Acapulco Mexico

Acapulco, Mexico is a unique city, one divided by the rich and famous and poverty.  Even so, this is a city of excitement and opportunity.  What you will see as you come around the bend into Acapulco is an unspoiled paradise just waiting to be discovered, right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.  When Acapulco was first established some 3,000 years ago, there were few animals living on the island but beautiful vegetation and ocean. 

The Nahua tribe members were the first inhabitants that came before the Aztec Indians, according to archaeological findings.  Then in 1521, Hernan Cortes ordered Franciso Chico to go to this area and as the first foreigner to step foot on land, he named the area Santa Lucia.  Soon, modern day Acapulco became a huge trading center between America and Asia with massive ships rolling in and out carrying wonderful goods and spices. 

As you can imagine, this created a huge growth in population along with much wealth.  Unfortunately, the wealth drew the attention of many legendary pirates such as Morgan and Cavendish and Sir Francis Drake, eager to take their share of what was not theirs to take.  To protect the port from the frequent pirate attacks, a castle was built called the Fuerte de San Diego.  However, this very castle was destroyed due to an earthquake that hit in the 18^th century.  Keep in mind that while you do not hear much about earthquakes in Acapulco, it is actually one of the greatest earthquake-prone areas in the country. 

Then at the start of the 19^th century, Acapulco was declared “Ciudad Oficial” by King Charles IV, helping it become an important factor associated with the Spanish Crown.  Even so, the city was attacked and burned to the ground in 1810 led by Jose Maria Morelos during the War of Independence.  Determined to rebuild, the city did recover during the gold rush years. 

At this time, many ships stopped at the Acapulco port as they headed to Panama but what happened, was that each time, passengers would disembark and fall in love with the food, the beaches, and the lush, green hillsides, deciding to stay.  With this, the population continued to grow and as word leaked out about this secret oasis, more and more people came.  By 1920, Acapulco had become such a well-known tourist destination that both the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VIII made frequent visits. 

As popularity spread to Europe, it was obvious that better hotel accommodations were required for the affluent visitors.  A Texas executive by the name of Pullen started the process by building a hotel now known as “Old Acapulco.”  Then a few years later, President Miguel Aleman made major changes to the port by adding drainage systems, installing electricity, and building and paving the first road, thus bringing even more people to this exciting city. 

Today, the popularity of Acapulco has remained strong.  There are many wonderful things to do, starting with the electrifying nightlife.  You can visit a number of dance clubs and restaurants late into the night to include incredible food and great music.  However, along with the nightlife, Acapulco also offers pristine beaches of white sand, a number of water sports to include parasailing, snorkeling, jet skiing, and scuba diving, outstanding hotels with first class accommodations and service, and some of the finest Mexican restaurants south of the border. 

If you prefer, you can take a relaxing day tour of the city that shows off not only the incredible view looking out over the ocean but also older areas of the city along with modern areas.  Then, you can drive to one side of town to take in a show of the cliff divers as they jump off 150-foot cliffs into the water below, something very impressive and worth seeing.  Then, you might consider taking a trip at night on a “booze cruise”, which is a smaller boat featuring a wonderful dinner and amazing entertainment as you cruise out on the ocean. 

Other things to do while in Acapulco include taking a trip to Mexico City to watch the bull fights, shopping at some great stores where you will find incredible prices and selection on ivory, leather, crystal, and other items, or simply soaking up some of the warm sun out by the pool or on the beach.  Of course, if you love deep-sea fishing, then be prepared to put up a fight, especially for sailfish. 

Along with all these activities, some people enjoy learning about the history of Acapulco.  For instance, this city has a number of historic temples that date back to the days of the Aztec Empire.  Sadly, when the Spanish invaded, they soon discovered that Acapulco provided a huge advantage with the shape of the bay.  With this, they had the protection needed and the ideal location for establishing their base for exploration of the Pacific.  Interestingly, this city was the only port in the New World that was authorized to receive the Spanish galleons coming from China and the Philippines. 

Today, more than one million people call Acapulco home.  With its beautiful green hillsides and crystal blue water, it is easy to see why so many people flock there.  When planning a trip to Acapulco, you want to keep your eyes open for bargains in that the price to visit has gone up in the past several years.  However, the cost of the trip is well worth it when you see how gorgeous the scenery is and how warm and welcoming the people are.