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| SPOTLIGHT | | Sandy
beach, is great for diving, swimming, sailing, snorkeling, and windsurfing. |
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| Condesa Beach Acapulco Travel Information
Condesa beach is one of the most popular and most convenient beaches. Many
hotels, restaurants, and places to shop are close by. You can go parasailing and
rent banana boats and waverunners here.
Beaches
Photographs 
An army of locals will be at your service to bring you food and beverages
of your choice, beach umbrellas, chairs, tatoos, jewelry, massages (ask the price
first!), controlled substances, and more.
These constant interruptions
basically wreck the experience, so this beach is my least favorite. Of course,
if there is a major shift toward Icacos, I expect that the vendors will follow.
If you want peace and tranquility and don't mind taking a long taxi ride, try
Revolcadero Beach, La Bonfil, or Pie de la Cuesta.
Location:
Along the Condesa, naturally. The beaches along the main strip in Acapulco basically
run together and share the same plot of sand, however, Condesa Beach is technically
located between La Gran Plaza and the bungy. It runs into Hornos Beach to the
north and Icacos Beach to the south.
Shopping in Acapulco, Mexico
Depending where you do your shopping and how good your bargaining skills are,
you can return home from your vacation with bags of treasures from all over Mexico.
The best arts and crafts are made in other parts of Mexico, but as a tourist destination,
many of these find their way to Acapulco. The prices are somewhat higher than
if you purchased them at the source, but if you do not have time for a side trip
to Taxco, Ixtapa, or Tepoztlan (or MANY other Mexican cities) you can buy some
great gifts and souvenirs in Acapulco.
Mexican Souvenirs Fermin:
If you want a great selection of quality gifts, souvenirs, jewelry, t-shirts,
and sombreros and want great prices without having to bargain, stop by Fermin's
shop near the La Diana circle in La Condesa. There are many other souvenir shops
in this area, but you will probably get the best prices from Fermin. Artisans'
Mall: An open-air mall located across from Plaza Bahia, you can find many
inexpensive arts and crafts and souvenirs strolling through the many aisles. You
will have to test your bargaining skills here because the prices are not posted
(and even if they were, you should still bargain). I'm no expert, but one common
strategy is to start at 1/3 of the asking price. . . another strategy is to end
at 1/3. Basically, it seems to me that arts & crafts seem to go for about half
of what they would in the US, Canada, or Europe. Zocalo: This is the older
part of the city of Acapulco (not a mall). If you walk around enough, you will
find hundreds of shops selling all kinds of gifts, crafts, jewelry, clothing,
and just about anything else you can imagine. It's best to shop here during the
daytime.
Malls in Acapulco La Gran Plaza: Every taxi will know
where this mall is, conveniently located along the "Costera". It's probably very
similar to the mall in your hometown, with similar stores and prices. You won't
find many bargains here, but it's the largest mall in Acapulco, has a nice movie
theatre and a food court. Plaza Bahia: Smaller than La Gran Plaza, you
will find a slightly larger selection of Mexican goods at Plaza Bahia, which is
also located along the "Costera". It also has a smaller cinema, and some rough
pool tables and a bowling alley upstairs.
Jewelry Stores in Acapulco
B & B Jewelers: B & B has a shop located in Plaza Bahia, but if you
want to see where they make the jewelry and choose from an amazing selection of
jewelry including gold, silver, Mexican fire opals, and other precious stones,
your best bet is to visit their shop inside Park "Papagayo". Ask the taxi driver
to take you to "Parque Papagayo junta a la Joyería" (next to the jeweler's shop),
enter the park, and take your first right. Art and Artists in Acapulco
Eduardo Medina Havlicek: One of Acapulco's premier artists, you
can visit Eduardo's gallery in Plaza Bahia (see above). The exclusive and beautiful
Villa Vera resort has hosted several of Eduardo's expositions, the latest of which
was entitled "La Odisea de Havlicek". We will be featuring more of his work (primarily
acrylic on canvas) on Travel Acapulco in the near future, so check back soon.
More art galleries, Mexican crafts, and weekly live performances can
be all found at the Acapulco Cultural Center, which is a group of small buildings
off the Costera near the Hyatt Regency and Cinemark.
Acapulco: From
Piracy to Tourism
Imagine an unspoiled paradise, on the coasts of
the Pacific, where only a few animal species live, the sun, the sea and the vegetation
making up a green and ochre landscape. Thus was Acapulco Bay over 3000 years ago.
The first inhabitants of this area were the Nahuas, a tribe that was a predecessor
to the Aztecs, according to archaeological findings dating back to over 2000 years
ago.
In 1521, Francisco Chico, by order of Hernán Cortés acting on behalf
of the Spanish Crown, arrived in this area, the first foreigner ever to step on
Mexican territory, and named it Santa Lucía. The newly founded city quickly became
an important trading centre between Asia and America, with ships constantly coming
and going to and from the East, and which brought, among many other goods, spices
into America. As a result of the economic boom, the population increased threefold
and its wealth attracted the attention of legendary pirates such as Sir Francis
Drake, Morgan and Cavendish.
In order to defend the port from the frequent
pirate attacks, a castle was built: Fuerte de San Diego, which would later fall
prey to an earthquake in the 18th century, and would be destroyed as a result.
Acapulco is, after all, one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the country.
At the beginning of the 19th century, King Charles IV declared Acapulco
Ciudad Oficial and it became an essential part of the Spanish Crown. In 1810,
José María Morelos attacked and burnt down the city during the War of Independence.
