Flying Down to Acapulco Bay: George’s Guide to Acapulco, Mexico

Beautiful gemstones – even the most exquisite – need the perfect setting to display their brilliance. And, the perfect setting is what Acapulco – known as the Pearl of the Pacific – has over any other Mexican beach resort: dramatic, rocky cliffs framing horseshoe-shaped Santa Lucia Bay, a perfectly proportioned site that is one of the loveliest places on North America’s Pacific Coast.

This physical beauty made Acapulco Mexico’s first coastal community attracting international tourism as far back as the 1930s. Smart Mexican entrepreneurs and savvy investors like Hollywood’s greatest Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller, recognized what Acapulco could offer celebrities like John Wayne and Gary Cooper: a sunny, relaxed haven where they could escape northern winters and the intrusive cameras and pens of magazine photographers and gossip columnists.

Acapulco: La Caleta Beach

In the 1950s and 1960s Acapulco reached its peak, and was considered the most glamorous seaside town in North America, attracting the jet set to the city’s peaceful daytime spirit and glittering nightlife. Following in Weissmuller’s footsteps came later Hollywood stars: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and, of course, Acapulco’s “It” couple, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

But, the Mexican government decided in the 1970s to develop a sparsely populated area of the Yucatán as the new place to see and be seen: Cancún. International travelers came to Acapulco less and less, although world-class hotels like Las Brisas have never waned, and the city has continued to attract domestic tourists in droves. By the 1990s, Acapulco faced the same problems as the rest of the country – violence driven by fighting among drug gangs, overpopulation, and pollution – and the city’s reputation suffered.

Today, Acapulco is but one of many Mexican beach cities fighting for the attention of international travelers. It would be a mistake, however, to think that Acapulco could not regain its prominence. In 2010 alone, two chic new hotels opened, Hotel Boca Chica and the Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, which immediately garnered raves from international travel publications. The luster is returning to the Pearl of the Pacific.

Acapulco: Palma Sola Archeological Zone - petroglyphs

The name Acapulco, or Place Where the Reeds Were Destroyed, in Nahuatl, comes from an ancient Yope Indian “Romeo and Juliet” story. Prince Acatl (Reed) and Princess Quihuitl (Rain) came from rival tribes. Forbidden to marry, Acatl’s tears melted his body into a sea of reeds and Quihuitl transformed into a storm, which destroyed the reeds. Acatl and Quihitl rest forever, side by side on the shore of Acapulco Bay.

Extending along 30 km of Pacific Ocean coastline, Acapulco has five distinct areas: Traditional Acapulco, Golden Zone, Diamond Zone, and the nearby Costa Grande and Costa Chica.

Traditional Acapulco: This is where Acapulco began, thousands of years ago at the hillside Palma Sola archeological site. The Spanish arrived in 1521 and built their town and port in a sheltered bay.

Golden Zone: The seaside boulevard named Costera Miguel Alemán runs from the Zócalo to the Naval Base alongside the flat expanses of shoreline that define the Golden Zone. Most of Acapulco’s hotels, shopping, restaurants, nightclubs, and most popular beaches are located here. The Costera is noisy, chaotic, and dirty in parts, but always fascinating.

Diamond Zone: The Carretera Escénica, or Scenic Highway, rises from the Costera and leads southeast to the Diamond Zone, where Acapulco’s most exclusive and expensive hotels are found.

Costa Grande and Costa Chica: The Costa Grande and Costa Chica are the best places to chill out and experience Acapulco’s natural beauty.

Acapulco has something to offer each visitor. You can participate in every type of water sports, party all night long, relax on the beach, shop in air-conditioned malls, eat cheaply at street-side taco stands, and sleep in five-star splendor. The Pearl of the Pacific will continue to dazzle for many years to come.

Acapulco: Hotel Boca Chica

Table of Contents

Things To See and Do

Traditional Acapulco
Golden Zone
Diamond Zone
Sports
Shopping
Tour Operators
Accommodations
Restaurants
Nightlife

Around Acapulco: North and South

Things to See and Do
North of Acapulco: Costa Grande
Laguna de Coyuca
Pie de la Cuesta
Accommodations: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta
Restaurants: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta
South of Acapulco: Costa Chica
Playa Bonfil
Laguna de Tres Palos
Barra Vieja
Accommodations: South of Acapulco, Barra Vieja
Restaurants: South of Acapulco, Barra Vieja

Logistical Information

Acapulco: Fish a la Talla at Beto's in Barra Vieja

Things To See and Do

Traditional Acapulco (Acapulco Tradicional)

Traditional Acapulco used to be called “Old Acapulco” but city marketers decided that nickname implied something past its prime. Whatever you call it, Traditional Acapulco encompasses the area that begins at San Diego Fort and follows the Costera past the Zócalo and yacht harbor to La Quebrada and Peninsula de la Playas. The city’s more inexpensive hotels, restaurants, and shops attract bargain-hunters to these neighborhoods. The Zócalo can become unpleasantly crowded when cruise ships disgorge their passengers for a day’s sightseeing.

Zócalo

The Zócalo was the heart of Spanish Acapulco, founded on December 13, 1521, when Fernando Chico sailed into Acapulco Bay, and remains the most traditional section of the entire city. The busy neighborhood’s vital center is a pretty tree-lined plaza between the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Soledad and the bay front Costera. The church, built only in 1930, is unusual in Mexico: onion-shaped twin towers covered in blue and yellow tiles resemble those of a Russian Orthodox church.

Casa de la Mascara (closed temporarily for renovation)

The House of the Mask, or Casa de la Mascara, was closed for renovation in 2010. The museum houses decorative and dance ritual masks from the seven regions of the state of Guerrero and the rest of Mexico. The extensive collection was assembled and donated to the museum by Blanca Villalba de Uruñuela and Sergio Suarez and contains over 1,000 pieces. Images range from tigers and devils to representations of Moors and Christians used by early missionaries to teach religion.

Fuerte de San Diego (San Diego Fort)

For 250 years, Manila galleons made one annual trip from the Philippines to Acapulco laden with treasure, which was sold at the city’s trade fair. These riches made Acapulco an obvious target for English and Dutch pirates, which forced the Spanish to build the star-shaped San Diego Fort to protect the ships and cargo. Constructed in 1616, the fort now houses an interesting museum, which chronicles Acapulco’s history through displays about pre-Hispanic culture and the colony’s private and public lives.

La Quebrada Cliff Divers

Twisting cobblestone streets climb up to La Quebrada, the site of a world-famous spectacle, where young men dive from a steep cliff into the waters of a narrow, rocky inlet. Cliff diving began in 1934 and generations of divers have propelled themselves daily from a height of 41 meters (136 ft) into churning surf only 3 meters (11 ft) deep. The finale of the last nighttime show is most impressive: a single diver descends in total darkness carrying flaming torches.

Sinfonia del Mar

Clinging to a steep hillside far above crashing Pacific Ocean waves, Sinfonia del Mar attracts lovers, and lovers of spectacular sunsets. A stone amphitheater is tucked into the cliff, where you can sit and marvel at the setting sun. Concerts are sometimes held here but most evenings the only music you hear blares from car stereos in the crowded parking lot. Don’t let that keep you from enjoying the magical moment when the sun’s last rays fade into the sea.

Playa Caleta and Caletilla

The gentle waves of Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla create a safe swimming area, which makes the area ideal for families with small children. The two beaches are located in a small sheltered bay and separated from each other by a bridge which leads to the island home of Mago Mágico Mundo Marino children’s park. Inexpensive restaurants line the beach and food is also served at umbrella-shaded tables from which the abuelitas watch the grandchildren splash and play and swim.

Mágico Mundo Marino

Children love to visit Mágico Mundo Marino, or Magical Marine World, located on a tiny, rocky island reached by footbridge from Playa Caleta. The park is not as fancy or pricey as Cici Waterpark, but still offers waterlides, fresh and saltwater swimming pools. The most popular attraction is the sea lion show, and kids delight in watching them swim and snort, playing to the crowd. Boats heading to Isla la Roqueta depart from the dock in front of the park.

Roqueta Island (Isla la Roqueta)

Take a glass-bottom boat across the Boca Chica, and discover Isla la Roqueta, a tranquil island preserved in its natural state and crisscrossed with hiking trails. Located at the entrance to Acapulco Bay and reached from Playa Caleta, Isla Roqueta attracts many Mexican families to its restaurant and beach club, which face a narrow beach on a shallow bay. The boat ride there is fun, stopping at the underwater statue of the Virgin of the Seas and Johnny Weissmuller’s house.

Archeological Site: Palma Sola

Most visitors to Acapulco come for fun and sun and are surprised to find that the city features an important archeological site located within the city limits. At Palma Sola in Veladero National Park, the ancient indigenous Yope people, who occupied the area between 800 BC and 750 AD, carved 18 impressive murals into huge boulders. It is a steep hour-long hike up a well-constructed pathway from the visitors center to the petroglyphs so bring water and wear a hat.

Acapulco: Golden Zone beach

Golden Zone (Zona Dorada)

The Golden Zone lies along the Costera Miguel Alemán, the wide seaside boulevard running eight km (5 miles) from the Zócalo to the Scenic Highway. The Costera is chaotic, crowded, often dirty, and sometimes ridden by petty crime. Located on it are many hotels, Galerias Diana, Parque Papagayo, Cici Water Park, the Casa de la Cultura, and Hornos, Condesa, and Icacos beaches. The area is Party Central, with bars and discos clustered between the Diana traffic circle and the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Playa Hornos

At Playa Hornos, or Hornos Beach, people of all ages, shapes and sizes sit at umbrella-shaded tables, lounge on deck chairs or gather around low tables tucked under thatched roofs. Countless beachfront restaurants send out waiters to provide very cold beer and other refreshments. Children play in the waves, which are smaller and less dangerous than those at nearby Condesa Beach. This flat, palm tree shaded stretch of the bay is often packed with Mexican families on inexpensive package tours.

Parque Papagayo

Parents looking for a safe, green spot to let the kids run wild head to Parque Papagayo, a 21 hectare (52 acre) park located in the Golden Zone opposite Playa Hornos. Here you will find lakes and lawns, rides and refreshments, and a replica of the Manila Galleon that once plied the Pacific Ocean between Acapulco and the Philippines. Activities include an outdoor children’s art workshop and dancers recreating ancient rituals. Rent a “bicycle-built-for-four” and tool around on shady pathways.

Playa Condesa and Playa Icacos

Playa Condesa and Playa Icacos occupy the narrow eastern shore of Acapulco Bay in the Golden Zone and are separated by the stony outcropping known as Las Rocas de Condesa. Playa Icacos has calmer waves and caters to the many guests at the hotels which line the beach. Playa Condesa is a laid-back singles’ haven, attracting straight and gay young people who are drawn to its laissez-faire vibe. Surf can be rough and unpredictable at Playa Condesa, so be careful.

CiCi Waterpark

CiCi Waterpark is the place to cool off on Acapulco’s hottest days. Fun water rides at the park include waterslides, and toboggan and inner tube slides. For an adrenalin rush, drop 35 meters from the Skycoaster. Most visitors come for the dolphins, though – they are cute, smart, and energetic, and perform twice daily, at 2:00 and 4:00 pm. For an additional cost, you can swim with these amazing creatures, which appear well cared for and seem to enjoy playing with humans.

Casa de la Cultura

Acapulco’s Casa de Cultura, next door to CiCi Water Park, is a shady, tranquil oasis on the Costera. Mature trees line the pathways that connect the Casa’s library, auditorium and amphitheater. Stop by the Cafeteria del Arte del Sur – a combination art gallery and café – for light snacks and a look at diverse works by local artists. Across from the café is the Guerrero State Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, which features exhibits about the state’s strongest and fastest.

Acapulco: Diamond Zone - Revolcadero Beach

Diamond Zone (Zona Diamante)

As you ascend the Carretera Escénica from Santa Lucia Bay, the legendary Las Brisas Hotel dominates the hill top – the beginning of the Diamond Zone – and soon you reach its two main tourist destinations: Puerto Marques Bay and Revolcadero Beach. Intimate Puerto Marques, where steep cliffs drop sharply to a perfectly proportioned bay, offers a small-town atmosphere next to a picturesque harbor. At spacious Revolcadero Beach, large hotels, golf courses, and La Isla shopping center cater to an upscale crowd.

Bahia de Puerto Marques (Puerto Marques Bay)

Hernando Cortes, conqueror of Mexico and marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca, ruled this bay, which was named in his honor. Visit the charming bayside strip, where you can try a “picadita” – a chewy corn tortilla covered with Serrano chile sauce and drizzled with cream. Johnny Weissmuller filmed Tarzan movies at the Bay’s densely forested Laguna Negra. Recently, Puerto Marques has attracted new, expensive resorts including the Banyan Tree and Quinta Real, located on Punta Diamante, where security is tight.

