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Acapulco
—  City & Municipality  —
Acapulco de Juárez
Acapulco beachfront at night
Acapulco Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 16°51′49″N 99°52′57″W / 16.86361°N 99.8825°W / 16.86361; -99.8825
Country	Mexico
State	Guerrero
Founded	1520s
Municipal Status
Government
- Municipal President	Manuel Añorve Baños (2007-2010)
Area
- Municipality	1,880.60 km2 (726.1 sq mi)
Elevation of seat	30 m (98 ft)
Population (2005)Municipality
- Municipality	717,766
- Seat	616,394
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
Postal code (of seat)	39300
Area code(s)	744
Website	(Spanish) Official site

Acapulco (officially known as Acapulco de Juárez) is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 300 kilometres (190 mi) southwest from Mexico City. The city is best known as one of Mexico’s oldest and most well-known beach resorts, which came into prominence by the 1950s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires.^[1] Acapulco is still famous for its nightlife and still attracts many vacationers, although most are now from Mexico itself.^{[2] [3]} The resort area is divided into two. The north end of the bay is the “traditional” area, where the famous in the mid 20th century vacationed and the south end is dominated by newer luxury high rise hotels.^[4] Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history.^[5] It is a port of call for shipping and cruising lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California, United States.^[6] The tourist resort city of Acapulco is the largest city in the state, far larger than the state capital Chilpancingo.^[7]

The name "Acapulco" comes from the Nahuatl language, and means "place of big reeds" ^[8] or “place of broken reeds.” “de Juárez” was added to the official name in 1885 to honor Benito Juárez. The seal for the city shows broken reeds or cane.^[5]

History

By the eighth century, there was a small culture in the Acapulco area, which would first be dominated by the Olmecs, then by a number of others during the pre-Hispanic period. In Acapulco bay itself, there were two Olmec sites, one by Playa Larga and the other on a hill known as El Guitarrón. Olmec influence caused the small spread-out villages here to coalesce into larger entities and build ceremonial centers. Later, Teotihuacan influence made its way here via Cuernavaca and Chilpancingo. Then Mayan influence arrived from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and through what is now Oaxaca. This history is known through the archeological artifacts that have been found here, especially at Playa Hornos, Pie de la Cuesta and Tambuco.^[5] In the 11th century, new waves of migration of Nahuas and Coixas came through here. These people were the antecedents of the Aztecs. Acapulco formally became part of the Aztec Empire in 1486 during the reign of Ahuizotl. It was part of a tributary province called Tepecuacuilco, but control here was relatively unorganized.^[5]

A 1628 Spanish relief map of Acapulco Bay.

There are two stories about how Acapulco bay was discovered by Europeans. The first states that two years after the Conquest, Hernán Cortés sent explorers west to find gold. The explorers had subdued this area after 1523, and Captain Saavedra Cerón was authorized by Cortés to found a settlement here. The other states that the bay was discovered on 13 December 1526 by a small ship named the El Tepache Santiago captained by Santiago Guevara.^[5] The first encomendero was established in 1525 at Cacahuatepec, which is part of the modern Acapulco municipality. In 1531, a number of Spaniards, most notably Juan Rodriguez de Villafuerte, left the Oaxaca coast and founded the village of Villafuerte where the city of Acapulco now stands. Villafuerte was unable to subdue the local native peoples, and this eventually resulted in the Yopa Rebellion in the region of Cuautepec. Hernán Cortés was obligated to send Vasco Porcayo to negotiate with the indigenous people giving concessions. The province of Acapulco became the encomendero of Rodriguez de Villafuerte who received taxes in the form of cocoa, cotton and corn.^[5]

Cortés established Acapulco as a major port by the early 1530s, with the first major road between Mexico City and the port constructed by 1531. The wharf, named Marqués, was constructed by 1533 between Bruja Point and Diamond Point. Soon after, the area was made an “alcadia” (major province or town).^[5]

Spanish trade in the Far East would give Acapulco a prominent position in the economy of New Spain. Galleons started arriving here from Asia by 1550, and in that year thirty Spanish families were sent to live here from Mexico City in order to have a permanent base of European residents.^[5] Acapulco would become the second most important port, after Veracruz, due to its direct trade with the Philippines. This trade would focus on the yearly Manila Galleon, which was the nexus of all kinds on communications between New Spain, Europe and Asia. In 1573, the port was granted the monopoly of the Manila trade.^[6]

The Manila Galleon would make its yearly run from the mid 16th century until the early 19th. The luxury items it brought to New Spain attracted the attention of English and Dutch pirates, such as Francis Drake, Henry Morgan and Thomas Cavendish, who called it “The Black Ship.”^[4][1] To protect the port and the cargo of ships coming here the San Diego Fort was built. Despite the fort’s existence, a Dutch fleet invaded Acapulco in 1615, destroying much of the town and fort before being driven off. The fort was destroyed by an earthquake in 1776 and was rebuilt in 1783.^[1][4]

At the beginning of the 19th Century, King Charles IV declared Acapulco a Ciudad Oficial and it became an essential part of the Spanish Crown. However, soon after the Mexican War of Independence began. In 1810, José María Morelos y Pavón attacked and burnt down the city,^[1] after he defeated royalist commander Francisco Parés at the Battle of Tres Palos.^[5] The independence of Mexico in 1821 ended the run of the Manila Galleon.^[4] Acapulco’s importance as a port recovered during the California Gold Rush in the mid 19th century, with ships going to and coming from Panama stopping here.^[1]

