Acapulco Activities

Acapulco is an excellent place to bring the kids. The fun and relaxed character of the local Mexicans provides a great cultural immersion for youngsters and there are plenty of things to keep them entertained. The long sandy beaches and all of the water sports are obvious winners. However, there are also some excellent water parks with lots of rides, dolphin shows and heroic cliff diving displays.

Centro Internacional de Convivencia Infantil (CICI)
This massive water and sea-life park is one of the highlights for kids. Among the many attractions at the park are water slides, wave pools, water toboggans and other wet rides. The daily dolphin shows are also a very popular part of CICI. For a truly unique treat, there’s even a dolphin swim program which gives you 30 minutes of introduction and 30 minutes of swim time with the dolphins. The cost is a bit high but the experience is certainly worth it. For more information, call: +52 744 484 8033.

Cliff Divers of La Quebrada
Every child (and adult) will certainly be impressed by the daring high divers who perform at La Quebrada each day. Perched on a spot-lit ledge on the cliffs, these divers plunge 40 metres into a very small inlet of roaring surf. The divers then climb back up the rocks and accept congratulations and small gifts of money from the amazed spectators. This quintessential Acapulco experience should absolutely not be missed. The final dive is completed with flaming torches in hand.

Marine Magic World
This marine park has it all. In addition to the large and well-stocked aquarium, there are a number of swimming pools and a daily sea lion show. For more active adventures, the park rents jet skis, kayaks, inner tubes and other water equipment for use at Caleta Beach, which is connected to the park by a pedestrian bridge. You can even take a glass bottom boat to Isla la Roqueta and partake in some snorkeling. Telephone: +52 744 483 9344

Parque Papagayo
This 52 acre park is a great place to get away from the beach for an afternoon and let the kids run around. There is an aviary, space shuttle replica and roller skating rink on the grounds. There are also a number of rides for the kids, such as bumper boats in a lagoon and a race track with tiny race cars to drive. For adults, the park is a relaxing place to sit in the shade, snack on some tasty street food and watch the locals go about their business. The park, which is open daily, is free but each ride costs a small fee. Telephone: +52 744 485 9623

Acapulco’s highlights are focused largely on the beach and the sea, but what adds to the atmosphere is the local life which takes place alongside all of the tourism. Although few visitors take the time to explore the traditional downtown area, the shaded zocalo (Plaza Alvarez) is a fascinating place to experience the true character of this Mexican port city. There are a number of excellent art galleries and some decent handicraft shopping around this area. The old fort, built almost 400 years ago, is also worth a visit. So try not to spend your entire holiday on the beach when there is so much culture just waiting to be seen.

Acapulco Cultural Centre
This modest art centre has many interesting things to see, such as its archaeological exhibition from the city’s ancient past and a gallery which keeps a rotating showcase of paintings and sculptures from both local and famous Mexican artists. The art centre also puts on a number of workshops in painting, dance and music throughout the year for a small fee. Telephone: +52 74 816858

Casa de Mascaras
This private home has been converted into a gallery which showcases a stunning collection of 550 handmade ceremonial masks. Most of the masks are from the local state of Guerrero and some of them are still used in traditional Mexican ritualistic dances. For more information, contact: +52 744 486 5577.

Diego Rivera Mural
The quintessential Mexican artist created this amazing mural in 1956 from seashells, stones and coloured mosaics. The images include some amazing designs of the Feathered Snake of Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec god and a sphinx. Interestingly, the mural is on the facade of a house. It was one of the last works created by Rivera before his death and is considered a national treasure.

Fuerte de San Diego
This formidable fort was built in 1616 to protect Acapulco from pirate attacks. During the early years of the city, the port brought in massive amounts of income from trading with the Philippines, which were also part of the Spanish empire. The fort that exists today was rebuilt after a major earthquake destroyed much of it in 1776.

Also on the premises is the Acapulco Historical Museum, which traces the role of the city from its beginnings as a part of the Spanish conquest to its exotic trade with Asia. There are exhibits about the first pre-Hispanic settlements 3,000 years ago, the conquistador period and the exploits of the pirates such as Sir Francis Drake. Precious silks, handmade wooden furniture and Talavera tiles are among the rare items on display. A visit to the fort is an excellent way to learn about Acapulco’s colourful history. For more information, contact: +52 744 482 3828.

