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Acapulco – Fun For All
Edited By Madelyn Milller, the TravelLady
The world gathers in Acapulco, a
paradisiacal port on the Pacific Coast where visitors can enjoy the sun, sand
and sea on its 12.5 miles of beaches that run from Barra Vieja to Pie de la
Cuesta, passing through the classic golden sand sites known as Hornos, Condesa,
Caleta and Caletilla. The Acapulco beaches are ideal for practicing any of the
water sports that are available in this tourist destination or simply resting
and relaxing to the sound of ocean waves.
Acapulco seduces the senses of its visitors
with its natural beauty, ocean breeze, sunsets and intense night life and
conquers palates with a large variety of dishes that satisfies the most
demanding tastes.
NATURAL WONDER
Acapulco is the sunny destination par
excellence with 300 sunny days per year and 12.5 miles of beaches that go from
Barra Vieja to Pie de la Cuesta. Very few cities in the world have average
temperatures that range from 70ºF to 90ºF year-round, in addition to Acapulco’s
incomparable tourist attractions, its majestic natural beauties, the warmth of
its people, and its great entertainment and fun that lasts 24 hours a day.
Besides the sun, the sand and the sea,
Acapulco has a large number of interesting sites that are full of magic and
history, such as the spectacular Museum at the San Diego Fort, the House of
Masks, the Palma Sola archeological zone, or the impressive Diego Rivera Mural,
which is located in Acapulco’s traditional zone very near to the famous La
Quebrada diving cliff.
But that’s not all, this beautiful port is
also full of natural beauty and opportunities for adventure sports. Dare to
break out of your routine and spend an unforgettable vacation sailing on the
Tres Palos Lagoon, or skiing on the Pie de la Cuesta Lagoon, or enjoying the
wild flora and fauna at the Puerto Marqués Lagoon where you can also admire the
Botanical gardens. Needless to say, you will certainly be surprised with the
marvelous wonders that are hidden in this paradisiacal port.
RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT LIFE: Acapulco has
more than 160 restaurants with spectacular views over the bay, with offerings of
national and international cuisine, including each location’s respective and
original specialties. The majority of the restaurants also have bars where you
extend your stay with a good drink after enjoying a delicious meal. Acapulco’s
vibrant and exciting nightlife is famous worldwide; this is the spot that
features the best nightclubs, where you are sure to enjoy a great night of fun,
thus making your day last from sun to sun.
SPAS: Acapulco is the ideal place for
visitors to forget stress, the exhausting rhythm the large metropolis and the
routine labor life of this new millennium, offering that spiritual peace and
full contact with nature by the side of the sea, in the sun and on the beach.
To ensure this peace and quiet, Acapulco
has world-class Spas in some of the hotels in the city that offer the best
opportunity to relax.
The Spas adapt to the pocketbooks of all individuals who
are willing to enjoy the tranquility of the sea and the natural beauties of this
destination, helping awaken their feelings, energizing their bodies and removing
them from the daily mundane concerns, to dedicate a few minutes to their
physical and mental health.
SHOPPING: The port offers a large number
and great variety of stores and shopping centers to satisfy each visitor’s
shopping needs and tastes. The main shopping centers in the city include La Gran
Plaza and Plaza Bahía that include a variety of boutiques, clothing stores, shoe
stores, jewelries, and high-end department stores, national restaurant chains,
movie complexes, bowling alleys, art expositions and many options packed with
family fun and entertainment.
SPORTS-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Acapulco offers
the largest variety of activities, in or out of the sea, as well as more than 50
tennis courts throughout the city and in certain hotels. Another great,
traditional and sophisticated sport that attracts an ever-growing number of fans
is golf. Golf courses in Acapulco are world-class and at a championship level,
surrounded by unique and singular beauty. This destination has four spectacular
18-hole golf courses located at the Mayan Palace Hotel, The Fairmont Acapulco
Princess Hotel, The Fairmont Pierre Marques and the extraordinary Tres Vidas
course on the side of the sea, in addition to the Golf Acapulco Club with its
nine-hole golf course.
People who enjoy strong emotions and
extreme sports can take the dare and bungee jump from a platform that is 165
feet high. We recommend a ride on Shot over Jet fast boats on the Puerto Marqués
lagoon, or a
jungle tour through the Coyuca Lagoon mangroves for people who love
nature and eco-touristic activities. Those who love water sports can take a
yacht or boat to practice sports fishing, sailing, snorkeling, and windsurfing,
jet skiing, or simply walking on the beach. Acapulco offers endless
opportunities and activities for every single individual who wishes to visit
this paradisiacal spot.
Surfing is another sport you can practice
on some of the beaches in the port, such as the Revolcadero or Pie de la Cuesta
beaches recommended for the most intrepid, while the Condesa beach is a great
option for beginners.
On the other hand, Tennis or the white
sport, has regained a great deal of importance in the port thanks to
championships such as the Mexican Open that has gathered a large number of
international players. The port’s hotels feature great open tennis facilities
and offer specialized programs for children, youth and adults alike.
Bowling is another recreational activity
the port offers and the Bahía shopping center has 28 automated tables to ensure
you are able to spend hours of fun with your family and friends.
Visitors can also engage in a wide variety
of eco-touristic activities in this marvelous port of Acapulco. One example can
be found in the Botanical Garden that recently opened its doors to the public
and is located on a six hectare extension of land within the deciduous tropical
jungle. This beautiful site is home to a great variety of native regional plants
and its principal objective is to conserve biodiversity and the zone’s natural
flora and fauna. The magic of this site will fill you with energy and offer you
the opportunity to learn a little more about the wildlife that abounds in this
extraordinary site that offers a great panoramic view of the
bay.
Other places that have conserved their
natural beauty over the course of the years include the Pie de la Cuesta Lagoon,
also known as the Coyuca Lagoon, a natural sanctuary bordered by coconut trees,
leafy palm trees and a vast variety of fauna that offers visitors the
opportunity to practice different water sports such as skiing, sailing and
fishing.
Culture
Don’t let the opportunity slip away and
make sure you get out and visit one of the sites that have been present
throughout the course of the time.
THE SAN DIEGO FORT: This marvelous
architectural jewel calls for a mandatory visit as you visit the Acapulco that
was built in 1616 to defend the port from pirate attacks and now houses the
Historical San Diego Fort Museum with 12 permanent exposition halls and one
temporary exposition hall that exhibits interesting collections of objects
related to Chinese Nao, religious objects, objects for daily use, cloths, maps
and ancient drawings. The Fort also features a multimedia nighttime show that
narrates the history of the port of Acapulco and caters to groups in high
season, with previous reservations.
THE HOUSE OF MASKS: Located on the side of
the San Diego Fort in the Cultural Corridor, the House of Masks offers visitors
the opportunity to discover this unique artistic expression. Artisans from the
State of Guerrero lead us with multicolored masks on a fantastic journey through
their religion and culture, as the mask is still closely related to their
traditions and dances in certain towns and villages and is considered one of the
richest forms of expression in popular art in the State of Guerrero.
HISTORICAL NAVY MUSEUM: Located downtown,
the Historical Navy Museum of Acapulco plays a significant role in the history
and culture of the Santa Lucía Bay that served as the most important port of
trade for more than 250 years in the Hispanic new Pacific. The Museum has a
library with a specialized collection on marine topics and a model boat
construction workshop that is open to the public and visitors who are able to
observe the detailed construction of navy model boats that are built to be
included in the Museum’s collection. The workshop also offers the use of
drawings, materials and techniques that correspond to the construction of the
original navy fleet.
Thus the world gathers in Acapulco around
the endless list of international events the Port celebrates throughout the
course of the year.
Forthcoming events in the Port of Acapulco
include:
Piel de Estrellas (Star Skin) events and TV
shows filmed in Acapulco (July)
Gold and Silver International Expo (August)
Mexican Party’s brought to you from
Acapulco (September)
The Acapulco 2006 International Golf
Tournament, featuring Lorena Ochoa (September)
The Acapulco Tourist Fair (October)
The Air Show (November)
The 2006 Acapulco Fair (December)
Please visit
http://www.visitacapulco.com.mx/ for more information.
BEST MAP
Hammond International
Mexico and Central America
www.hammondmap.com
GUIDEBOOKS
FROMMERS MEXICO 2006
(comes with foldout map)
By David Baird and Lynne Bairstow
Published by Wiley Inc
www.frommers.com
MEXICO: HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAVEL GUIDE
By Robert H. Page MD and Curtis P. Page MD
Including a comprehensive directory of the best hospitals and English Speaking
Doctors
Published by MedToGo
info@medtogo.com
INSIGHT GUIDES MEXICO
Extremely well organized with lots of practical tips
Langenscheidt Publishers
www.insightguides.com
A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE JEWISH CARIBBEAN AND
SOUTH AMERICAN
By Ben G. Frank
A practical, anecdotal, and adventurous journey through historic Jewish
Caribbean and South America including Kosher restaurants, cafes, synagogues, and
museums, plus cultural and heritage sites.
LET’S GO MEXICO
Edited by Anthony Gabriele
ST.MARTIN’S PRESS
www.letsgo.com
Lonely Planet Mexico
Well organized with great pictures and maps
Terrific section on shopping
www.lonelyplanet.com
EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES MEXICO
DK PUBLISHING, INC
WWW.dk.com
FOLK WISDOM OF MEXICO
By Jeff M. Sellers
Proverbs turn truth into Poetry
www.chronicebooks.com
TRAVELERS TALES GUIDES
MEXICO
Edited by James O’Reily and Larry Habegger
MEXICAN DAYS
Journeys into the Heart of Mexico
By Tony Cohan
www.broadwaysbooks.com
MOON HANDBOOKS PACIFIC MEXICO
By Bruce Whipperman
Avalon Travel Publishing
www.Moon.com
BERLITZ PUERTO VALLARTA & ACAPULCO POCKET
GUIDE
WWW.Berlitz.com
A small book that covers many other destinations besides the title.
Organization is a little confusing.
EAT SMART IN MEXICO
A travel Guide for Food Lovers
By Joan & David Peterson
Ginko Press
www.gingkopress.com
LIVE BETTER SOUTH OF THE BORDER
By Mexico Mike Nelson
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrum-books.com
ON MEXICAN TIME
By Tony Cohan
An American writer and his wife find a new home-- and a new lease on life--in
the charming sixteenth-century hill town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
BEST SOUVENIRS OF MEXICO
legal drugs. I always get Retin-A for
myself and friends. I know people who also buy antibiotics and other
prescription drugs that are available over-the-counter in Mexico
Damiana. A sweet liquor believed to be an
aphrodisiac. I think it works because it is so yummy you drink too much. And the
bottle could be a collector’s item, it is shaped like a voluptuous nude woman
Mexican sea salt. Easily available in
supermarkets. A wonderful gifts for gourmet foodie friends.
Other food gifts include mountain grown
coffee, Mexican vanilla, and sweets made of tamarindo and coconut.
MOST REQUESTED THINGS TO BRING BACK FOR
FRIENDS
RETINA- if you are old enough to need it,
you know what it is and will appreciate that it costs about 90% less if you buy
it in Mexico. If you have lots of friends who want it, it may be worth a trip
to Walmart. But call ahead and tell them you want to order some, the day I was
there they only had 3 tubes in stock. I had had four disappointed friends.
Kahlua
Mezcal with a worm
MY FAVORITE MEXICAN DRINK
Dirty banana (recipe compliments of
Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa)
½ oz. condensed milk
½ oz. coconut cream
½ oz coffee liquer
1 oz. brandy
½ banana
Combine all ingredients and blend with ice
Serve in tall glass garnished with a banana
slice
TO GET A TASTE OF MEXICO AT HOME
CULINARY MEXICO
By Daniel Hoyer
Gibbs Smith Publisher
www.gibbs-smith.com
LA COMIDA DEL BARIO
By Ron Sanchez
Latin-American cooking in the USA
Sanchez is one of the cohosts of MELTING POT on Food Network
Clarkson Potter Publishers
www.randomhouse.com
www.clarksonpotter.com
A YUCATAN KITCHEN
By Loretta Scott Miller
Regional recipes from Mexico’s Mundo Maya
Pelican
www.pelicanpub.com
SPEAK LIKE A NATIVE
HIDE THIS SPANISH BOOK
Berlitz
The cover gives this warning: Highly inflammatory text inside, so not open near
Spanish teachers, not for classroom use. Inside, you will find the lingo on
sex—before, during and after, and fashion trends and styles.
www.berlitzbooks.com/hidethisbook.htm
LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF MEXICO
LATIN PLAYGROUNDS
A Fiesta of upbeat Latin American music for children and families
Putumayo World Music
www.putumayo.com
MEXICO
Savor the spicy and romantic flavors of Mexican music from the “sones” of
Veracruz to the “boleros” of Oaxaca
www.putumayo.com
MUSIC FROM THE COFFEE LANDS
Melodic, uplifting Latin and African songs are the essence of this musical
journey. Get a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy this music from the “coffee
lands”
www.putumayo.com
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of
this Cd will be contributed to Coffee Kids, an International non-proift
organization established to improve the quality of life for children and
families who live in coffee-growing communities around the world.
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