In 1911, revolutionary forces took over the main plaza of Acapulco.^[5] In 1920, the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VIII visited the area. Impressed by what he saw, he recommended the place in Europe, making it popular with the elite there. Much of the original hotel and trading infrastructure was built by an East Texas businessman named Albert B.Pullen from Corrigan, Tx. in the area now known as Old Acapulco.^[1] But some of Acapulco’s best known hotels were built by others. In 1933 Carlos Barnard started the first section of Hotel El Mirador,^[9] with 12 rooms on the cliffs of La Quebrada. Wolf Shoenborn purchased large amounts of undeveloped land and Al Polin built the Las Americas Hotel.^[4]

In the mid 1940s, the first commercial wharf and warehouses has been built.^[6] In the early 1950s President Miguel Alemán Valdés upgraded the port’s infrastructure, installing electrical lines, drainage systems, roads and the first highway to connect the port with Mexico City.^[1]

The economy grew and foreign investment increased with it. During the 1950s, Acapulco became the fashionable place for millionaires Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher and Bridgette Bardot.^[1] From a population of only 4,000 or 5,000 in the 1940s,^[4] by the early 1960s Acapulco had a population of about 50,000.^[10] In 1958, The Diocese of Acapulco was created by Pope Pius XII. It would become an archdiocese in 1983.^[11]

During the 1960s and 1970s, new hotel resorts were built, and accommodation and transport were made cheaper. It was no longer necessary to be a millionaire to spend a holiday in Acapulco, the foreign and Mexican middle class could now afford to travel here.^[1] However, as more hotels were built in the south part of the bay, the old hotels of the 1950s lost their grandeur.^[12]

Acapulco has hosted the sailing competitions of the 1968 Summer Olympics. In the 70's there was a significant expansion of the port.^[6]

During the 1990s, the road known as the Ruta del Sol was built, crossing the mountains between Mexico City and Acapulco. The journey only takes about three and a half hours, making Acapulco a favorite weekend destination for Mexico City inhabitants.^[1] The port continued to grow and in 1996, a new private company, API Acapulco, was created to manage operations. This consolidated operations and now Acapulco is the major port for car exports to the Pacific.^[6]

The city was devastated by Hurricane Pauline in 1997. The storm stranded tourists and left more than 100 dead in the city. Most of the victims were from the shantytowns that surround the city, built on steep hillsides. Other victims were swept away by thirty foot waves and 150 mph winds. The main road, Avenida Costera became a fast-moving three foot river of sludge.^[13]

In the 2000s, the drug war in Mexico has had a negative effect on tourism here are rival drug traffickers fight each other for the Guerrero coast route that brings drugs from South America as well as soldiers that have been fighting the cartels since 2006. A major gun battle between 18 gunmen and soldiers took place in the summer of 2009 in the Old Acapulco seaside area, lasting hours and killing 16 of the gunmen and two soldiers .^[14][12] This came after the swine flu outbreak earlier in the year nearly paralyzed the Mexican economy, forcing hotels to give discounts to bring tourists back.^[14] However, hotel occupancy for 2009 was down five percent from the year before.^[15] Gang violence continued to plague Acapulco into 2010, most notably with at least 15 dying in drug-related violence on March 13. Among that day's dead were six members of the city police and the brother of an ex-mayor.^[16]

Tourism

History and status

City of Acapulco

Acapulco is one of Mexico's oldest coastal tourist destinations, reaching prominence in the 1950s as the place where Hollywood stars and millionaires vacationed on the beach in an exotic locale.^[17] The “original” Acapulco, where hotels owned by personalities such as Johnny Weismuller and John Wayne are located, is on the northern end of the bay. This is where the boardwalk and main square are and today the area is filled with modern, Mexican style hotels, with discotheques and restaurants in walking distance.^[4] This side of the bay is also known as “Tradicional” or “Nautica.” The south end of the bay holds the newer constructions, including the high rise hotels. This area includes Punta Diamante, Puerto Marqués, and stretches from the airport to the Papagayo River which separates it from the older section of town. In this area, no one walks as almost all transportation is by car, limousine or golf cart.^[4][2] The older section of town now mostly caters to middle class, almost exclusively Mexican clientele, while the glitzier newer section caters to international visitors and the Mexican upper classes, many of whom never venture into the older, traditional part of town.^[4][17] This area also has the higher hotel occupancy rates.^[2]

Acapulco’s reputation is that of a high-energy party town, where one can have dinner at midnight, dance until dawn then relax in the daytime on the beach crowded with sexy bodies in bikinis. The nightlife has made this place famous for decades.^[3] From November to April, luxury liners stop here daily and include ships such as the Queen Elizabeth II, the MS Rotterdam, Crystal Harmony as well as all the Princess liner ships.^[4] Despite its international fame, most of Acapulco’s visitors are from central Mexico, especially the affluent from Mexico City.^[3][2] For the Christmas season of 2009, Acapulco received 470,000 visitors, most of whom are Mexican nationals adding 785 million pesos to the economy. Eighty percent arrive by land and eighteen percent by air.^[18] The area has over 25,000 condominiums, most of which function as second homes for their Mexican owners.^[2] Acapulco is still popular with Mexican celebrities and wealthy, such as Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo and Dolores Olmedo, who maintain homes here.^[4]

While much of the glitz and glamour that made Acapulco famous still remains, from the latter 20th century on, the city has also taken on other less-positive reputations. Some consider it a “passé” resort, eclipse by the newer Cancún and Cabo San Lucas.^[3] Over the years a number of problems have developed here, especially in the bay and the older sections of the city. The large number of wandering vendors on the beaches such as Tamarindos, who offer everything from newspapers to massages are a recognized problem. It is a bother to tourists who simply want to relax on the beach but the government says is difficult to eradicate as there is a lot of unemployment and poor here. ^[19] Around the city are many shantytowns that cling onto the mountainsides, populated by migrants who have come here looking for work. Prostitution is also common here as well.^[17] In the last decade, drug related violence has caused problems for the tourism trade here.^[3] Another problem is garbage that has accumulated in the bay. Although 60.65 tons have recently been extracted from the bays of Acapulco and nearby Zihuatanejo, more needs to be done. Most of trash that is cleaned up during the off seasons is done on the beaches and in the waters closest to them. However, the center of the bay is not touched. The reason trash winds up in the bay is that it is common here to throw it in streets, rivers and the bay itself. The most common items cleaned out of the bay are beer bottles and car tires.^[20]