Revolcadero Beach

Revolcadero Beach is a wide expanse of golden sand, bordered on one side by open ocean and on the other by tropical plantations and palm groves. Located at Acapulco’s southern edge near the airport, luxury hotels like the Fairmont Acapulco Princess and Mayan Palace Resort surround a lagoon where challenging golf courses have been built. High-end boutiques abound at La Isla mall. Swimmers should beware Revolcadero Beach’s ferocious surf but beachcombers will delight in walking the sparsely populated coastline.

Acapulco: Fisherman near Pie de la Cuesta

Sports

Acapulco is truly a sportsmen’s paradise. Sport fishing has attracted anglers to bountiful Pacific Ocean fishing grounds since the 1930s. Snorkelers and scuba divers can explore Acapulco Bay’s undersea attractions on boat, wreck, nitrox, and nighttime dives. Surfers head south to the waves at Revolcadero Beach and Barra Vieja. Beach vendors supply jet skis, banana boats, and parasailing. Sailors can rent luxury motor yachts to cruise hidden coves. Hotels and private clubs maintain beautifully located tennis courts and golf courses.

Sport fishing

Anglers have flocked to Acapulco for decades to fish its deep seas three to eight miles offshore for bonito, tuna, and the ultimate catch: the Pacific sailfish. Forty-year old Fish-R-Us also offers Night Bottom Fishing for grouper and red snapper within Acapulco Bay on a four-hour trip departing at 8:00 pm. Fresh water fishermen head north to Coyuca Lagoon at Pie de la Cuesta or south to Tres Palos Lagoon in Barra Vieja, which are both natural marine sanctuaries.

Scuba diving and Snorkeling

Longtime scuba operator Swiss Divers Association offers novice divers and snorkelers the chance to gain experience in pool sessions or the shallow waters of Playa Caletilla and Isla Roqueta. More experienced divers can choose from boat, wreck, and nitrox dives in deep Acapulco Bay. One interesting dive visits the submerged bronze statue of the Virgin of the Seas in Boca Chica channel. The company also rents, sells, and repairs diving equipment and makes souvenir photos and videos of your dive.

Sailing, Surfing and Personal Water Crafts

Acapulco’s go-to guy for all things surfing is Antonio Diaz at Piquant Surf Shop. He has been surfing Revolcadero Beach, Barra Vieja, and Pie de la Cuesta for years and guides trips to them for all levels of expertise. For sailing, Club de Yates Acapulco offers rentals and classes. Personal watercraft can be rented at Playa Condesa on the beach in front of the Fiesta Americana Hotel. For a bouncy, fun float, try the banana boat ride through the surf.

Boating

If your dream is to cruise Mexico’s Pacific coast on your own private yacht, look no further than Club de Yates Acapulco. The club arranges first-class charters of its 20 luxury yachts, complete with full crew. An Acapulco institution since the 1950s, Acapulco Yacht Club organizes regattas and fishing tournaments and offers training courses for children and teens. The club maintains 250 boatslips – 15 for visitors, where you can moor your own boat next to those of Mexico’s wealthiest sailors.

Tennis and Golf

All the major hotels in the Diamond Zone feature tennis courts, as does the Golden Zone’s Park Hotel, which has reasonable rates. Tennis Coach Rodrigo Cerdera runs the clubhouse and training program at the conveniently located municipal courts next to the golf club. Greens fees at the nine-hole course, which is open evenings, are US$52. There are four private 18-hole courses near the airport, with the oceanside Tres Vidas course designed by Robert Von Hagge garnering high marks for its beauty.

Acapulco: Street vendors at La Caleta Beach

Shopping

Acapulco was New Spain’s first shopping center, the place where merchants gathered, eager to buy treasures carried on the Manila galleons. Today, shopping remains a pleasant diversion for visitors to the city with a variety of experiences ranging from budget to budget-bursting.

Start your shopping adventure at the city’s Mercado Central, a fun place to shop, especially during October when the stalls fill with Day of the Dead paraphernalia. At Mercado de la Diana, look for the “cajitas de Olinalá”, small lacquered boxes handmade in the Guerrero village of the same name. Original works by local artists can be found at the exemplary Arte Para Siempre at La Casa de Cultura.For upscale merchandise, try La Isla Shopping Village in the Diamond Zone.

If you can’t be bothered to leave the beach but still want to shop, never fear: strolling vendors sell conch shells, fake silver jewelry, T-shirts, beach wraps and dresses, hats and sunglasses, and home-bottled suntan oil.

Tour Operators

It is very easy to plan tours of and around Acapulco by contacting the city’s many experienced tour operators. Acuario Tours is a full-service travel provider with almost 30 years of experience. Tranvias Turísticos Acapulco offers excursions on its charming open-air trolley cars. Fiesta and Bonanza cruise boats ply the deep waters of Acapulco Bay. Tour by Van’s Rudy Fregoso is Acapulco’s best-known and a widely-admired tour guide. Shotover Jet thrills passengers with jet boat rides up nearby Papagayo River.

Acuario Tours

Acuario Tours is a full-service travel provider, founded in 1971, that prides itself on service and customer satisfaction. The company offers many excursions that include: City Tour and Cliff Divers, Acapulco Through the Ages, Historical Route of the Nation, Tropical Birds, Sea Turtles, and Botanical Garden; Coyuca Lagoon, Sun and Fun Elite Cruise, Scuba and Snorkeling, Horseback Riding on the Beach, Bullfight, Night Tour, Silver City of Taxco, Xochicalco Archeological Zone, Cacahuamilpa Caves, and a one-day trip to Mexico City.

Tours by Trolley – Tranvias Turísticos Acapulco

For a slow-moving, breezy tour of Acapulco, ride the open-air trolley operated by Tranvias Turísticos Acapulco. The excursions visit the city’s main points of interest, including the Golden Zone, Scenic Highway, Zócalo, La Quebrada, and the Acapulco Botanical Garden. The trolley ambles along the Costera and you can board at many stops including the convention center, Parque Papagayo, and most of the hotels. Get on and off the bus as often as you like, all for only about $6.50 per day.

Tours by Boat – Fiesta and Bonanza Cruises

No trip to Acapulco would be complete without a boat cruise around magical Santa Lucia Bay. The Fiesta and Bonanza vessels are really floating party palaces complete with live music, stage show, open bar, and dance floor. A bilingual host talks about Acapulco’s history as you sail by La Quebrada, Boca Chica Channel, and Isla la Roqueta. The Moonlight Party Cruise places you in the middle of the dark waters, the perfect vantage point for gazing at Acapulco’s twinkling lights.

Tour by Van

Acapulco’s best-known (and most popular) tour guide is Rudy Fregoso. Thousands of cruise passengers spend their precious shore time on one of Rudy’s excursions, safe in the knowledge that Rudy’s tours are fun and perfectly organized. You don’t have to arrive by ship to “…be the architect of your own tour,” which is Rudy’s motto. Choose from Acapulco’s myriad sites and travel by car, van, motor coach, or limousine, all impeccably maintained and driven by polite, professional, and entertaining guides.

Shotover Jet

All that relaxing on Acapulco’s beaches might leave you craving an adrenalin fix, which you can indulge by zooming up the Papagayo River at 60 mph on a Shotover jet boat. Highly skilled pilots maneuver sleek red boats through the river’s twisting canyons at heart-stopping speeds, throwing in the occasional 360° spin. The 50-minute cruise starts in placid mangrove swamps then blasts upriver past 40-meter tall cliffs to La Venta Dam, a scenic journey through the Sierra de Guerrero mountains.

Acapulco: Hotel Las Brisas

Accommodations

With over 200 hotels and 18,000 rooms, Acapulco’s many lodging choices allow the visitor to save or splurge. Traditional Acapulco has most of the inexpensive hotels. The Golden Zone offers a range of accommodation while the Diamond Zone is the enclave of gated international chain hotels. If you can’t find a hotel room during high season, look on the Costera for “prometores,” men wearing white or blue shirts and khaki pants who maintain a list of rooms available for rent.

Budget: K3 Hostel

It is common for a hostel to be cheap and convenient. It is an unexpected pleasure when you find one, like K3 Hostel, that is both, as well as clean and safe with a great beach view. A constantly changing stream of international visitors makes K3 Hostel’s roof terrace a wonderful place to meet new friends. The surf, sand, bars and discos of Condesa Beach are handily placed nearby, as are inexpensive restaurants, banks, buses, a laundry, and a Starbucks.

Budget: Hotel Añorvo

Hotel Añorvo is typical of the budget accommodations available in the Zócalo. The rooms are barebones but secure and clean. Management is friendly and helpful at this small inn, which caters mostly to Mexican tourists. The Añorvo is located one block off the main square and across the street from interesting Cason de Juarez house-museum. The Costera is one block south for local bus connections. Sanborn’s and Woolworth’s are nearby, as are the Centro’s many inexpensive shops, markets and restaurants.

Budget: Etel Suites

Etel Suites Hotel has that rare Acapulco amenity: a view of both the rocky Pacific Ocean cliffs to the west and the tranquil waters of Santa Lucia Bay to the east. Tucked away on a narrow street in the La Quebrada neighborhood, Etel Suites provides comfortable accommodations in a low-key environment. Particularly welcome for families or larger groups are the suites that sleep 6-12 people and feature fully equipped kitchens. Parents of young children will appreciate the kiddie-sized wading pool.

Budget: Park Hotel

Right in the middle of the Golden Zone, the 88 air-conditioned rooms of Park Hotel Acapulco provide a centrally located lodging one block from the beach. Accommodations vary in price based on location, with standard rooms facing the Costera or Plaza Bahía shopping center. Garden Rooms are a step up and face the swimming pool and the tropical garden, while tennis players prize the South Section for its courtside rooms. Unpretentious Park Hotel provides a good value for the price.

Mid: Casa Condesa

Gay and lesbian travelers desiring a tropical vacation experience akin to visiting a private villa near the beach have long stayed at Casa Condesa. It is a petite bed and breakfast with individually decorated rooms, a sparking blue swimming pool and a covered roof deck with panoramic views of Acapulco Bay two blocks away. The friendly, knowledgeable staff provides luxury-hotel-quality service. Special amenities include intimate dinners cooked by a private chef and reasonably priced massages from possibly Acapulco’s best therapist.

Mid: Hotel Acapulco Malibu

Near the Cici Water Park and municipal golf and tennis clubs, Hotel Malibu is an 80-suite mid-rise hotel popular with package tours and individual Mexican travelers alike. Accommodations are decorated in shades of blue and white, and all feature balconies, some of which have broad views of Acapulco Bay. Public outdoor spaces are expansive, with a tree-shaded terrace leading to an inviting swimming pool, just steps away from Playa Icacos. Restaurant Tabasco Beach has been a reliable choice since 1968.

Mid: Hotel Los Portales

The friendly and efficient front desk staff at Hotel Los Portales makes check-in and check-out a breeze. Well situated in the Golden Zone, Hotel Los Portales is a good, economical choice for families with children, near the gentler waves of Playa Horno and kid-friendly Parque Papaguayo. The rooms are reasonably priced and simply furnished, with the larger suites containing two king-size beds, kitchen, and dining room. A wide lobby with cool tile floors provides a comfortable area to relax in.

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

Mexico’s Grupo Habita has another hit on its hands – Hotel Boca Chica redefines hip, sophisticated lodging in Acapulco while reviving interest in busy but rundown Playa Caletilla. Designers Frida Escobedo and Jose Rojas, and antique curator Claudia Fernandez took a crumbling but cool 1950s era structure, preserved its best vintage features and updated the rest to create an urban, tropical oasis. Minimalist white-toned guest rooms look out onto the beach, marina, or across the channel to Isla de la Roqueta.

High: Banyan Tree Cabo Marques

Acapulco’s historic role as western hub of trade with Asia comes subtly to life at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, a luxurious hideaway that combines Asian design aesthetics with an awe-inducing coastal setting. Airy, private villas raised on stilts hover over Punta Diamante’s cliffs and feature panoramic views of Puerto Marqués. Traditional and contemporary Mexican artworks are highlighted throughout the spacious, verdant compound. Relaxation is mandatory – indulge in an authentic Thai massage while resting in a glass pavilion overlooking the Pacific.

High: Las Brisas

Las Brisas, opened in 1957, was already one of the world’s most famous hotels long before it was listed in “1,000 Places to Visit Before You Die.” John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here in one of the signature pink and white casitas, where tulipan flowers are strewn across the beds and float in the private swimming pool. “Dream It, Feel It, Live It” is the Las Brisas message and generations of lovers have done exactly that, high above Acapulco Bay.

Acapulco: Banyan Tree Cabo Marques - restaurant

Restaurants

Acapulco has delicious seafood – locals have been eating it for three millennia. Chefs prepare fresh fish and shellfish using traditional and new recipes and sell it on the beach, at sidewalk stands and family-run luncheonettes, and in tony hotel restaurants. If you tire of seafood, order traditional Mexican food including Thursday’s special: pozole. To get a real sense of Acapulco’s diverse cuisine, eat in each of the city’s three zones and on the beach in Pie de la Cuesta or Barra Vieja.

