View source for Acapulco

{{Short description|City in the Mexican state of Guerrero}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Acapulco de Juárez
 | name                     = Acapulco
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
 | nickname                 = 
 | settlement_type          = [[City]]
 | total_type               = 
 | motto                    = 
  | image_skyline           = {{multiple image
   | border         = infobox
   | total_width    = 300
   | caption_align  = center
   | perrow         = 1/3/2/2
   | image1         = Acapulco3.jpg
   | caption1       = Acapulco skyline
   | image2         = LA DIANA CAZADORA DE ACAPULCO (3099407706).jpg
   | caption2       = Diana Fountain
   | image3         = Skyscrapers in Acapulco Diamante.jpg
   | caption3       = Skyscrapers in Diamante
   | image4         = Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Acapulco, Guerrero (24297257883).jpg
   | caption4       = [[Our Lady of Solitude Cathedral, Acapulco|Acapulco Cathedral]]
   | image5         = Museo_Fuerte_de_San_Diego.jpg
   | caption5       = [[Fort of San Diego]]
   | image6         = La Quebrada, Acapulco, Guerrero (24685190940).jpg
   | caption6       = [[La Quebrada (Acapulco)|La Quebrada]]
   | image7         = La Roqueta Island in Acapulco, Mexico.jpg
   | caption7       = La Roqueta Island
   | image8         = JLNYCAcapulcoBay.jpg
   | caption8       = [[Puerto Marqués]]
   | color          = white
 }}
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | image_shield             = Escudo de Acapulco.svg
 | image_map                = 
 | mapsize                  = 270px
 | map_caption              = Location of Acapulco within Guerrero
 | pushpin_map              = Mexico Guerrero#Mexico
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 270
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = {{flag|Mexico}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[States of Mexico|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Guerrero]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[Municipalities of Guerrero|Municipality]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Acapulco (municipality)|Acapulco]]
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_party             = <small>[[File:Morena logo (Mexico).svg|25px|link=National Regeneration Movement]]</small>
 | leader_title             = [[Municipal president]]
 | leader_name              = Abelina López
 | leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
 | leader_name1             = 
 | leader_title2            = 
 | leader_name2             = 
 | established_title        = Founded
 | established_date         = March 12, 1550
 | established_title2       = Municipal status
 | established_date2        = 
 | established_title3       = 
 | established_date3        = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_footnotes           = 
 | area_total_km2           = 1880.60
 | area_land_km2            = 
 | area_water_km2           = 
 | area_water_percent       = 
 | area_urban_km2           = 85
 | area_metro_km2           = 3538.5
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = 2020 census
 |population_rank =  [[Municipalities of Guerrero|1st]] in Guerrero<br/>[[List_of_cities_in_Mexico|27th]] in Mexico
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 658609
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_metro         = 852,622
 | population_demonyms      = Acapulqueño (a)<br />[[Porteño]] (a)
<!-- GDP --------------->
 | demographics_type1       = [[GDP|GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)]]
 | demographics1_footnotes  = 
 | demographics1_title1     = Year
 | demographics1_info1      = 2023
 | demographics1_title2     = Total
 | demographics1_info2      = $10.3&nbsp;billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web|url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_mex.pdf|publisher=Tellusant|title=TelluBase—Mexico Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)| access-date = 2024-01-11}}</ref>
 | demographics1_title3     = Per capita
 | demographics1_info3      = $10,100
<!-- General information  --------------->
 | timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
 | utc_offset               = −6
 | coordinates              = {{coord|16|51|49|N|99|52|57|W|region:MX|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_point          = of seat
 | elevation_m              = 30
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
 | postal_code_type         = Postal codes
 | postal_code              = 39300–39937
 | area_code                = 744
 | website                  = {{Official website|http://www.acapulco.gob.mx}} {{in lang|es}}
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Acapulco de Juárez''' ({{IPA|es|akaˈpulko ðe ˈxwaɾes|lang|Acapulco de Juárez - es - mx.ogg}}), commonly called '''Acapulco''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|k|ə|ˈ|p|ʊ|l|k|oʊ}} {{respell|AK|ə|PUUL|koh}},<ref name="Collins">{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/acapulco |title=Acapulco |work=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Acapulco |title=Acapulco |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115030247/https://www.lexico.com/definition/acapulco |archive-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|USalso|ˌ|ɑː|k|-}} {{respell|AHK|-}};<ref name="Collins"/> {{langx|nah|Acapolco}}), is a city and [[Port of Acapulco|major seaport]] in the [[Political divisions of Mexico|state]] of [[Guerrero]] on the [[Pacific Coast of Mexico]], {{convert|380|km}} south of [[Mexico City]]. Located on a deep, semicircular bay, Acapulco has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico's history.<ref name="encmuc">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/guerrero/municipios/12001a.htm |title=Estado de Guerrero: Acapulco de Juárez |encyclopedia=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México |publisher=INAFED |location=Mexico |language=es |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033438/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/guerrero/municipios/12001a.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> It is a [[Port#Port of call|port of call]] for shipping and cruise lines running between [[Panama]] and [[San Francisco]], California.<ref name="apiacapulco">{{cite web |url=http://www.apiacapulcoport.com/historia-de-api-acapulco/ |title=History of API Acapulco, Guerrero |website=Administracion Portuaria Integral |location=Acapulco, Guerrero |language=es |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409155933/http://www.apiacapulcoport.com/historia-de-api-acapulco/ |archive-date=April 9, 2016}}</ref> The city of Acapulco is the largest in the state, far larger than the state capital [[Chilpancingo]]. Acapulco is also Mexico's largest beach and [[balneario]] resort city.<ref name="INEGI">{{cite web |url=http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ |title=INEGI Census 2005 |language=es |access-date=2010-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613183420/http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero is the municipal seat of the municipality of [[Acapulco (municipality)|Acapulco]], Guerrero.

The city is one of Mexico's oldest beach resorts, coming into prominence in the 1940s through the 1960s as a getaway for [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] stars and millionaires.<ref>{{cite book |first=Lee |last=Stacy |date=2003 |title=Mexico and the United States |location=New York |publisher=Marshall Cavendish Publishing |page=16 |isbn=978-0-7614-7403-6}}</ref> Acapulco was once a popular tourist resort, but due to a massive upsurge in gang violence and homicide numbers since 2014, Acapulco no longer attracts many foreign tourists, and most now only come from within Mexico itself. It is both the ninth deadliest city in Mexico and the [[List of cities by murder rate|tenth-deadliest city in the world]] as of 2022;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/news/2019/07/24/most-dangerous-cities-world-tijuana-caracas-cape-town/1813211001/ |title=50 of the most dangerous cities in the world |date=August 14, 2019 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> the US government has warned its citizens not to travel there.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acapulco, Guerrero: The resort killed by drugs, guns and gangs |url=https://news.sky.com/story/acapulco-the-resort-killed-by-drugs-guns-and-gangs-11250906 |first=Stuart |last=Ramsay |date=26 February 2018 |website=Sky News |access-date=2022-11-25 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mexico Travel Advisory |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=travel.state.gov}}</ref> In 2016 there were 918 murders,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/world/how-acapulco-became-mexicos-murder-capital/ |title=Acapulco is Now Mexico's Murder Capital |first=Joshua |last=Partlow |date=August 24, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> and the homicide rate was one of the highest in the world: 103 in every 100,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bonello |first=Deborah |date=2018-09-26 |title=Marines swoop on Acapulco as entire police force in faded resort city infiltrated by cartels |language=en-GB |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/26/marines-swoop-acapulco-entire-citys-police-force-placed-investigation/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/entire-acapulco-police-force-disarmed-due-links-drug-gangs-n913231 |title=Entire Acapulco police force disarmed due to links to drug gangs |date=September 26, 2018 |website=NBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926224615/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/entire-acapulco-police-force-disarmed-due-links-drug-gangs-n913231 |archive-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> In September 2018, the city's entire police force was disarmed by the military, due to suspicions that it had been infiltrated by drug gangs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/26/americas/mexico-authorities-raid-acapulco-police-force/index.html |title=Mexican authorities seize control of Acapulco police force |first1=Mitchell |last1=McCluskey |first2=Natalie |last2=Gallón |name-list-style=amp |date=September 26, 2018 |website=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927001543/https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/26/americas/mexico-authorities-raid-acapulco-police-force/index.html |archive-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref>

The resort area is divided into three parts: the north end of the bay and beyond is the "traditional" area, which encompasses the area from ''Parque Papagayo'' through the {{Lang|es|[[Zócalo]]|italic=no}} and onto the beaches of ''Caleta'' and ''Caletilla'', the main part of the bay known as "{{Lang|es|Zona Dorada|italic=no}}" ('golden zone' in Spanish), where the famous in the mid-20th century vacationed, and the south end, "{{Lang|es|Diamante|italic=no}}" ('diamond' in Spanish), which is dominated by newer luxury high-rise hotels and condominiums.

