Acapulco, Mexico is a one-of-a-kind city that features stark contrasts between opulence and abject poverty. Despite this, there is a lot of energy and possibility in this city. You will find that Acapulco is an unspoilt paradise that is just waiting to be found, and it is located right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. You will notice this as you come around the curve into the city. Around three thousand years ago, when Acapulco was originally settled, the island was home to a relatively small number of animals in addition to stunning flora and water features.
According to the results of archaeological digs, the members of the Nahua tribe were the first people to settle in the area before the arrival of the Aztec Indians. The next year, in 1521, Hernan Cortes issued an order to Franciso Chico to go to this region. Franciso Chico was the first non-native person to set foot on land in this region, and he gave it the name Santa Lucia. Soon after, the port that is now known as Acapulco became into a major hub for commerce between the Americas and Asia, with enormous ships regularly arriving and departing with all kinds of beautiful commodities and spices.
You can probably assume that this resulted in a significant increase in wealth combined with a substantial rise in population. Unfortunately, the riches attracted the interest of a large number of infamous pirates, such as Morgan and Cavendish and Sir Francis Drake, all of whom were anxious to grab their fair portion of something that was not really theirs to steal. A fortress known as the Fuerte de San Diego was constructed as a barrier between the port and the many raids carried out by pirates. However, an earthquake that occurred in the 18th century was responsible for the destruction of this particular fortress. Remember that even if you don’t hear much about earthquakes in Acapulco, it is really one of the most earthquake-prone places in the nation. Even though you don’t hear much about earthquakes in Acapulco, keep that in mind.
Then, at the beginning of the 19th century, King Charles IV bestowed to Acapulco the title of “Ciudad Oficial,” which contributed to the city’s elevation to an important position in relation to the Spanish Crown. Despite this, Jose Maria Morelos launched an assault on the city during the War of Independence in 1810, which resulted in the city being completely destroyed. During the years of the gold rush, the city was determined to rebuild, and it was successful.
At this time, many ships travelling to Panama made a stop at the port of Acapulco on their way there. However, what ended up happening was that when the passengers disembarked, they fell in love with the cuisine, the beaches, and the verdant, green hillsides, and they decided to remain. As a result of this, the population continued to increase, and as news spread about the existence of this hidden oasis, an increasing number of people visited there. By 1920, Acapulco had established itself as such a popular location for vacationers that the Prince of Wales and the individual who would one day become King Edward VIII made regular trips there.
As word of mouth travelled across Europe, it became abundantly clear that more luxurious hotel rooms were necessary for the increasing number of wealthy tourists. Pullen, an executive from Texas, initiated the process by constructing what is now known as “Old Acapulco,” a hotel. A few years later, President Miguel Aleman made significant changes to the port by installing drainage systems and electricity as well as building and paving the first road, which resulted in even more people visiting this exciting city.
Even in modern times, Acapulco maintains a healthy level of appeal. Beginning with the exciting nightlife, there is a wide variety of amazing things to do in this city. Late into the night, there is live music playing in a variety of restaurants and dance clubs, and the cuisine at these establishments is excellent. Acapulco is known for its vibrant nightlife, but it also has some of the best Mexican restaurants south of the border, pristine beaches with white sand, a variety of water sports such as parasailing, snorkelling, jet skiing, and scuba diving, and outstanding hotels with first-class accommodations and service.
You have the option of taking a leisurely day tour of the city, which will not only highlight the breathtaking panorama that looks out over the water, but will also take you to more historic parts of the city in addition to more contemporary parts. After that, you have the option of driving to one side of town to see cliff divers perform, in which they leap out of cliffs that are around 150 feet high into the sea below. This is an activity that is extremely amazing and is well worth witnessing. After that, you should give some thought to going on a “booze cruise,” which is a term that refers to an evening excursion on a smaller boat that offers a beautiful supper and excellent entertainment while cruising out on the ocean.
Other things to do while in Acapulco include taking a trip to Mexico City to see the bull fights, going shopping at some great stores where you will find incredible prices and selection on ivory, leather, crystal, and other items, or simply basking in some of the warm sun by the pool or on the beach. You can also take a trip to Mexico City to watch the bull fights. Naturally, if you like fishing in the deep sea, you should be prepared to put up a battle, particularly while pursuing sailfish.
In addition to all of these activities, some individuals appreciate gaining a better understanding of the history of Acapulco. For instance, this city is home to a variety of ancient temples, some of which date all the way back to the Aztec Empire. When the Spanish arrived, they quickly realised that Acapulco afforded a significant advantage due to the nature of the harbour. This was a very unfortunate development. Because of this, they benefited from the necessary security and were in the best possible position to create their base from which to explore the Pacific. It is interesting to note that this city was the only harbour in the New World that was permitted to accept Spanish galleons arriving from China and the Philippines. This port was located in this city.
Acapulco is home to more than one million people at the present time. It is not hard to see why so many people are drawn to that location with its breathtakingly gorgeous green slopes and azure ocean. Given that the cost of travelling to Acapulco has increased over the last few years, it is important to keep an eye out for deals when you are making your preparations for a vacation there. However, when you take into account how stunning the environment is and how kind and helpful the locals are, the money spent on the excursion is more than justified.