Acapulco is a beach resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast. It is set on a large bay backed by high-rises and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Made famous by the jet set in the 1950s and ’60s, it’s known for its high-energy nightlife, beaches, and golf.
See the Cliff Divers at La Quebrada
Whether you choose to go during the day or see the death-defying dives at night when torches light the spectacle, Acapulco’s famous cliff divers are a must-see on any visit to this port city. La Quebrada offers a fabulous view of the open sea and beautiful sunsets. The cliff divers perform five times a day.
Enjoy Acapulco’s Beaches
Acapulco has year-round beach weather and a lot of fun activities offered along with its beaches. Whether you’d like to discover a spot to soak in some rays or want to experience thrills like bungee jumping or parasailing, you can easily find a beach for you in Acapulco. Playa Condesa, situated in the center of Acapulco Bay near many of Acapulco’s famous nightclubs, is the trendiest beach and an excellent attraction to enjoy water sports.
Explore La Costera
Acapulco’s main drag is the Costera Miguel Alemán. This road follows the coastline around the bay and is where most of Acapulco’s shops, restaurants and nightclubs are located, as well as significant shopping malls such as La Gran Plaza and Plaza Bahía.
Stroll Around the Zocalo
Disparate planned visitor resorts like Cancun, Acapulco is a real Mexican town. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Old Acapulco, the heart of which is Acapulco’s Zocalo. Officially the “Plaza Juan Alvarez,” this is the central public square. It is a tree-shaded plaza where locals and visitors congregate.
Take a Glass-Bottom Boat Ride to Isla La Roqueta
Glass-bottom boat tours are offered from Playa Caleta, allowing you to enjoy a fun day on this island ecological reserve. The glass-bottom boat will enable you to observe the sea life as well as a submerged statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe on your way to Isla La Roqueta.
Visit the San Diego Fort
This star-shaped fort was constructed at the beginning of the 17th century to defend ships carrying merchandise from Asia, from pirates. The fort was reconstructed in 1778 after an earthquake caused some damage.
Hike Around Palma Sola Archaeological Site
Located on a mountainside six kilometers northeast of Old Acapulco within El Veladero national park, Palma Sola archaeological site features two-thousand-year-old petroglyphs and rock carvings made by the Yopes, Acapulco’s earliest known inhabitants.
Watch the Sunset at Hotel Los Flamingos
The Hotel Los Flamingos was built in the 1930s and purchased in the 1950s by members of the “Hollywood Gang” (John Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Erroll Flynn, and Cary Grant, among others). A 1950s photo collection in the hotel lobby allows a nostalgic look at the hotel’s former owners.
Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Acapulco was Mexico’s first major tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why. Its location on the picturesque Bahia de Acapulco, its extensive tourist infrastructure — revamped in recent years, and the city’s vibrant nightlife, not to mention its excellent beaches all add to its undeniable appeal.