Things to do in Acapulco
Most visitors to Acapulco come here for the sun, sea and sand. After a long day on the beach, many hit the famous nightlife. Daytime is often for sleeping and shopping. There are however many sights and attractions that welcome and will fascinate the active and interested traveller.
Zcalo
This shaded plaza, overgrown with dense trees, is old Acapulco’s traditional gathering place. All day, it's filled with vendors, shoe-shine men and tourists enjoying the culture. After siesta, the locals come here to socialise. On Sunday evening, there's often music in the bandstand. The Zócalo is opposite Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude), the town's modern but unusual church, with its bright white façade and bulb-shaped blue and yellow spires. The church hosts the joyful Virgin of Guadalupe celebration every December.
La Quebrada Cliff Divers
Acapulco's most famous attraction began in 1934, when brave young boys would amaze tourists by diving over 30 metres off the steep cliffs into a narrow canal. Every day at 13:00, young men dive from La Quebrada's dangerous and rough cliffs, timing their jump to coincide with the incoming waves that cushion their impact and protect them from landing in the shallows. The timing of their dives is crucial and must be perfectly executed due to the dangerous water conditions below. The show can be viewed from an observation deck for a small fee, or if you enjoy dinner at La Perla Restaurant, where you can watch the divers while you eat.
Amazing World
This is a children's amusement park where the youngest members of the family can play some of the latest games on the market, with features including pools filled with balls, maze tunnels, climbing frames, trampolines and a lot more. There is also a section for children under the age of two, offering games designed to stimulate their skills and abilities. One of the advantages of this centre is that parents can take part in all the activities alongside their children. Phone: +52 744 866 479.
Laguna de Coyuca
About 72 square kilometres in size, this beautiful fresh water lagoon is a tropical landscape with palm trees and a vast variety of flora and fauna. A boat tour showcases the bird sanctuary, which is home to many species of birds. The water here is generally clean and clear, which makes it perfect for fishing, sailing or waterskiing. On shore, there are restaurants that serve delicious fish and seafood delicacies.
San Diego Fort
The Fort of San Diego is the most significant historic monument in Acapulco and was the most important Spanish fortress along the Pacific cost. The historic building is a classic five-point fortress, located on the edge of a hill, overlooking the harbour and surrounded by a moat. The fort was originally built in 1616, and then rebuilt in its present design after severe damage from an earthquake in 1776. The fort was the staging point for the loading and unloading of the Manila fleet, and served to protect this profitable trade link and the town’s wealthy citizens from pirates.
Islote de Caleta
This aquarium in Acapulco is so much more than just an aquarium; there are activities for the whole family, so you can spend an entire day having fun. Possibilities include water slides into the sea, a variety of water sports, exotic tropical trained birds, lots of souvenirs, a projection room, marine museum, restaurant with a panoramic view of Caleta and Caletilla beaches and La Roqueta Island, seal and diving shows. If all of this is not enough, there are both freshwater and saltwater swimming pools to swim in. Phone: +52 744 825 186.
Delfines Paradise
This attraction is not just fun, visitors will also be moved by the dolphin’s interaction and intelligence. Those who want can swim with the dolphins in their natural habitat. Visitors will learn about dolphins and can also interact with them on water platforms. Needless to say, being able to spend some time with these animals on a one-to-one basis is a unique, extraordinary, safe and very enjoyable experience. There are also trainers who explain the interesting habits of these mammals while demonstrating their ability to communicate. Phone: +52 744 481 1160.
Revolcadero Beach
This wide, white sand beach is lined with tropical plantations and palm groves. It is a beach comber’s paradise, with open-ocean surf and long, unscathed stretches of sand. The extravagant Fairmont Acapulco Princess and the friendly Fairmont Pierre Marqués resorts are on this beach. Two great 18-hole golf courses are located just behind these hotels. The Acapulco Princess, one of the world’s great hotels, has become a tourist attraction in its own right, and makes for a fun outing. Also worth a visit is the stylish Mayan Palace, a masterfully planned ultra-modern resort of canals, pools and dazzling Mayan decor. Two additional, excellent 18-hole golf courses, Tres Vidas and Mayan Palace, are also here.
Parque Papagayo
Built in 1981, this park got its name from the luxury hotel that used to be located here. Now the 21 hectares house a life-sized replica of a Spanish galleon, built for climbing on; a replica of the space shuttle Columbia; a roller skating rink; bumper boats and go-karts. While the kids are playing, parents can enjoy strolling through the aviary and gardens or shopping at the crafts village. Restaurants and cafés provide refreshments after a long afternoon. This is a good place to find some street food and a shady bench, and do some people-watching. Phone: +52 744 485 9623.
Museums
The port of Acapulco has some interesting museums that invite visitors to learn about the history of the region. The old star-shaped San Diego Fort now houses the Acapulco Historical Museum, which features displays detailing the history and culture of the city from its role in the Spanish conquest to its duties as a port of trade for the Americas. Embroidered silk tapestries, beads, hand-woven baskets, porcelain vases, Oriental chests and a Baroque carriage are on display.
The Dolores Olmedo Gallery was the old house of Mrs Dolores Olmedo, patron and friend of artists and intellectuals, among them the renowned artist Diego Rivera, who was a guest of the house in 1956. During his stay he created a mural on an external wall and on the ceiling of a terrace, of neat pre-Hispanic influence, using mixed techniques in which he used mosaics and stones of natural colours. The figure of a feathered snake alluding the god Quetzalcoatl, along with other images such as a small toad, an animal which Rivera used to identify himself with, stand out in the artwork.
The Centro Cultural de Acapulco houses an interesting archaeological collection that was recovered from the ruins of Guerrero, as well as other excavations made during recent years. There is also a gallery where paintings and sculptures are constantly on exhibit, usually showcasing works by local or well-known national artists.