What Is Acapulco Known for?
- Spaniards took Acapulco from the Aztecs in the early 1500s when they enslaved the Nahoa Indians and displaced them from their homeland. Acapulco soon became the gateway to commerce between Asia and Spanish America, which included much of the U.S. from Florida to California. It was an important trading post between New Spain and the Philippines, and the route became known as the Manila Galleons. Acapulco became a stomping ground for pirates, including England's Sir Francis Drake. The city built the fort of San Diego to protect citizens from sea-faring marauders.
- Since the 1940s, Acapulco has been famous for its spectacular cliff divers. Brave young men plunge 136 feet into a 9 1/2 ft. inlet at La Quebrada several times daily. The jumps are perilous because they must be exquisitely timed with the incoming crashing waves. This must-see spectacle is performed by professionals, and while no one has died, there have been many accidents because of poorly timed dives.
No visit to Acapulco would be complete without witnessing these amazing acrobatic dives. One of the best locations to view the stunts is from La Perla Restaurant, which is located inside the El Mirador Hotel. - Acapulco is legendary for its sizzling night life. When you think of hot salsa dancing and pulsating strobe lights, you are undoubtedly thinking of Acapulco. When the sun goes down, the glamorous come out to play.
There are so many bars, discotheques and clubs that it would be impossible to visit them all on one trip. While things don't heat up until 11 p.m. or later, many clubs stay open until sunrise, when exhausted dancers leave to have breakfast. Don't be surprised to find the Condesa area of the Costera, also known as the Acapulco Strip, quite crowded at 5 a.m. - Arguably, Acapulco has more restaurants and cafes than any other resort destination in Mexico. You'll find eating venues located all over town, with a wide variety of specialties, but for the most romantic setting, visit one of the fine dining establishments located high above the bay on the hills and cliffs. Acapulco is famous for its seafood, and world-renowned chefs prepare it with panache in some of the most memorable restaurants in Mexico.
True seafood lovers should not miss Acapulco's famous fresh fish platter, an adaptation of the traditional ceviche. - Because of its proximity to Taxco, the silver capital of Mexico, Acapulco has some of the best prices on silver available. Many shops specialize in the precious metal, and visitors are hard-pressed to leave the city without a silver chain or necklace.
Beware of peddlers hawking fake silver. Authentic silver will usually have a stamp or mark of some sort. Most silver produced from 1950 on will have the stamp "925" or "sterling".