Attractions

Acapulco’s main attraction is its nightlife, and has been for decades.^[3][21] Nightclubs change names and owners frequently but there generalities. Cover charges vary but are almost always higher for men than women, and most clubs are not in operation until after 11pm. Most of the action happens after midnight and goes until to at least four or five in the morning. The high-rise hotels have their own bars and sometimes dance clubs. Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment. In addition, there is the beach bar zone, where younger crowds go. These are located along the Costera road, face the ocean and feature techno or alternative rock. Most are concentrated between the Fiesta Americana and Continental Plaza hotels. These places tend to open earlier and have more informal dress. This area is especially popular during Spring Break. There is also a bungee jump in this area as well.^[21]

Another enigmatic attraction at Acapulco are the La Quebrada Cliff Divers.^[22] The tradition started in the 1930s when young men casually competed against each other to see who could dive from the highest point into the sea below. Eventually, locals began to ask for tips for those coming to see the men dive.^[23] Today the divers are professionals,^[23] diving from heights of forty meters into an inlet that is only seven meters wide and four meters deep, after praying first at a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe.^[22] On 12 December, the feast day of this Virgin, freestyle cliff divers jump into the sea to honor her. Dives ranges from the simple to the complicated and end with the “Ocean of Fire” when the sea is lit with gasoline, making a circle of flames which the diver aims for.^[23] The spectacle can be seen from a public area, which charges a small fee or from the Hotel Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirador from its bar or restaurant terrace.^[22]

There are a number of beaches in the Acapulco Bay and the immediate coastline. In the bay proper there are the La Angosta (in the Quebrada), Caleta, Caletilla, Dominguillo, Tlacopanocha, Hornos, Hornitos, Honda, Tamarindo, Condesa, Guitarrón, Icacos, Playuela, Playuelilla and Playa del Secreto. In the adjoining, smaller Bay of Puerto Marqués there is Pichilingue, Las Brisas, and Playa Roqueta. Facing open ocean just northwest of the bays is Pie de la Cuesta and southeast are Playa Revolcadero, Playa Aeromar, Playa Encantada and Barra Vieja. Two lagoons are in the area, Coyuca to the northwest of Acapulco Bay and Tres Palos to the southeast. Both lagoons have mangroves and offer boat tours. Tres Palos also has sea turtle nesting areas which are protected.^[24] In addition to sunbathing, the beaches around the bay offer a number of services, such as boat rentals, boat tours, horseback riding, scuba diving and other aquatic sports. One popular cruise is from Caletilla Beach to Roqueta Island, which has places to snorkel, have lunch, a small zoo and a lighthouse. There is also an underwater statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe here, created in 1958 by Armando Quesado in memory of a group of divers that died here. Many of the scuba diving tours come to this area as well, where there are sunken ships, sea mountains, and cave rock formations.^[25]

Another popular activity is deep sea fishing. The major attraction is sail fishing. Fish caught here have weighed between 89 and 200 pounds. Sailfish are so plentiful that boat captains have been known to bet with a potential customer that if he does not catch anything the trip is free.^[25][4]

In the old part of the city, there is a traditional main square called the Zocalo with shade trees and lined with cafes and shops. At the north end of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad cathedral, with blue onion-shaped domes and Byzantine towers. The building was originally constructed as a movie set, but when was later adapted into a church.^[25]

Acapulco’s most historic building is the San Diego Fort, located east of the main square and originally built in 1616 to protect the town from pirate attacks.^[22] The fort was partially destroyed by the Dutch in the mid 17th century, rebuilt, then destroyed again in 1776 by an earthquake. It was rebuilt again by 1783 and this is the building that can be seen today, unchanged except for renovations done to it in 2000. Parts of the moats remain as well as the five bulwarks and the battlements.^[26][27] Today the fort serves as the Museo Histórico de Acapulco (Acapulco Historical Museum), which shows the port’s history from the pre-Hispanic period until independence. There are also temporary exhibits as well.^[22]

The Centro Internacional de Convivencia Infantial or CICI is a sea life and aquatic park located on Costera Aleman. It offers wave pools, water slides and water toboggans. There are also dolphin shows daily and a swim with dolphins program. The center mostly caters to children.^[24][22] Another place popular with children is the Parque Papagayo which is a large family park which has life-sized replicas of a Spanish galleon and the space shuttle Columbia, three artificial lakes, aviary, skating rink, rides, go-karts and more.^[24]

The Dolores Olmedo House is located in the traditional downtown of Acapulco and is noted for the murals by Diego Rivera that adorn it. Olmedo and Rivera had been friend since Olmedo was a child and Rivera spent the last two years of his life here. During that time, he painted nearly nonstop and created the outside walls with tile mosaics, featuring Aztec deities such as Quetzalcoatl. The interior of the home is covered in murals. The home is not a museum, so only the outside murals are able to be seen by the public.^[27]

There is a small museum called Casa de la Máscara (House of Masks) which is dedicated to masks, most of them from Mexico but there are examples from many parts of the world. The collection contains about one thousand examples and are divided into seven rooms called Masks of the World, Mexico across History, The Huichols and the Jaguar, Alebrijes and Dances of Guerrero, Devils and Death, Identity and Fantasy, and Afro-Indian masks.^[24] The Botanical Garden of Acapulco is a tropical garden located on lands owned by the Universidad Loyola del Pacifico. Most of the plants here are native to the region, and many are in danger of extinction, such as the Peltogyne mexicana or purple stick tree.^[24]