The name "Acapulco, Guerrero" comes from [[Nahuatl]] language ''Aca-pōl-co'', and means "where the reeds were destroyed or washed away"<ref name="robelo">{{cite book |title=Diccionario de Aztequismos |last=Robelo |first=Cecelio A. |year=1912 |publisher=Imp. del Museo N. de Arquelogía, Historia y Etnología |location=Mexico |pages=43–44 |language=es}}</ref> or "at the big reeds",<ref>[[Nahuatl]] ''-pōl-'' is an [[augmentative]] suffix, and it also is a verb root meaning "destroy".</ref> which inspired the city's seal, which is an Aztec-type [[glyph]] showing two hands breaking reeds.<ref name="encmuc" />

The "de Juárez" was added to the official name in 1885 to honor [[Benito Juárez]], former [[president of Mexico]] (1806–1872). The island and municipality of [[Capul]], in the Philippines, derives its name from Acapulco, Guerrero. Acapulco, Guerrero was the eastern end of the [[Manila galleon|trans-Pacific sailing route]] from Acapulco to [[Manila]], in what was then a [[Spanish East Indies|Spanish colony]].

== History ==
{{See also|Timeline of Acapulco}}

=== Pre-Columbian ===
[[File:Puerto de Acapulco Boot 1628.png|left|thumb|A 1628 relief atlas of [[Acapulco Bay]].]]
By the 8th century, around the [[Acapulco Bay]] area, there was a small culture which would first be dominated by the [[Olmec]]s, then by a number of others during the pre-Hispanic period before it ended in the 1520s. At Acapulco Bay itself, there were two Olmec sites, one by Playa Larga and the other on a hill known as ''El Guitarrón''. Olmec influence caused the small spread-out villages here to coalesce into larger entities and build ceremonial centers.<ref name="encmuc" />

Later, [[Teotihuacan]] influence came to the area via [[Cuernavaca]] and Chilpancingo. Then [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] influence arrived from the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] and through what is now [[Oaxaca]]. This history is known through the archaeological artifacts that have been found here, especially at ''Playa Hornos, Pie de la Cuesta'', and ''Tambuco''.<ref name="encmuc" />

In the 11th century, new waves of migration of [[Nahua peoples|Nahuas]], including the ''[[Coixcas]]'', came through here. These people were the antecedents of the [[Aztec]]s. In the later 15th century, after four years of military struggle, Acapulco became part of the [[Aztec Empire]] during the reign of [[Ahuitzotl|Ahuizotl]] (1486–1502). It was annexed to a tributary province centered at [[Tecpan de Galeana]]. However, this was only transitory, as the Aztecs could only establish an unorganized military post at the city's outskirts. The city was in territory under control of the ''[[Tlapanec people|Yopis]]'', who continued defending it and living there until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1520s.<ref name="encmuc" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Cabrera Guerrero |first=Martha Eugenia |date=1990 |title=Los pobladores prehispánicos de Acapulco |language=es |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia |isbn=968-6487-44-1}}</ref>

=== 16th century ===
[[File:Yope Acapulco.png|thumb|upright=.95|[[Codex Tudela]]: "Acapulco's Yope Indian, at the South Sea".]]
There are two stories about how Acapulco bay was discovered by Europeans. The first states that two years after the [[Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire]], [[Hernán Cortés]] sent explorers west to find gold. The explorers had subdued this area after 1523, and Captain Saavedra Cerón was authorized by Cortés to found a settlement here. The other states that the bay was discovered on December 13, 1526, by a small ship named the El Tepache Santiago captained by Santiago Guevara.<ref name="encmuc" />

The first [[encomendero]] was established in 1525 at ''Cacahuatepec'', which is still part of the modern Acapulco municipality. In 1531, a number of Spaniards, most notably Juan Rodriguez de Villafuerte, left the Oaxaca coast and founded the village of Villafuerte where the city of Acapulco now stands. Villafuerte was unable to subdue the local native peoples, and this eventually resulted in the Yopa Rebellion in the region of ''Cuautepec''. Hernán Cortés was obligated to send Vasco Porcayo to negotiate with the indigenous people giving concessions. The province of Acapulco became the encomendero of Rodriguez de Villafuerte who received taxes in the form of cocoa, cotton and corn.<ref name="encmuc" />

Cortés established Acapulco as a major port by the early 1530s, with the first major road between Mexico City and the port constructed by 1531. The wharf, named Marqués, was constructed by 1533 between Bruja Point and Diamond Point. Soon after, the area was made an "alcadia" (major province or town).<ref name="encmuc" />

[[File:Carl Saltzmann - View of Acapulco, 1879.jpg|thumb|upright=.95|left|alt=Painting of a sandy beach, sun setting behind it, seen from the water. People sit by a hut with two longboats. A woman carries a basket on her head up the beach toward a tile-roof house. Lush forest is silhouetted against the late sunset.|''View of Acapulco'', 1879, oil painting by [[Carl Saltzmann]].]]
Spanish trade in the [[Far East]] would give Acapulco a prominent position in the economy of [[New Spain]]. In 1550, thirty Spanish families were sent to live here from Mexico City to have a permanent base of European residents.<ref name="encmuc" /> [[Galleon]]s started arriving in Acapulco from Asia by 1565. Acapulco would become the second most important port, after [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]], due to its direct trade with the Philippines. This trade would focus on the yearly [[Manila-Acapulco Galleon]] trade, which was the nexus of all kinds of communications between New Spain, Europe and Asia. In 1573, the port was granted the monopoly of the Manila trade.<ref name="apiacapulco" />

=== 17th–19th centuries ===
[[File:Hasekura in Rome.JPG|thumb|[[Hasekura Tsunenaga]]; the Japanese samurai who led the delegation to Mexico.]]
[[File:JLNYCAcapulcoBay.jpg|thumb|[[Puerto Marqués]].]]
On January 25, 1614, a delegation led by samurai [[Hasekura Tsunenaga]], which included over one hundred [[Japanese Christians]] as well as twenty-two [[samurai]] under the [[shōgun]] [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], arrived from [[Japan]] to Acapulco as part of a mission to form closer relations with [[Catholic]] Europe. A fight soon broke out in which a Japanese samurai stabbed a Spanish colonial soldier in Acapulco. This was witnessed and recorded by historian [[Chimalpahin]], who was the grandson of an [[Aztec]] nobleman. Some of Tsunenaga's delegation would stay and marry with the locals.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Unknown Story of the Samurai Who Traveled to Mexico Hundreds of Years Ago |url=https://curiosmos.com/the-unknown-story-of-the-samurai-who-traveled-to-mexico-hundreds-of-years-ago/ |first=Ivan |last=Petricevic |date=10 February 2020 |website=Curiosmos |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

The [[Manila-Acapulco Galleon|galleon trade]] made its yearly run from the mid-16th century until the early 19th. The luxury items it brought to New Spain attracted the attention of English and Dutch [[pirate]]s, such as [[Francis Drake]], [[Henry Morgan]] and [[Thomas Cavendish]], who called it "The Black Ship". A Dutch fleet invaded Acapulco in 1615, destroying much of the town before being driven off. The [[Fort of San Diego]] was built the following year to protect the port and the cargo of arriving ships. The fort was destroyed by an earthquake in 1776 and was rebuilt between 1778 and 1783.

