I have long desired to visit the famous Acapulco, ‘the city that never sleeps’, where the rich and famous have been visiting or residing since the 1950’s when Hollywood stars such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Kennedy’s would come to visit and mingle amongst the glitzy atmosphere that seems to be automatic along the Pacific coastline of Acapulco Bay. The perfect tropical warm weather year round, blue clear skies almost every day, the stunning sands of Acapulco Bay, and the endless choice of top class hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment was what I finally got to experience when I vacationed here with my family.
The holiday was one I and my family will never forget! It was both relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time. We stayed in two hotels, one being Las Brisas Hotel, one of Acapulco’s more luxurious hotels which made me feel like a millionaire for the week, took care of every possible desire I may have had, and was the perfect Acapulco vacation Rental and destination experience. The second hotel was the oh-so elegant and stylish Fiesta Americana Hotel, which once again surpassed every expectation I had of how one should vacation in Acapulco.
There is so much to do in Acapulco, that it is virtually impossible to get bored, even with children. One of the highlights of our vacation in Acapulco was the La Quebrada cliff divers, which put on an amazing show of bravery and skill when they perform their daring dives off the natural cliffs into the waters below. Diving displays are usually daily at 1pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, & 10pm (but check with your hotel for any variation to these times). Usually at least 3 divers will perform at each set performance time. There is a well placed public viewing deck where you can get a great view of the La Quebrada cliff divers. But I would suggest that, if you don’t have children with you, then take advantage of watching this amazing performance from the comfort of the Plaza Las Glorias Mirador Hotel. Mix the performance, a few cocktails, then a lunch or dinner on the hotel’s outdoor terrace, and it all makes for one very romantic outing.
For the children, there is an endless array of water sports for children of various ages along the beaches, and there are two beaches, Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla, which are smaller and located away from the tourist hustle and bustle that the main Acapulco beaches seem to have. Here you will find very calm, more shallow waters, with much shade, perfect for the younger ones. A water park, called Centro Infantil CiCi, located on the main street Avenida Costera Miguel Aleman, or known locally as “The Costera” features water slides and toboggans, a wave pool, roller coaster, and dolphin and seal enclosures with shows as set times during the day. There is also Mundo Marina, an aquarium, located between Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla, which has a variety of water slides, marine animal exhibits, restaurants and gift shops, which kept the children amused for some time. Also along The Costera, you will find a park with an array of carnival rides, roller skating rinks, skateboard ramps, and go karting tracks, to name but a few.
But if you would like to get away from the beach and water based activities, then I would suggest to visit the Fuerte de San Diego, which is an impressively restored 17 th Century fort built to protect the city against pirate attacks. Within the fort is the Museo de Acapulco, which offers an interesting look into the area’s historical significance, and Mexico ‘s rich cultural and traditional past. It is easy to reach, keeps the children entertained and interested, and is a good place to escape the hot afternoon Acapulco weather.
Some of my personal highlights, apart from the stunning beaches to relax at with a good book, or the shopping along The Costera at the Centro Acapulco Real Estate, would have to be the extensive variety of water sports, and the restaurant and nightlife. Firstly the water sports available all along Acapulco Bay is impressive. I had always considered myself to be an active outdoors person, but didn’t realise the variety of water activities available. I had a go at the usual beach water activities such as banana boat rides, a trip on a glass bottom boat, a cruise around the Bay on a chartered sail boat, peddle boats, and snorkelling. But I decided to venture out and try parasailing, which was very exhilarating and the quality and professionalism of the staff gave me all the confidence I needed to attempt this. I also hired a wave runner, which I didn’t expect to be as enjoyable as it actually was, which explains why I went back the following day for another go. The hire place gave me excellent initial instructions and the equipment for hire was of very good quality. Two things I didn’t try were hiring a small sail boat, and scuba diving. Although my husband went scuba diving and obviously had a wonderful time, as he went back a few days later with our eldest child.
The nightlife is truly what Acapulco is about from sunset to sunrise! Whether you are after a quiet romantic dinner, lively cultural meal experience, or would prefer to spend a few hours in a bar with live music, or dance the entire night away in one of the many impressive nightclubs. The nightclubs, mostly located along The Costera, range from the norm to the sublime. Such as Fantasy, which is popular with the thirty-something crowd which offers a great Spanish feel in music and food, with some great views over the town and Bay, to Alebrije which is a huge nightclub which seats around 1,200 people, where a typical Friday or Saturday night begins with a slower pace and quickly builds into a disco display of music, lights, and a dance floor full of people covered in foam! Alebrije opens at 10.30pm and goes all night long till dawn. Two other popular nightclubs are Andromeda, a techno club popular with the 18-25 crown where the theme is set on what feels like a submarine with the entrance over a dramatic torch-lit moat. And Enigma gives an Egyptian feel, where the music is predominantly Spanish but does vary, and it also offers a great view of Acapulco Bay from the glass-walled dance floor. For some great bar and restaurant experiences to make your Acapulco vacation more memorable, The Costera offers bars with varied atmospheres, and restaurants with specialised cuisine menus. Keep in mind that the restaurants vary greatly in price, although you don’t need to spend a fortune to get great tasting food and great service!
For the males who may not be so interested in spending the majority of a 2 week vacation in Acapulco either in the shops or lazing on the sandy beaches, there is always golf, fishing or tennis to keep you occupied. My husband spent much time on the golf courses around Acapulco . There are 4 championship golf courses, all located south, near the airport and easily accessible to from the main tourist area. The courses at the Tres Vidas and the Mayan Palace were what impressed my husband the most. Their challenging fairways, impressive scenic views over the Pacific Ocean , and the quality of the clubhouse, hire equipment and amenities kept my husband busy for several days on the greens. The other 2 courses are the Acapulco Princess and Pierre Marques which adjoin each other.
And a game or two, or three, of tennis in Acapulco is a great way to spend some time away from the typical attractions of Acapulco . The modern facilities at the Mayan Palace complex (within the same complex as the golf course) offers 13 courts open to the public, with lessons available, and shower facilities. Within the tourist district, the Park Hotel offers very reasonable rates for those non-guests who would like a game of tennis. The Club de Tenis Panoramic is a small tennis club which offers players 2 neatly kept clay courts, but book in advance for this tennis club as it is quite popular.
All in all, our family vacation in Acapulco was a once in a lifetime experience. There was something for everyone, there was no boredom over the two weeks and the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement. Everything mentioned above and much, much more went in to creating some lasting memories for each and every family member. I can see why Acapulco attracts millions of tourists each year. I had fantasised about taking such a holiday as this, and I was not disappointed!
Author: Jason Keiller
Jason Keiller
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Our children and grandchildren went scuba diving in Hawaii last summer..
This was my first experience scuba diving in Jamaica at the Sandals resort in Negril Jamaica. I’m joined by my wife Esther and my friend Russ