The annual French Festival takes place throughout Acapulco city and offers a multitude of events that cement cultural links between Mexico and France. The main features are a fashion show and gourmet food fair. The Cinépolis Galerías Diana and the Teatro Juan Ruíz de Alarcón show French and French literary figures give talks on their specialised subjects. Even some of the local nightclubs will feature French DJs.^[28] Other festivals celebrated here include Carnival, the feast of San Isidro Labrador on 15 May and a crafts and livestock fair called the Nao de China in November.^[5]

There are a number of golf courses in Acapulco including the Acapulco Princess and the Pierre Marqués course, the latter designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1972 for the World Cup Golf Tournament. The Mayan Palace course was designed by Pedro Guericia and an economical course called the Club de Golf Acapulco is near the convention center. The most exclusive course is that of the Tres Vidas Golf Club, designed by Robert von Hagge. It is located next to the ocean and is home to flocks of ducks and other birds.^[25]

Acapulco also has a bullring, called the Plaza de Toros, near Caletilla Beach. The season runs during the winter and is called the Fiesta Brava.^[25]

Spring Break

Over 100,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to resort areas throughout Mexico over Spring Break each year.^[29] The main reason students head to Mexico is the 18 year old drinking age (versus 21 for the United States), something that has been marketed by tour operators along with the sun and ocean. This has become attractive since the 1990s, especially since more traditional Spring Break places such as Daytona Beach, Florida have become restrictive on drinking and other behaviors. This has pushed Spring Break visitation to various parts of Mexico, with Acapulco as one of the top destinations.^[30]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cancún had been favored at the Spring Break destination of choice. However, Cancun has taken some steps to control the reckless behavior associated with the event, and students have been looking for someplace new. This has led many more to choose Acapulco, in spite of the fact that the flight is longer and more expensive than to Cancun for many travelers. Many are attracted by the glitzy hotels on the south side and Acapulco’s famous nightlife.^[31] In 2008, 22,500 students came to Acapulco for Spring Break. Hotels did not get that many in 2009, mostly due to the economic situation in the United States,^[32] and partially because of scares of drug-related violence.^[12] MTV will transmit special programming from Acapulco in 2010^[33]

In February 2009, the US State Department issued a travel alert directed at college students planning spring break trips to Acapulco.^[34] The warning—a result of violent activity springing from Mexico's drug cartel debacle—took college campuses by storm, with some schools going so far as to warn their students about the risks of travel to Mexico over spring break. The New York Times tracked the travels of another Penn student on spring break in Acapulco just a week after the dissemination of the email, while Bill O'Reilly devoted a segment of his show, The Factor, to urge students to stay away from Acapulco.^[35] In June 2009 a number of incidents occurred between the drug cartel and the government. These included coordinated attacks on police headquarters and open battles in the streets involving large-caliber weapons and grenades.^[36] However, no incidents of violence against spring breakers were reported.

Transportation

From the U.S., many airlines now fly to Acapulco Airport year-round. While in the city, there are many buses and taxi services one can take to get from place to place, but most of the locals choose to walk to their destinations. However, an important mode of transportation is the government subsidized 'Colectivo' cab system. These cabs cost 10 pesos per person to ride, but they are not private. The driver will pick up more passengers as long as seats are available, and will transport them to their destination based on first come first served rules. The colectivos each travel a designated area of the city, the three main ones being Costera, Colosio, Coloso, or a mixture of the three. Coloso cabs mainly travel to old Acapulco. Colosio cabs travel through most of the tourist area of Acapulco. Costera cabs drive up and down the coast of Acapulco, which is where most of the hotels for visitors are, but also includes some of old Acapulco. Where a driver will take you is partly up to his choice. Some are willing to travel to the other designated areas, especially during slow periods of the day.

Driver Senor Reyes was recently voted best driver in Acapulco by The Gringo Press.

Acapulco, Puerto Marquez

The bus system is highly complex, and can be rather confusing to an outsider. As far as transportation goes, it is the cheapest form other than walking in Acapulco. The most expensive buses have air conditioning, while the cheaper buses do not. For tourists, the Acapulco city government has established a system of yellow buses with Acapulco! painted on the side of them. These buses are not for tourists only, but are certainly the nicest and most uniform of the bus systems. These buses travel the tourist section of Acapulco, driving up and down the coast. There are buses with specific routes and destinations, generally written on their windshields or shouted out by a barker riding in the front seat. Perhaps the most unusual thing about the privately operated buses is the fact that they are all highly decorated and personalized, with decaling and home made interior designs that range from comic book scenes, to adult themes, and even to "Hello Kitty" themes.

The municipality and metropolitan area

As the seat of a municipality, the city of Acapulco is the government authority for over 700 other communities,^[7] which together have a territory of 1,880.60km2.^[5] This municipality borders the municipalities of Chilpancingo, Juan R Escudero (Tierra Colorada), San Marcos, Coyuca de Benítez with the Pacific Ocean to the south. Forty percent of the municipality is mountainous terrain. Another forty percent is semi flat, and the other twenty percent is flat. Altitude varies from sea level to 1699 meters. The highest peaks are Potrero, San Nicolas and Alto Camarón. There is one major river, the Papagayo, which runs through the municipality, along with a number of arroyos. There are also two small lagoons, Tres Palos and Coyuca. along with a number of thermal springs. The climate here is hot with a wet and with a distinct dry season, more even temperatures between seasons than resorts further north in Mexico, but this vary depending on altitude. The warmest areas are next to the sea where the city is. Trpoical Storms and Hurricanes are threat from May through November. The forested area tends to lose leaves during the winter dry season with evergreen pines in the highest elevations. Fauna mostly consists of deer, small mammals, a wide variety of birds of both land and sea as well as marine animals such as turtles.^[5]