Acapulco recovered its importance during the Gold Rush. Many of the
ships stopped in the port on their way to Panama, and more than a few of the passengers
were so taken by the natural beauty of its beaches that they decided to settle
there.
In 1920, Acapulco started its voyage towards becoming an important
tourist destination, with the visit of the Prince of Wales and future King Edward
VIII. Acapulco's charm had captivated the royalty and they soon recommended the
place all around Europe. The idea to create a hotel and trading infrastructure
came from a Texan businessman named Pullen, responsible for the construction of
what is now known as Old Acapulco. Years later, President Miguel Alemán radically
transformed the port, installing electricity, drainage systems, pavements, and
building the first road from Mexico DF to the port, which brought much more tourism
to the area.
The economy grew and foreign investment increased with
it. 1950 marked the beginning of the golden age of Acapulco. It became the "in"
place among millionaires and Hollywood stars. Elizabeth Taylor chose Acapulco
for one of her weddings; Sinatra, Eddie Fisher, John F. Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot
were regular faces on Acapulco´s beaches.
During the 1960s and 70s,
new hotel resorts were built, and accommodation and transport were made cheaper.
It was no longer necessary to be a millionaire to spend a holiday in Acapulco,
the foreign and Mexican middle class could now afford to travel to the beautiful
city.
During the 1990s, the road known as the Ruta del Sol was built,
crossing the mountains between Mexico City and Acapulco. The journey only takes
about three and a half hours, making Acapulco a favorite weekend destination for
Mexico City inhabitants.
Acapulco is still expanding and its infrastructures
constantly improving with ever-growing foreign investment. No doubt it is worth
visiting this Mexican destination, where the landscape and sunset are still the
same as they were when Nahuas admired them from the deserted beaches so many years
ago.
Acapulco
State: Guerrero
Country: Mexico
Acapulco
by the Numbers:
Population: 721,100
Land Area: 11 square miles
Average Annual Rainfall: 59 inches
Average January Temperature: 81 degrees
F
Average July Temperature: 92 degrees F
Average Sunshine Days: 360
Quick Facts:
Major Industries: Tourism, Textiles, Petroleum
Electricity:
110-120 volts; standard, flat two-pin plugs
Time Zone: GMT - 6 or - 5 between
April and October
Country Dialing Code: 011
Area Code: 744
Did
You Know?
Jacquie and John Kennedy and Bill and Hillary Clinton honeymooned
in Acapulco.
Orientation:
Acapulco is nestled on the southeastern
edge of Mexico's mainland. Its western edge rims the Bay of Acapulco which opens
to the Pacific Ocean. The Sierra Madre Mountains tower from the east making for
a dramatic union of water and land. Mexico City sprawls 229 miles to the north
and Guadalajara 612 miles to the southeast. | |
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Top Beaches |
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 Puerto
Marques and Revolcadero |
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Las Brisas, overlooking the eastern end of the bay, is
probably the most exclusive of all, its individual villas
offering private swimming pools and pink jeeps to every
occupant. Puerto Marques (buses marked "Puerto Marques")
is the first of the playas, a sheltered, deeply indented
cove with restaurants and beach chairs right down to the
water's edge. |
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| Playas
Caleta and Caletilla |
Very small - the two are divided only by a rocky outcrop
and breakwater - they tend to be crowded with Mexicans
(the foreign tourists who once flocked here have since
decamped east), but the water is almost always calm and,
by Acapulco's standards, the beach is clean.
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| Pie de la Cuesta |
Even if it weren't for the massive backbreaking waves
that dump on the beach, there are said to be sharks offshore
- but as good a place as you can imagine to come and watch
the sun sink into the Pacific or to ride horseback along
the shore.
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| Akumal |
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Akumal means “place of the turtles” and it is
still one of their favorite places for laying their eggs.
However what makes Akumal such a charming and fascinating
destination for tourists from around the world is its
spectacular protected bay area of transparent waters and
the sweet water currents that flow through its caves and
subterranean rivers. |
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| Cancun |
Though you're free to go anywhere, and signposted public
walkways lead down to the sea at regular intervals, some
of the hotels do their best to make you feel like a trespasser,
and staff will certainly move you off the beach furniture
if you're not a guest.
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| Conzumel |
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Nachi Cocom, south of Chankanaab, even has a swimming
pool, a good restaurant, and watersports equipment rental.
A little farther south you'll come to Playa San Francisco
and, south of it, Playa Palancar. Other beach clubs include
Paradise Cafe, on the southern tip of the island across
from Punta Sur nature park, and Playa Bonita, Chen R?o,
and Punta Morena, on the eastern side. |
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| Isla Mujeres |
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First there's the beach, then there's the sea. And when
you've tired of those, you can rent a bike, moped or even
golf cart to carry you around the island to more sea,
more beaches, a coral reef and the tiny Maya temple that
the conquistadors chanced upon, full of female figures,
which gave the place its name. |
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| Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo |
Zihuatanejo has the old-fashioned charm of traditional
Mexican culture. Fishing continues to be a way of life
for a large number of families, and the increasing popularity
of the area as a sportfishing destination has given new
impetus to their livelihood. .
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| Acapulco |
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Acapulco even though there are hundreds of thousands of
people here throughout the year - the town itself has
a population approaching one and a half million and even
out of season (busiest months are Dec-Feb) most of the
big hotels remain nearly full - it rarely seems oppressively
crowded. |
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| Playa
Condesa or Playa Icacos |
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Centro Acapulco, where the beach is far less crowded and
considerably cleaner. Here, too, it's easy enough to slip
in to use the hotel showers, swimming pools and bars -
there's no way they're going to spot an imposter in these
thousand-bed monsters. |
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