At the beginning of the 19th century, King [[Charles IV of Spain|Charles IV]] declared Acapulco a Ciudad Official and it became an essential part of the Spanish Crown. However, not long after, the [[Mexican War of Independence]] began. In 1810, [[José María Morelos y Pavón]] attacked and burnt down the city, after he defeated royalist commander Francisco Parés at the Battle of Tres Palos.<ref name="encmuc" /> The independence of Mexico in 1821 ended the run of the Manila Galleon. Acapulco's importance as a port recovered during the [[California Gold Rush]] in the mid-19th-century, with ships going to and coming from Panama stopping here. This city was besieged on April 19, 1854 by [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]] after Guerrero's leadership had rebelled by issuing the [[Plan of Ayutla|Plan de Ayutla]]. After an unsuccessful week of fighting, Santa Anna retreated.<ref>{{cite book |first=Will |last=Fowler |date=2007 |title=Santa Anna of Mexico |location=Lincoln, NE |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |page=313 |isbn=978-0-803211209}}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Acapulco - Palmasola-Punto-mas-alto.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|The Bay of Acapulco from the top of Palma Sola.]]
In 1911, [[Mexican Revolution|revolutionary forces]] took over the main plaza of Acapulco.<ref name="encmuc" /> In 1920, the [[Prince of Wales]] (the future [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VIII]]) visited the area. Impressed by what he saw, he recommended the place to his compatriots in Europe, making it popular with the elite there.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmHTDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 |last=Echenberg |first=Myron J. |title=Humboldt's Mexico: In the Footsteps of the Illustrious German Scientific Traveller |publisher=McGill–Queen's University Press |isbn=978-0-773549401 |year=2017 |page=7}}</ref> Much of the original hotel and trading infrastructure was built by a businessman named Albert B. Pullen from [[Corrigan, Texas]], in the area now known as Old Acapulco. In 1933, Carlos Barnard started the first section of ''Hotel El Mirador'', with 12 rooms on the cliffs of [[La Quebrada, Mexico|La Quebrada]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3PVNpNF0yoC&pg=PA49 |last=Delgado |first=Kevin |title=Explorer's Guide Acapulco: A Great Destination |publisher=Countryman Press |isbn=978-1-581571158 |year=2010 |page=49}}</ref> Albert Pullen built the ''Las Americas Hotel''.<ref name="Husband 2022 m216">{{cite web | last=Husband | first=Stuart | title=The Magic Down There | website=The Rake | date=June 8, 2022 | url=https://therake.com/stories/the-magic-down-there | access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Snow_1955">{{cite news |last1=Snow |first1=Virginia |date=1955-01-30 |title=Mexican Parade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-mexican-parade/143609037/ |work=The Austin American |location=Austin, Texas, USA |access-date=2024-03-18}}</ref> In the late 1930s, "La Fraccionadora de Acapulco, S.A." (FASA), consisting of William Pullen, Anacleto Martínez, Juan M. Salcedo, and Wolf Schoenburg, who was especially instrumental,<ref name="Severo 1972 p369">{{cite web | last=Severo | first=Richard | title=For the Rich, Acapulco Isn't What It Used to Be | website=The New York Times | date=January 2, 1972 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/02/archives/for-the-rich-acapulco-isnt-what-it-used-to-be.html | access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref> started tourism development in earnest.<ref name="Flynn_2020">{{cite thesis |last1=Flynn |first1=Mariana Ávila |date=May 2020 |title=Recovering the Ideals of a Former Paradise:Preservation Approaches for Modern Acapulco |url=https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-kkvt-0317/download |degree=MS |chapter=1 |publisher=[[Columbia University]] |doi=10.7916/d8-kkvt-0317 |access-date=2024-03-18}}</ref>

In the mid-1940s, the first commercial wharf and warehouses were built.<ref name="apiacapulco" /> In the early 1950s, President [[Miguel Alemán Valdés]] upgraded the port's infrastructure, installing electrical lines, drainage systems, roads and the first highway to connect the port with Mexico City.

The economy grew and foreign investment increased with it. During the 1950s, Acapulco became the fashionable place for millionaire Hollywood stars such as [[Elizabeth Taylor]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Eddie Fisher]] and [[Brigitte Bardot]]. The 1963 Hollywood movie ''[[Fun in Acapulco]]'', starring [[Elvis Presley]], is set in Acapulco although the filming took place in the United States. Former swing musician [[Teddy Stauffer]], the so-called "Mister Acapulco", was a hotel manager ("Villa Vera", "Casablanca"), who attracted many celebrities to Acapulco.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stockpress.de/2010/08/05/teddy-stauffer-der-swingkonig-im-paradies/ |title=Teddy Stauffer: Der Swingkönig im Paradies |first=Wolfgang |last=Stock |date=5 August 2010 |website=Stockpress.de |language=de |access-date=August 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924204842/http://stockpress.de/2010/08/05/teddy-stauffer-der-swingkonig-im-paradies/ |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

From a population of only 4,000 or 5,000 in the 1940s, by the early 1960s, Acapulco had a population of about 50,000.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |date=1967 |title=Acapulco |encyclopedia=World Book Encyclopedia |volume=1 |publisher=[[Field Enterprises]] |page=19}}</ref> In 1958, the Diocese of Acapulco was created by [[Pope Pius XII]]. It became an archdiocese in 1983.<ref name="arquid">{{cite web |title=Historia de la Arquidiócesis |url=http://www.arquidiocesisacapulco.org/ |website=Archdiocese of Acapulco |location=Acapulco, Guerrero |language=es |trans-title=History of the Archdiocese |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106163237/http://www.arquidiocesisacapulco.org/ |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Acapulco zona hotelera 02.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Acapulco skyline.]]

During the 1960s and 1970s, new hotel resorts were built, and accommodation and transport were made cheaper. It was no longer necessary to be a millionaire to spend a holiday in Acapulco; the foreign and Mexican middle class could now afford to travel here. However, as more hotels were built in the south part of the bay, the old hotels of the 1950s lost their grandeur.<ref name="lacey">{{cite news |title=Acapulco, Long Dotted With Tourists, Is Now Home to Drug War |first=Marc |last=Lacey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/world/americas/09mexico.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912135617/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/world/americas/09mexico.html |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> For the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in neighboring [[Mexico City]], Acapulco hosted the [[Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|sailing]] (then yachting) events.

In the 1970s, there was a significant expansion of the port.<ref name="apiacapulco" />

The [[Miss Universe 1978]] pageant took place in the city.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fxjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA174 |editor1-last=Mor |editor1-first=Jessica Stites |editor2-last=Suescun Pozas |editor2-first=Maria del Carmen |title=The Art of Solidarity: Visual & Performative Politics in Cold War Latin America |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-1-477316405 |year=2018 |page=174}}</ref> In 1983, singer-songwriter [[Juan Gabriel]] wrote the song "Amor eterno", which pays homage to Acapulco. The song was first and most famously recorded by [[Rocío Dúrcal]]. Additionally, Acapulco is the hometown of actress, singer, and comedian [[Aida Pierce|Aída Pierce]], who found fame during the 1980s, 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century.

In 1993, a section of [[Mexican Federal Highway 95D]], nicknamed ''Autopista del Sol'' was built, crossing the mountains between Mexico City and Acapulco. The journey takes only about three-and-a-half hours, making Acapulco a favorite weekend destination for Mexico City inhabitants{{cn|date=December 2025}}.

The port continued to grow and in 1996, a new private company, API Acapulco, was created to manage operations. This consolidated operations and now Acapulco is the major port for car exports to the Pacific.<ref name="apiacapulco" />

The city was devastated by [[Hurricane Pauline]] in 1997. The storm stranded tourists and left more than 100 dead in the city. Most of the victims were from the [[shantytown]]s built on steep hillsides that surround the city. Other victims were swept away by the winds and waves. The main road, Avenida Costera, became a fast-moving river of sludge {{convert|3|ft|m|spell=in}} in depth.<ref name="davison">{{cite news |title=109 dead as Hurricane Pauline batters Mexico |first=Phil |last=Davison |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/109-dead-as-hurricane-pauline-batters-mexico-1234952.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London |date=October 10, 1997 |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204083527/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/109-dead-as-hurricane-pauline-batters-mexico-1234952.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
[[File:DianaCazadoraAcapulco.jpg|thumb|right|Fountain of the Huntress [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]].]]
In the 21st century, the [[Mexican drug war]] has had a negative effect on tourism in Acapulco as rival drug cartels fight each other for the Guerrero coast route that brings drugs from South America as well as soldiers that have been fighting the cartels since 2006.

A major gun battle between 18 gunmen and soldiers took place in the summer of 2009 in the Old Acapulco seaside area, lasting hours and killing 16 of the gunmen and two soldiers.<ref name="lacey" /><ref name="ellingwood">{{cite news |title=Acapulco shootout leaves 18 dead |first=Ken |last=Ellingwood |url=https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-shootout8-2009jun08,0,7718575.story |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=Los Angeles |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728094530/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-shootout8-2009jun08,0,7718575.story |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> This came after the [[2009 swine flu pandemic]] outbreak earlier in the year nearly paralyzed the Mexican economy, forcing hotels to give discounts to bring tourists back.<ref name="ellingwood" /> However, hotel occupancy for 2009 was down five percent from the year before.<ref name="ajuarez">{{cite news |title=Desciende ocupación |first=Alfonso |last=Juárez |newspaper=[[Reforma (newspaper)|Reforma]] |location=Mexico City |date=January 6, 2010 |page=12 |language=es |trans-title=Occupation falls}}</ref> The death of [[Arturo Beltrán Leyva]] in December 2009 resulted in infighting among different groups within the Beltrán Leyva cartel.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/5-decapitated-bodies-2-scalped-found-in-popular-acapulco-spots/2011/08/20/gIQAbnAASJ_story.html?hpid=z4 |title=5 decapitated bodies found in popular Acapulco spots; 9 bodies found in other Mexican state |date=August 20, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822055953/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/5-decapitated-bodies-2-scalped-found-in-popular-acapulco-spots/2011/08/20/gIQAbnAASJ_story.html |archive-date=2011-08-22}}</ref>

