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| Sights & Attractions |
| La Quebrada - Acapulco Cliff Divers: Timing is everything. Divers must keenly anticipate the movement of the onrushing sea so that it precisely matches their arrival into the water. An error of one second can result in serious injury or death. The best views of this spectacle are from the terraces of the Mirador Hotel, high above the inlet. The evening divers carry torches as they plummet the 130 feet into the sea, creating a special show for nighttime viewers. This is Acapulco's premiere, if somewhat overworked, tourist attraction.
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 | | Acapulco Bay: By day or night, the views from the cliffs surrounding the bay are spectacular. Measuring four miles across, this natural harbor ranks as one Mexico's most scenic. For centuries, Spanish galleons sailed from this bay, heading to the exotic Asian ports that provided a vital (and enormously profitable) trade link between Spain and its far-flung colonies.
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| Avenida Costera Miguel Aleman (the "Costera" to locals): This is the main artery through town. To the east the avenue passes the fashionable shops and beaches that have made Acapulco famous. Weekend traffic jams at 5 AM are not uncommon along the busiest stretches. This avenue has probably found its way onto more postcards than any other sight in Acapulco, save for the cliff divers. Playa Condesa on the Zona Dorado ("Golden Zone") with its beachfront restaurants, bungee jumping, and "see and be seen scene" is located off the avenue.
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| The Zocalo: The town square is lined with ice cream stands and sidewalk cafes shaded by giant rubber and mango trees. Music plays from a gazebo most Sunday afternoons. Any day of the week the mood is festive. As in any town square, the "balloon man" is a special hit with the kids. At one end of the square stands a cathedral, erected in 1930 as a movie set. When the filming was finished, the set builders left the building, which was soon modified - thank you very much - to its present appearance.
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 | | Cathedral on the Plaza: For centuries the Moors occupied parts of present day Spain. That occupation influenced Spanish architecture and, in turn, influenced the architecture of Spanish Colonial Mexico. The sky-blue domes of this Moorish-style church dominate the plaza.
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| Fort San Diego: Built in 1697 as protection from invading pirates, Fort San Diego was reduced to ruins in 1776. It was an earthquake - not pirates - that besieged the fort. A replacement was quickly erected on the original's foundations to protect Acapulco's vital harbor and town. Today, the ex-fort offers up The Historical Museum of Acapulco, a popular visitor attraction.
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| CICI: If it's wet, it's here. The water park features water slides, a wave pool, water toboggans, a dolphin encounter, and a seal show. The park is great fun for the kids, but one look at the adults and their wet clothes proves the universal appeal of water!
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| Papagayo Park: Another park, especially fun for the kids, sits across the bay on the Costera. Go-karts, roller rinks, carnival rides, and video arcades fill the bill here.
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| Acapulco Convention Center: A convention center as a tourist attraction? Yes. The complex welcomes conventioneers and tourists alike. It isn't all buildings and halls here, either - a beautiful garden and a water fountain display are within the center. The Acapulco Symphony Orchestra calls the site home, and a Mexican Folklore Show offers regular performances, as well. Your visit might even coincide with the taping of a television show - a common event at the center. | |
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