Budget: Frutiland

Frutiland is a no-nonsense, pleasant, family-run restaurant, centrally located near the Costera that serves fresh, basic Mexican food. A good choice are the chilaquiles, crisp tortilla chips covered with chicken or egg and bathed in red or green sauce, topped with grated cheese, and served with a salad of shredded cabbage and carrots, tomato and avocado, and yellow rice. Breakfasts include egg dishes and croissants while lunch and dinner offer baguette sandwiches, hamburgers, and chicken, tuna or turkey salads.

Budget: El Fogón

On one busy stretch of the Costera stands El Fogón, a Mexican chain restaurant popular with locals, where about 20 ceiling fans struggle to keep the humid air moving. Enchiladas Verdes is a local favorite but the house specialty is Molcajete, a tray to be shared by two or more people of grilled beefsteak with all the trimmings: enchiladas filled with chorizo and rancher’s cheese, nopal cactus slices, avocado, onions and house-made tortillas. Strolling troubadours stop by and play requests.

Budget: Pesca’o

One expat’s Mexican husband reports that the fish tacos at Pesca’o “…will knock your socks off,” and he doesn’t even wear socks. Pesca’o is a classic after-beach joint with a surfboard sign hovering over the café tables and bar stools that line the narrow sidewalk. Crisply fried fish comes wrapped in flour or corn tortillas drizzled with Thousand Island dressing. Choose from of six different salsas to spice your tacos. Friendly waiters, cheap prices, and lively music complete the experience.

Budget: Tacos Los Tarascos

Tacos al Pastor is the Mexican version of the Greek gyro sandwich, with pork slowly cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Juice from a pineapple and onion flows down the meat as it cooks, giving it both a sweet and tangy taste. Los Tarascos makes delicious Tacos al Pastor, served in small tortillas, garnished with onions, cilantro and carmelized pineapple, with fresh limes and tangy, hot salsa waiting on the table. It’s not a fancy restaurant but definitely has good food.

Mid: Buzo’s

You may be the only gringo present when you eat at Buzo’s, which is one of Acapulco’s most beloved seafood restaurants. A colorful underwater décor surrounds happy diners, all of them chowing down on really fresh fish and shellfish. Try a flavorful octopus ceviche or the shrimp Diablo, which is drenched in a spicy tomato-chile sauce. Buzo’s is a fun place to dine, with a live band playing Mexican songs – you never know who might get up and sing along.

Mid: Pozoleria Los Cazadores

If you are in Acapulco on a Thursday – and please try to be – you are in for a treat: on Thursdays restaurants all over the city serve pozole, the hearty stew of hominy and meat prepared in a variety of sauces. The strangest but most delightful twist on Pozole Thursday can be experienced only at Pozoleria Los Cazadores where the entertainment is provided by lip-syncing local drag queens. The pozole is authentic and grandmothers and teenagers sing along to Shakira!

Mid: 100% Natural

All over Mexico, vegetarians (and those who just love healthy food) congregate at 100% Natural, a reasonably priced restaurant chain founded by an Acapulco family in 1980. The extensive menu contains omnivore options, too, but for vegetarians 100% Natural is the city’s best choice for fruit or vegetable dishes prepared in traditional Mexican and interesting new ways. If you prefer to get your vitamins in liquid form, 100% Natural offers many freshly squeezed juice options, including chaya, a spinach-like green.

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

Hotel Boca Chica’s restaurant is a calming open-air space overlooking the channel separating Peninsula de las Playas from Isla de la Roqueta. Chef Keisuke Harada, formerly of New York and Miami’s Bond St. restaurant, has created a tantalizing menu that fuses Asian and Mexican influences using local ingredients. Start with the spicy crab soup or the lightly dressed tofu and cherry tomato salad, sample beautifully presented sushi or sashimi, and split an order of delicate seafood linguini in sake sauce.

High: Baikal

Many restaurants on Acapulco’s Scenic Highway have stunning views of Santa Lucia Bay, but gourmands agree: Baikal is the one dining establishment that consistently serves innovative cuisine that not only matches but exceeds the quality of the vista. Baikal’s Guatemala-born chef designs glorious dishes that blend French, Asian and Mexican flavors, and play with the palate. Try the lobster in ginger-hibiscus flower sauce or the seafood salad of lobster, shrimp, calamari, scallops and octopus. Don’t miss this understated, elegant restaurant.

High: El Nao at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués

Perched high atop Punta Diamante is El Nao, the exquisite poolside restaurant at the Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués. The cliff-top setting is spectacular, with expansive open-ocean views from comfortable seating at umbrella-shaded tables. Sample the beef carpaccio with aged parmigiano reggiano, mushrooms and arugula, the black sesame seed encrusted Pacific tuna, and the seasonally available wild mushrooms with huitlacoche, a corn fungus and Mexican delicacy since ancient times. The courteous, multilingual staff pampers each diner with unobtrusive but attentive service.

Acapulco: Condesa Beach bars - Paradise

Nightlife

Whatever entertainment you seek, you will find it in Acapulco. After spending the day on the beach visitors can head out at night to laid-back beach bars, discos blasting hip-hop, and exclusive nightclubs. Acapulco’s nightlife starts late – around midnight, and you can dance till dawn and still find the dance floors crowded. If you are looking for a different kind of vibe, try gambling at the jai alai club, or take in a classical music concert with the Acapulco Philharmonic.

Golden Zone Bars and Discos

Barbaroja, Baby Lobster, Disco Beach, and Paradise are loud, popular, and relaxed open-air clubs along Condesa Beach. During Spring Break, young partiers flock to them at night, when U.S. college students mingle with their Mexican counterparts. The décor changes but the ambience remains the same: young women in skimpy dresses and flip flops and guys in t-shirts and board shorts crowd the dance floor, cocktails in hand. The cover charge may seem high but it usually includes an open bar.

Nightclub: Baby’o

Baby’o remains one of Acapulco’s most exclusive and glamorous nightclubs. With its fake rock façade Baby’o looks like Fred and Wilma Flintstone’s favorite disco but inside the mood whispers cool and hip. International celebrities from the worlds of music and entertainment – including Sting – hang out at Baby’o when they are in Acapulco. Outside, crowds clamor for the attention of doormen who decide who will enter. Dress smartly, bring plenty of pesos, and hope tonight’s the night you get into Baby’o.

LGBT: Demas, Savage, Picante, Ibiza

Landmark gay bar Sans Souci is long closed, but LGBT travelers still find plenty of welcoming places to meet each other in Acapulco, most clustered just off the Costera near Condesa Beach. Ibiza attracts a mixed gay/straight crowd to its chill lounge and hosts a popular beach party on Sunday afternoons. Demas and Savage, two clubs with one cover charge, offer male strippers and extravagant drag shows. Cabaretito is popular on Wednesdays and Picante is open everyday at 10:00 pm.

Gambling: Jai Alai Acapulco

You won’t find sprawling Las Vegas-style casinos in Acapulco, but gamblers can still test their luck at slot machines, bingo and off-track betting at Jai Alai Acapulco. The main draw for bettors at this gambling den is jai alai, one of the world’s fastest ball sports. Played on a long narrow court, jai alai is an ancient Basque version of racquetball, though aficionados would shudder to hear that comparison. You can also play bingo and slots at Casino Emotion near Galerias Diana shopping center.

Cultural Activities: Filarmonica de Acapulco

You wouldn’t expect to find an excellent symphony orchestra in a beach resort but that’s exactly what the Pearl of the Pacific has in the Acapulco Philharmonic. Boasting over 75 members and performing more than 90 concerts annually across the state, the Orquestra Filharmonica de Acapulco makes its home in the 1,100-seat Juan Ruíz de Alarcón Theater. The Philharmonic was founded in 1998 and has performed with such distinguished international soloists as Placido Domingo, who maintains a home in Acapulco.

Acapulco: Pie de la Cuesta Beach

Around Acapulco: North and South

Things to See and Do

To escape Acapulco’s crowds, visit the quiet, natural paradises less than an hour’s drive from the Golden Zone. The coastline north of Acapulco is called the Costa Grande, or Big Coast, where a narrow sandbar called Pie de la Cuesta separates serene Coyuca Lagoon from the Pacific Ocean. South of the city, the Costa Chica, or Small Coast, attracts visitors to the placid Laguna de Tres Palos, the tiny community of Barra Vieja, and the wild surf of Playa Bonfil.

North of Acapulco: Costa Grande

Laguna de Coyuca

If you consider yourself an old movie buff, arriving at Coyuca Lagoon may invoke a feeling of déjà vu: Hollywood filmed such movies as The African Queen, Rambo II, and the original Tarzan films here. The pristine 29 square km lagoon (18 sq mi), located 6 km (4 mi) north of Acapulco, is a natural sanctuary. Here, you can water-ski on the lagoon’s smooth waters or take a leisurely boat cruise to spot some of the area’s 250 bird species.

Pie de la Cuesta

Locals gather every afternoon on the beach at Pie de la Cuesta to savor Acapulco’s most dazzling sunsets, a sight not to be missed on any visit to the area. Pie de la Cuesta, located 6 km (4 mi) north of Acapulco, has just one two-lane road running along small, locally owned hotels and restaurants, which have marvelous views of either the Pacific Ocean or Coyuca Lagoon. Arrive early for lunch then spend the afternoon lounging in a beachside hammock.

Accommodations: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta – Hacienda Vayma and Villa Nirvana

Many laid-back, small hotels and resorts line both sides of 2 km long Ave. Base Aerea Militar. The only choice you have to make is whether to sleep facing crashing ocean waves or tranquil lagoon waters. Parwin and Philippe are your French and American hosts at 25-suite Hacienda Vayma Resort. At Villa Nirvana, which offers poolside rooms and a beachfront bungalow, you receive a free beverage if you bring a 90-day supply of children’s vitamins for donation to impoverished children.

Restaurants: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta – Tres Marias Restaurant and Club de Ski Tres Marias

For the classic Pie de la Cuesta dining experience, lunch at the oceanfront Tres Marias Restaurant or the lagoon-side Tres Marias Club de Ski, each owned by a sister from a local family. At the former, try the Huachinango a la Veracruzano, a whole fried fish, drenched in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, peas and olives. At the latter, order the Pescado a la Talla, a local specialty of red snapper, marinated in chile and garlic then grilled to perfection.

South of Acapulco: Costa Chica

Playa Bonfil

At Playa Bonfil, the waves crash impressively, which makes it a great place to surf along wide-open, spacious beaches. While many new hotels and condos cluster along the highway leading from the Diamond Zone to Barra Vieja, most of Playa Bonfil still feels splendidly isolated. Fast and powerful waves break to the right and left, so locals don’t recommend this stretch of the coast for swimmers. Every year in March, Playa Bonfil starts cranking with Mexico’s national open surfing competition.

Laguna de Tres Palos

The Sabana River streams into Laguna de Tres Palos, a freshwater lagoon 15 km long and 6 km wide (9 and 3.7 mi), situated just south of Acapulco International Airport. An unhurried boat trip around the broad lagoon is the best way to observe the region’s dense and lush vegetation, darting schools of fish, and many varieties of mammals. Birdwatchers consider the lagoon an important breeding area for aquatic and shorebirds, which build their tidy nests in the mangrove swamps.

Barra Vieja

Twenty-seven km (17 mi) south of Acapulco lies Barra Vieja, a rustic beach village located on ocean’s edge, where the waters of Laguna de Tres Palos and the Papagayo River flow into the Pacific. Acapulqueños pack the pleasant little town on weekends and dine alfresco at river and ocean front seafood restaurants, or lounge under palm-thatched roofs in swaying hammocks. Horseback riding is popular, but for a more exhilarating journey rent a jet ski and skim through winding mangrove channels.

Accommodations: South of Acapulco – Bambuddha Hotel

Bambuddha Hotel in Barra Vieja is a unique property – a peaceful yoga retreat center located directly on the beach. With only ten rooms and three cabins, Bambuddha pampers its guests in a tranquil environment that is perfect for rejuvenation of the body and spirit. Visitors can choose from massage therapy, healing earth baths, or a sweat lodge as a follow-up to their yoga practice. The center also offers interesting packages, including a Detox Week and a Cleansing Four Element Day.

Restaurants: South of Acapulco – Beto’s

Ask any taxi driver to take you to Beto’s – the owner is so well known you need not say more. Located at the entrance to Tres Palos Lagoon on the Rio Papagayo, open-air Beto’s Restaurant is deservedly well-known for Pescado a la Talla, a whole fish split in half, cooked flat on a grill and served with red, green, or garlic sauce. Even better, ask for two sauces and savor how they alter the taste of this succulent white fish.

