Cruise Diva Goes Ashore on the
Mexican Riviera
Sights to see & things to do
Acapulco, Mexico
You’ll never forget your first sight of Acapulco Bay, ringed with white-sand beaches and whitewashed villas. This is what drew the beautiful people to flock around the exclusive resorts to get away from it all. While the luxury resorts make a definite statement, the Hollywood cachet has disappeared for the most part and for glitterati sightings, visitors must head for the exclusive Acapulco Diamente. The downtown area is traditional Mexico.
Diversions
The heart of Acapulco is its town square where locals gather to gossip, celebrate holidays, and just enjoy the bandstand music. The Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is a striking art deco church with Moorish style yellow and blue domes.
No trip to Acapulco is complete without a stop to see the famous daredevil cliff divers of La Quebrada. After praying at a chapel nearby, they perform their breathtaking dive from the cliff to the Pacific surf 134 feet below. Acapulco has never been known as a cultural center, but for history buffs, San Diego Fortress is the site of the Acapulco Historical Museum. All in Spanish, nevertheless it isn’t difficult to decipher the exhibits and the view of the bay is fantastic.
Shopping
For all its glitz and glamour, Acapulco shopping can be a disappointment. On the Costera, you can find stores selling brand name sportswear at prices lower than in the United States, but offerings of Mexican crafts and silver are the usual variety of serapes and onyx chess sets found everywhere.
With its proximity to Taxco, the Silver City, you’d expect more designer silver shops in Acapulco but that’s not the case. For really stunning silver jewelry, visit the shops in and around the upscale resorts but be prepared to pay more than you expect.
Beaches
The choice of beaches seems endless, with facilities that vary widely. It’s difficult to distinguish one beach from the next; they all seem to run together and are often referred to by the name of the closest resort.
Along the Costera area, Playa Condesa is the best beach for water sports. Near La Quebrada, after a performance of the cliff divers, head for Playa la Angosta, a close in beach just around the bend. South of the downtown area the Magico Mundo Marino aquarium and water park, a popular spot for families with restaurants and water toys available for rent, separates Caleta and Caletilla beaches.
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