Gang violence continued to plague Acapulco through 2010 and into 2011, most notably with at least 15 dying in drug-related violence on March 13, 2010, and another 15 deaths on January 8, 2011. Among the first incident's dead were six members of the city police and the brother of an ex-mayor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ww4report.com/node/8451 |title=Mexico: Guerrero narco-violence breaks grisly record |date=March 14, 2010 |website=ww4report.com |access-date=March 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618061411/http://ww4report.com/node/8451 |archive-date=June 18, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the second incident, the headless bodies of 15 young men were found dumped near the Plaza Sendero shopping center.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12143227 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Mexico violence: Headless bodies found in Acapulco |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802005030/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12143227 |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 20, 2011, Mexican authorities reported that five headless bodies were found in Acapulco, three of which were placed in the city's main tourist area and two of which were cut into multiple pieces.<ref name="washingtonpost.com" />

On February 4, 2013, six [[Spaniards|Spanish]] men were tied up and robbed and the six Spanish women with them were gang-raped by five masked gunmen who stormed a beach house on the outskirts of Acapulco, though after these accusations, none of the victims decided to press charges.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://world.time.com/2013/02/06/mexico-seeks-culprits-in-rape-of-6-spaniards/ |title=Mexico Seeks Culprits in Rape of 6 Spaniards |first1=Bertha |last1=Ramos |first2=Mark |last2=Stevenson |name-list-style=amp |date=February 6, 2013 |magazine=[[TIME]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209185221/http://world.time.com/2013/02/06/mexico-seeks-culprits-in-rape-of-6-spaniards/ |archive-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> On September 28, 2014, Mexican politician Braulio Zaragoza was gunned down at the ''El Mirador'' hotel in the city. He was the leader of the conservative opposition [[National Action Party (Mexico)|National Action Party]] (PAN) in southern Guerrero state. Several politicians have been targeted by [[drug cartels]] operating in the area. Investigations are under way, but no arrests have yet been made as of September 29.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-29404297 |title=Mexico politician Braulio Zaragoza gunned down in Acapulco |work=BBC News |date=September 29, 2014 |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929080158/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-29404297 |archive-date=September 29, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=December 2023}} The insecurity due to individuals involved with drug cartels has cost the city of Acapulco its popularity among national and international tourists. It was stated by the ''Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil'' that the number of international flyers coming to Acapulco decreased from 355,760 flyers registered in 2006 to 52,684 flyers in the year 2015, the number of international tourists flying to Acapulco dropped 85% in the interval of nine years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/empresas/acapulco-pierde-85-turistas-internacionales-en-anos.html |title=Por inseguridad, Acapulco pierde 85% de turistas internacionales en 9 años |first=Everardo |last=Martínez |date=April 28, 2016 |newspaper=[[El Financiero]] |language=es |access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Mexican Armed Forces]] entered the city, placing it under occupation. The police department was disarmed after allegations of the latter being linked to the cartels.

====Hurricane Otis====
On October 25, 2023, [[Hurricane Otis]], a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane with 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|160|mph|km/h|round=10|abbr=on}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hurricane OTIS |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/ep18/ep182023.update.10250359.shtml |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.nhc.noaa.gov}}</ref> caused widespread devastation throughout the city while making landfall nearby.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Jornada |first1=La |last2=Becerril |first2=Andrea |date=2023-10-28 |title=Suman 220 mil 305 viviendas afectadas en Acapulco; evaluación continúa |url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2023/10/28/politica/suman-220-mil-35-viviendas-afectadas-en-acapulco-evaluacion-continua-9939 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=La Jornada |language=es}}</ref>
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====Hurricane John====

[[Hurricane John (2024)|Hurricane John]] struck Acapulco and Mexico's Pacific coast in late September 2024 as a Category 3 hurricane, delivering powerful winds and extreme rainfall that led to widespread flooding and significant damage. Acapulco<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/26/americas/hurricane-john-mexico-intl-latam/index.html |title=Hurricane John brings devastating floods to Mexico’s Pacific Coast |author=Michael Rios and Verónica Caledrón |date=2024-09-26 |website=CNN |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=2024-10-30 }}</ref> experienced nearly one meter of rainfall, resulting in submerged neighborhoods and serious disruptions. Roads became impassable due to landslides, and extensive power outages left tens of thousands without electricity across Guerrero and Oaxaca. Around 40,000 homes were damaged impacting over 150,000 residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/mexico-acapulco-flooding-hurricane-john-aa0ed47dad2d51c54c3814f34b4a7876 |title=Hurricane John leaves Acapulco flooded and battered |last=Associated Press |date=2024-09-30 |website=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=2024-10-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/hurricane-john-impact/ |title=Government announces US $400M in aid for southwestern states hit by Hurricane John |last=MND Staff |date=2024-10-29 |website=Mexico News Daily |publisher= Mexico News Daily |access-date=2024-10-30}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Aeropuerto Acapulco 03.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Acapulco International Airport]].]]
The city, located on the Pacific coast of [[Mexico]] in the state of [[Guerrero]], is classified as one of the state's seven regions, dividing the rest of the Guerrero coast into the [[Costa Grande of Guerrero|Costa Grande]] and the [[Costa Chica of Guerrero|Costa Chica]].<ref name="regionalizacion">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_guerrero |title=Regionalización |year=2010 |work=Enciclopedia de Los Municipios y Delegaciones de México |publisher=INAFED Instituto para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal SEGOB Secretaría de Gobernación |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Regions |access-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306003153/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_guerrero |archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> Forty percent of the municipality is mountainous terrain; another forty percent is semi-flat; and the other twenty percent is flat. Elevation varies from sea level to {{convert|1699|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}. The highest peaks are ''Potrero, San Nicolas'', and ''Alto Camarón''. One major river runs through the municipality, the ''Papagayo'', along with a number of ''arroyos'' (streams). There are also two small lagoons, Tres Palos and Coyuca, along with a number of thermal springs.<ref>{{cite map |author1=Comisión de estudios del territorio nacional (CETENAL) |author2=Instituto nacional de estadística geografía e informática (INEGI) |year=1991 |title=Acapulco: Guerrero |edition=Primera |scale=1:50,000 |publisher=CETENAL, INEGI |oclc=494416658}}</ref>

===Climate===
Acapulco features a [[tropical wet and dry climate]] ([[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen]]: Aw): hot with distinct wet and dry seasons, with more even temperatures between seasons than resorts farther north in Mexico, but this varies depending on altitude. The warmest areas are next to the sea where the city is. [[Pacific hurricane]]s and tropical storms are threats from May through November; notably, the city was struck directly by Category&nbsp;5 [[Hurricane Otis]] on October 25, 2023, which caused extensive damage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Antonio Rivera |first1=José |last2=Verza |first2=María |title=Hurricane Otis now a catastrophic Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast nearing Acapulco |url=https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-otis-mexico-acapulco-993f639be22b1013e3faf0c5828da078 |access-date=October 25, 2023 |work=AP News |publisher=The Associated Press |date=October 24, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The forested area tends to lose leaves during the winter dry season, with evergreen pines in the highest elevations. Fauna consists mostly of deer, small mammals, a wide variety of both land and seabirds, and marine animals such as turtles.<ref name="encmuc" /> Oddly enough, January, its coolest month, also features its all-time record high.