Galeria Rudic
If you have any interest in the Mexican art scene, then you must pay a visit to this formidable and fashionable gallery. This is the place to view the hottest contemporary art by Mexico’s most talented artists. All of the paintings and sculptures are for sale, just in case you see something which would look great in your house. Telephone: +52 74 844844

Malecon
A visit to Acapulco would not be complete without a stroll down to the docks which show that this city remains a lively port. To the west, near the zocalo, are the docks for fishing boats and pleasure yachts. In the evenings, locals bring their children to play along the leafy and cool promenade. It is the perfect place to experience local culture.

Palma Sola
This archaeological site on the edge of the city is covered with 2,000 year old petroglyphs from the Yopes, Acapulco’s earliest known inhabitants. Stone steps and small plazas have been built into the hillside allowing visitors to view the best of the petroglyphs. At the top of the mountain is a cave which was used as a ceremonial centre. If ancient culture is your thing, you won’t want to miss this site. For more information, telephone: +52 744 482 3828.

Zocalo (Plaza Alvarez)
If you want to catch a glimpse at what the locals of Acapulco do, then you must spend some time in the shady zocalo. This timeless Mexican plaza is bordered by inexpensive shops and cafés and filled with colourful people. On Sunday afternoons, the plaza’s bandstand comes alive with free music and dance shows. Behind the plaza are some of Acapulco’s historic neighbourhoods, which are definitely worth some exploration. In front of the plaza is El Malecon, from where the boats still sail out to sea each day. At the north end of the zocalo is Acapulco’s main cathedral, with its blue onion-shaped domes and Byzantine towers. The hill behind the cathedral offers one of the best views in the city.

Dining in Acapulco is a wonderful experience, especially if you can find a candlelit table with the sparkling bay laid out below you. The city is full of romantic restaurants, mainly along the southern shoreline, which offer great views and fresh seafood. The prices are extremely reasonable, even at the fanciest-looking places. The great thing about eating out in Acapulco is that you don’t necessarily need to dine at a fancy restaurant. Some of the best food in town can be found in the smaller, locally owned family eateries called loncherias.

The variety of dining options is one of the great things about this city. There are dozens of casual beachside restaurants where you can have the catch of the day cooked exactly to your liking. The Costera Miguel Aleman is home to many palm-roofed beachside eateries as well as wild hamburger and rib joints catering to tourists looking for a party. High up the hills are plenty of quaint places for a romantic meal with stunning views. Or head out of town just a bit to Barra Vieja, east of the city. Here you can take a boat through stunning mangroves to a rustic dining hut where the fish is simply grilled over hot coals.

For the most authentic dining experience you should explore Old Acapulco. The zocalo area simply abounds with simple, inexpensive cafés serving delicious and authentic local dishes. This is where the locals come to eat, and that’s always a good sign. If you walk along the western flank of the plaza down Juarez Street, you will soon come to Azueta Street, which is lined with street-side food stalls and charismatic seafood cafés.

Fresh seafood is obviously the star attraction of many restaurants, since the local fishermen provide a daily supply of seafood to the city. High quality beef from the neighbouring states of Chihuahua and Sonora is also very popular and tasty. Every Thursday, the local custom is to have a bowl of pozole, a stew of white hominy and meat garnished with shredded lettuce, onions, oregano and lime. Many places around town bring out the pozole on Thursdays. It’s an Acapulco tradition you don’t want to miss.

Almost every restaurant which caters to tourists and locals alike purifies their cooking and drinking water, so it’s unlikely you’ll get a case of bad stomach if you follow a few simple precautions. Naturally, street food is the riskiest place to eat, even though the tacos and bacon-wrapped hotdogs are absolutely delicious. As long as the meat has been adequately cooked, meaning it’s hot to the touch on the inside, you will be okay. Stick to bottled water unless you’re in a high-class restaurant and remember that the citric acid in limes is the best way to kill any bugs that make their way into your gut, so pile it on.

Unlike the fantastic dining opportunities the city offers, Acapulco is not the best place in the country to buy Mexican handicrafts. There are plenty of shops, especially along the Costera, but most of them specialise in tourist souvenirs, T-shirts and Mexican knickknacks

One thing Acapulco has in abundance is boutiques selling brand name summer clothing at very cheap prices. There are several locations where you can find these shops clustered together, and often they are air-conditioned. One of the nicest centres is Plaza Bahia, which has four stories of shops, small restaurants, movie theatres and a bowling alley. Plaza Condesa is also popular among shoppers looking for bargains on brands such as Izod, Guess and Tommy Hilfiger.

