Discover everything about What to do in Acapulco – Mexico. Located on the Pacific coast, the city is located in one of the most beautiful bays in Mexico, along a lot of white sand and a perfect sea. Acapulco is best known for its wonderful beaches, water sports, vibrant restaurants and nightlife.
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Where is Acapulco
Acapulco is a city in Mexico, a resort and port on the Pacific Ocean located in the state of Warrior.
Acapulco is about 380 km south of Mexico City and 1,050 km southeast of Puerto Vallarta.
Direct flights to Acapulco take:
- 1 hour and 15 minutes from Mexico City,
- 1 hour and 50 minutes from Monterrey and
- 3 hours and 30 minutes from Tijuana.
How big is Acapulco
Acapulco has a greater metropolitan population of just over one million.
The main city and busiest resort area stretch about 12km east to west around Acapulco Bay, curved like a giant seashell.
Pristine beaches and smaller resorts dot both sides of the bay, from Pie de la Cuesta in the north to Playa Diamante in the south.
A bit of Acapulco history
Acapulco has a long pre-Hispanic history, although little is known about the people who lived here before the Spaniards (they are believed to have belonged to the Yope civilization of Tehuacalco).
Conquistadors quickly established outposts and built a simple road between the port and Mexico City in 1531 (the city's official founding date is 1550).
Acapulco flourished thereafter as a Spanish trading port, especially benefiting from the Manila galleons that carried precious Asian cargo across the Pacific from the Philippines – the last galleons sailed in 1815.
The city remained an important port after Mexico gained independence, but its new role as a vacation destination it received a boost in the 1920s following a visit by the Prince of Wales of Great Britain.
By the 1950s, Acapulco had become the Mexico's most elegant international resort.
Do I need to rent a car in Acapulco?
A car is not necessary in Acapulco.
Driving in the city can be a nightmare (it's often very congested, signage is poor, and the road layout is confusing), and it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get around by bus or taxi.
It might be useful take a vehicle to explore the coastline beyond the city – to Barra Vieja and Pie de la Cuesta, for example – but these also have several public bus lines.
Driving rental cars is not a good idea as they are sometimes targeted by thieves, and even a minor accident on the road can result in prolonged encounters with police officers who do not speak English or Portuguese.
How can I get around Acapulco without a vehicle?
It's easy to explore Acapulco's old town on foot, but to go further afield, taxis or buses are needed.
Hundreds of buses go up and down the “Costera”, the main road that runs along Acapulco Bay, to Playa Caleta; note that traffic is often very congested and it can take an hour to travel the entire length of the bay.
Most buses should cost less than 10 pesos.
Taxis are also plentiful in Acapulco; It is important to fix the price before entering. Most taxis operate on a zone system; hotels must have current rates ;).
All trips within the center, for example, must cost the same; trips to the next “zone” will be more.
“Colectivos” taxis that can share passengers offer the cheapest fares (starting at just 25 pesos), but trips in private taxis start at around 100 pesos.
When is the best time to travel to Acapulco
May and June are the best time to go to Acapulco to avoid the worst of the crowds.
O better weather (and the busiest season) runs from the end of November to the end of April (when it's hot and dry), but many Mexican families also vacation here in July and August, despite it being hurricane season.
Is better avoid Christmas and Easter, when the beaches will be crowded, and autumn, when it's still generally wet and rainy.
Best Beaches in Acapulco
The main beach along the acapulco bay it's hard to beat – there's plenty of activity, food and drink, but also plenty of space for quieter relaxation.
For a party atmosphere, go for the smaller but fun ones. Playas Caleta and Caletilla, which are always full of Mexican families and blaring music – grab a beachfront table in the shade and order cheap drinks from the bars.
From here, it's a short water taxi ride to La Roqueta Island, an almost entirely undeveloped island where there is another clean, sandy beach great for swimming.
Playa Puerto Marques it's generally quieter and better for families, without the big hotels.