{{Clear}}
{{Weather box
|location = Acapulco (1991–2020)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|temperature colour = 
|Jan record high C = 39.5
|Feb record high C = 35.5
|Mar record high C = 35.5
|Apr record high C = 37.0
|May record high C = 38.0
|Jun record high C = 36.0
|Jul record high C = 37.5
|Aug record high C = 37.5
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 36.0
|Nov record high C = 35.5
|Dec record high C = 36.5
|year record high C = 39.5
|Jan high C = 30.3
|Feb high C = 30.4
|Mar high C = 30.5
|Apr high C = 30.8
|May high C = 31.8
|Jun high C = 32.1
|Jul high C = 32.5
|Aug high C = 32.5
|Sep high C = 31.9
|Oct high C = 31.8
|Nov high C = 31.6
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 31.4
|Jan mean C = 26.8
|Feb mean C = 26.8
|Mar mean C = 26.9
|Apr mean C = 27.2
|May mean C = 28.4
|Jun mean C = 28.6
|Jul mean C = 28.8
|Aug mean C = 28.7
|Sep mean C = 28.2
|Oct mean C = 28.3
|Nov mean C = 28.1
|Dec mean C = 27.3
|year mean C = 27.8
|Jan low C = 23.2
|Feb low C = 23.3
|Mar low C = 23.3
|Apr low C = 23.7
|May low C = 25.0
|Jun low C = 25.1
|Jul low C = 25.1
|Aug low C = 25.0
|Sep low C = 24.5
|Oct low C = 24.8
|Nov low C = 24.7
|Dec low C = 23.9
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 18.5
|Feb record low C = 19.5
|Mar record low C = 17.0
|Apr record low C = 16.0
|May record low C = 19.0
|Jun record low C = 18.0
|Jul record low C = 19.0
|Aug record low C = 19.0
|Sep record low C = 20.5
|Oct record low C = 16.0
|Nov record low C = 20.0
|Dec record low C = 20.0
|year record low C = 16.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 9.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 5.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 5.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 1.9
|May precipitation mm = 41.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 265.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 237.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 302.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 346.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 187.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 24.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 8.4
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 0.7
|Feb precipitation days = 0.4
|Mar precipitation days = 0.3
|Apr precipitation days = 0.1
|May precipitation days = 2.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.7
|Aug precipitation days = 13.8
|Sep precipitation days = 15.9
|Oct precipitation days = 8.7
|Nov precipitation days = 1.7
|Dec precipitation days = 0.6
|year precipitation days = 67.8
|Jan humidity = 77.3
|Feb humidity = 77.1
|Mar humidity = 77.0
|Apr humidity = 76.8
|May humidity = 77.2
|Jun humidity = 78.8
|Jul humidity = 78.6
|Aug humidity = 79.1
|Sep humidity = 81.4
|Oct humidity = 82.0
|Nov humidity = 80.6
|Dec humidity = 78.5
|year humidity = 78.7
|Jan sun = 266.9
|Feb sun = 266.6
|Mar sun = 275.8
|Apr sun = 294.3
|May sun = 273.4
|Jun sun = 231.2
|Jul sun = 253.4
|Aug sun = 243.1
|Sep sun = 203.7
|Oct sun = 246.6
|Nov sun = 271.1
|Dec sun = 266.4
|year sun = 3092.5
|source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional<ref name=SMN>{{cite web
| url = https://smn.conagua.gob.mx/tools/RESOURCES/Normales_Climatologicas/Normales9120/gro/nor9120_12142.txt
| title = Estado de Aguasalientes-Estacion: ACAPULCO DE JUAREZ (SMN)
| work = Normales Climatologicas 1991–2020
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional 
| language = es
| access-date = 15 February 2025}}</ref><ref name=obs>{{cite web |url=http://smn.cna.gob.mx/observatorios/historica/acapulco.pdf |title=NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1981–2000 |publisher=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional |language=es |access-date=April 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425170752/http://www.smn.cna.gob.mx/observatorios/historica/acapulco.pdf |archive-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NCEI]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-4-WMO-Normals-9120/Mexico/CSV/Acapulco_76805.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Acapulco |format=CSV | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] | access-date = 2 August 2023}}</ref>
}}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Acapulco mean sea temperature<ref name="Seatemperature">{{cite web |url=http://www.seatemperature.org/central-america/mexico/acapulco-de-juarez-december.htm |title=Monthly Acapulco de Juárez water temperature chart |website=SeaTemperatures.org |access-date=2014-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235709/http://www.seatemperature.org/central-america/mexico/acapulco-de-juarez-december.htm |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
|-
|{{convert|28.1|°C}}
|{{convert|28.2|°C}}
|{{convert|27.6|°C}}
|{{convert|28.6|°C}}
|{{convert|29.4|°C}}
|{{convert|29.7|°C}}
|{{convert|29.9|°C}}
|{{convert|30.0|°C}}
|{{convert|29.9|°C}}
|{{convert|29.5|°C}}
|{{convert|29.1|°C}}
|{{convert|28.7|°C}}
|}

The temperature of the sea is quite stable, with lows of {{convert|82|°F|°C|abbr=on}} between January – March, and a high of {{convert|86|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seatemperature.org/central-america/mexico/acapulco-de-juarez-december.htm |title=Acapulco de Juárez Sea Temperature December Average, Mexico |author=Global Sea Temperatures (A-Connect Ltd) |website=World Sea Temperatures |access-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235709/http://www.seatemperature.org/central-america/mexico/acapulco-de-juarez-december.htm |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> These [[sea surface temperature]]s are much warmer than those further north along the Pacific coast, and indeed warmer than most places further south, as sea surface temperatures begin to decline with proximity to the Southern Hemisphere's [[Humboldt Current]].

== Government ==
{{Main|Acapulco (municipality)}}

As the seat of a municipality, the city of Acapulco is the government authority for over 700 other communities,<ref name="INEGI" /> which together have a territory of 1,880.60&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="encmuc" /> This municipality borders the municipalities of Chilpancingo, [[Juan R. Escudero (municipality)|Juan R Escudero (Tierra Colorada)]], [[San Marcos, Guerrero|San Marcos]], [[Coyuca de Benítez]] with the Pacific Ocean to the south.

The metropolitan area is made up of the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez and Coyuca de Benitez. The area has a population ({{as of|2005|lc=y}}) of 786,830.<ref name="zmpdf">{{cite web |url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/geografia/publicaciones/delimex05/DZMM-2005_17.pdf |title=Delimitación de las zonas metropolitanas de México 2005 |year=2005 |website=INEGI |location=Mexico City |language=es |trans-title=Defining metropolitan areas of Mexico 2005 |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722203110/http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/geografia/publicaciones/delimex05/DZMM-2005_17.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref>

For the names and terms of some Acapulco [[mayor]]s, you can check a [[List of municipal presidents of Acapulco]].

== Demographics ==
=== Population ===
Acapulco is the most populated city in the state of Guerrero, according to the results of the II Population and Housing Census 2010 carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) with a census date of June 12, 2010, The city had until then a total population of 673,479 inhabitants, of that amount, 324,746 were men and 348,733 women. It is considered the twenty-second most populous city in Mexico and the tenth most populous metropolitan area in Mexico. It is also the city with the highest concentration of population of the homonymous municipality, representing 85.25 percent of the 789,971 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/consulta_resultados/zip/iter2010/iter_12xls10.zip |title=Principales resultados por localidad 2010 (ITER) – Guerrero |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113182613/http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/consulta_resultados/zip/iter2010/iter_12xls10.zip |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 2020 census of 658,609 people where counted in the locality and 779,566 in the municipality of Acapulco, a small drop from the last census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Localities in Acapulco de Juárez (Guerrero, Mexico) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/mexico/guerrero/12001__acapulco_de_ju%C3%A1rez/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

The metropolitan area of Acapulco is made up of six towns in the municipality of Acapulco de Juárez and four in the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez. In agreement with the last count and official delimitation realized in 2010 altogether by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, the National Council of Population and the Secretariat of Social Development, the metropolitan area of Acapulco grouped a total of 863,431 inhabitants in a surface of 3,538.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, which placed it as the tenth most populated district in Mexico.

{{Historical populations
| tipo = MX
| fuente = [http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/zap/default.aspx?entra=nacion www.inegi.org.mx]
| titulo = Censos
| porcentajes = si
| 1900 | 4932
| 1910 | 5900
| 1921 | 5768
| 1930 | 6529
| 1940 | 9993
| 1950 | 28512
| 1960 | 49149
| 1970 | 174378
| 1980 | 301902
| 1990 | 515374
| 2000 | 620656
| 2010 | 673479
|2020|658609}}
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;Notes:
{{smalldiv|1=
:Source: [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía]] 
:*Population census (1895 – 1990, 2000 and 2010)<ref name="Censos y Conteos">{{cite web |url=http://www.beta.inegi.org.mx/proyectos/ccpv/2010/ |title=Censo y Conteos de Población y Vivienda |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114112706/http://www.beta.inegi.org.mx/proyectos/ccpv/2010/ |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
:*Population Counts (1995 and 2005)<ref name="Censos y Conteos"/>
}}
{{Reflist|group="/"}}

== Economy ==
Tourism is the main economic activity of the municipality and most of this is centered on Acapulco Bay. About seventy-three percent of the municipality's population is involved in commerce, most of it related to tourism and the port. Mining and manufacturing employ less than twenty percent and only about five percent is dedicated to agriculture. Industrial production is limited mostly to bottling, milk products, cement products, and ice and energy production. Agricultural products include tomatoes, corn, watermelon, beans, green chili peppers, and melons.<ref name="encmuc" />

=== Tourism ===
{{see also|Port of Acapulco}}
[[File:Caleta Beach in Acapulco, Mexico_2009.jpg|thumb|Caleta Beach.]]
[[File:Vista desde un hotel en Acapulco.jpg|thumb|Acapulco Bay.]]
[[File:Papagayo Park in Acapulco Mexico 1.jpg|thumb|Papagayo Park.]]
Acapulco is one of Mexico's oldest coastal tourist destinations, reaching prominence in the 1950s as the place where Hollywood stars and millionaires vacationed on the beach in an exotic locale.<ref name="devlin">{{cite web |url=http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/439-walking-the-walk-talking-the-talk-cita-with-the-shady-lady-on-acapulco |title=Walking the walk, talking the talk – cita with the shady 'lady' in Acapulco |first=Wendy |last=Devlin |date=February 16, 2007 |website=MexConnect |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100204075643/http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/439-walking-the-walk-talking-the-talk-cita-with-the-shady-lady-on-acapulco |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In modern times, tourists in Acapulco have been facing problems with corrupt local police who steal money by extortion and intimidate visitors with threats of jail.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.realacapulco.com/en/article/dealing-with-the-police |website=Real Acapulco |title=Dealing with the Police |access-date=February 23, 2011 |date=January 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715161255/http://www.realacapulco.com/en/article/dealing-with-the-police |archive-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1703088&start=15 |website=Lonely Planet |title=Corrupt Mexican police story |access-date=February 23, 2011 |date=January 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g150787-i177-k434754-Beware_of_Police_Corruption-Acapulco_Pacific_Coast.html |website=Trip Advisor |title=Beware of Police Corruption |access-date=February 23, 2011 |date=January 30, 2006}}</ref>

The city is divided into three tourist areas.