Acapulco: Santa Lucia Bay

Logistical Information

Telephone Code: 744

Altitude: Sea level

Population: 717,766

When To Go

When to go: High Seasons: January through Easter, Summer Vacation (July, August), Winter Season, December 15-31. During the month of May the air outside the city can be smoky from the many cornfields burning, preparing the soil in the ancient way before summer’s rainy season. Jellyfish season is in June and their stings can make for a less than pleasant swimming experience. During heavy summer rains, garbage sometimes flows down from the hillsides and can litter the beaches.

Climate: generally hot, humid, and sunny. Temperature: Avg. High: 92F. Avg. Low: 62F. July and August are hottest months. Rainy season, May to September. Dry season, November to April

Holidays: June 1, Day of the Sailors. December 12: Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe

Getting to and away (regional transportation)

Airport: General Juan N. Álvarez Acapulco International Airport (ACA). 28 km southeast of central Acapulco connected by the Boulevard de las Naciones and Carretera Escénica

Address: Blvd. De las Naciones, Plan de Los Amates, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39931
Tel: +52 (744) 435-2060
Email: acapulco@oma.aero

Airlines:

Aeromar: serving Mexico City

Address: Aeropuerto De Acapulco
Tel: +52 (744) 466-9392, -9395
Fax: +52 (744) 466-9394
Office hours: Daily, 9:00 am to 9:00pm
Email: aca.ato@aeromar.com.mx
Web: http://www.aeromar.com.mx

Aeroméxico: serving Mexico City and other national and international cities

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 286, Fracc. Hornos.
Toll-Free (MX): 01 800 021-4000, 485-2280
Tel (office): +52 (744) 485-1653 and
Tel (airport): +52 (744) 466-9109

America West Airlines: serving Phoenix

Toll Free: 01 800 235-9292, 001 800 533-6862
Tel (office): +52 (744) 466-9257
Fax: +52 (744) 466-9388

American Airlines: serving Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth

Toll Free (USA/Canada): (800) 633-3711
Toll Free (MX): 01 800 904-6000

Aviacsa: serving various cities in Mexico

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 178-Local 1, Fracc. Magallanes
Toll Free (MX): 01 800-735-5396
Office Tel: +52 (744) 481-3240
Fax: +52 (744) 466-9203
Airport: +52 (744) 466-9205

Continental Airlines/Continental Express: serving Houston-Intercontinental, Newark

Toll Free (MX): 01-800-900-5000
Toll free (USA/Canada): 1 (800) 231-0856
Tel (Airport): +52 (744) 466-9063

Delta Air Lines: serving Detroit, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Toll Free (MX): 1 800 123 4710 or 902-2100
Toll Free (USA/Canada): 1 (800) 241-4141

Interjet: serving Mexico City, Toluca

Tel: +52 (55) 1102-5555 or
Toll Free (MX): 01 800 011-2345
Web: http://www.interjet.com.mx

US Airways: serving Phoenix

Toll Free (MX): 01 800 235 9292
Toll Free (USA/Canada): 1-800-843-3000

VivaAerobus: serving Guadalajara, Monterrey

Toll Free (MX): 01 818 215-0150
Toll Free (USA/Canada): 888/935-9848
Web: http://www.vivaaerobus.com

Volaris: serving Tijuana

Tel: +52 (55) 1102–8000
Toll Free (MX): 01 800 7VOLARIS
Toll Free USA/Canada): +52 (866) 988–3527
Web: http://www.volaris.com.mx

Other airlines:

Alaska Airlines: Seasonal: Oakland, Sacramento
Air Transat: Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau
Canjet: Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau
Magni: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Monterrey
Sunwing Airlines: Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson
Thomson Airways: Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds-Bradford, London-Gatwick, Manchester

By Car:

Northwest: Zihuatanejo: 233 km (148 m), 3 hours. Puerto Vallarta: 1,200 km (746 m), 12 hours

Southeast: Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca: 400 km (249 m), 5.25 hours

East: Mexico City, 330 km (205 mi), 4 ½ hours, Toll: MX$530/US$53. Cuernavaca: 290 km (180 mi), 3 hours. Toll: MX$445/US$45. Taxco: 258 km (160 mi), 3.5 hours, MX$275/US$28

Chilpancingo: 133 km (83 mi), 2 hours, MX$275/UX$28

By Bus:

Acapulco has 3 downtown bus stations and one in the Diamond Zone. Check carefully to make sure you go to the correct one. The main bus lines are Estrella Blanca, Estrella de Oro, Costaline, Turistar, and Futura.

Sample destination and fares:

Mexico City: 4 hours, MX$390-535/US$39-54
Chilpancingo: 2 hours, MX$62-100/US$6.20-10
Cuernavaca: 3 hours, MX$314-330/US$31-33
Taxco: 3 hours, MX$180/US$18
Zihuatanejo: 2 hours, MX$116-157/US$12-16
Puerto Vallarta: connecting local buses via coastal road or through Mexico City, 18 hours, approx. MX$600/US$60
Puerto Escondido: 7 hours, MX$170/US$17

Terminal Estrella de Oro Diamante

Address: Boulevard de las Naciones No. 34 (Diamond Zone)
Tel: +52 (744) 488-5222
Web: http://www.estrelladeoro.com.mx/

Terminal Estrella de Oro Cuauhtémoc

Address: Av. Cuauhtémoc No. 14920 (Golden Zone)
Tel: +52 (744) 485-8705
Web: http://www.estrelladeoro.com.mx/

Terminal Estrella Blanca Papagayo

Address: Av. Cuauhtémoc No. 1604 (Golden Zone)
Web: http://www.estrellablanca.com.mx/

Terminal Estrella Blanco Ejido

Address: Av. Ejido No. 47 (Col. Carabali)
Tel: +52 (744) 469-2005
Web: http://www.estrellablanca.com.mx/

Getting around (local transportation, buses, taxis, car rental)

Walking: Wide, flat Ave. Costera Miguel Alemán links eight km (5 mi) of Acapulco Bay beaches from the Peninsula de las Playas to the Carretera Escénica. Head uphill though, and you will encounter steep hillsides and pavement that ranges from perfect to potholed – wear sturdy shoes.

Bicycle Rental:

Vendor: Acapulco Diamante Bike Shop
Hours: Daily, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 100, Fracc. Las Playas, 39390 Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 218-0941
Email: renta@acapulco-diamante-bike-shop.com
Web: http://www.acapulco-diamante-bike-shop.com/
Price: Single: MX$60/US$6 per hour, MX$300/US$30 per day. Tandem: MX$80/US$8 per hour, MX$400/US$40 per day
Payment: Cash, Visa MasterCard
Services: bicycle rental, home delivery
Additional information: one-hour minimum rental

Buses: Don’t miss this silly and expensive Acapulco oddity: ride on one of the “discotecas ambulantes” – walking discos, as everyone calls local buses because of the loud music they play, and their outlandish, individualized paint jobs. A ride along Costera Miguel Alemán costs MX$5.5/US$.55. The blue and white tourists buses (Aca Tur Bus) cost one peso more and have AC, but aren’t nearly as fun. They all say Caleta Directo or Base-Caleta.

Airport Transportation:

Taxi: To Golden Zone and Traditional Acapulco, 1/2 hour .MX$255/US$25 – MX$425/US$43. To Diamond Zone, 10 minutes, MX$150/US$15

Shuttle Van: MX$100/US$10.

Taxis:

Taxis within Golden Zone: Blue and white “Sitio” taxis with AC about. MX$50/US$5. Yellow taxis are less expensive – if there is a destination sign in the window, it is actually a colectivo, which you will share with anyone the driver can pick up.
Taxi from Diamond Zone to Golden Zone or Traditional Acapulco: MX$150/US$150, 20-40+ minutes, depending on traffic
Taxi Hire: Depending on your bargaining skills you can hire a taxi and driver for 8 hours at approximately MX$1,000/US$100.

Shared vans: Colectivos, or combis, are mini-vans that travel a particular route, transporting passengers for a few pesos. The final destination should be on a sign in the front window, or wave one down and ask where it’s headed. At Sanborns in the Zócalo for Traditional Acapulco, Golden Zone, Diamond Zone and Pie de la Cuesta. At Glorieta Puerto Marqués for Revolcadero and Bonfils beaches and Barra Vieja. MX$15/US$1.50 per person

Car rental:

Avis: Costera Miguel Alemán (inside Hotel Fiesta Americana). Tel: +52 (744) 462-0075, -9190
Budget: Costera Miguel Alemán (inside Torres Gemelas). Tel:+52 (744) 481-2433, -0612
Hertz: Costera Miguel Alemán (inside Hotel Monaco). Tel: +52 (744) 485-6942Servicios
Carriage: Carriages (Calendrias): US$15 per half hour along Costera Miguel Alemán
Parking: limited street parking. Parking lots along Costera Miguel Alemán

Safety

Emergency: 066
Tourist Police: 060, 072, or +52 (744) 484-4416
Police: +52 (744) 485-0650
Fire Department: 060, +52 (744) 484-4123
Red Cross (Ambulance): 065 or +52 (744) 481-3385
Green Angels (Road Service): +52 (744) 483-8470
Missing Persons: +52 (744) 481-1100

The USA Department of State says, “Drug-related violence has been increasing in Acapulco. Although this violence is not targeted at foreign residents or tourists, U.S. citizens in these areas should be vigilant in their personal safety.” Tourist police patrol Acapulco’s main tourist areas of Traditional Acapulco, Golden Zone, and the Diamond Zone, which makes them safer areas for travelers to visit. At night, take a taxi from one of the authorized taxi stands at the hotels on Costera Miguel Alemán. Venture away from the tourist areas into poor, hillside neighborhoods at your own risk – these are the places where violence has become all too frequent, including murders and beheadings, between rival drug gangs.

Services

City Tourism Office (Procuraduria del Turista):

Hours of Operation: Daily, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 4455, Acapulco, Mexico, MX (in front of the convention center)
Tel: +52 (744) 484-4583
Fax: +52 (744) 484-4583

State Tourism Office

Address: La Costera 4455, Acapulco, Mexico, MX  (in front of the convention center)
Tel: +52 (744) 484-2423
Fax: +52 (744) 484-2423
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Acapulco Tourism Destination Marketing Office

Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 2408, Suites 206-208, Plaza Arrecife, Fracc. Club Deportivo, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39690
Hours: Monday to Friday, by appointment
Tel: +52 (744) 484-4159, -7264, -7732, -7195
Fax: +52 (744) 484 0271
Email: info@visitacapulco.com.mx
International Promotion Director: Piquis Rochin, prochin@visitacapulco.com.mx.
Public Relations Director: Arely Figueroa Serna, afiguero@visitacapulco.com.mx
Website: visitacapulco.com.mx
Services: vacation planning assistance, promotions
Additional Information: This is not a tourist information office.

Tourism Information Kiosk

Hours: Daily, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán, Traditional Acapulco (on the sidewalk on the harbor front opposite the Zócalo)
Tel: None
Fax: None
Email: None
Website: None
Services: maps, guides, brochures
Additional Information:

Money:

Banks: Many branches and ATMs, including ScotiaBank at La Diana traffic circle on Costera Miguel Alemán

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán (No Number), Plaza Marbella, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39690, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 484-7044 or -7045
Fax: +52 (744) 484-7770

Money Exchange: many on Costera Miguel Alemán, including:

Dollar Money Exchange
Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán 151, Costera Miguel Alemán
Tel: +52 (744) 486-9688

Travelers’ checks: accepted at some hotels, restaurants and shops, or cashed at banks and money exchanges with proper identification.

Communications:

Post Office:

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 215, Palacio Federal, Col. Central, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39300
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Saturday, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 483-5364 or 483-2405

Phone: On many street corners, especially on Costera Miguel Alemán and in the Zócalo. Telephones accept either coins or phone cards, which can be purchased at OXXO and other convenience stores.

Internet:

Vid@Net

Address: Calle Hidalgo, Col. Central, Traditional Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico (in the Zócalo)
Hours: 8:00 to 12:00 am

Internet Cyber Cafe

Address: Calle Horacio Nelson 40-7A, near the Marbella Hotel, Costera Miguel Alemán, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 484-8254

Laundry: Wash & Wear

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 78-4 in front of Hotel Calinda

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Tel: +52 744 484 9365
Additional Information: wash, dry, ironing in two hours

Medical

Hospitals:

General Hospital

Address: Av. Ruiz Cortines 128, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Tel: +52 (744) 446-5877

Hospital Centro Medico

Address: Calle José Valdez Arévalo No. 620 (Corner of Av. Cuauhtémoc), Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 482-4692, -4694,
Fax: + 52 (744) 483-2724

Hospital Privado Magallanes

Address: Calle Wilfrido Massieu No. 2, Fracc. Magallanes, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +(744) 485-6096, -6597, -6706, -6194
Fax: + (744) 485-6653

Doctors:

Dr. J. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez

Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Address: Inside Hotel Emporio, Costera Miguel Alemán, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 100-3696
Cell: +52 044 (744) 121 -8227
Additional Information: Speaks English

Dr. Omar Arcos Nava

Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Address: Condominio Capri (Behind Plaza Bahia), Hernán Cortés No. 28 Fracc. Magallanes, 39670 Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +(744) 485-5959, -5800
Fax: +(744) 485-8989
Additional Information: Speaks English, French, Italian and German.

