Things To Do in Acapulco

Bay Cruises & Roqueta Island

The waters of Acapulco are dotted with virtually every kind of boat -- yachts, catamarans, and trimarans (single- and double-deckers). Cruises run morning, afternoon, and evening. Some offer buffets, open bars, and live music; others just snacks, drinks, and taped music. Prices range from $26 to $50. Cruise operators come and go, and their phone numbers change so frequently from year to year that it's pointless to list them here; to find out what cruises are currently operating, contact any Acapulco travel agency or your hotel's tour desk, and ask for brochures or recommendations.

Boats from Caletilla Beach to Roqueta Island -- a good place to snorkel, sunbathe, hike to a lighthouse, visit a small zoo, or have lunch -- leave every 15 minutes from 9am until the last one returns at 5:30pm for under $10 round-trip. There are also primitive-style glass-bottom boats that circle the bay as you look down at a few fish and watch a diver swim down to the underwater sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. The statue of the Virgin -- created by sculptor Armando Quesado -- was placed there in 1958, in memory of a group of divers who lost their lives at the spot. You can purchase tickets ($5) directly from any boat that's loading.

A Museum & A Water Park

The original Fuerte de San Diego, Calle Hornitos off Costera Alemán, east of the zócalo (tel. 744/482-3828), was built in 1616 to protect the town from pirate attacks. At that time, the port reaped considerable income from trade with the Philippine Islands (which, like Mexico, were part of the Spanish Empire). The fort you see today was rebuilt after considerable earthquake damage in 1776 and has undergone a series of renovations since. The structure houses the Museo Histórico de Acapulco (Acapulco Historical Museum), with exhibits that reveal the port's role in the conquest of the Americas, Catholic conversion campaigns in the region, and exotic trade with the Orient. Temporary exhibits are also on display. It's one of Mexico's finest museums -- and it's air-conditioned. Escape the midday heat here. Admission to the museum costs 35 pesos, free for locals on Sunday. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am to 6pm. To reach the fort, follow Costera Alemán past Old Acapulco and the zócalo; the fort is on a hill on the right.

The Parque Acuático el CICI, Costera Alemán at Colón (tel. 744/484-1970; www.cici.com.mx), is a sea-life and water park east of the convention center. It offers guests swimming pools with waves, water slides, and water toboggans, and has a cafeteria and restrooms. The park is open daily from 10am to 6pm. General admission including the dolphin show is 180 pesos, free for children 1 and younger. There are dolphin shows (in Spanish) weekdays at 2pm and weekends at 2 and 4pm. There's also a dolphin swim program, which includes 30 minutes of introduction and 30 minutes to 1 hour of swim time. The cost for this option is 990 pesos for the half-hour swim, and 1,350 pesos for the hour; both options include total access to the water park and are available by reservation only. Reservations are required; there is a 10-person maximum for the dolphin swim option. The minimum age is 4 years.

Death-Defying Divers

High divers perform at La Quebrada each day at 1, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30pm. Admission to special viewing platforms is 35 pesos for adults, 10 pesos for kids 10 and under. From a spotlit ledge on the cliffs, divers (holding torches for the final performance) plunge into the roaring surf of an inlet that's 7m (23 ft.) wide, 4m (13 ft.) deep, and 40m (131 ft.) below -- after praying at a small shrine nearby. Divers climb up the rocks and accept congratulations and gifts of money from onlookers. No visit is complete (even for jaded travelers) without watching the divers at this quintessential Acapulco experience. To get there from downtown, take the street called La Quebrada from behind the cathedral for 4 blocks. Parking costs 20 pesos.

The public areas have great views, but arrive early, as they quickly fill up. Another option is to watch from the lobby bar of the Hotel El Mirador. The bar imposes a $15 cover charge, which includes two drinks. You can get around the cover by dining at the hotel's La Perla restaurant ($25 minimum for food during show times). Reservations (tel. 744/483-1221, ext. 802) are recommended during high season.

A House of Art, Seen from Outside

Of all the exclusive villas and homes in Acapulco, one stands out. Though not as impressive as the villas of Las Brisas, the home of Dolores Olmedo in Acapulco's traditional downtown area is a work of art. In 1956, the renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera covered its outside wall with a mural of colorful mosaic tiles, shells, and stones. The mural, which took 18 months to complete, features Aztec deities such as Quetzalcóatl and Tepezcuincle, the Aztec dog. Rivera and Olmedo were lifelong friends, and Rivera lived in this house for the last 2 years of his life, when he also covered the interior with murals. The home isn't a museum, so you have to settle for a look at the exterior masterpiece. The house is a few blocks behind the Casablanca Hotel, a short cab ride from the zócalo, at Calle Cerro de la Pinzona 6.

Acapulco is not among the best places to buy Mexican crafts, but it does have a few interesting shops, and the Costera is lined with places to buy tourist souvenirs, including silver jewelry, Mexico knickknacks, and the ubiquitous T-shirt.

The shopkeepers aren't pushy, but they'll test your bargaining mettle. The starting price will be steep, and dragging it down may take some time. Before buying silver, examine it carefully and look for ."925" stamped on the back. This supposedly signifies that the silver is 92.5% pure, but the less expensive silver metal called "alpaca" may also bear this stamp. (Alpaca is generally stamped MEXICO or MEX, often in letters so tiny that they are hard to read and look similar to the three-digit ."925.")

Linda de Taxco, located at the Quebrada where the cliff divers perform (tel. 744/483-3340), is a large store selling silver and gold pieces, including quality silver from Taxco. It's open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 10pm.

Sanborn's (www.sanborns.com.mx), an excellent department store and drugstore chain, offers an array of staples, including cosmetics, music, clothing, books, and magazines. It also carries high-quality folk art from around Mexico. Its bakery and candy counters are irresistible, and the restaurants serve excellent breakfasts (and other meals). Locations in Acapulco include downtown at Costera Miguel Alemán 209, across from the boat docks (tel. 744/482-6167), and one with an outdoor patio by the beach at Costera Miguel Alemán 1226, at the Condo Estrella Tower, close to the convention center (tel. 744/484-2035). All are open daily from 7:30am to midnight.

Boutiques selling resort wear crowd the Costera Alemán. These stores carry attractive summer clothing at prices lower than you generally pay in the United States. If there's a sale, you can find incredible bargains. One of the nicest air-conditioned shopping centers on the Costera is Plaza Bahía, Costera Alemán 125 (tel. 744/485-6939, -6992), which has four stories of shops, movie theaters, a bowling alley, and small fast-food restaurants. The center is just west of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The bowling alley, Aca Bol in Plaza Bahía (tel. 744/485-0970, -7464), is open daily from noon to midnight (1am on weekends). Another popular shopping strip is the Plaza Condesa, adjacent to the Fiesta Americana Condesa; shops include Guess, Izod, and Bronce Swimwear. Olvido Plaza, near the restaurant of the same name, has Tommy Hilfiger and Aca Joe. The enormous glass Gran Plaza, Costera Alemán 1632 (tel. 744/486-6479), is the Costera's largest, with department stores, 135 shops, Internet cafes, a Starbucks, and a large food court. It's a great place to escape the heat.

The top shopping center in Acapulco is La Isla, Blvd. de los Naciones 1813, off the Carretera Escénica close to the airport (tel. 744/462-1962). Opened in late 2008, the open-air mall with streams and lush landscaping houses the Mexican department stores Liverpool and Casa Palacio, as well as name-brand stores including Coach, Calvin Klein, DKNY, and Hugo Boss. There's also a cinema and Carlos 'n Charlie's located here, along with other restaurants and entertainment options, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the property. It's one of the most popular places for locals on weekends, when families stroll about during the day and couples take over the pedestrian pathways and park benches at night.

Special Attractions

Some major hotels schedule Mexican fiestas and other theme nights that include dinner and entertainment, including the Mayan Palace (tel. 744/469-6000) on Mondays at 7pm. Local travel agencies will have information.

Nightclubs & Dance Clubs

Acapulco is even more famous for its nightclubs than for its beaches. Because clubs frequently change ownership -- and often names -- it's difficult to give specific and accurate recommendations. But some general tips will help. Cover charges vary but are almost always higher for men. Drinks can cost anywhere from $5 to $15. Don't even think about going out to one of the hillside dance clubs before 11pm, and don't expect much action until after midnight. But it will keep going until 4 or 5am, and possibly later.

Many dance clubs periodically waive their cover charge or offer some other promotion to attract customers. Look for promotional materials in hotel reception areas, at travel desks or concierge booths, in local publications, and on the beach.

The high-rise hotels have their own bars and sometimes dance clubs. Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment.

The Beach Bar Zone

Prefer a little fresh air with your nightlife? The young, hip crowd favors the growing number of open-air oceanfront dance clubs along Costera Alemán, most of which feature techno or alternative rock. There's a concentration of them between the Fiesta Americana and Grand Plaza hotels. An earlier and more casual option to the glitzy dance clubs, these places include El Sombrero (you'll know it when you see it; tel. 744/484-8230), Tabú (no phone), and the pirate-themed Barbaroja (tel. 744/484-5932). These mainly charge a cover (around $10) and offer an open bar. Women frequently drink free or with a lesser charge (men may pay more, but then, this is where the beach babes are). Paradise/Paraíso (tel. 744/484-5988) is the most popular of the bunch and occasionally -- such as during spring break -- has live bands on the beachfront stage. Most of the smaller establishments do not accept credit cards; when they do, MasterCard and Visa are more widely accepted than American Express.

If you are brave enough -- or inebriated enough -- there's the AJ Hackett Bungee Paradise (named for the kiwi bungee jump inventor) in the midst of the beach bar zone at Costera Alemán 101 (tel. 744/484-7529). For $60, you get one jump, plus a T-shirt, diploma, and membership. Additional jumps are $20, and your fourth jump is free. For $90, you can jump eight times.