Cruises from Acapulco

Acapulco is located on the southwestern coast of Mexico, some 300miles south of Mexico City. Spanish explorers discovered the Bay of Acapulco in the 16th century and quickly became enamoured with the shores that were naturally protected and the beautiful surroundings. Today, Acapulco is still a beautiful Mexican hideaway that caters to the needs of modern tourism.

Acapulco is a coastal city with year round temperatures that average in the low 80’s F at night and upper 80’s during the day. There is more rainfall in the summer months, but far less in winter. This makes the city a great escape from the winter snows in more northern regions.

Most of the attractions and sights are within walking distance of downtown. However, if you want to see the cliffs at La Quebrada it is a one-mile walk up a hill from town. Fort San Diego is also a popular attraction. Built in 1697 to protect against pirates, it had to be rebuilt after an earthquake in 1776 and today serves as the site of The Historical Museum of Acapulco.

If salt water is not to your liking, try CICIs, a water park offering slides, wave pool, water toboggans, dolphin encounter and seal show. It is a child’s paradise, but one look at the adults faces show the fun is ageless. For dry fun go across the bay to the Costera, where you will find roller rinks, carnival rides and video arcades.

Acapulco offers bullfighting, which is probably not for everyone, but it is still a popular attraction. Adults will enjoy the nightlife, just be aware that the action does not start until around 11pm and often lasts until after dawn.

The daring cliff divers at La Quebrada can be viewed from the public beach or from the comfort of the Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirado, with a frozen margarita in hand. The divers must time their jumps perfectly to coincide with the waves rushing to shore. Missing the timing by even one second could result in serious injury or death. At night the divers carry lit torches into the sea with them, making the performance quite spectacular.

There are so many fabulous beaches that it is unlikely you will find the time to visit all of them. Two that you might want to try are Caleta and Caletilla, located south of downtown on the Peninsula de las Playas. Here you can also make a side trip to Magico Mundo Marino water park or take a ferry to the beautiful Roqueta Island. For swimmers, the best beach is Marques at Puerto Marques Bay or for a fabulous white sandy beach, Playa Manzanillo.

Other water sports are offered at Caleta Beach, where you can arrange for personal scuba diving lessons or charter a trip to the surrounding reefs. At Club de Esquis you can enjoy a day of water skiing or, if you are looking for a little more adventure, get unparalleled views of the bay from hundreds of feet in the air while parasailing at Condesa Beach.

Taxis are readily available and reasonably priced for travel in the downtown area. Note that hotel cabs are far more expensive than ones hailed in the streets and there is a minimum taxi fee of $1.50. Just make sure you agree on the fare before you get in the cab. If you intend taking longer excursions, the bus service is a far more economical option.