Pharmacies:

Farmacia Daisy

Address: Francia No. 49, Fracc. Costa Azul, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico (Across from the Convention Center)
Hours: Daily
Tel: +52 (744) 484-7664 or -5950)
Additional Information: Pharmacies located inside Sam’s Club and

Dentists: Ask at hotel desk or consulate

Consulates:

Casa Consular offers general assistance.

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 4455, Acapulco, Mexico, MX (in front of the convention center)
Tel: +52 (744) 481-2533
Fax: +52 (744) 481-2533

Great Britain

Hours: call Honorary Consul Dedicated Line

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 2408, Suite 105, Plaza Arrecife, Fracc. Club Deportivo, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39690
Honorary Consul Dedicated Tel: +52 (744) 484-3503
General Office Tel: (52) (744) 484-3331
Fax: +52 (744) 484-3503
Email: Lourdes.howells-honco@fconet.fco.gov.uk or consular.mexico@fco.gov.uk
Web: http://ukinmexico.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/other-locations/british-consulate-acapulco/
Additional Information: Honorary Consul Lourdes Arenas de Howells

United States of America Consular Agent in Acapulco  (An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Address: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Alemán 121 – Local 14, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 484-0300 or 469-0556
Fax: +52 (744) 484-0300
Email: E-Mail: consular@prodigy.net.mx
Web: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html
Additional information: Alexander Richards, Consular Agent

Canada Consular Agency

Address: Centro Comercial Marbella – Local 23, Corner of Prolongación Farallon and Costera Miguel Alemán, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39670
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 484-1305 or +52 (744) 481-1349
Fax: +52 (744) 484-1306
Email: acapulco@canada.org.mx
Web: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/mexico-mexique/offices-bureaux/consoff-burcons.aspx?lang=en#HCACA
Additional information: Jurisdiction: States of Guerrero and Michoacán

Other countries:

Austria: +52 (744) 482-5551 or 483-2979
Finland: +52 (744) 484-7875, Restaurant Miramar
Germany: +52 (744) 484-1860 or -3801, Antón de Alaminos #26
Italy: +52 (744) 481-2533, Gran Vía Tropical #615-B

Mexican Immigration:

Address: Calle Juan Sebastián El Cano No.1 Manzana 4 Lote 1, 1st Floor/ Costa Azul, (Golden Zone) 39850 Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico (Near the Cici Waterpark)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 435-0102
Fax: None
Email: mocampo@inami.gob.mx
Web: http://inami.gob.mx/index.php/page/Oficinas_y_Horarios
Additional Information: Representative: MARÍA GLORIA B. OCAMPO ARANDA

Gas Station: Pemex stations located throughout the city including at La Diana traffic Circle.

Luggage Storage: in the bus stations, approximately MX$5/US$.50 per hour per bag

Things To See and Do

Traditional Acapulco (Acapulco Tradicional)

Zócalo

Location: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán between San Diego Fort and the Yacht Harbor, Col. Centro, Traditional Acapulco
How to Get There: by bus or taxi along the Costera
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: NA
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking
Services: church, hotels, restaurants, shopping, yacht harbor, cruise terminal, attractions

Casa de la Mascara (closed temporarily for renovation)

Location: Corner of Calle Hornitos and Calle Morelos, Ex-Zona Militar B, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Mexico
How to Get There: half block from San Diego Fort
Hours of Operation: Closed in 2010 for renovations. Normally, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Admission: Free, with donations accepted
Payment: NA
Tel: +52 (744) 485-3404
Fax: +52 (744) 485-3944
Email: Website:
Parking: limited street parking
Services: exhibitions, gift shop, restrooms

Fuerte de San Diego (San Diego Fort)

Location: Calle Hornitos at Calle Morelos, (off the Costera Miguel Alemán) Col. Centro, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39300
How to Get There: on the Costera across from the cruise ship terminal
Hours of Operation: Daily, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
Admission: MX$30/US$3. Free entrance on Sundays. Seniors and students free with Mexican credential
Payment: Cash only
Tel: +52 (744) 482-3828 or -1114
Fax: +52 (744) 482-3848
Email: fuertedesandiego@inah.gob.mx
Website: http://www.fuertedesandiego.inah.gob.mx/
Parking: limited street parking
Services: exhibitions, tours, bookstore and gift shop, restrooms, auditorium, art workshops

La Quebrada Cliff Divers

Location: Av. Lopez Mateos and Plazoleta La Quebrada, Colonia Centro, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39900
How to Get There: Walk uphill 15 minutes from the Zócalo or take a taxi to Plazoleta La Quebrada
Hours of Operation: Five shows daily: 1:00, 7:30, 8:30 9:30 10:30 pm
Admission: MX$35/US$3.50
Payment: Cash only. Divers congregate after shows on the staircase for photos and to receive tips.
Tel: +52 (744) 483-1400
Fax: +52 (744) 483-7228
Website: miradoracapulco.com (Hotel Mirador)
Parking: limited street parking, parking available in the plaza in front of El Mirador Hotel
Services: performance, restrooms, restaurant at Hotel Mirador
Additional information: The best viewpoint is from the restaurant terrace of El Mirador Hotel. Minimum menu expenditure is required, choices are expensive, and food is of only average quality.

Sinfonia del Mar

Location: Av. Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Col. Peninsula de las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
How to Get There: LOOK AT MAP. Walk uphill from the Zócalo to Plazoleta La Quebrada and follow Av. Adolfo Lopez Mateos. Take any bus heading to Playa Caleta and get off at Avenida Las Palmas. Watch for the Pemex on the right side of the bus and the green sign of the Avenida Hotel will come up just around the curve heading uphill. From the Hotel walk up to Av. Adolfo Lopez Mateos.
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: NA
Services: NA
Additional information: NA

Playa Caleta and Caletilla

Location: Avenida Costera Miguel Alemán, Peninsula de las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
How to Get There: By car driving west on the Costera. By bus take any Costera bus marked Caleta.
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: None
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking
Services: beach, restaurants, changing rooms and restrooms, vendors, boat rental, boats to Isla La Roqueta

Mágico Mundo Marino

Location: Islote de Caleta, Peninsula de las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39390
How to Get There: Take a bus or taxi along the Costera to Playa Caleta.
Hours of Operation: Daily, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Admission: Adults, MX$60/US$6. Children, MX$30/US$3
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Tel: +52 744 483 1215
Fax: None
Email: None
Website: None
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57835721158
Parking: limited street parking
Services: sea lion show, swimming pools, restaurant, museum, aquarium, snorkeling and scuba equipment rental, waterslides, toboggan rides

Roqueta Island (Isla la Roqueta)

Location: Opposite Peninsula de las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
How to Get There: By boat from Playa Caleta in front of Mágico Mundo Marino
Hours of Operation: Open Daily
Admission: Free. Regular boat: MX$40/US$4. Glass Bottom Boat: MX$70/US$7
Payment: Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 482-4313
Fax: None
Email: None
Website: None
Parking: None
Services: restaurant, bar, beach, hiking, water sports, souvenirs
Additional information: Palao Island Club: restaurant, show, beach club, open daily

Archeological Site: Palma Sola

Location: Calle Independencia, in the area called Amfiteatro (Amphitheater) about 6 km north of the Zócalo on the southern slope of Veladero Hill, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39300
How to Get There: Take a colectivo marked Palma Sola from the public market or the Sanborns in the Zócalo (MX$5.5/US$.55).
By taxi, about MX$50/US$5. Driving there can be confusing due to the winding, poorly marked streets. From the Costera take Avenida Cuauhtémoc to Avenida Niños Héroes and begin looking for signs marked Palma Sola heading uphill.
Hours of Operation: Daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entrance at 4:00 pm)
Admission: Free, but donations accepted
Payment: Cash only
Tel: 744/486-1514
Fax: None
Email: None
Website: None
Parking: parking lot
Services: museum, gift shop, restrooms, guided tours

Golden Zone (Zona Dorada)

Playa Hornos
Location: North side of Acapulco Bay on the Costera Miguel Alemán opposite Parque Papagayo
How to Get There: By taxi or any Costera bus.
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking, parking garages
Services: beach, restaurants, bars, water sports, parasailing

Parque Papagayo

Location: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán across from Playa Hornos, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39670
How to Get There: By taxi or any Costera bus
Hours of Operation: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Admission: Free, rides for an additional cost
Payment: Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 485-9623
Fax: +52 (744) 486-4613
Email: parquepapagayo@guerrero.gob.mx
Website: http://www.guerrero.gob.mx/?P=orgs&key=24 (Spanish only)
Parking: limited street parking, nearby parking garages
Services: park, zoo, wading pool, kiddie rides, boat and quad-cycle rentals, children’s activities, exhibits, performances

Playa Condesa and Playa Icacos

Location: Golden Zone along Costera Miguel Alemán, approximately between Parque Papagayo and the Naval Base
How to Get There: By taxi or any Costera bus
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking, parking garages
Services: beach, restaurants, bars, water sports, parasailing
Additional information: Playa Condesa activities: Daily, 8am to 7pm. Service area is situated next to the Las Rocas between Betos restaurant and the Fiesta Americana Hotel. Jetski: MX$400/US$40, ½ hour, 2 people. Parasail: MX$350/US$35 pesos, 1 flight, 7 minutes. Banana boat (a fun float on which up to 7 people sit one behind the other, legs wrapped around a inflated “banana” and are towed at brisk speed): MX$80/US$8 per person. Scuba: MX$500/US$50. One tank, transportation to Isla Roqueta, 1-hour dive. Boat tour: MX$900/US$90 for 1 hour around the entire bay. Deep Sea Fishing: MX$3,000/US$300. 5-6 hours. 7:00 am to 3:00pm. Equipment, beverages, bait. Paradise Bungy: Daily, 1:00 pm to 12:00 am, +52 744 484 7529, 45 meter fall, MX$800, US$80 package, bungyparadise.com

CiCi Waterpark

Location: intersection of Costera Miguel Alemán and Cristobal Colon, Fracc. Costa Azul, Playa Icacos, Golden Zone
How to Get There:
Hours of Operation: Daily, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Admission: MX$120/US$12 (including children above age two). Swim with dolphins: 1 hour, MX$1,350/US$135. ½ hour, MX$1,150/US$110
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Tel: +52 744 484-1970
Toll Free (Mexico): 01 800 701 4186
Fax: +52 (744) 484-4036
Email: through website
Website: cici.com.mx
Parking: limited street parking, nearby parking garages
Services: water rides, dolphin shows, restaurant, restrooms, changing rooms, wave pool
Additional information: Swim with dolphins: Tel: +52 (44) 481-0294 or -8033 for reservations

Casa de la Cultura

Location: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 4834, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
How to Get There:
Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Admission: Free (some performances may have entrance fees)
Payment: Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 484-4004
Fax: None
Email: None
Website: None (http://www.acacultura.blogspot.com/ – Spanish only – out of date)
Parking: limited street parking, nearby parking garages
Services: performances, exhibitions, classes, workshops, café, museum, auditorium, amphitheater, restrooms

Diamond Zone (Zona Diamante)

Bahia de Puerto Marques (Puerto Marques Bay)

Location: between the airport and Acapulco Bay
How to Get There: by car from Acapulco Bay and the Diamond Zone, colectivos from central Acapulco, taxis from Revolcadero Beach
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: NA
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking
Services: restaurants, bars, beaches, shopping, resorts

Revolcadero Beach

Location: near the airport
How to Get There: by car or taxi from Acapulco Bay
Hours of Operation: Daily, 24 hours
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: limited street parking, hotel parking
Services: beaches, golf courses, hotels, shopping mall

Sports

Sport fishing

Fish-R-Us

Specialty: Deep sea fishing. Departures: 6:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Duration of trip: 5 hours
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Prices starting at around $250 for four people
Location: Ave. Costera Miguel Alemán #100, Fracc. Las Playas, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico 39390
Tel: +52 (744) 482-8282 or -8787
US Toll-free: 1-877-3-FISH-R-US
Mexico Toll-free: 01-800-347-4787
Email: info@fish-r-us.com
Website: Fish-R-Us.com
Parking: parking lot or shuttle service
Services: deep sea fishing, boat charter, scuba diving, watercraft, swimming lessons, taxidermy

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Swiss Divers Association

Hours of Operation: Daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Admission: varies depending on package
Location: Cerro San Martin No. 325, inside Caleta Poseidon Acapulco Hotel, Fracc. Las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico 39390
Tel: +52 (744) 482-1357
Fax: +52 (744) 482 1357
Mobile: +52 (744) 469-7219
Email: info@swissdivers.com
Website: swissdivers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acapulco-Mexico/Swissdivers/135333759837?v=info
Parking: hotel parking, Free transportation to/from hotel
Services: scuba and snorkeling adventures, renting, selling and repairing diving equipment, underwater photos and videos, souvenirs
Additional information: visibility 5-15 m (15-45 ft). Packages: Beginners, Experienced Divers (half day, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Two boat dives, certified dive guide, full equipment with two 200 bar/3000 psi tanks, food and drinks) Snorkeling trip, Open Water Scuba Diver course, Passenger, Night Dive. Free transportation to/from hotel. English, Spanish, German spoken

Sailing, surfing and personal water crafts

Surfing

Piquant Surf Shop

Hours of Operation:
Admission: Personalized class, US$60. group class, US$45 (3 students max for one instructor). board rental per day, US$25
Location: Calle Belisario Dominguez # 3 Local, between Calles 9 and 10, Acapulco, Guerrero, México, 39300
Tel: +52 (744) 483-2926
Email: antoniopiquant@hotmail.com
Website: http://acapulcosurfing.com
Parking: street parking
Services: Surf Trips to Revolcadero Beach, Barra Vieja, and Pie de la Cuesta, surfing school, surf shop, board rentals and sales, custom made surfboards, wave reports, digital videography

Sailing

Club de Yates Acapulco http://www.clubdeyatesaca.com.mx

Personal Watercrafts

Playa Condesa: Daily, 8am to 7pm. Service area is situated next to the Las Rocas between Betos restaurant and the Fiesta Americana Hotel. Jetski: MX$400/US$40, ½ hour, 2 people. Parasail: MX$350/US$35 pesos, 1 flight, 7 minutes. Banana boat (a fun float on which up to 7 people sit one behind the other, legs wrapped around a inflated “banana” and are towed at brisk speed): MX$80/US$8 per person.