Traditional Acapulco is the old part of the port, where hotels like Hotel Los Flamingos, owned by personalities [[Johnny Weissmuller]] and [[John Wayne]] are located, is on the northern end of the bay. Anchored by attractions such as the beaches of Caleta and Caletilla, the [[La Quebrada Cliff Divers|cliff divers of La Quebrada]], and the city square, known as ''El Zocalo''. The heyday of this part of Acapulco ran from the late 1930s until the 1960s, with development continuing through the 1980s.<ref name="salvar">{{cite news |title=Confían en salvar temporada turística |first=Alfonso |last=Juarez |newspaper=Reforma |location=Mexico City |date=December 30, 2009 |page=12 |language=es |trans-title=Trusting in saving the tourist season}}</ref><ref name="devlin" /> This older section of town now caters to a mostly middle-class, almost exclusively Mexican clientele, while the glitzier newer section caters to the Mexican upper classes, many of whom never venture into the older, traditional part of town.<ref name="devlin" />

Acapulco Dorado had its development between the 1950s and the 1970s, and is about 25 minutes from the Acapulco International Airport. It is the area that presents the most tourist influx in the port, runs through much of the Acapulco bay, from Icacos, passing through Costera Miguel Aleman Avenue, which is the main one, to Papagayo Park. It has several hotels,

Acapulco Diamante, also known as Punta Diamante, is the newest and most developed part of the port, with investment having created one of the greatest concentrations of luxury facilities in Mexico, including exclusive hotels and resorts of international chains, residential complexes, luxury condominiums and private villas, spas, restaurants, shopping areas and a golf course. Starting at the Scenic Highway in Las Brisas, it includes Puerto Marqués and Punta Diamante and extends to Barra Vieja Beach. It is 10 minutes from the Acapulco International Airport. In this area, all along ''Boulevard de las Naciones'', almost all transportation is by car, limousine or golf cart.<ref name="salvar" />

Acapulco's reputation of a high-energy party town and the nightlife have long been draws of the city for tourists. From November to April, luxury liners stop here daily and include ships such as the {{MS|Queen Victoria}}, the {{MS|Rotterdam}}, ''[[Crystal Harmony]]'', and all the Princess line ships. Despite Acapulco's international fame, most of its visitors are from central Mexico, especially the affluent from Mexico City.<ref name="salvar" /> Acapulco is one of the embarkation ports for the Mexican cruise line [[Ocean Star Cruises]].<ref name="OSC-Acapulco">{{cite web |url=http://oceanstar.com.mx/los-destinos/acapulco |title=Acapulco |website=Ocean Star Cruises |language=es |access-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110160352/http://oceanstar.com.mx/los-destinos/acapulco |archive-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref>

For the Christmas season of 2009, Acapulco received 470,000 visitors, most of whom are Mexican nationals, adding 785 million pesos to the economy. Eighty percent arrive by land and eighteen percent by air.<ref name="AgUni">{{cite news |title=Guerrero-Turismo |agency=Agencia el Universal |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |date=January 4, 2010 |page=12 |language=es |trans-title=Guerrero-Tourism}}</ref> The area has over 25,000 condominiums, most of which function as second homes for their Mexican owners.<ref name="salvar" /> Acapulco is still popular with Mexican celebrities and the wealthy, such as [[Luis Miguel]] and [[Plácido Domingo]], who maintain homes there.

==== Problems ====
From the latter 20th century on, the city has also taken on other less-positive reputations. Some consider it a ''passé'' resort, eclipsed by the newer [[Cancún]] and [[Cabo San Lucas]].{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Over the years, a number of problems have developed here, especially in the bay and the older sections of the city. The large number of wandering vendors on the beaches, who offer everything from newspapers to massages, are a recognized problem. It is a bother to tourists who simply want to relax on the beach, but the government says it is difficult to eradicate, as there is a lot of unemployment and poverty in the city.<ref name="ambulantaje">{{cite news |title=Combaten ambulantaje en Acapulco |first=Alfonso |last=Juarez |newspaper=Reforma |location=Mexico City |date=December 30, 2009 |page=12 |language=es |trans-title=Combating wandering vendors in Acapulco}}</ref> Around the city are many small shantytowns that cling to the mountainsides, populated by migrants who have come to the city looking for work. In the last decade, drug-related violence has caused massive problems for the local tourism trade.

Another problem is the garbage that has accumulated in the bay. Although 60.65 tons have recently been extracted from the bays of Acapulco and nearby [[Zihuatanejo]], more needs to be done. Most of trash removal during the off seasons is done on the beaches and in the waters closest to them. However, the center of the bay is not touched. The reason trash winds up in the bay is that it is common in the city to throw it in streets, rivers and the bay itself. The most common items cleaned out of the bay are beer bottles and car tires.<ref name="limpiar">{{cite news |title=Buscan en Guerrero limpiar fondo de mar |first=Alfonso |last=Juarez |newspaper=Reforma |location=Mexico City |date=December 28, 2009 |page=8 |language=es |trans-title=Seeking to clean the bottom of the sea in Guerrero}}</ref> Acapulco has seen some success in this area, having several beaches receiving the high "blue flag" certifications for cleanliness and water quality.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Flag |url=https://www.blueflag.global/ |website=Blue Flag |publisher=Foundation for Environmental Education |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
Acapulco's cuisine is very rich. The following are typical dishes from the region: [[Relleno]] is baked pork with a variety of vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, raisins, carrots and chiles. It is eaten with bread called ''bolillo''. [[Pozole]] is a soup with a salsa base (it can be white, red or green), [[hominy]], meat that can be either pork or chicken and it is accompanied with ''antojitos'' (snacks) like tostadas, tacos and tamales. This dish is served as part of a weekly Thursday event in the city and the state, with many restaurants offering the meal with special entertainment, from bands to dancers to celebrity impersonators.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/DESTINATION-MEXICO-Acapulco-after-the-jet-2579720.php |title=Destination Mexico / Acapulco after the jet setters / Resort is now a truly Mexican experience |last1=Palmerlee |first1=Danny |date=2003-11-02 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3PVNpNF0yoC&q=pozole+acapulco+thursday+night+special+event&pg=PA160 |title=Explorer's Guide Acapulco: A Great Destination (Explorer's Great Destinations) |last=Delgado |first=Kevin |date=2010-12-06 |publisher=The Countryman Press |isbn=978-1-58157-856-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://travelsquire.com/acapulco-mexicos-hall-of-fame/ |title=Acapulco, Mexico's Hall of Fame |last=Meintel |first=Thom |date=2013-11-04 |website=Travel Squire |language=en-US |access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref>

=== Attractions ===
[[File:Flag of Mexico in Acapulco.jpg|thumb|left|Acapulco beach with a {{lang|es|[[Banderas monumentales|Bandera monumental]]|italic=no}} in the background.]]
Acapulco's main attraction is its nightlife, as it has been for many decades.<ref name="nightfromm">{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010030.html |title=Nightlife |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607055512/http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010030.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nightclubs change names and owners frequently.
For example, Baby 'O has been open to the national and international public since 1976 and different celebrities have visited their installations such as Mexican singer Luis Miguel, Bono from U2 and Sylvester Stallone. Another nightclub is Palladium, located in the Escénica Avenue, the location gives the nightclub a view of the Santa Lucia Bay at night. 

Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment. In addition, there is the beach bar zone, where younger crowds go. These are located along the Costera road, face the ocean and feature techno or alternative rock. Most are concentrated between the Fiesta Americana and Continental Plaza hotels. These places tend to open earlier and have more informal dress. There is a [[bungee jump]] in this area as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/paradisebungyacaoficial/ |title=Paradise Bungy Acapulco |website=Facebook.com |language=en |access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref>

[[File:Cliffdivers in La Quebrada, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.jpg|thumb|upright|[[La Quebrada Cliff Divers]].]]
Another attraction at Acapulco is the [[La Quebrada Cliff Divers]].<ref name="atrfromm" /> The tradition started in the 1930s when young men casually competed against each other to see who could dive from the highest point into the sea below. Eventually, locals began to ask for tips for those coming to see the men dive.<ref name="guaddive">{{cite web |url=http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=44994 |title=Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe Cliff Diving |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213013817/http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=44994 |archive-date=December 13, 2010}}</ref> Today the divers are professionals,<ref name="guaddive" /> diving from heights of {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=off}} into [[La Quebrada, Mexico|an inlet that is only {{convert|7|m|ft}} wide and {{convert|4|m|ft}} deep]], after praying first at a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe.<ref name="atrfromm" /> On the evening before December 12, the feast day of this Virgin, freestyle cliff divers jump into the sea to honor her. Dives range from the simple to the complicated and end with the "Ocean of Fire" when the sea is lit with gasoline, making a circle of flames which the diver aims for.<ref name="guaddive" /> The spectacle can be seen from a public area which charges a small fee or from the Hotel Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirador from its bar or restaurant terrace.<ref name="atrfromm">{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010029.html |title=Attractions |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100104213117/http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010029.html |archive-date=January 4, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

There are a number of beaches in the Acapulco Bay and the immediate coastline. In the bay proper there are the La Angosta (in the Quebrada), Caleta, Caletilla, Dominguillo, Tlacopanocha, Hornos, Hornitos, Honda, Tamarindo, Condesa, Guitarrón, Icacos, Playuela, Playuelilla and Playa del Secreto. In the adjoining, smaller Bay of Puerto Marqués there is Pichilingue, Las Brisas, and Playa Roqueta. Facing open ocean just northwest of the bays is Pie de la Cuesta and southeast are Playa Revolcadero, Playa Aeromar, Playa Encantada and Barra Vieja. Two lagoons are in the area, Coyuca to the northwest of Acapulco Bay and Tres Palos to the southeast. Both lagoons have mangroves and offer boat tours. Tres Palos also has sea turtle nesting areas which are protected.<ref name="rutaguer">{{cite journal |editor1-first=Beatriz |editor1-last=Quintanar Hinojosa |date=May 2007 |title=Acapulco más brillante de nunca |trans-title=Acapulco, more brilliant than ever |journal=Mexico Desconocido Rutas Turisticas Guerrero el Destino del Mundo |volume=135 |pages=8–26 |publisher=Grupo Editorial Impresiones Aéreas |location=Mexico City |issn=0188-5146 |language=es}}</ref>

In addition to sunbathing, the beaches around the bay offer a number of services, such as boat rentals, boat tours, horseback riding, scuba diving and other aquatic sports. One popular cruise is from Caletilla Beach to Roqueta Island, which has places to snorkel, have lunch, and a lighthouse. There is also an underwater statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe here, created in 1958 by Armando Quesado in memory of a group of divers who died here. Many of the scuba-diving tours come to this area as well, where there are sunken ships, sea mountains, and cave rock formations.<ref name="pursfromm">{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010020.html |title=Active Pursuits & Acapulco Historical Museum |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211224718/http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/0036010020.html |archive-date=December 11, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another popular activity is deep-sea fishing. The major attraction is sail fishing. Fish caught here have weighed between 89 and 200&nbsp;pounds. [[Sailfish]] are so plentiful that boat captains have been known to bet with a potential customer that if he does not catch anything, the trip is free.<ref name="pursfromm" />

In the old part of the city, there is a traditional main square called the Zócalo, lined with shade trees, cafés and shops. At the north end of the square is ''Nuestra Señora de la Soledad'' cathedral, with blue onion-shaped domes and Byzantine towers. The building was originally constructed as a movie set, but was later adapted into a church.<ref name="pursfromm" /> Acapulco's most historic building is the [[Fort of San Diego]], located east of the main square and originally built in 1616 to protect the city from [[pirate]] attacks.<ref name="atrfromm" /> The fort was built by a Dutch engineer and finished in 1617 then destroyed in 1776 by an earthquake. It was rebuilt by 1783 and this is the building that can be seen today, unchanged except for renovations done to it in 2000. Parts of the moats remain as well as the five bulwarks and the battlements.<ref name="diegofromm">{{cite web |url=http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=93584 |title=San Diego Fort & Acapulco Historical Museum |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711045257/http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=93584 |archive-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="oliver">{{cite web |url=http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/704-dynamic-women-of-acapulco |title=Dynamic women of Acapulco |first1=Mike |last1=Oliver |first2=Rita |last2=Oliver |date=January 1, 2001 |website=MexConnect |access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref> Today the fort serves as the Museo Histórico de Acapulco (Acapulco Historical Museum), which shows the port's history from the pre-Hispanic period until independence. There are temporary exhibits as well.<ref name="atrfromm" /> For many years tourists could ride around the city in colorful horse-drawn carriages known as ''calandrias'', but the practice ended in February 2020 due to concerns about mistreatment of the animals.<ref>{{cite web |website=24 Morelos |date=January 30, 2020 |language=es |title=Se despiden los caballos de calandrias en Acapulco |url=https://www.24morelos.com/se-despiden-los-caballos-de-calandrias-en-acapulco/ |trans-title=Calandry horses say goodbye in Acapulco}}</ref>

[[File:Crowne Plaza Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico.jpg|thumb|left|Tlacopanocha, or Tlaco de Panocha, is one of the city's main beaches.]]
The El Rollo Acapulco is a sea-life and aquatic park located on Costera Miguel Aleman. It offers wave pools, water slides and water toboggans. There are also dolphin shows daily and a swim with dolphins program. The center mostly caters to children.<ref name="atrfromm" /><ref name="rutaguer" /> Another place that is popular with children is the ''Parque Papagayo'': a large family park which has a life-sized replica of a Spanish galleon, three artificial lakes, an aviary, a skating rink, rides, go-karts and more.<ref name="rutaguer" />

The Dolores Olmedo House is located in the traditional downtown of Acapulco and is noted for the murals by [[Diego Rivera]] that adorn it. Olmedo and Rivera had been friend since Olmedo was a child and Rivera spent the last two years of his life here. During that time, he painted nearly nonstop and created the outside walls with tile mosaics, featuring Aztec deities such as [[Quetzalcoatl]]. The interior of the home is covered in murals. The home is not a museum, so only the outside murals can be seen by the public.<ref name="oliver" />

There is a small museum called ''Casa de la Máscara'' (House of Masks) which is dedicated to masks, most of them from Mexico, but there are examples from many parts of the world. The collection contains about one thousand examples and is divided into seven rooms called Masks of the World, Mexico across History, The [[Huichol people|Huichols]] and the Jaguar, Alebrijes, Dances of Guerrero, Devils and Death, Identity and Fantasy, and Afro-Indian masks.<ref name="rutaguer" />
The Botanical Garden of Acapulco is a tropical garden located on lands owned by the Universidad Loyola del Pacífico. Most of the plants here are native to the region, and many, such as the [[Peltogyne mexicana]] or purple stick tree, are in danger of extinction.<ref name="rutaguer" />

One cultural event that is held yearly in Acapulco is the ''Festival Internacional de la Nao'', which takes place in the Fort of San Diego, located near the Zócalo in downtown of the city. The Festival honors the remembrance of the city's interaction and trades with Oriental territories which started back in the Sixteenth Century. The Nao Festival consists of cultural activities with the support of organizations and embassies from India, China, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. The variety of events go from film projections, musical interpretations and theatre to gastronomical classes, some of the events are specifically for kids.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acapulco.gob.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/LaNao2016_Programa.pdf |title=La Nao Programa |date=2016 |website=Acapulco Municipal Government |language=es |access-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314063356/http://acapulco.gob.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/LaNao2016_Programa.pdf |archive-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref>

The annual French Festival takes place throughout Acapulco city and offers a multitude of events that cement cultural links between Mexico and France. The main features are a fashion show and a gourmet food fair. The Cinépolis Galerías Diana and the Teatro Juan Ruíz de Alarcón present French and French literary figures who give talks on their specialised subjects. Even some of the local nightclubs feature French DJs.<ref name="frenfromm">{{cite web |url=http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=158831 |title=Acapulco French Festival |website=Frommer's Guides |access-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711045317/http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=158831 |archive-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref> Other festivals celebrated here include [[Carnival]], the feast of San Isidro Labrador on 15 May, and in November, a crafts and livestock fair called the Nao de China.<ref name="encmuc" />

