delicate water hyacinths. While there,
have lunch at Isla de los Pajaros, a bird sanctuary that shelters black and
white herons, pelicans, marabus, storks and more.
~
The mangroves of Tres Palos Lagoon, located between Puerto Marques and the
main airport, serve as prime nesting ground for numerous species of birds.
Barra Vieja, a popular beach that separates the lagoon from the Pacific Ocean,
is lined with seafood restaurants.
The Sporting Life: When it
comes to water
sports, skiing, parasailing, deep sea fishing, and sailing excursions are the
way to go on the Bay, and are all widely available. As for scuba diving and
snorkeling, it's good but not great; best months are from August to February,
when visibility is clearest (plankton clouds the waters in the other months).
The shallow waters surrounding Roqueta Island are the best bet, although dive
centers can take you further afield to shipwrecks, caves, sea walls, etc.
~ Tennis courts are de rigueur at most hotels and resorts. ~
Golfers are also in luck, thanks to two 18-hole championship courses shared by the
Acapulco Princess and the Pierre Marques hotels. You'll also find 18-hole
courses at the Vidafel Mayan Palace, the Tres Vidas Golf Course, and the
Diamante Country Club. These courses are generally reserved for hotel guests
and club members, but the Club de Golf, a public course, can be found across
from the Acapulco Malibu hotel.
»»More about Golf in
Acapulco and Mexico
Fort San Diego:
Set
on a hill in the heart of downtown Acapulco, 1616
Fuerte de San Diego was once the most
important Spanish fortress on the Pacific Coast, protecting both the harbor and the city's wealth from constantly-marauding pirates.
The city, after all, was home to the infamous Manila Galleon, a Spanish
trading ship laden with gold and other riches that sailed once a year—from
1565 well into the 1800s—between the Spanish-held Philippines and Mexico;
protecting the ships and their home port was of primary importance to Spain.
~ As you'll see, after so many centuries the Fort is
an integral part of the landscape.
Take note of its unusual geometric design, shaped like a five-pointed star. Today, in
the original barracks, kitchen, chapel, and other rooms, artifact-rich exhibits
detail 3000 years' worth of
the region's people and events, from the pre-Columbian era through
Colonial times. Guided tours of the museum and the fort are available, and be sure to take in the panoramic views
from the top floor. You may also enjoy the wonderful sound and light show at night (days and times vary with the season).
Old Acapulco:
Until the 1950s, Old Acapulco—on the Bay's northern edge—was the heart and
soul of the city. The economic and political center of Acapulco moved south
long ago, but the old town is as lively as ever. Come here to enjoy
Acapulco as locals do. Start off with a leisurely stroll along the water,
where colorful fishing
boats are pulled onto the sand. Spend time in the banyan-shaded
Zócalo (main
square), curling up on a bench and watching everyday life play out for a while.
You never know what you'll encounter here: a band concert, perhaps, a wedding
party, mimes and clowns.
Enjoy a cooling drink or inexpensive meal in one of the cafés ringing the
square. Browse the
maze-like market offering flowers and produce, baskets, leather goods, even love
charms and potions.
La Roqueta Island:
Board a boat at Playa Caleta or Playa Caletilla for a 30-minute ride to this lush and scenic island,
a federally protected area featuring an amazing array of tropical fauna and
flora. A favorite way to get the island is via one of the glass-bottomed boats
offering a clear view of sea urchins, starfish, and the Virgin of Guadalupe
statue submerged in the ocean.
Be forewarned: the main beach, Playa Roqueta, is a big-time family destination,
so it's crowded, noisy, and jam-packed with activity. That's
fine if you enjoy being in the midst of the action—you'll spend the day
sunning, snorkeling, swimming, and
dining at one of the small thatch-roofed restaurants on just-caught seafood.
~ For a much different experience,
take the trail leading into a thick
forest where pirates once hid; it ends up at the picturesque lighthouse. The
small beach there, Playa Marin, is usually very quiet.
~ Roqueta Island also hosts a
small hilltop zoo containing a surprisingly
diverse collection of animals, including some endangered species.
La Quebrada Cliff
Diving: Whether you watch from the observation deck or take in the scene
over dinner, don’t miss the cliff-divers plunging, with arms extended, 136
feet into a shallow and narrow Pacific cove—it's safe only when the tide
is in. The dive show is Acapulco’s most famous attraction, with dives are scheduled
throughout the afternoon and evening. On the night's last dramatic descent,
the divers carry torches. If you like, you can watch the dives while over dinner or a margarita at
one of the nearby hotels. ~ A short distance from La Quebrada (on Cerro de la
Pinzona Street) you'll find
the Dolores Olmedo House, with its outer wall
decorated by prominent 20th century artist, Diego Rivera. The 100-foot mural
is a bright-colored mosaic dominated by the ancient Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl.
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Taxco: Do
take an overnight excursion to
Taxco, about two hours from Acapulco via frequent busses. A thriving
silver-mining village for centuries, today Taxco is
better known for its Colonial architecture and modern-day silver crafts, especially
jewelry. Poised high in the mountains at around 6000 feet, the ancient part of
the city is spread across seven hills and is an incredibly charming place of
red-tiled roofs, whitewashed buildings, and steep, narrow, cobbled streets.
Taxco's wonderful architecture reaches an apex with the superb Santa Prisca
Cathedral (1751-1758), a masterpiece of Mexican Baroque with a lavish, gold-trimmed
interior. It's located on the town's small Zócalo, the point to which all
other streets lead. ~ Two museums will fill in
your knowledge of the area.
The Silver Museum gives an overview of
Taxco's silverwork history, and it's filled with
amazing examples of such work. The National
Institute of Archaeology contains, among other ancient works,
interesting phallic art.~ Above
all, ride the cable car to the top of the mountain, where you can go horseback
riding, have lunch or dinner at the Hotel Monte Taxco, and enjoy the stunning
views. ~ If you have time, the
Cacahuamilpa Caves are among the largest in North America; a guided tour will
take you along a 1.2-mile pathway that takes you past impressive stalactites,
stalagmites, and an underground river.
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Acapulco Botanical Garden:
Located in the mountains surrounding the city, this tranquil tropical
jardin botánico is a good place to retreat from the city's hustle and
bustle. Graced with two creeks and huge granite boulders, the 6-acre
Acapulco Botanic Garden is rich
with native plants, palms, lily ponds, hardwoods (some in danger of
extinction), ferns, fruit and flowering trees, and a wide range of colorful
flowers, including orchids. You'll also see many birds; among them are parrots,
orange-fronted parakeets, penelope pheasant, parrots, and fisher eagles, as well as iguanas, possum,
and other small critters. Plants are clearly labeled along walking trails. A
small amphitheater is used for performances, and there are even meditation
areas.
Tehuacalco:
One of Mexico’s newest archaeological
sites, Tehuacalco, lies less than an hour from Acapulco. Tehuacalco, which
reached its peak between 650 and 1100 A. D., was a religious and ceremonial
center for the Yope culture, who managed to resist domination by the Aztecs.
After 1100 A. D., Tehuacalco began a gradual descent into oblivion. But now it
lives again. Nestled into a gorgeous backdrop of mountains and valleys, the
site is laid out between four prominent hills that mark the four cardinal
points. Recovered artifacts are housed in a small museum, and an ancient Ball
Court has been restored. Cult-of-the-sun ceremonies were carried out in the
pyramid-like structures on the site, as well as in man-made caves. So far,
nearly 60 of these caves have been discovered; the theory is that they were
used to place ritual food offerings to the gods. Many petroglyphs have also
been found here, illustrating astronomical constellations or human footprints.
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