Tourism is the main economic activity of the municipality and most of this is centered on Acapulco Bay. About seventy three percent of the municipality’s population is involved in commerce and most of this is related to tourism and the port. Mining and manufacturing employs less than twenty percent and only about five percent are dedicated to agriculture. Industrial production is mostly limited to bottling, milk products, cement products, ice and energy production. Agricultural products include tomatoes, corn, watermelon, beans, green chili peppers and melons.^[5]

The metropolitan area is made up of the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez and Coyuca de Benitez. The area has a population (as of 2005) of 786,830.^[38]

References

State of Guerrero Chilpancingo (capital) Municipalities/ seats  · Acapulco(Acapulco)  · Acatepec (Acatepec)  · Ajuchitlán del Progreso (Ajuchitlán)  · Ahuacuotzingo (Ahuacuotzingo )  · Alcozauca de Guerrero (Alcozauca de Guerrero)  · Alpoyeca (Alpoyeca)  · Apaxtla (Apaxtla de Castrejón)  · Arcelia (Arcelia)  · Atenango del Río (Atenango del Río)  · Atlamajalcingo del Monte(Atlamajalcingo del Monte)  · Atlixtac (Atlixtac) · Atoyac de Álvarez (Atoyac de Álvarez)  · Ayutla de los Libres (Ayutla de los Libres)  · Azoyú (Azoyú)  · Benito Juárez (San Jerónimo de Juárez)  · Buenavista de Cuéllar (Buenavista de Cuéllar)  · Chilapa de Álvarez (Chilapa de Álvarez)  · Chilpancingo de los Bravo(Chilpancingo de los Bravo)  · Coahuayutla de José María Izazaga (Coahuayutla de Guerrero)  · Cochoapa el Grande (Cochoapa el Grande) · Cocula (Cocula)  · Copala (Copala)  · Copalillo (Copalillo) · Copanatoyac (Copanatoyac)  · Coyuca de Benítez (Coyuca de Benítez)  · Coyuca de Catalán (Coyuca de Catalán)  · Cuajinicuilapa (Cuajinicuilapa)  · Cualac (Cualac) · Cuautepec (Cuautepec)  · Cuetzala del Progreso (Cuetzala del Progreso)  · Cutzamala de Pinzón (Cutzamala de Pinzón)  · Eduardo Neri(Zumpango del Río)  · Florencio Villarreal (Cruz Grande)  · General Canuto A. Neri (Acapetlahuaya)  · General Heliodoro Castillo (Tlacotepec)  · Huamuxtitlán (Huamuxtitlán)  · Huitzuco de los Figueroa (Huitzuco)  · Iguala de la Independencia (Iguala de la Independencia)  · Igualapa (Igualapa)  · Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc (Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc)  · Iliatenco (Iliatenco)  · José Joaquín de Herrera (Hueycantenango)  · Juan R. Escudero (Tierra Colorada)  · Juchitán (Juchitán)  · La Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca (La Unión)  · Leonardo Bravo (Chichihualco)  · Malinaltepec (Malinaltepec)  · Marquelia (Marquelia)  · Mártir de Cuilapán (Apango)  · Metlatónoc (Metlatónoc)  · Mochitlán (Mochitlán)  · Olinalá (Olinalá)  · Ometepec (Ometepec)  · Pedro Ascencio Alquisiras (Ixcapuzalco)  · Petatlán (Petatlán)  · Pilcaya (Pilcaya)  · Pungarabato (Ciudad Altamirano)  · Quechultenango (Quechultenango)  · San Luis Acatlán (San Luis Acatlán)  · San Marcos (San Marcos)  · San Miguel Totolapan (San Miguel Totolapan)  · Taxco de Alarcón (Taxco de Alarcón)  · Tecoanapa (Tecoanapa)  · Tecpán de Galeana (Tecpán de Galeana)  · Teloloapan (Teloloapan ) · Tepecoacuilco de Trujano (Tepecoacuilco de Trujano)  · Tetipac (Tetipac)  · Tixtla de Guerrero (Tixtla de Guerrero)  · Tlacoachistlahuaca (Tlacoachistlahuaca)  · Tlacoapa (Tlacoapa)  · Tlalchapa (Tlalchapa)  · Tlalixtaquilla de Maldonado (Tlalixtaquilla ) · Tlapa de Comonfort (Tlapa de Comonfort)  · Tlapehuala (Tlapehuala)  · Xalpatlahuac (Xalpatlahuac)  · Xochihuehuetlan (Xochihuehuetlan)  · Xochistlahuaca (Xochistlahuaca)  · Zapotitlán Tablas (Zapotitlán Tablas)  · Zihuatanejo de Azueta (Zihuatanejo) · Zirándaro (Zirándaro de los Chávez)  · Zitlala (Zitlala)

From Wikitravel

Acapulco by night

The original Mexican resort town. Still, it remains a major destination and a worthwhile trip and is the number two Mexican spring break destination among U.S. college students.

Get in

Many buses go from major cities (e.g. Mexico City) to Acapulco. Most buses are safe, fast and comfortable and usually not very expensive. Some bus lines offer student discounts. The Estrella de Oro bus line offers nonstop trips from Mexico City with service more like of First Class on an airline -- roomy seats, ride attendants, snacks and drinks, and free movies (The Lake House and Superman Returns on a recent trip.) A regular Estrella de Oro (double-decker) one-way ride is 395 pesos, while upgraded VIP bus service is 520 pesos; VIP service includes a marble lounge inside the regular Acapulco bus terminal with TVs, drinks, and newspapers. Depending on the bus, the ride takes 5 - 5 1/2 hours in comfort. Be warned, they search you and pat you down for weapons before leaving.