Boating

Club de Yates Acapulco

Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: US$200-3,500+
Location: Gran Vía Tropical and Tambuco, Fracc. Las Playas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico 39390
Tel: 52-744) 482-3859
Fax: +52 744 482-3856
Email: ggeneral@clubdeyatesaca.com.mx
Website: http://www.clubdeyatesaca.com.mx
Parking: parking lot
Services: yacht rental, 110/220-olt power, pump-out, restrooms, showers, restaurant, repairs, swimming pool, laundry service, tennis court, gardens
Additional information: Luxury yacht rental

Tennis and Golf

Tennis: Cerdera Academia de Tenis

Hours of Operation: Daily, 7:00 am to 8:30 pm
Admission: Court rental, MX$120/US$12 per hour. Additional MX$70/US$7 for lights
Location: Costera Miguel Alemán next to the convention center and golf course
Tel: +52 744 484 0173
Email: rcerdera@hotmail.com
Website: none
Parking: street parking
Services: tennis courts, lessons, clinics, equipment rental, refreshments
Additional information: Tennis Coach Rodrigo Cerdera, formerly the #250 player in the world

Golf: Club de Golf Acapulco

Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: 9-holes, MX$500/US$50. 18-holes, MX$700/US$70
Location: Costera Miguel Alemán, Fracc. Club Deportivo, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Services: 9-hole golf course, lessons, equipment rental
Tel: +52 (744) 484-0781 or -0782
Email: none
Website: None
Parking: Limited street parking

Golf: Tres Vidas Acapulco

Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: US$200 for 18 holes
Location: Barra Vieja Highway at Km 7, Plan de los Amates, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39931
Tel: +52 (744) 444-5126
Email: direcciongolf@tresvidasaca.com
Website: tresvidas.com.mx
Parking: Parking lot
Services: 18-hole golf course, lessons, equipment rental, club house

Shopping

General: Mercado Central

Specialty: Food, beverages, clothing, flowers, etc.
Address: Avenida Cuahutémoc at “Cine Rio” (Traditional Acapulco), 39350 Acapulco, Guerrero, México
Hours of Operation: Daily, 6:00 am to 9:00 pm
Tel: None
Fax: None
Email: None
Web: None
Payment: Cash

Arts and Crafts: Mercado La Diana

Specialty: Souvenirs and handicrafts
Address: La Diana traffic circle, Col. Condesa, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Daily
Tel: None
Fax: None
Email: none
Web: None
Payment: Cash

Arts and Crafts: La Casa de Cultura (Arte Para Siempre)

Specialty: fine visual arts
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán 4834, Costa Azul, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 9am-2pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday, 9am-2pm
Tel: +52 (744) 484-4004
Fax: None
Email: None
Web: None
Payment: Cash

Mall: La Isla Shopping Village

Specialty: high end shopping mall
Address: Blvd. de las Naciones, No. 18, Col. Playa Diamante, Acapulco, Guererro, Mexico
How to Get There: Five minutes from the airport, 20 minutes from the Costera
Hours of Operation: High Season and Holidays: 11:00 am to 12:00 am. Low Season: Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 462 1963
Fax: None
Email: None
Web: None
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Additional information: Liverpool department store, 10-screen Cinepolis movie theater, Boutiques of Prada, Coach, DKNY, Lacoste, Restaurants Carlos’ and Charlies, Harry’s, Sushi Itto, Starbucks, Ben and Jerry’s, Mexican chain favorites Bistrot Mosaico and La Mansion

Tour Operators

Acuario Tours

Tours: many
Prices: Price varies by tour
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 186-3, Fracc. Magallanes, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39670 (across the street from the Crowne Plaza Acapulco Hotel)
Hours of Operation: Daily, 7:30 am to 10:30 .m
Tel: +52 (744) 469-6100
Fax: +52 (744) 485-7100
Email: alexlujan@acuariotours.com
Web: www. Acuariotours.com
Services: Airline and bus tickets, Transportation, Local Representation, arrangements for Shore Excursions and Activities, Events, Hotels, Restaurants, Night Clubs, Golf, Yacht Rentals, Luxury Villas Rentals, Passenger and Luggage Transfers, Tours and Excursions, Meet and Greet services, Overland Tours to other cities, Hotel and Airline reservations, services and rates, Hostesses and Check-in procedures, Limousine and V.I.P. services, Hospitality Desk and Passenger assistance in hotels, Event coordination and Meeting Planning including transfers, hotel and flight arrangements, Conventions and Incentives, Cruise ground services and other specialized services.
Additional information: contact Alejandro Lujan

Tours by Trolley – Tranvias Turísticos Acapulco

Tours: Open-air trolley tours, each lasting approximately one hour, fifteen minutes
Hours of Operation: Daily, beginning at 11:00 am
Prices: MX$65/US$6.50
Payment: Cash
Address: Francisco Pizarro No. 51-2 Fracc. Magallanes, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 484-7954
Fax: +52 (744) 484-0700
Email: info@tranviasturisticos.com or tranviasturisticos@prodigy.net.mx
Web: None

Tours by Boat – Fiesta and Bonanza Cruises

Tours: Romantic Afternoon Cruise, Moonlight Party Cruise
Hours of Operation: Daily. Romantic Afternoon Cruise, 4:30 pm. Moonlight Party Cruise, 10:30 pm
Admission: MX$220/US$22. Children under 11, free
Location: Costero Miguel Alemán, Paseo del Pescador, Locations 4 and 5, Col. Centro, Traditional Acapulco (PO Box 69), Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: +52 744 482 2055 or -4947
Fax: +52 744 483-2531
Email: yatesfb@yahoo.com.mx
Website: none
Parking: limited street parking
Services: A la carte food service, snacks, souvenirs, photographs, restrooms
Additional information: special group and charter rates

Tour by Van

Tours: city and country tours. Specialty Tours: Coyuca Jungle, Endangered Baby Sea Turtles, Swim with Dolphins, Diego Rivera Mural Mosaic
Prices: Price varies by tour
Payment: Cash only
Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán 116 Acapulco, Gro. MEXICO 39690
Tel: +52 (744) 440-2200 or -1542
Cell: +52 (744) 110-4324
Fax: none
Email: infotourbyvan.com
Web: info@tourbyvan.com, tourbyvan@yahoo.com

Shotover Jet

Tours: jet boat trip up the Papagayo River
Hours of operation: departures every hour, from 9:30 am to 4:30 p.m.
Prices: Price varies by tour, starting at around US$50
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán 121-30 , Fracc. Magallanes, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39580
Tel: +52 (744) 484-1154 or -1155
Toll-free (Mexico): 01-800-509-5992
Fax: None
Email: ventas@shotoverjet.com.mx
Web: www.shotoverjet.com.mx
Services: restaurant, restrooms, photographs, narration, souvenir shop
Additional information: transportation included from the Shotover Jet from office near La Diana traffic circle.

Accommodations

Budget: K3 Hostel

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 16, Plaza Condesa, Fracc. Club Deportivo, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39690
Tel: +52 (744) 481-3111 or -3113
Toll free (Mexico): None
Toll free (US and Canada): None
Fax: None
Email: reservaciones@k3acapulco.com
Web: k3acapulco.com
Accommodations: 104 beds
Prices: Dorm bed: USD$17.50 (HI member: US$15.75). Private Room: US$40.83 (HI Member: US$36.75). Taxes included
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash, traveler’s checks
Check in: anytime
Check out: 11:00 am
Services: AC, bed linens, continental breakfast, kitchenette with microwave oven, refrigerator, sun deck and furniture, lockers, tourist information and maps, free Wifi. Available at additional cost: towels, laundry, Vending machines, café, bar, local and long distance telephone service, table games, parking, luggage storage (maximum 3 hours). ATM next door, 24-hour reception, non-smoking rooms,
Additional Information: Lockout: between 11:00 am and 3:30 pm. Member, Hostelling International, ISIC (10% discount for members), lounge/common area, no pets allowed, book exchange

Budget: Hotel Añorvo

Address: Calle Benito Juarez No. 17, Col. Centro, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico (across from Casona de Benito Juarez)
Tel: +52 (744) 482-3051 or 3262
Toll free (Mexico): None
Toll free (US and Canada): None
Fax: None
Email: None
Web: None
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 12
Prices: Double, MX$200/US$20
Payment: Cash only
Check in: 10:00 am.
Check out: 12:00 pm.
Services: TV, ceiling fan, double bed, private bathroom with towels, shower, toilet. No hot water. Child friendly, pets allowed, lounge common area, linens included

Budget: Etel Suites

Address: Av. Pinzona No. 92, Col. Playa de las Peninsulas, Traditional Acapulco, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Tel: (52) 744) 482-2240 and -2241
Toll free (Mexico):
Toll free (US and Canada):
Fax: None
Email: etelsuites@terra.com.mx or etelsuites@yahoo.com.mx
Web: http://acapulcoetelsuites.com
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 12 rooms and suites
Prices: double, MX$450/US$45. Quad, MX$600-1,000/US$60-100. Larger suites sleeping up to 12 people, MX$1,000-2,400/US$100-240
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12: 00 pm
Services: AC, ceiling fan, private bathroom, TV, kitchen, private terrace, outdoor swimming pool, wading pool, green areas, sundeck, 24-hour reception, luggage storage, linens included, child-friendly, pets allowed, lounge/common area, free Wifi

Budget: Park Hotel

Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 127 (PO Box 269), Golden Zone, Acapulco, Gro. MEXICO
Tel: +52 (744) 485-5992 or -5437
Toll free (Mexico): 01 800 000-1111
Toll free (US and Canada): None
Fax: +52 (744) 485-5489
Email: hotel@parkhotel-acapulco.com
Web: http://www.parkhotel-acapulco.com/ing.php
Accommodations: 88 rooms
Prices: Single/Double, MX$761.60/US$77. Triple, MX$844.90/US$85. Quad, MX$928.20/US$93. Taxes included. For exact Low (US$47-55) and High Season prices (US$102-118) and dates, see website
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, cash
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: 24 hr reception, safe at reception (9:00am to 9:00 pm access). free parking, linens included, some non-smoking rooms, bar (1:00 pm to 9:00 pm), 24 hr hot water, some wheelchair access rooms, child-friendly, wake-up call, AC, NO INTERNET, lounge/common area, pets allowed, gift shop (next door), outdoor pool, Tennis Center: 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, MX$70 per hour daylight; MX$74 with lights.. Available at additional charge: Airport pickup

Mid: Casa Condesa

Address: Bellavista No. 125 | Fracc. Farallón, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39851, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 484-1616
Toll free (Mexico):
Toll free (US and Canada): 1 (800) 816-4817
Fax: +52 (744) 481-1183
Email: res@casacondesa.com
Web: casacondesa.com
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 8
Prices: US$75-200 (full hot breakfast included)
Payment: Amex, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover, Cash.
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: Check in: XX. Check out: 12:00 pm. Adults only, private bathrooms, linens, beach towels, dinner available, AC, outdoor swimming pool, free Wifi, no pets, daily maid service, on site massage therapy, other spa services by prior arrangement, beverage service, ice, concierge service, complimentary airport pickup for stays of 3 nights or more, breakfast included, laundry service, lounge/common area
Additional Information: Casa Condesa also owns the Casa Angel, a private home next door to Placido Domingo’s house in the exclusive hillside neighborhood of Las Brisas Guitarron. With five bedrooms, it sleeps 10 people, costs US$5,000 per week and includes a cook and housekeeper. Car and two motor scooters available at additional cost.