For a lot less people and wilder beaches, go to Pie de la Cuesta, where horseback riding across the sand is available, or just rent a lounger and enjoy sensational sunsets.
To the south, the Barra Vieja beach it is also undeveloped and it is also worth the stay for it.
What to do in Acapulco
As always, the best things to do in Acapulco are linked to the beaches; swimming, sunbathing and various water sports.
Other pleasures include dining, drinking and dancing – Acapulco's nightlife is famous for being wild.
Acapulco's Best Party Boat - Offering Cruises to the sunset and moonlight across the bay – is Aca Rey.
The must-see in Acapulco are the famous cliff divers (clavadistas), who plunge 35 meters (115 feet) from the rocks of La Quebrada into the foaming waters below.
It is especially surreal at night when the site is lit up (dives usually take place at 1pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm and 10.30pm).
Arrive early for the best views or grab a few drinks at the lobby bar at the El Mirador Acapulco hotel, which is ideally located for spotting the divers.
There's not much to see in Cidade Velha ("Centro Histórico"), although the Historical Museum of Acapulco do a good job of charting the city's history, especially the Pacific trade with Asia.
Art fans must visit La Casa de los Vientos (also known as “Exekatlkalli” or “House of Winds”), the last home of Diego Rivera – where he lived with his former model and partner, Dolores Olmedo Patiño, in the late 1950s.
Stunning murals cover the exterior walls, made up of shells and colorful tiles. The house is now a cultural center, and is often open for tours and exhibitions.
Restaurants in Acapulco
Restaurants in Acapulco are extremely varied, from classic Mexican street food to some of the best gourmet and seafood restaurants in the country.
The cheapest meals are found in the area around the Zocalo, while there is much more variety along the waterfront.
For no-frills seafood, our favorite is local chain El Amigo Miguel.
For something special, book a table at Bellavista Restaurant , inside the Hotel Las Brisas, which offers stunning views of the city and high-quality contemporary Mexican food.
Further up the hill is the Spanish restaurant. sirocco , the place to try the local specialty Pescado a la Talla (whole snapper grilled over charcoal) and Zibu, Eduardo Palazuelos' acclaimed Mex-Thai fusion restaurant.
Tip: if you are not used to peppers, get ready, because practically all foods have a spicy touch. The ideal is to adapt at home (before going on a trip) to avoid feeling sick during the trip.
Nightlife in Acapulco
Acapulco is a big party town.
Most clubs have one or two nights with an “open bar”, you pay a fixed price to drink without limits.
Clubs often change locations (or at least names), but Palladium , high on the slopes above the bay, is a local institution (the views alone are incredible).
The other place to be is Baby 'O Acapulco , on the edge of the bay, which attracts the local up-and-coming scene.
For live Mexican music, Latin rhythms and Latin American style dancing (salsa, merengue), it's hard to beat Mojito , further along the Costera.
Clubs rarely open until well after midnight.
What currency is used in Acapulco
O Mexican peso is the currency of Mexico and Acapulco – most places no accept US dollars.
Most of Acapulco's main stores and restaurants accept credit cards, but it's a good idea to have cash in pesos for bus travel and small purchases such as bottled water and snacks.
ATMs are easy to find in Acapulco, along the bay. Banks (particularly Banamex) and exchange offices (slightly lower rates) are numerous along the Costera.
At worst rates exchange rates can be found at airport – use the ATM if possible.
acapulco is safe
Yes, it is safe for tourists 🙂
Acapulco is a big city and suffers from crime – take the usual precautions, especially at night (go to hotels and restaurants to order taxis), and keep valuables in the room safes. Theft of personal items from beaches happens – never leave anything unattended.
Mexico's drug wars have also affected the city and surrounding area, but despite the headlines, drug gangs rarely, if ever, target tourists, and Acapulco's well-policed main tourist areas are generally safe and free of violence.
Things to do in Acapulco – Mexico
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