There is a modern four lane highway from Mexico City to Acapulco (Autopista del Sol). It is somewhat expensive, but will take you there in 3 and a half hours, approximately, if you don't stop on the way. The Autopista is not continuous; there is a break in two sections where the road is rougher, so a car with good tires is a must. However, before you decide to drive to Acapulco, remember that traffic and parking in the city are difficult.

Juan N. Alvarez International Airport (ACA) [1] is well connected domestically and internationally. Flights from Mexico City to Acapulco take approximately 35 minutes and ground transportation from the airport to the major tourist area of La Costera takes more or less the same time. Round trip fares depending on the season and class, range from USD$23.00 to USD$50.00.

Get around

Taxis are everywhere in Acapulco. Since they are unmetered, make sure that you agree on a fare before entering. Always negotiate - they can smell tourist money a mile away. The old Volkswagen beetle cabs are cheaper than newer air conditioned cars. Shared Cabs (usually white with yellow) run between major destinations and are very convenient. They usually display their destination in large letters and charge a flat fee on $10 pesos, irrespective of distance. You should not have to pay more than $50 pesos per cab ride within the Costera area but fares can reach as much as $120 pesos for rides from La Costera to La Quebrada, Princess Hotel (Revolcadero Beach) and the airport. Alternatively most hotels can arrange for taxi transportation for a fixed fare (usually inflated). Prices will usually be about 50% more expensive than for a taxi hailed on the street.

There are several public transportation options: Yellow cabs are 12 pesos per person; buses are 5 pesos or 6 pesos with the luxury of air-conditioning. Because of the sheer amount of taxis here, when one is dining out it is often worthwhile for them to offer a round trip and simply wait around while you have your meal, and they will not charge extra.

Buses are worth experiencing even if you don´t want to travel on them. Destinations are printed on the front window of each bus. There is no need to be at one of the buses regular stops in order to get on. Just wave your arm or look at the driver. He will stop and encourage you to get in. In fact, drivers will stop and try to get you ride with them if you are even walking in the same direction that they are driving in. The bus system in Acapulco has been fully privatised - each bus is privately owned. This means they can decorate them however they want. Pink buses cruise around blaring out traditional Mexican music, racing against ones decked out in UV lights pulsing out club music into the night air. The complete lack of suspension and the bizarre incentive for the buses to race each other to each bus stop as they compete for passengers makes for an unforgettable ride.

It is generally unwise to try to drive yourself around Acapulco. Traffic is heavy, parking is scarce, streets do not run in a neat grid, and even change names unexpectedly. Most, if not all streets lack signs indicating their name.

The cliff divers at La Quebrada

• La Quebrada Cliff Divers - No visit to Acapulco is complete without watching the cliff divers perform their impressive jumps into the shallow stream of water of dangerous tides that forms in the bottom part of La Quebrada. They have been doing it since 1934. You can see the dives from a small platform by the cliff for a small entrance fee, or eat at the La Perla restaurant which offers a good view of the divers. Showtime at 1 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM.

• Zócalo - Zócalo, Acapulco's town square, lies on the western side of La Costera. It's cool, shady and peaceful during the daytime. There are two fountains and many mature, multi-trunked trees that are a sight in themselves. The Zócalo tends to expose more local culture than other, more tourist-centric, areas. Zócalo contains Acapulco's cathedral, as well as many restaurants ranging in size from sidewalk bistros and tiny street-corner kitchens. Many of the smaller restaurants will provide full dinners for as little as 35 pesos. The Zócalo at night is worth experiencing. Between 8:00 and 11:00 pm the place is flooded with locals & chilangoes. Clowns entertain the crowd for tips. One is dressed as some sort of aztec warrior/statue thing. He is silver from head to toe.

• Pie de la Cuesta - Pie de la Cuesta is a quiet strip of land roughly 6 miles northwest of Acapulco, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on the other by a freshwater lake (Laguna de Cuyoca) on the other. The lagoon is extremely tranquil, but tourists are advised not to enter the Pacific Ocean at Pie de la Cuesta, because the surf is very dangerous. One can reach Pie de la Cuesta via bus. If you are on the Bay Side along the Costera, between Escudero and Diego Mendoza, look for the bus that says Pie de la Cuesta PLAYA LUCES. These go up that narrow strip of land. You can also take one that says San Isidro and that will let you off in the Zocalo in Pie de la Cuesta, but you have to walk a couple blocks to the strip and about a half kilometer up to the lagoon.

• Puerto Marquez - Located at a smaller bay just east of Acapulco, Puerto Marquez sees much less tourist traffic than Acapulco. One side of the bay is completely covered by adjacent beach-side restaurants offering very reasonably priced food and beer. The restaurant owners (as well as most other locals) are very friendly to tourists and some will offer discounts or a free round of beer to groups. Tourists and locals alike munch on shrimp enchiladas, sip negra modelos, wade in the waters, and enjoy the breathtaking sunsets. Fewer locals speak English in Puerto Marquez than in Acapulco, so it is recommended that visitors speak some rudimentary Spanish. One can reach Puerto Marquez via bus.

• Isla de la Roqueta - Isla de la Roqueta has a beautiful beach with shallow areas for families to play. You can get there by water taxi (around $3.50 USD) or the glass-bottom harbour tour boat (around $7.00 USD) from Caleta Beach. The harbour tour provides many sightseeing opportunities as well as seeing the yachts and homes of the rich and famous. As well, you can experience the cliff-divers’ show at La Quebrada, the submarine Virgin of Guadalupe, and see a diver with the tour swim under the boat with food to attract fish. If you don’t pack food while on your tour, there is a great opportunity to have lunch by way of a boat restaurant that comes alongside the boat and prepares your order. Just be prepared to wait depending on the number of people on the tour with you. Once on Isla de la Roquet there are numerous well-maintained trails, a lighthouse and beautiful snorkeling spots - but they can be rough (if this doesn’t suit you, your best bet would be to go to the Camino Real for snorkeling). And the bonus, you can take as much time as you want as the tour company’s boats dock throughout the day.