Mid: Hotel Acapulco Malibu

Address: Costera Miguel Alemán No. 20, Fracc. Club Deportivo (PO Box 091), Playa Icacos, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39690
Tel: +52 744 484 1070
Toll free (Mexico): 01 800 712 9142
Toll free (US and Canada):
Fax: +52 744 484 0994
Email: reservaciones@acapulcomalibu.com
Web: acapulcomalibu.com
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 80 suites (22 kings, 48 doubles)
Prices: Low Season: US$101.40-122.50. Extra person US$8.40-16. Taxes not included. Check website for High Season rates.
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: AC, color TV, cable, minibar, digital phone, radio alarm clock, outdoor swimming pool, beach access and towel service: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm; arrangements for parasailing, jet ski, fishing, golf, tennis, snorkeling; restaurant Tabasco Beach (since 1968): daily, 7:30 am to 10:30 pm; backgammon, smoke alarm, free wifi, balconies, 96 pool lounge chairs, laundry/dry cleaners, babysitting, postal service, travel agency, meeting rooms (capacity, 250), fax service, medical service, beauty parlor, parking (at additional cost), 24-hour reception, 24-hour hot water, wheelchair accessible, child-friendly, wake-up call, lounge/common area, meeting facilities
Additional Information: discounted fees for public golf course and Cici Water Park

Mid: Hotel Los Portales

Address: Calle Wilfrido Massieu at Alvaro de Amezquita, Col. Magallanes, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero (Across from La Gran Plaza parking)
Tel: +52 744 485 9390 or 9598
Toll free (Mexico):
Toll free (US and Canada):
Fax: None
Email: hotelportales@hotmail.com
Web: hotelportales.mx
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 47
Prices: Low Season: Single/Double, MX$430/US$43. Triple, MX$530/US$53. Quad, MS$630/US$63. Suite, MX$870/US$87. High Season: MX$880-1950/US$88-195
Payment: Visa, MasterCard
Check-In: 3:00 pm
Check-out: 12:00 pm
Services: Private Bath, Local TV, ATM (next door). Safe in reception, linens included, 24 hr hot water, child-friendly, AC, Free Wifi, lounge/common area, No pets allowed, outdoor pool, 24-hour reception, luggage storage, parking,

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

Address: Playa Caletilla, Fracc. Las Playas, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39390
Tel: +52 744 482 7879
Toll free (Mexico): 01 (800) 123-3454
Toll free (US and Canada): 1 (800) 337-4685
Fax: None
Email: contacto@hotel-bocachica.com
Web: hotel-bocachica.com
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 36
Prices: US$120-260
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: Sushi take out, private boat transportation, pool, disco, marina, gym, spa, Dr. Bronner amenities, AC, free wireless internet, minibar, in-room safe deposit box, 24-hour room service, 24-hour security system, valet parking, 24-hour reception, linens included, luggage storage, restaurant, night club, spa, 24-hour hot water, wheelchair accessible, wake-up call, laundry service, gift shop, lounge/common area, outdoor pool, meeting facilities
Additional Information: Boca Chica Baths: spa treatments including the Focused Attention, which features hot towels soaked in black pepper, mandarin and ginger infused oils

High: Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués

Address: Blvd. Cabo Marqués, Lote 1. Col. Punta Diamante, Diamond Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39907
Hours of Operation: Daily, 7:00 am to 11:00pm
Tel: +52 (744) 434-0100
Tel (Toll-Free, Mexico): 01 800 226 92 62
Tel (Toll-Free, US/Canada): 1 800 591 0439
Email: caboMarqués@banyantree.com
Fax: +52 744 434 0101
Web: http://www.banyantree.com/en/caboMarqués/
Prices: US$520-920
Payment: Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Cash.
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: accommodations, four restaurants, room service, bar, shuttle, transportation, spa, gym, free Wifi, luggage storage, parking, linens included, 24-hour hot water, wake-up call, laundry service, 24-hour hot water, AC, lounge/common area, meeting facilities, gift shop, library, outdoor pool

High: Las Brisas

Address: Carretera Escénica 5525, Fracc. Las Brisas, Diamond Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39867
Tel: +52 744 469 6927
Reservations (Mexico City): +52 555 339 1000
Toll free (Mexico): 01 800 506 7903
Toll free (US and Canada): 1 866 221 2961
Fax: +52 744 446 5332
Email: brisad@brisas.com.mx
Web: brisas.com.mx
Accommodations: # of Rooms: 263 suites and villas
Prices: US$254+. Taxes not included. Additional daily charge of $20 in lieu of tips
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Cash
Check-In: 3:00 pm
Check-Out: 1:00 pm
Services: bar, daily maid service, concierge, free internet, gym, handicapped accessible, free parking, shuttle service, swimming pool, restaurant, room service, spa, tennis, water sports, beach club, nightclub, 24-hour reception, 24-hour hot water, linens included, wake-up call, laundry service, AC, lounge/common area, meeting facilities, gym, outdoor pool
Additional Information: a member of Leading Hotels of the World, continental breakfast delivered daily to each casita, pink and white automatic jeeps are available for rental

Restaurants

Budget: Frutiland

Cuisine: Mexican
Address: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No.116, Col. Condesa, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico 39690
Hours of Operation: Daily, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 484-2200 and 440-1542 (Tours by Van office)
Email: None
Fax: None
Web: None
Prices: MX$15/US$1.50 – MX$55/US$5.50
Payment: Cash only
Services: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Additional Information: Owned and operated by the wife of Rudy, owner of Tours by Van, one of Acapulco’s very best tour operators.

Budget: El Fogón

Cuisine: Mexican
Address: Costera Miguel Alemán and Antón de Alaminos (opposite Hotel Emporio and next to Galerias Diana shopping center)
Hours of Operation: Daily, 9:00 am to 1:00 am
Tel: +52 (744) 484-5079
Email: anremar@hotmail.com
Fax: None
Web: None
Prices: MX$20/US$2.00 – MX$185/US$18.50
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Parking: limited street parking, Galerias Diana parking garage
Services: restaurant, bar, restrooms, terrace

Budget: Pesca’o

Cuisine: Seafood (fish tacos)
Address: Teniente F. Maury, No. 1A, Col. Costa Azul, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico (Behind Suntory Restaurant on the Costera, near Walmart and across from the Anchorage strip mall)
Hours of Operation: Lunch and dinner, 12:00 to 7:00 pm
Tel: +52 (744) 481-3104
Email: none
Fax: none
Web: none
Prices: MX$40/US$4 – MX$180/US$18
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Parking: limited street parking
Services: lunch and dinner, bar, restrooms, table seating, seafood prepared in many ways, outdoor and indoor seating

Budget: Tacos Los Tarascos

Cuisine: Mexican
Address: numerous locations, including Costera Miguel Alemán (near the K-3 Youth Hostel), Golden Zone
Hours of Operation: afternoon to early morning
Tel: None
Email: None
Fax: None
Web: None
Prices: MX$30/US$3 – MX$X100/US$10
Payment: Cash only.
Parking: limited street parking, nearby parking garages
Services: Food, beer, soft drinks, restaurant, outdoor and indoor seating

Mid: Buzo’s

Cuisine: Seafood
Address: Calle Cristóbal Colón (Col. Magallanes), 39670, Acapulco, Guerrero, México (one block off the Costera, behind the American University of Acapulco)
Hours of Operation: Daily
Tel: +542 (744) 421-4959
Email: None
Fax: None
Web: None
Prices: MX$35/US$3.50 – MX$350/US$35
Parking: limited street parking
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Services: food, bar, live music, karaoke, restrooms
Additional Information: other locations: 1: Calle Noria, Col. Dominguillo near the El Fuerte de San Diego, behind Hotel Las Hamacas. 2: Calle Fernando de Magallanes, Costa near the Costera and opposite the restaurant La Jaiba Locca

Mid: Pozoleria Los Cazadores

Cuisine: Pozole, traditional Mexican food
Address: Av. Mexico No. 24 at Calle 6, Col. Cuahutémoc, 39550 Acapulco, Gro., México.
Hours of Operation: Always on Thursdays (sometimes Friday and Saturday), 2:00 to 11:00 pm. Reservations recommended
Tel: +52 744 83 7157 / +52 744 82 5129
Email: cazador@aca-novenet.com.mx
Fax: None
Web: None
Prices: MX$50/US$5 – MX$200/US$20
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Parking: limited street parking, valet parking
Services: restaurant, bar, entertainment, restrooms
Additional Information: Owner David Cuevas also operates Eclipse, a reception hall in Col. Centro.

Mid: 100% Natural

Cuisine: Vegetarian and Mexican, juice bar
Address: many locations including Costera Miguel Alemán No. 110, Fracc. Costa Azul
Hours of Operation: Daily, some 24 hours
Tel: +52 744 484 8440
Email: through website
Fax: None
Web: http://www.100natural.com.mx/
Prices: MX$45/US$4.50 – MX$100/US$10
Payment: Visa, Amex, MC, Cash only.
Services: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Additional Information: Breakfasts $4.50-$5.50; sandwiches $5-$8; other food items $5-$10. Also located at LA FAMILIA , Costera M. Alemán # 200, Fracc. Magallanes, Open daily, 24 Hrs., +52 (744) 485-3982

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

Cuisine: Asian and Mexican fusion
Address: Playa Caletilla. Frac. las Palmas. 39390
Hours of Operation: Daily
Tel: + 52 (744) 482-7879
Email: contacto@hotel-bocachica.com
Fax: none
Web: http://www.hotel-bocachica.com/
Prices: MX$50/US$5 – MX$200/US$20
Payment: Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Cash
Services: breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service, sushi service to boats, restrooms

High: Baikal

Cuisine: French, Asian, and Mexican fusion
Address: Carretera Escénica 1622, Costera, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39868
Hours of Operation: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 pm to 1:00 am. Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 pm to 2:00 am
Tel: +52 (744) 446-6845, -6867
Email: reservaciones@baikal.com.mx
Fax: none
Web: http://www.baikal.com.mx
Prices: MX$145/US$14.50 – MX$560/US$560
Payment: Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Cash.
Services: restaurant, bar, private dining room, AC, giant multimedia screens, valet parking
Additional Information: capacity 250

High: El Nao at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués

Cuisine: Latin and Oriental fusion
Address: Blvd. Cabo Marqués, Lote 1. Col. Punta Diamante, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39907
Hours of Operation: Daily, 7:00 am to 11:00pm
Tel: +52 (744) 434-0100
Tel (Toll-Free, Mexico): 01 800 226 92 62
Tel (Toll-Free, US/Canada): 1 800 591 0439
Email: caboMarqués@banyantree.com
Fax: +52 744 434 0101
Web: http://www.banyantree.com/en/caboMarqués/resort_facilities/dining/la_nao/
Prices: MX$X/US$X – MX$X/SX
Payment: Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Cash.
Services: indoor and outdoor seating, restaurant, bar, swimming pool
Additional Information: Capacity, 102. Dress Code: Resort casual elegance
Breakfast: Daily, 7:00 am – 12:00 pm. Lunch: Daily, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Dinner: Daily, 6:00pm – 11:00pm.

Nightlife

Golden Zone Bars and Discos

Location: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán in front of Condesa Beach, between the Diana traffic Circle and the Fiesta Americana Hotel, Col. Condesa, Golden Zone
Disco Beach: +52 (744) 484-8230
Barbaroja: +52 (744) 484-5932
Baby Lobster: +52 (744) 484-1096
Paradise: +52 (744) 484-5988
Ambience: Young, heavy drinking, raucous, wet T-shirt contests
Hours of Operation: Varies, typically late evening to early morning
Admission: Varies. Cover charge usually includes open bar
Payment: Cash (some take Visa, MasterCard)
Parking: limited street parking
Services: bar, restaurant, restrooms

Upscale night club: Baby’o

Ambience: Sophisticated upscale bar and disco. Dance, 80’s and Mexican music
Location: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 22. Fracc. Costa Azul, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39850
Hours of Operation: late evening to early morning
Admission: Cover Charge: US$30-60 (men), US$10-15 (women)
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 484-7474
Email: reservaciones@babyo.com.mx
Website: www. Babyo.com.mx,
Parking: Valet
Services: bar, dance floor, videos, restrooms, VIP room
Additional Information: Other upscale alternatives include Palladium and Mandara.

