Acapulco Travel Guide for Students, Spring Breakers and Backpackers

Acapulco is on the Pacific coast in the state of Guerrero in Mexico; Guerrero is bordered by the Mexico states of Michoacan to the west, Estado de Mexico, Morelos and Puebla to the north, and Oaxaca to the east.

• Distance from Acapulco to Mexico City: about 190 miles

This section of Mexico's Pacific coast is pleasantly warm year 'round, and even a little hot in summer.

• Average daytime temperature: 80F
  
• Average nighttime temperature: 74F
  
• Rainfall: largely brief afternon showers; no rain to speak of in February, eight inches in July

Cabs are plentiful -- about 10 pesos per mile. A cab from Juan Alvarez airport to the Costera is about 70 pesos -- negotiate the fee up front. Funky but functional buses run through the tourist section of town near the coast -- 4 pesos per ride, or 5 for an air conditioned bus. If you stand by the side of the road, cabs and buses pull over; indicate you don't want one by wagging a forefinger (think "no-no").

The Costera is the main drag, running parallel with the coast.

• About taxis in other countries

Claimed by the Spanish in 1528, this then tiny community became an important Orient port through which some chiles were introduced to the world. Pirates dropped by often; the still-standing Fort of San Diego went up in 1616 (rebuilt 1776). The Prince of Wales turned eyes to Acapulco in the 1920's and the road to Mexico City was paved in the '30's. Jetsetters started dropping by in the '50's; Acapulco is enjoying a resurgence of tourism today by students, spring breakers and backpackers today.

Highrises line the Costera, but check out the Kingdom Youth Hostel in Puerto Marques. $15 / night and about $1 cab ride to the disco zone.

Read a full review and see photos of the Kingdom Youth Hostel.

Spring break hotels:

• Hotel Copacabana
• Hyatt Regency
• Continental Emporio
• Fiesta Americana
• Crowne Plaza

Check out the tourists at La Condesa beach, between the El Presidente and Continental Plaza hotels -- you can also rent boogie boards here, but escape to nearby Icacos beach before the Condesa vendors descend.

• Body surf at beautiful Pie de la Cuesta beach -- $5 for a hammock under a palapa (see more on that below).

• Nightclubs -- check out:
  • Palladium
  • Mandara
  • Baby 'O
  Steep cover (at least $30) really does cover free drinks at most clubs. Dress up or don't go. Things step off around 11:00p.m.

  p]li]Acapulco beaches!

You've got to see the famous and much photographed La Quebrada cliff divers, of course -- it costs $3 to check them out from one of the sunny stone viewing platforms, or see them dive from a distance but for free from the Plaza Las Glorias Hotel restaurant while sipping a margarita.

• Fort San Diego -- off the Costera; free on Sundays

• Stroll into the inner city for the real Mexico -- visit open air markets (ask, "Donde esta el mercado?") for prime, cheap street food and truly friendly folk.

Masks are a must-buy in Guerrero -- buy stone masks at the Artisan's Market, nicknamed "Diana" market after a nearby statue, on the Costera; if you wind up in a market with tons of tourist tchotkes, leave and go west a few blocks.

• Serapes and wool ponchos are always a sure bet in Mexico; I paid $8 for a wool poncho at the Puerto Marques zocalo.

• Check out shopping at the Plaza Alvarez zocalo in old Acapulco, but beware the merchants in the tourist parts of the city -- they're relentless.

It's going to be warm, wild and crowded with college crazies. Are we there yet?

Before you go to Acapulco for spring break, learn about Mexico and about spring break deals. Try to make reservations by January; the third week in March is spring break central in Acapulco. Learn about passports, water, airfares and more about Mexico with the links just below.

• Read: Before You Go To Mexico -- Travel Planning FAQ
• Read: First Timer's Guide to Mexico Travel
• Learn: About Spring Break Deals

Resources for visiting and traveling in Mexico:

• Before You Go to Mexico -- pre-trip planning FAQ

• Mexico maps

• How to drive in Mexico

• Camping and campgrounds in Mexico

• Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya / Yucatan Pensinsula (Tulum and Playa del Carmen)

• Get a passport

• Mexico Travel Photos

I traveled to Acapulco with Explorica's Latin America arm -- the tour starts in cosmopolitan Mexico City and heads to colonial silver capital Taxco, with a stop in cool Cuernavaca. The trip wound down in hot Acapulco, where a party sunset cruise was on the agenda. Great tour with an excellent leader.

• Read an Explorica company profile

Don't Miss...

There's always a don't miss place anywhere -- in Acapulco, it's La Brisa de Oro restaurant at Playa Pie de la Cuesta, a beach about five miles west of Acapulco. The beach is quiet, the waves are wild, the food was good in fall 2005, and the drinks are cold. Ask owner Mario Campos Garcia to fix you a fresh coconut or visit with his son about his stay in the US. Stone steps lead to palapas on the sand, where you can rent a horseback ride for $15 / 30 minutes.

Avenue Fuerza Aerea 7, Playa Pie de la Cuesto
Phone: (744) 4 60 08 29

Acapulco Photos

Check out some writer-taken Acapulco photo galleries:

• Acapulco Beaches
• Acapulco Mercados
• Acapulco Cliff Divers
• Kingdom Hostel