Beaches

Most beaches are in the bay area fronting the main boulevard "La Costera". This bay area is what made Acapulco famous and its beauty and majesty have not faded over the years. Some of the most popular beaches inside the Bay and lining the Costera are Hornos, the traditional "afternoon beach", Papagayo, Tamarindos, and Icacos. Condesa beach at the east end of the bay is gay friendly. Caleta/Caletilla beaches and Langosta Beach are on the open ocean, and usually a bit cleaner. Most hotels in Acapulco are found along the Costera, and prices generally go down as you move west toward the Zócalo and old Acapulco.

Another open water beach, more suitable for surfing, lies in front of the Fairmont Acapulco Princess and Fairmont Pierre Marqués Hotels. Playa Revolcadero is east of Acapulco, closer to the airport. The wave action is much higher than inside the bay or at Caleta/Caletilla, which are protected by La Roqueta island. Transportation from La Costera takes about 35 minutes through a winding and scenic road.

Don't miss Barra Vieja, approx. 20 past the Airport coming from the costera($500-$800 Pesos for a cab all day)

• CICI - a water park right by the main beach. Especially nice for kids. Entrance is 100 pesos and it features many different pools and slides, a Skycoaster (a mix between a swing and a bungee jump) and a dolphinarium. Dolphin shows are on offer, and so is one hour swims with the dolphins - a lifetime memory for USD120.

There are several more attractions, including golf courses, night clubs and post-hispanic fortifications. Nightlife in Acapulco is pretty much fun, and many places are suited for tourism including "El Alebrije", "Disco Beach" and "Palladium", this last having a awe-inspiring sight of the whole bay of Acapulco.

• Señor Frog's [2] - Señor Frog's is a party place; outside you will see signs that read "Drunk Crossing"; from that you can infer what this place is like.

• Casanova - Excellent Italian food with a great view of the city.

• Kookaburra - Also good food with a great view of the city.

• La Perla - La Perla's claim to fame is that it provides a wonderful view of the cliff divers. A buffet breakfast is 110 pesos (roughly $11 gringo dollars) and includes Mexican breakfast specialties such as chilaquiles (fried tortilla pieces with scrambled eggs,cheese,chicken and salsa), sopas, and chicharones(pork rinds), with yogurt, cereal, fresh fruit, tropical juices, Mexican pastellitas (little coffee cakes) and seasonal treats such as a whole roasted piglet. Before the divers' show, you stand a good chance of a getting a serenade from a wandering trio of mariachis. (Tipping recommended, and they also take requests.)

• 100% Natural [3] - A Mexican chain of restaurants in many locations throughout the city, including the beach. They specialize in traditional Mexican food prepared with a healthy slant and different sorts of tropical and nutritional juice blends. A hearty, tasty breakfast ranges between 35 and 70 pesos, not including a juice drink. Very clean, with prompt service.

Drink

In the past few years Acapulco has become a preferred destination for spring breakers, with tens of thousands of students descending upon this resort town to drink away the sorrows of midterms in a multitude of bars and clubs. Be aware that the fancier places may have long queues outside and will probably not let you in if you wear shorts and/or sneakers.

• El Alebrije claims to be the largest night club in Latin America, capable of holding over 5,000 people. The crowd is fairly young, around 18-25. Foam party on Fridays. Cover is $400 Pesos for men and $350 Pesos for women with a free open bar until 5am. Be prepared to tip if you plan on drinking heavily. If arriving by car, you can park in the Walmart 24 hour carpark just up the road and save on the valet parking charges.
• Palladium [4] is the other super club in Acapulco. It is located in Las Brisas, perched on top of a cliff overlooking Acapulco. The large panoramic glass wall which forms one side of the dancefloor is very impressive. Prices are about the same as in Alebrije, drinks included in the cover charge. Tipping is also a good idea at Palladium; one group saw non-tippers wait 20 minutes for service and tippers serviced immediately.
• Mandara It's a smaller version of Palladium, owned by the same people, but instead of electronic you get Hip -Hop and regeton.
• Baby'O [5] is one of Acapulco's perennial favorites. Baby'O is by far the most luxurious (and expensive) club in Acapulco and is favored especially by the 18 to 35 set of Mexico City's upper-class. Here, you will be able to revel in luxury. Expect to pay at least a $600 pesos cover charge and $80-$150 pesos for a drink.
• Classico del Mar is relatively new. It quickly became the favorite for locals and chilangos. It's not a expensive as Baby'O but it doesn't have open bar as Alebrije, Palladium or Mandara. The most interesting part about this club is that it has 3 levels: Level 1 looks like a regular club with a lot of mirrors a colored-lights dance floor and theater boxes. Level 2 has a small bar and the restrooms. Level 3 is a Deck with huge screens on the walls, tables separated with curtains and cliff view. The floor, tables, bar, everything is made of wood and the place its not closed so if it rains they wont let you up. If you decide to go there be sure to ask for a table here, its the best art of the club but, it might get a little hot.

La Costera, Acapulco's main street along the coast, is full of bars and clubs:

• Ibiza is a lounge club on the beach which is very pleasant and often frequented by locals. It plays mainly electronic music.
• Disco Beach is very popular with foreign visitors and locals. Its main attraction is a dance floor fronting the Condesa beach (the main beach).
• Barbarroja is a bar/club in the shape of an old pirate ship that caters mainly to the 30 and over crowd. Also conveniently located by the Condesa beach.