The Zona Dorada (Golden Area) is one of the largest shopping neighbourhoods in the city. Along its main strip, called the Costera, you can find a shop for almost any brand of clothing you can imagine. The Marbella Mall and Aca Mall are two other choices for typical indoor shopping centres. Sanborn’s is Acapulco’s best convenience store, offering all of the essentials you may need to stock up on while on holiday.

For a more authentic Mexican shopping experience, visit the Mercado Municipal. This is the city’s main outdoor market where you will find locals and tourists alike buying everything from fresh produce to leather goods and silver jewellery. Mexican shopkeepers aren’t pushy but they do enjoy a good haggling session. The starting prices will always be much more than what they will happily settle for, so take your time and bargain them down.

Acapulco is located in the Guerrero State which produces excellent handmade carvings from palo de rosa wood, embroidered textiles and hand-painted ceramics. Also on sale is wonderful handmade silver jewellery from Taxco, Mexico’s most famous silver town. Before you buy any silver, check that ‘.925’ is stamped on the back. This will hopefully ensure that the silver is 92.5 percent pure.

The majority of outdoor activities in Acapulco, or ‘the Pearl of the Pacific’ as it’s known, revolve around its stunning beaches and the water sports available. If you get tired of the water, you can however take to the air or land in search of other fun things to do.

The Beaches
Some of the most stunning beaches in the world can be found in Acapulco, and all of them are completely open to the public. There are simply too many beaches in the area to mention them all, but some are better for swimming, some for sunsets and some for water sports.

The favourite among locals is the Playa Caleta on the southern peninsula of Old Acapulco. The calm waters and private little bays make it great for families. There are beach vendors and small restaurants and perhaps the best Mexican atmosphere of all the beaches. On the other end of the spectrum is Playa Condesa, also known as ‘the strip’. This beach has a lively party scene for the visiting foreigners with lots of bars and restaurants.

If it’s a good swim you want, you should visit Playa Hornitos. The atmosphere is relaxed and the waters are some of the calmest in the area. Playa Puerto Marques is another excellent swimming area with a wide sandy beach. For a magical sunset, head over to Pie de la Cuesta, about 25 minutes west of downtown. This relatively un-crowded beach is the perfect spot to watch the sun go down while sipping a coco loco. There are plenty of local buses which make the journey out there every day.

Unfortunately, the waters off Acapulco aren’t as lovely as the beaches. The city actually tries very hard to keep the water clean, but Acapulco has been an industrial port for many years and some days the water is dirty. There are dozens of other stretches of sand along the coast if you are willing to drive an hour outside of town. They will surely be cleaner, less crowded and more Mexican. Wherever you swim, be careful of the strong undertows and riptides which dominate much of the coast. Every year, a few unwary swimmers drown in the strong currents.

Water sports
The usual array of water sports is available, but not at all of the beaches. Playa Puerto Marques is one of the more popular spots to water ski, Jet Ski and wind surf. Scuba diving and snorkeling are great on La Isla Roqueta and deep sea fishing excursions can be arranged at several different locations around the zocalo.

Cruises
If you want to take a boat cruise, you can choose from any kind of boat imaginable. Cruises are a big part of Acapulco’s scene and they run morning, afternoon and evening and come in all levels of comfort and service. Boats from Caletilla Beach to Roqueta Island are a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The island has excellent snorkeling, hiking and a few small restaurants. There are also glass-bottom boats that circle around the bay and let you watch the fish swim by.

Air Sports
Parasailing is one of the more popular, yet relatively easy, thrills at the beach. Floating high over the bay behind a motorboat is a unique way to view Acapulco and will certainly give you a memorable story. Most parasailing happens at Condesa Beach, though other sites also offer this activity. Skydiving is another new sport taking hold in Acapulco. Tandem dives, as well as solo dives for experienced skydivers, are available at Skydive Acapulco.

Land Sports
There are some spectacular golf courses in Acapulco, though the greens fees aren’t as cheap as you’d hope. The Acapulco Princess and Pierre Marques hotels have two of the best courses and the new exclusive Tres Vidas Golf Course is laid out in a stunning coastal location. Most of the courses are open to the general public.

Horseback Riding
Horseback riding along the beach at sunset is another fun experience. Independent operators work on the Hotel Zone beachfront and are most commonly found on the beach in front of the Acapulco Princess Hotel. Prices are reasonable and well worth the ride.

Bullfights
Bullfights are another attraction during Acapulco’s winter season at the bullring close to Caletilla Beach. Tickets are easily purchased from any travel agent, but beware; these are real bullfights which often end tragically for the bull.