Acapulco

Acapulco’s relatively new, if rather unattractive, cruise terminal is in the downtown area opposite the Zocalo (Town Square).

Most of the activity is at Playa Condesa in the Zona Dorado (Golden Zone), east of the terminal. One of the many VW Bug taxis will take you there for about $3US.

From the cruise terminal, many people walk along the downtown Malecon, the waterfront promenade that follows the bay to the small beach at Playa Tlacopanocha.

For embarkation and disembarkation passengers:

The airport is approximately 15 miles SE of central Acapulco; take a shared taxi.

“Acapulco” derives from the Nahuatl Aca-pol-co and means “where the reeds were destroyed or washed away”.

Acapulco has a reputation as a city that never sleeps, and it does its best to live up to that reputation. Nightclubs and discos stay open until every last reveller goes home, sometimes long after sunrise. It is also a magnet for the rich and famous, with celebrities from all over the world maintaining homes or vacation retreats here. Look out: in this lively city, you never know whom you may see. Beyond its legendary nightlife, Acapulco is a diverse city of over 2 million people, with the many benefits of a large city while still…

No Acapulco visit is complete without the La Quebrada Cliff Divers, who have performed their impressive jumps since 1934 into the shallow, dangerously tide-swept stream at La Quebrada’s base. Watch from a small platform by the cliff for a modest entrance fee, or dine at La Perla restaurant for a good view. Shows take place at 1 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM.

Zócalo, Acapulco’s town square, is on the western side of La Costera and often feels more local than the tourist-focused areas. It contains the cathedral and numerous restaurants, from pavement bistros to tiny street-corner kitchens; many smaller places serve full dinners for as little as 35 pesos.

Xtasea is Acapulco’s newest attraction, aimed at adrenaline seekers with a flight over the sea on the world’s longest zip line.

Acapulco gives visitors many beach choices. Daytime life is largely focused on the shore, following the city’s theme of partying all night and playing on the beach all day.

There are almost as many VW taxis as other cars in the city, and one can be found on La Costera at any hour, day or night. Always agree the price before entering, as drivers will almost always try to charge a gringo more. Most daytime trips should cost 25 pesos (US$2.25).

A public bus runs the length of the strip for a few dollars. Look for blue-and-white buses marked “Costera”. They are bumpy, hot and sometimes crowded, so try to sit out of the sun.

Keep belongings secure.

Artisans’ Mall is an open-air mall opposite Plaza Bahia, with inexpensive arts, crafts and souvenirs along many aisles. Prices are not posted, and bargaining is expected. One strategy is to start at 1/3 of the asking price; another is to end at 1/3. Arts and crafts seem to sell for about half what they would cost in the US, Canada or Europe.

Zocalo is Acapulco’s older district, not a mall. Walk around and you will find hundreds of shops selling gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes and almost anything else. It is best visited in daytime.

Mexico’s currency is the peso (MXN). Pesos share the US-dollar symbol, which can be confusing: tourist-area dollar prices are marked “US$” or use an S with a double stroke. There are about 17 pesos to 1US$.

US dollars are widely accepted in the far north and in tourist areas elsewhere.

Credit cards are less widely accepted than in Europe or the USA. Some businesses add around 5% for card transactions.

The marine terminal includes an Internet station.

Several Starbucks and other Wi-Fi cafés are nearby.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200 in big towns and cities; Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600 in the rest of the country.