• Kingdom Youth Hostel, Carre Tara 4 Puerto Marques #104, Acapulco (midway between the glitz strip and old Acapulco), ☎ +52 744 466 3736, [6]. A former athletic training facility, Acapulco's Kingdom Youth Hostel is a treat for the active or indolent. Friendly managers as of 2005. Inexpensive, with excellent showers and plenty of hammocks, internet access and a small bar. Outside of Acapulco proper, but that means it's near a quiet beach; a cab ride into the disco zone is about 10 pesos. A hostel worth checking out. (16.804623,-99.826069) edit

• La Mision, Clean room, clean sheets, painted brick, and cold showers. The rooms range from one bed to three. La Mision is 2 blocks outside Zócalo. The staff does not speak English. A basic breakfast may be purchased from the kitchen, though there is a multitude of small restaurants nearby. Depending on the time you stay, you may be able to negotiate 200 pesos per person per night (regardless of the number of rooms occupied).

• Hotel Vital, A great value for the price. The rooms are very clean and come with AC, cable, and their own bathrooms with hot water. There is wireless internet in the lobby and a covered pool off the side of the lobby. There is also a kitchen, but there are plenty of restaurants in the area. The hotel is located less than a five minute walk from the beach, right across from the bungee jump. The managers are friendly, but do not speak English. I paid 150 pesos for my own room with one queen sized bed. If you find a friendly taxi driver who speaks some English he can probably help you out. It can be difficult to find because it's on a minor street. The address is Calle Piedra Picuda No. 50 Fracc. Condessa (frente al bungy).

• Copacabana Beach Hotel

• Fairmont Acapulco Princess, A very large property spread across hundreds of acres of landscaped gardens and golf course with more than 1,000 hotel rooms in three towers. It is built like an Aztec Pyramid and has excellent views of the beach. Like any Fairmont hotel, it is expensive - but well worth the money. It is about half a mile away from the main road linking the Airport to the La Costera. If you walk down to the main road - you will find a McDonald and a Wal-Mart Supercenter - very effective in negating the steep food prices in Princess.

• Fiesta Inn Acapulco

• Hyatt Regency Acapulco, Av. Costera Miguel Aleman 1 (Hyatt Regency Acapulco is the first hotel on the left-hand side of Acapulco's main street, Costera Miguel Alemán Avenue.), ☎ +52 744 469 1234 (acara-reservations@hyattintl.com), [7]. checkin: 12:00pm; checkout: 15:00pm. Overlooks Acapulco Bay. Close to the shopping centres and restaurants.  edit

• Las Brisas, a complex of ´Casitas´ at the top of a hill overlooking the bay. A private beach club helps avoid the masses (and the rubbish floating in the water). The only issue is that it is a long way out of town - it´s not possible to walk anywhere. Taxis are aware that the resort is expensive and so overcharge massively. [8]

• Las Torres Gemelas, Condominium/hotel complex translating to "The Twin Towers" in the middle of Acapulo's hotel district. Constructed in 1975 and renovated in 2002, Las Torres Gemelas offers a kitchnette in every room as well as excellent location, close to all beaches, bars, and restaurants. [9].

• Park Royal

• Quinta Real

• Fiesta Americana Condesa Villas, All newly upgraded rooms & facilities just east of Barbaroja/Paradise located in the heart of town...

• Taxco is along the way from Acapulco to Toluca, and just off the highway to Mexico City. Some guidebooks depict it as an adorable little town filled with silver shops, but many drivers have come to dread the crowded, narrow, windy roads.

• Ixtapan de la Sal is about an hour past Taxco on the way to Toluca. It boasts a perfect climate and thermal waters. There are modern water parks, spas, and a variety of folk health services.

From LoveToKnow 1911

ACAPULCO, a city and port of the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 190 m. S.S.W. of the city of Mexico, Pop. (1900) 4932. It is located on a deep, semicircular bay, From Cambridge Natural History, vol. ii., "Worms, &c.," by permission of Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

FIG. 3. - An optical section through a male Neorhynchus clavaeceps, Zed. (from Hamann).

a, Proboscis.

b, Proboscis sheath.

c, Retractor of the proboscis.

d, Cerebral ganglion.

f, f, Retractors of the proboscis sheath.

g, g, Lemnisci, each with two giant nuclei.

h, Space in sub-cuticular layer of the skin.

1, Ligament.

m, m, Testes.

o, Glands on vas deferens.

nucleus in skin.

q, Opening of vas deferens.

From Cambridge Natural History, vol. ii., "Worms, &c.," by permission of Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

FIG. 5. - Fully formed larva of Echinorhynchus proteus from the body cavity of Phoxinus laevis (from Hamann). Highly magnified. a, Proboscis; b, bulla; c, neck; d, trunk; e, e, lemnisci.

almost land-locked, easy of access, and with so secure an anchorage that vessels can safely lie alongside the rocks that fringe the shore. It is the best harbour on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and it is a port of call for steamship lines running between Panama and San Francisco. The town is built on a narrow strip of low land, scarcely half a mile wide, between the shore line and the lofty mountains that encircle the bay. There is great natural beauty in the surroundings, but the mountains render the town difficult of access from the interior, and give it an exceptionally hot and unhealthy climate. The effort to admit the cooling sea breezes by cutting through the mountains a passage called the Abra de San Nicolas had some beneficial effect. Acapulco was long the most important Mexican port on the Pacific, and the only depot for the Spanish fleets plying between Mexico and Spain's East Indian colonies from 1778 until the independence of Mexico, when this trade was lost. The town has been chosen as the terminus for two railway lines seeking a Pacific port - the Interoceanic and the Mexican Central. The town suffered considerably from earthquakes in July and August 1909. There are exports of hides, cedar and fruit, and the adjacent district of Tabares produces cotton, tobacco, cacao, sugar cane, Indian corn, beans and coffee.

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Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Wikipedia has an article on:

Acapulco

Wikipedia

Proper noun

Acapulco

1. A port and city on the west coast of Mexico, in the state of Guerrero.

Translations

• Greek: Ακαπούλκο