Acapulco: Mexico’s Forgotten Beach Paradise

Beach

Acapulco is a beach destination, and there are plenty of beaches to choose from! In the main bay, Playa Condesa and Playa Icacos are the beaches to be at. But some of the best beaches are outside the main bay: Barra de Coyuca to the north, and Majahua Beach and Pichilingue Beach in the mini bay just to the south. And further south in Acapulco Diamante, Revolcadero and Barra Vieja are open stretches with amazing waves.

La Quebrada

One of the most famous attractions in Acapulco is La Quebrada with its cliff divers. From two ledges, divers jump either 40 feet or 80 feet into the waves inside a narrow ravine below. There is not only a viewpoint but also a restaurant you can dine at overlooking this famous attraction!

Isla La Roqueta

A small island inside the Acapulco bay, Isla La Roqueta is a beautiful place to spend the day! Take a glass-bottom boat or kayak to explore this small island. It not only has beaches but restaurants as well.

Scuba diving & snorkeling

There are a variety of places to either scuba dive or snorkel around the Acapulco bay. From Roqueta to Caleta and Caletilla, these have a variety of fish and reefs.

Sunset ocean cruise - Another great thing to do is to take a sunset cruise around the bay. Acapulco faces west and has some of the most beautiful sunsets, best seen at sea!

Kayaking to Isla El Morro

A tiny rocky island in the bay, just off shore, Isla El Morro is a popular location to kayak too.

Coyuca Lagoon

Just to the north of Acapulco is the Laguna de Coyuca. You can take a boat tour around the lagoon and even take part in a baby turtle release!

Horseback riding

With plenty of beaches to choose from around the area, another popular activity is to go horseback riding along the beach. Some even choose to do this at sunset for an epic, romantic experience!

Day trips

Taxco

This charming city located between Acapulco and Mexico City, is famous for its silver jewelry and Spanish colonial architecture. Its colorful architecture, winding roads and natural beauty make this a day trip well worth your time.

Tehuacalco

This archeological site just to the northeast of Acapulco was associated with the Yope people. It was occupied as a ceremonial site for several hundred years until 1100CE. Here you can see ruins of the palace, ball court, rock etchings and more.

Mezcal tasting & factory tour

There is a guided tour to a Mezcal factory in nearby Chilpancingo where you can tour the factory and do a tasting. Mezcal is lesser known compared to its cousin Tequila, but they have similar components (with Mezcal being smokier and being able to be made anywhere, where as Tequila has to adhere to a specific process and region of distilling).

Zibu: A Mexican/Thai fusion restaurant that sits on the hills overlooking the Acapulco bay with a beautiful terrace.

Suntory: Located in the main bay just across from the beach, this Japanese & sushi restaurant is a staple.

Tacostumbras: With a few locations to choose from, this taco hotspot has some of the best tacos you’ll taste in the area.

Origen: Located at the Encanto hotel, this Latin American restaurant has some of the best views of the bay in the area.

Becco Al Mare: Another restaurant boasting beautiful views of the bay, this Italian restaurant is known for its extensive wine list.

Tony’s Bistro: Chef Erik Nguyen blends his cultural heritage (French & Vietnamese) into a gastronomic experience that has become an Acapulco staple.

El Cano Diamante: Also a beach club, El Cano Diamante has delicious seafood and cocktails to satisfy any appetite.

Restaurante BellaVista: Located inside the Las Brisas hotel, the international cuisine is highlighted with a mixture of vegetarian and vegan options as well.