LGBT: Demas, Savage, Picante, Ibiza

Ibiza: Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 111, Playa Condesa, +52 (744) 484-8230 Facebook: Beachclub Acapulco or Ibiza Acapulco, +52 (744) 484-1370
Picante: Privada Piedra Picuda No. 16, +52 (744) 484-2209
Cabaretito: Privada de Piedra Picuda No. 17 (in front of Torres Gemela), +52 (744) 484-7146
Gambling: Jai Alai Acapulco
Ambience: casino, sports venue
Location: Costera Miguel Alemán (across from the Grand Hotel, next to the Super WalMart), Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday. Jai Alai: Friday and Saturday, 9:00 pm to 1:00 am.
Admission: MX$100/US$10
Payment: Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 484-378
Parking: limited street parking
Services: off track betting, slot machines, bingo, restaurant, bar, restrooms, ATM

Cultural Activities: Filarmonica de Acapulco

Ambience: classical and popular music concerts
Location: Juan Ruiz de Alarcon Theater, Costera Miguel Alemán No. 4455 (in the Convention Center), Costa Azul, Golden Zone, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Varies
Admission: Free
Tel: +52 (744) 484-6626
Fax: None
Email: contacto@filarmonicadeacapulco.org.mx
Website: http://www.filarmonicadeacapulco.org.mx/
Parking: parking garage
Services: CDs

Around Acapulco: North and South

Getting to and away (regional transportation: bus, car, taxi)

North of Acapulco

By Car: Federal Highway MEX 200 6 km (4 mi) north to Pie de la Cuesta, Laguna de Coyuca and continues on to Zihauntanejo.
By Bus: For Pie de la Cuesta, take the Camion Urbano going to Luces del Mar, that has a sign saying” Pasando por Pie de la Cuesta” from the Zócalo in front of Sanborn’s or from Mercado Central, MX$10/US$1.
By shared van (colectivo) from the Zócalo: For Pie de la Cuesta, MX$12/US$1.20.
By Taxi: For Pie de la Cuesta, about MX$100/US$10. Depending on your bargaining skills you can hire a taxi and driver for about MX$1,000/US$100 daily.
South of Acapulco
By Car: Federal Highway MEX 200 goes south to Barra Vieja and continues on to Oaxaca.
By Bus: For Barra Vieja, Revolcadero Beach or Bonfil Beach, take any Coster bus south marked Puerto Marqués – Base. At Glorieta Puerto Marqués, transfer to a colectivo. By shared van (colectivo): For Barra Vieja, colectivos depart from Glorieta Puerto Marqués, MX$12/US$1.20
By Taxi: For Barra Vieja, Laguna de Tres Palos, or Play Bonfil, about MX$150/US$15 – MX$250/US$25.

Safety

Acapulco’s surf can be dangerous for swimmers, especially at Revolcadero, Bonfil, and Pie de la Cuesta beaches. The waves can change from calm to furious rapidly even at Playa Condesa in Acapulco Bay. Look for signs at the entrance to each beach describing precautions and enter the water at your own risk if there is no lifeguard on duty.

North of Acapulco: Costa Grande

Laguna de Coyuca

Location: 6 km (4 mi) north of Acapulco on the coastal road in Pie de la Cuesta
How to Get There: By shared van (colectivo) from the Zócalo, MX$12/US$1.20. By private taxi from the Zócalo, about MX$100/US$10. By bus: Take the Camion Urbano going to Luces del Mar, that has a sign saying” Pasando por Pie de la Cuesta” from the Zócalo in front of Sanborn’s or from Mercado Central, MX$10/US$1.
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: street parking or at hotels and restaurants
Services: hotels, restaurants, boat cruises, water skiing, jet skis

Restaurant-Bar Club de Ski Tres Marias

Location: Av. Fuerza Aerea Mexicana #375, Col. Playa Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39900, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 460-0011 or -0013
Email: tresmariasacapulco@yahoo.com
Website: tresmariasacapulco.com
Parking: free
Services: restaurant and bar. Boat tours (Paseos en Lancha): 1 ½ hours: Isla Pajaros, Isla Montocas, MX$1,050/US$105 for up to 8 people. Waterskiing (wakeboard, skis, slalom): from 8am to 6pm. MX$700/US$70 per hour per person including equipment. Instruction: MX$70/US$7 pesos for a 15 minute lesson. Jet Ski: MX$800/US$80 for two people for one hour

Pie de la Cuesta

Location: 6 km (4 mi) north of Acapulco on the coastal road along Av. Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, Col. Playa Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39900, Mexico
How to Get There: By shared van (colectivo) from the Zócalo, MX$12/US$1.20. By private taxi from the Zócalo, about MX$100/US$10. By bus: Take the Camion Urbano going to Luces del Mar, that has a sign saying” Pasando por Pie de la Cuesta” from the Zócalo in front of Sanborn’s or from Mercado Central, MX$10/US$1.
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website:
Parking: street parking or at hotels and restaurants
Services: beach, hotels, restaurants, bar, horseback riding
Additional information: Horseback riding: on the beach in front of Tres Marias Restaurant. Ask for Jose Luis.MX$250/US$25 per person for one hour. MX$120/US$12 per person for one half hour.
Accommodations: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta

Hotel: Hacienda Vayma, Pie de la Cuesta

Address: Ave. Base Aerea Militar #378, Col. Playa Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 39900
Accommodations: 20 rooms, 4 suites
Prices: US$75-83
Payment: Cash only
Tel: +52 (744) 460-2882
Fax: +52 (744) 460-5260
Email: vayma@vayma.com.mx
Website: vayma.com.mx
Services: filtered water, mosquito nets, outdoor swimming pool, hammocks, shaded beach palapas and lounge chairs, ceiling fans or AC, private baths with hot water

Hotel: Villa Nirvana, Pie de la Cuesta

Address: Ave. de la Fuerza Aerea No. 302, Col. Playa Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39900, Mexico
Accommodations: 21 rooms
Prices: MX$350-800/US$35-80
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Cash
Tel: +52 (744) 460-1631
Fax: +52 (744) 460-3573
Email: hotelvillanirvana@prodigy.net.mx
Website: http://www.lavillanirvana.com
Services: private baths with hot water, some private terraces, hammocks, and kitchens. Outdoor swimming pool, direct beach access, and shaded beach palapa huts with hammocks, restaurant, common area/lounge, ceiling fan

Restaurants: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta: Tres Marias Restaurant and Club de Ski Tres Marias

Cuisine: Mexican, Seafood
Address: Av. Fuerza Aerea Mexicana), Col. Playa Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, Guerrero, 39900, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Daily
Tel: +52 (744) 460-0011
Fax: +52 (744) 460-0013
Email: tresmariasacapulco@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.tresmariasacapulco.com
Prices: MX$50/US$5 – MX$200/US$20
Payment: Cash only.
Services: restaurant, beach club, bar, horseback riding, free parking

South of Acapulco: Costa Chica

Playa Bonfil

Location: Carretera Aeropuerto, Acapulco, Guerrero, México, 39879
How to Get There: 29 km (18 mi) from the Golden Zone, near the airport, via the coastal highway. By shared van (colectivo): from Glorieta Puerto Marqués. By Taxi: about MX$150/US$15
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: Street parking
Services: restaurants, hotels, beach, surfing

Laguna de Tres Palos

Location: Carretera Aeropuerto, Acapulco, Guerrero, México, 39879
How to Get There: 28 km (18 mi) from the Golden Zone, near the airport, via the coastal highway. By shared van (colectivo): from Glorieta Puerto Marqués. By Taxi: about MX$150/US$15
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: Street parking
Services: boat cruises, fishing, jet skis

Barra Vieja

Location: 27 km (17 mi) southeast of Acapulco
How to Get There: from the Boulevard of Nations, turn right before the airport and follow the coastal road past Revolcadero and Bonfil beaches
Hours of Operation: Daily
Admission: Free
Payment: NA
Tel: NA
Fax: NA
Email: NA
Website: NA
Parking: street parking or at hotels and restaurants
Services: hotels, restaurants, beaches, fishing, boat cruises, horseback riding, jet skis

Accommodations: South of Acapulco: Bambuddha Hotel, Barra Vieja

Address: Carretera Barra Vieja at Km 37, Barra Vieja, Acapulco, Mexico
Tel: +52 (744) 444-5406, -6407
Toll free (Mexico): None
Toll free (US and Canada): None
Fax: None
Email: informacion@bambuddhacapulco.com or papalotzin@aol.com
Web: bambuddhacapulco.com
Accommodations: 10 rooms, 3 cabins
Prices: US$120-200
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal
Check in: 3:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Services: bed linens, common lounge, private baths with hot water, restaurant, yoga classes, spa, beach

Restaurants/South of Acapulco: Beto Godoy Restaurant-Bar, Barra Vieja

Cuisine: Mexican, Seafood
Address: Carretera Acapulco-Pinotepa, Km. 32, Barra Vieja, Guerrero, Mexico
Hours of Operation: Daily
Tel: +52 (744) 444-6101, -6031
Toll Free (Mexico): 01 800 633 9699
Email: beto.godoy.barravieja@hotmail.com
Fax: None
Web: restaurantbetogodoy.com
Prices: MX$50-250 – US$5/25
Payment: Cash only.
Services: outdoor restaurant, bar, boat cruises, jet skis
Additional Information: Owner Santos Godoy Galaena

About this entry

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Published:: March 4, 2011 / 1:08 am

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George in Mexico

Flying Down to Acapulco Bay: George’s Guide to Acapulco, Mexico

Acapulco: Hotel Boca Chica Table of Contents

Things To See and Do

Around Acapulco: North and South

Logistical Information

Things To See and Do

Traditional Acapulco (Acapulco Tradicional)

Zócalo

Casa de la Mascara (closed temporarily for renovation)

Fuerte de San Diego (San Diego Fort)

La Quebrada Cliff Divers

Sinfonia del Mar

Playa Caleta and Caletilla

Mágico Mundo Marino

Roqueta Island (Isla la Roqueta)

Archeological Site: Palma Sola

Acapulco: Golden Zone beach

Golden Zone (Zona Dorada)

Playa Hornos

Parque Papagayo

Playa Condesa and Playa Icacos

CiCi Waterpark

Casa de la Cultura

Acapulco: Diamond Zone - Revolcadero Beach Diamond Zone (Zona Diamante)

Bahia de Puerto Marques (Puerto Marques Bay)

Revolcadero Beach

Acapulco: Fisherman near Pie de la Cuesta Sports

Sport fishing

Scuba diving and Snorkeling

Sailing, Surfing and Personal Water Crafts

Boating

Tennis and Golf

Acapulco: Street vendors at La Caleta Beach Shopping

Tour Operators

Acuario Tours

Tours by Trolley – Tranvias Turísticos Acapulco

Tours by Boat – Fiesta and Bonanza Cruises

Tour by Van

Shotover Jet

Acapulco: Hotel Las Brisas Accommodations

Budget: K3 Hostel

Budget: Hotel Añorvo

Budget: Etel Suites

Budget: Park Hotel

Mid: Casa Condesa

Mid: Hotel Acapulco Malibu

Mid: Hotel Los Portales

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

High: Banyan Tree Cabo Marques

High: Las Brisas

Acapulco: Banyan Tree Cabo Marques - restaurant Restaurants

Budget: Frutiland

Budget: El Fogón

Budget: Pesca’o

Budget: Tacos Los Tarascos

Mid: Buzo’s

Mid: Pozoleria Los Cazadores

Mid: 100% Natural

Mid: Hotel Boca Chica

High: Baikal

High: El Nao at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués

Acapulco: Condesa Beach bars - Paradise Nightlife

Golden Zone Bars and Discos

Nightclub: Baby’o

LGBT: Demas, Savage, Picante, Ibiza

Gambling: Jai Alai Acapulco

Cultural Activities: Filarmonica de Acapulco

Acapulco: Pie de la Cuesta Beach Around Acapulco: North and South

Things to See and Do

North of Acapulco: Costa Grande

Laguna de Coyuca

Pie de la Cuesta

Accommodations: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta – Hacienda Vayma and Villa Nirvana

Restaurants: North of Acapulco, Pie de la Cuesta – Tres Marias Restaurant and Club de Ski Tres Marias

South of Acapulco: Costa Chica

Playa Bonfil

Laguna de Tres Palos

Barra Vieja

Accommodations: South of Acapulco – Bambuddha Hotel

Acapulco: Hotel Boca Chica

Table of Contents

Acapulco: Diamond Zone - Revolcadero Beach

Diamond Zone (Zona Diamante)

Acapulco: Fisherman near Pie de la Cuesta

Sports

Acapulco: Street vendors at La Caleta Beach

Shopping

Acapulco: Hotel Las Brisas

Accommodations

Acapulco: Banyan Tree Cabo Marques - restaurant

Restaurants

Acapulco: Condesa Beach bars - Paradise

Nightlife

Acapulco: Pie de la Cuesta Beach

Around Acapulco: North and South