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Acapulco Basics

Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay. With an important nautical heritage stretching back to the sixteenth century, Acapulco today is a port of call for shipping lines and cruise ships sailing between Panama and San Francisco. Acapulco, located in the State of Guerrero, has a population of about 625,000 inhabitants.

The mainstay of Acapulco's economy is tourism and related service industries. The city is only an hour away from Mexico City by plane, or four hours by car, and the majority of the city's tourists are from Mexico itself.

Acapulco's tropical climate is almost always sunny, hot and humid. There are two seasons in Acapulco: the Dry Season, which lasts from November through April, and the Rainy Season, which lasts from May through October. It's hot and humid in the dry season, and hotter and even more humid during the rainy season.

First Impressions

From your ship, Acapulco appears as a very pretty city, with the beaches stretching five miles from north to south. The bay is dotted with small marinas, hosting yachts of all sizes. The Zona Dorada (Golden Zone)--Acapulco's modern tourist area--is located on the southern half of the bay, comprised of high-rise hotels and condominium projects. The remaining beaches further northward are public and undeveloped.

Your ship will dock at the Acapulco Cruise Terminal at the north end of the bay, nearby the Zocalo and the old downtown area.

Acapulco's Cruise Terminal is perhaps one of the ugliest cruise terminal out there. And it's really hot inside the terminal, where you'll check in if you're embarking, or pick up your bags if you're disembarking. If you're taking an excursion, your bus or van will pick you up just outside the terminal.

The town is built on a narrow strip of low ground, scarcely a half mile wide, between the shoreline and the lofty mountains that encircle the bay to the north and east. Access to the town from inland is through the mountains via a 1.2 mile (2 km) tunnel constructed in the 1990s.

The Zocalo, or main square of the town and the heart of downtown Acapulco, is a 5 minute walk from the Cruise Terminal. The Fort of San Diego, once the most important Spanish fortress along the Pacific Coast, is located directly across from the Cruise Terminal.

© istockphoto.com/carlospereyra

Time Zone

Acapulco is on Central Time, six hours later than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or five hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October.

Language

Spanish is universally spoken in Acapulco; many of the shopkeepers catering to tourists also speak English.

Currency

The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount. The exchange rate is currently around 12.75 Pesos per US dollar. Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.

Banks and ATMs

Banks with ATM machines are found throughout Acapulco's Zona Dorada and in the Zocalo, near where your ship will dock. ATM machines in the city can be found at the following locations:

HSBC Mexico: Av. Costera Miguel Aleman #202, in the Zona Dorada.
BBVA Bancomer: Bancomer has 12 ATM machines in Acapulco; one location is in the Zocalo, a short walk from the Cruise Terminal.
Citibank: Citibank has 56 ATM machines in Acapulco, including at branches of the bank along the Zona Dorada.
Santander Serfin: At the Zocalo, a short walk from the Cruise Terminal. People with Bank of America accounts aren't charged a fee when using a Santander ATM.

Using US Dollars in Acapulco

As US dollars are widely accepted in Acapulco, you don't have to change your dollars into pesos. If you're using dollars alone, make sure to bring smaller denominations to pay for incidentals and taxi rides.

© istockphoto.com/Tyrannosaur

Weather

Acapulco weather is almost always sunny, hot and humid. There are two seasons in Acapulco: the Dry Season, which lasts from November through April, and the Rainy Season, which lasts from May through October.

In the dry season, expect daily highs in the high-80s F, with moderate humidity. In the rainy season, expect highs in the low-90s F and humidity that really gets to you; it'll rain up to 3 times per week. Acapulco gets around 55 inches of rain each year; most of it falls from June through September.

In the winter months, the average sea surface temperature is in the mid-70s F (24° C); it rises to the low-80s F in the spring months. In the rainy season, the average sea surface temperature ranges between 84° to 87° F (28° to 30° C). August through October is the hurricane season.

Acapulco Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High - F	88	88	88	88	90	91	91	90	90	90	90	88
Avg High - C	31	31	31	32	32	33	32	33	32	32	32	31
Avg Low - F	72	72	72	73	76	77	77	77	76	76	75	73
Avg Low - C	22	22	22	23	25	25	25	25	24	24	23	22

Acapulco Weather Forecast, Mexico

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes

You can find cyber cafes in the Zona Dorada area of the town. Starbucks also has several locations in Acapulco, including in the Galerias Diana shopping mall and about 4 blocks north of the Hyatt Hotel; Starbucks does wireless internet in its Mexican stores too.

Cybercafe, at Costera Miguel Aleman 93.
iNternet Cyber Cafe, Calle Horacio Nelson 40-7A, Costera. On the Costera near the Marbella Hotel.
Vid@Net, Calle Hidalgo. In Old Acapulco a half block from the Zocalo, has eight computers. Open daily 8:00 am to midnight.

Finding US Newspapers

US newspapers are tough to come by in Acapulco, even at the larger hotels catering to tourists from the US. An English language newspaper from Mexico City is available from Sanborn's.

Local Holidays & Festivals

The following local festivals, holidays and events are scheduled to take place in Acapulco in 2010:

Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. National holiday celebrated with dances and fiestas.
Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday when children receive their Christmas gifts as well as shoes full of candy.
Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 1. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is usually marked by festivals and street celebrations.
Carnaval (Mardis Gras), February 11 to 16. Acapulco's Carnaval may not be as celebrated as that in Mazatlán, but Acapulcans do have a good time. Throughout the city, you'll find venues featuring music, food, costume parades, fireworks, art exhibits and more. The big party is the night of the 16th.
Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 15. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century.
Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A national Mexican holiday that commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City.
Independence Day, September 16. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the offical grunt that marks the day.
Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12. Dia de la Raza is how Mexico celebrates Columbus Day. There will be parades in the main streets of downtown, with floats of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, as well as other themes. Carnival rides and open-air concerts will be offered, and the evening caps off with a fireworks show over the bay.
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. A day when celebrants honor the deceased. In the town center (Zocalo) and at nearby cemeteries, locals will celebrate with music and decorate shrines with flowers and photos. Acapulco hosts a non-stop procession of parades and musical fiestas throughout the town.
Revolution Day, November 22. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. In Acapulco, they have street parties, carnival rides, contemporary and folk music concerts, dancing and parties. It's a festive occasion.
Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.

Cruise Lines Making Port

Acapulco is a popular port of call. Ships arrive here on some Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco, as well as on Panama Canal trips. As a rule, the cruise lines visit Acapulco from November through April.

The following cruise lines make port in Acapulco: