Last updated: September 2026
Acapulco holidays offer an experience unlike anywhere else on Mexico’s Pacific coast — a destination steeped in a unique and distinctly cinematic glamour, built around a sweeping Pacific bay of golden sand beaches, backed by forested hills and defined by the extraordinary spectacle of the La Quebrada cliff divers, who have been plunging 35 metres into a narrow rocky sea inlet below the old town since the 1930s. Acapulco was the first great Pacific resort of the modern era — the playground of Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Brigitte Bardot, Lana Turner and a succession of Hollywood royalty from the 1950s through the 1970s — and the echoes of that golden age are visible throughout the resort.
Acapulco holidays attract visitors who want a Pacific Mexico experience with genuine historical character and world-famous spectacle. This page covers the main attractions and experiences of Acapulco holidays. Please note that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises travellers to check the latest travel advice for Guerrero state before booking Acapulco holidays — always refer to the current FCDO guidance at gov.uk and ensure comprehensive travel insurance is in place.
Acapulco holidays offer a Pacific Mexico experience that is entirely distinct from the Caribbean Riviera Maya. The bay itself — the Bahia de Acapulco — is one of the most naturally spectacular resort settings in the world: a deep, near-circular bay of remarkable intensity, ringed by forested hills, with a consistent Pacific swell and golden sand beaches that stretch for kilometres around its arc. The sunset over the Pacific from the Acapulco bay is one of the most spectacular in all of Mexico.
The resort has two distinct characters: the modern hotel strip along the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) and Costera Miguel Aleman, and the atmospheric Old Acapulco neighbourhood around the original colonial port, with the Fort of San Diego, the traditional markets and the authentic Mexican city life that existed before international tourism arrived. Acapulco holidays that explore both sides of the bay get a much more complete picture of this remarkable and complex destination.
La Quebrada is the defining spectacle of Acapulco holidays and one of the most extraordinary feats of human skill and nerve performed anywhere in the world as regular public entertainment. The cliff divers of Acapulco — known as clavadistas — perform multiple dives each day and evening from a rocky outcrop 35 metres above a narrow sea inlet, timing their leap to catch an incoming wave that briefly floods the channel to a swimmable depth. The timing margin is measured in seconds; an incorrectly timed dive would mean hitting rock rather than water.
The dive tradition began in the 1930s and has continued without interruption since. A cooperative of divers maintains the tradition and performs multiple shows daily, with the evening performance by torchlight — the divers carrying blazing torches as they leap — being the most dramatically atmospheric. The cliff-top viewing area is accessible via a path from the old town neighbourhood, and a restaurant at the cliff top provides excellent views for dinner guests. No Acapulco holiday is complete without witnessing La Quebrada.
The main resort beaches of modern Acapulco — Playa Condesa and the adjacent Playa Icacos — line the central and eastern sections of the bay along the Costera Miguel Aleman boulevard. These are broad Pacific beaches of golden sand with a consistent surf, lined with beach clubs, sunlounger hire, water sports facilities, restaurants and the full range of resort beach infrastructure. The beach here was the heart of Acapulco’s glamorous era and retains its visual appeal — the wide bay view, the Pacific horizon and the forested hills behind give the setting a drama that the flat Caribbean coast cannot match.
Acapulco holidays at the Playa Condesa end of the bay are well placed for the main hotel strip, the widest range of restaurants and the most organised beach facilities. The water is warm throughout the year and the Pacific surf provides a lively swimming environment for those comfortable with waves — the surf can be stronger here than on the Caribbean side of Mexico.
The original Acapulco bay — the Bahia de Santa Lucia adjacent to the old town port — has a calmer, more sheltered character than the main bay beaches and a much more authentically Mexican atmosphere. The zocalo (main square) of Old Acapulco is directly behind the bay, and the neighbourhood around it — with its traditional market, colonial-era buildings and genuine local life — gives a vivid sense of the city that predates the international resort development. Acapulco holidays that include an afternoon in Old Acapulco get a significantly more complete picture of the destination than those confined to the Costera hotel strip.
The Fort of San Diego, built in its current star-shaped form in the 18th century on the original site of a 1616 Spanish colonial fort, is one of the best-preserved and most historically significant Spanish colonial fortifications in Mexico. Positioned on a promontory above the original port, it offers outstanding views across the bay and houses an excellent museum covering Acapulco’s history from the pre-Columbian period through the Manila Galleon trade era — when Acapulco was the most important Pacific port in the Americas — to independence and the modern resort era. Fort San Diego is a highlight of any Acapulco holiday for those interested in Mexico’s colonial history.
Acapulco holidays offer a wide range of water sports activities in and around the bay. Parasailing above the bay — with panoramic views of the entire Bahia de Acapulco from altitude — is one of the most popular activities, and operators line the main beach along the Costera. Jet skiing, banana boat rides, snorkelling trips to the offshore islands and deep-sea fishing charters are all available from the beach operators along Playa Condesa and Icacos.
The island of La Roqueta, a short boat trip from the old town bay, has calm, protected water suitable for snorkelling and swimming, a small beach, and a slightly quieter character than the main Acapulco bay beaches. The underwater Virgin statue just offshore from La Roqueta is a popular snorkelling destination for Acapulco holiday visitors. Glass-bottom boat tours to the statue depart regularly from the old town malecón.
Acapulco’s General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport (ACA) receives some domestic Mexican flights but has very limited international connections. Most UK visitors on Acapulco holidays arrive via Mexico City (MEX) on a domestic connection, or via Cancun with an onward domestic flight. Mexico City is approximately five to six hours from Acapulco by road — a dramatic drive through the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains — or approximately 45 minutes by domestic flight.
Always consult the current UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico before booking Acapulco holidays, paying particular attention to the guidance for Guerrero state. Ensure your travel insurance specifically covers the region you plan to visit and provides adequate medical, evacuation and trip disruption cover.
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Acapulco’s cultural calendar adds colour to any stay: the Festival de Cine de Acapulco in October screens Latin American film, and the Feria de San Marcos brings music, food and artisan markets to the city each spring. The clifftop chapel of La Capilla de la Paz — a modern landmark overlooking the entire bay — is one of the most photographed viewpoints on the Pacific coast and a worthwhile excursion from any Acapulco holiday base.
The safety situation in Acapulco has been a significant concern for a number of years. The UK FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to Guerrero state, which includes Acapulco, due to high levels of gang-related violence in parts of the region. This is important information that all travellers should check before booking Acapulco holidays. Always read the full current FCDO Mexico travel advice at gov.uk before making any booking decisions.
The main tourist areas of Acapulco — the Zona Dorada hotel strip, the Costera and the La Quebrada area — have historically had a degree of separation from the security issues affecting other parts of Guerrero state, and the major international hotels maintain their own security. However, the FCDO advice should be treated seriously. Comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers the destination and includes medical evacuation cover is essential for any Acapulco holidays.
Acapulco’s dry season runs from November to April, when humidity is lower, the chance of rain is minimal and the Pacific weather is at its most reliable and comfortable. Temperatures throughout the year are consistently warm — Acapulco sits at near sea level and has a tropical climate with year-round temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s. Acapulco holidays during the dry season are the most reliably comfortable in terms of weather.
The rainy season from May to October brings afternoon showers that can be heavy but typically clear quickly. December to February are the peak months for Acapulco holidays, when the combination of dry weather and school holiday demand makes prices highest and the resort at its most lively. The shoulder months of November and March to April offer good weather at potentially lower prices.
La Quebrada is the name of the rocky inlet below the old town of Acapulco where the famous clavadistas (cliff divers) perform their daily and nightly dives. The divers leap from a 35-metre-high rocky outcrop called the La Quebrada cliff into the narrow channel below, timing their dive to coincide with incoming waves that raise the water level to a safe depth. The precision of timing required makes the performance genuinely dramatic and physically remarkable.
La Quebrada performances take place multiple times daily, with the evening shows by torchlight being the most atmospheric. The cliff-top restaurant and viewing platform provide the best views, and reserving a table for dinner at the cliff-top restaurant on La Quebrada is one of the classic Acapulco holiday experiences. The dive tradition has been maintained continuously since the 1930s and is one of the most enduring and authentic spectacles in Mexican tourism.
Acapulco is approximately 300 kilometres south of Mexico City and accessible by three means. The domestic Acapulco-Mexico City air route takes approximately 45 minutes and is the quickest option for Acapulco holidays approaching via the capital. The road journey via the autopista (toll motorway) takes approximately five to six hours and passes through dramatic mountain scenery but requires careful route planning given the security advice for Guerrero state. The long-distance bus services (Estrella de Oro and similar) also connect Mexico City and Acapulco, taking approximately five hours.
For most UK visitors on Acapulco holidays, the domestic flight via Mexico City is the recommended arrival option — it is fast, reliable and avoids the security considerations associated with road travel in parts of the route. Always book domestic connections as part of your overall package where possible, to ensure transfer coordination and recourse if flights are delayed.
Many Acapulco holiday packages listed on Search4Sun are offered by ATOL-protected UK tour operators. Always check your holiday protection before booking — our guide explains exactly what cover applies to your Acapulco booking.
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