There are a number of golf courses in Acapulco including the Acapulco Princess and the Pierre Marqués course, the latter designed by [[Robert Trent Jones]] in 1972 for the [[World Cup (men's golf)|World Cup Golf Tournament]]. The Mayan Palace course was designed by [[Pedro Guericia]] and an economical course called the Club de Golf Acapulco is near the convention center. The most exclusive course is that of the Tres Vidas Golf Club, designed by [[Robert von Hagge]]. It is located next to the ocean and is home to flocks of ducks and other birds.<ref name="pursfromm" />

Another famous sport tournament that has been held in Acapulco since 1993 is the [[Mexican Open (tennis)|Mexican Open]] tennis tournament, an [[ATP Tour 500|ATP 500]] event that currently takes place at the [[Arena GNP Seguros]]. Initially it was played in clay courts but it changed to hard court. The event has gained popularity within the passing of the years, attracting some of the top tennis players in the world including [[Novak Djokovic]], [[Rafael Nadal]] and [[Marin Cilic]]. The total prize money is US$250,000.00 for [[Women's Tennis Association|WTA]] (women) and US$1,200,000.00 for [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] (men).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abiertomexicanodetenis.com/en/ |title=Home |website=Abierto Mexicano de Tenis |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308154749/http://abiertomexicanodetenis.com/en/ |archive-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref>

Acapulco also has a [[bullring]], called the Plaza de Toros, near Caletilla Beach. The season runs during the winter and is called the Fiesta Brava.<ref name="pursfromm" />
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=== Spring break ===
Before 2010, over 100,000 American teenagers and young adults traveled to resort areas and [[balneario]]s throughout Mexico during [[spring break]] each year.<ref name="stategov">{{cite web |url=https://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html |title=Spring Break In Mexico – "Know Before You Go!" |website=U.S. State Department |access-date=January 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625203348/http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html |archive-date=June 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The main reason students head to Mexico is the drinking age of 18 years (versus 21 for the United States), something that has been marketed by tour operators along with the sun and ocean. This has become attractive since the 1990s, especially since more traditional spring break places such as [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], have enacted restrictions on drinking and other behaviors. This legislation has pushed spring break tourism to various parts of Mexico, with Acapulco as one of the top destinations.<ref name="leinwand">{{cite news |title=Alcohol-soaked spring break lures students abroad |first=Donna |last=Leinwand |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-01-05-spring-break-usat_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today |date=January 5, 2003 |access-date=January 11, 2010}}</ref>

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, [[Cancún]] had been favored as the spring break destination of choice. However, Cancún has taken some steps to control the reckless behavior associated with the event, and students have been looking for someplace new. This led many more to choose Acapulco, in spite of the fact that for many travelers, the flight is longer and more expensive than to Cancún. Many were attracted by the glitzy hotels on the south side and Acapulco's famous nightlife.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite news |title=Acapulco heat for spring-break |first=Will |last=Weissert |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7119929 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217074925/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7119929/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |newspaper=MSNBC |date=March 7, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, 22,500 students came to Acapulco for spring break. Hotels did not get that many in 2009, due mostly to the economic situation in the United States,<ref name="crisis">{{cite news |title=Springbreak baja por crisis, no por violencia: hoteleros |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/583257.html |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |date=March 12, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Spring Break lower because of crisis, not violence: hotel managers |archive-date=August 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813025132/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/583257.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and partially because of scares of drug-related violence.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |title=At Spring Break in Mexico, Revelry Mixes With New Caution |first=Marc |last=Lacey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/world/americas/11cancun.html?_r=1 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708193736/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/world/americas/11cancun.html?_r=1 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2009, the US State Department issued a travel alert directed at college students planning spring break trips to Acapulco.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html |title=Travel Alert |date=February 20, 2009 |website=U.S. State Department |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320162337/http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html |archive-date=March 20, 2009 }}</ref> The warning—a result of violent activity springing from Mexico's drug cartel débâcle—took college campuses by storm, with some schools going so far as to warn their students about the risks of travel to Mexico over spring break. [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] devoted a segment of his show, ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'', to urge students to stay away from Acapulco.<ref name=autogenerated1/> In June 2009, a number of incidents occurred between the drug cartel and the government. These included coordinated attacks on police headquarters and open battles in the streets, involving large-caliber weapons and grenades.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/06/08/mexico.violence/index.html |website=CNN |title=3 Mexican officers killed in Acapulco |access-date=April 23, 2010 |date=June 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717132048/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/06/08/mexico.violence/index.html |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, no incidents of violence against travelers on spring break were reported.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Cruise in Acapulco, Mexico.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cruise liner at the International Transatlantic Port Lieutenant José Azueta.]]
[[File:Avenida Costera Miguel Alemán de Acapulco, México.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Acapulco's Miguel Alemán Coastal Avenue.]]
Nine passenger [[airline]]s, including four international ones, fly to [[Acapulco International Airport]]. In the city, there are many buses and taxi services one can take to get from place to place, but most of the locals choose to walk to their destinations. However, an important mode of transportation is the government-subsidized 'Colectivo' cab system. These cabs cost 13 [[Mexican peso|pesos]] per person to ride,{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} but they are not private. The driver will pick up more passengers as long as seats are available, and will transport them to their destination based on first-come, first-served rules. The colectivos each travel a designated area of the city, the three main ones being Costera, Colosio, Coloso, or a mixture of the three. Coloso cabs travel mainly to old Acapulco. Colosio cabs travel through most of the tourist area of Acapulco. Costera cabs drive up and down the coast of Acapulco, where most of the hotels for visitors are located, but which includes some of old Acapulco. Drivers have discretion over destinations; some are willing to travel to the other designated areas, especially during slow periods of the day.

The bus system is highly complex and can be rather confusing to an outsider. As far as transportation goes, it is the cheapest form, other than walking, in Acapulco. The most expensive buses have air conditioning, while the cheaper buses do not. For tourists, the Acapulco city government has established a system of yellow buses with Acapulco painted on the side of them. These buses are not for tourists only, but are certainly the nicest and most uniform of the bus systems. These buses travel the tourist section of Acapulco, driving up and down the coast. There are buses with specific routes and destinations, generally written on their windshields or shouted out by a barker riding in the front seat. Perhaps the most unusual thing about the privately operated buses is the fact that they are all highly decorated and personalized, with decals and home-made interior designs that range from comic book scenes, to pornography, and even to "[[Hello Kitty]]" themes.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

The bus network was simplified on 25 June 2016 with the implementation of the {{ill|Acabús|es}}. The [[bus rapid transit]] system spans {{convert|36.2|km|abbr=off}}, with 16 stations spread throughout the city of Acapulco along five routes. Boarding is sped by prepayment at stations.

== International relations ==
[[File:Chapel of Peace Hands and Cross.jpg|thumb|upright|Hands of Brotherhood and cross, Peace Ecumenical Chapel.]]

=== Consulates ===
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; background:white; width:50%;"
|- style="color:white;"
!style="background:#810541;"|Country
!style="background:#810541;"|Type
!style="background:#810541;"|Ref.
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''Canada'''
|Consular agency
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66:25&catid=35 |title=Canadá |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194550/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66:25&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''United States'''
|Consular agency
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:44&catid=35 |title=Estados Unidos |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194823/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:44&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''The Russian Federation'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87:47&catid=35 |title=Federación de Rusia |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329105625/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87:47&catid=35 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''Finland'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:49&catid=35 |title=Finlandia |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194908/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:49&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''France'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90:50&catid=35 |title=Francia |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194913/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90:50&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''Philippines'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:48&catid=35 |title=Filipinas |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194859/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:48&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''Poland'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:99&catid=35 |title=Polonia |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308195443/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:99&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''Spain'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:43&catid=35 |title=España |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308194812/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:43&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:lemonchiffon;"|'''United Kingdom'''
|Honorary consul
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135:172&catid=35 |title=Reino Unido |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308195456/http://www.sre.gob.mx/acreditadas/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135:172&catid=35 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

=== Twin towns and partner cities ===
==== International ====
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Manila]], 1969<ref name="Acapulco sister cities">{{cite web |url=http://www.museovirtualdeacapulco.com/#!ciudades-hermanas-de-acapulco/c1dlg |title=Acapulco sister cities |website=Museo Virtual de Acapulco |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122005448/http://www.museovirtualdeacapulco.com/#!ciudades-hermanas-de-acapulco/c1dlg |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Netanya]], 1980<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Sendai]], 1983<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Qingdao]], 1985<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Quebec City]], 1986<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Naples]], 1986<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], 1988<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Onjuku]], 1988<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Cannes]], 1994<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], 1997<ref name="Mcallen">{{cite web |url=http://suracapulco.mx/archivoelsur/archivos/227902 |title=Acapulco y McAllen fortalecen sus lazos de intercambio |date=June 12, 2004 |website=Sur Acapulco |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122092312/https://suracapulco.mx/archivoelsur/archivos/227902 |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Santa Marta]], 2005<ref name="Sistercities">{{cite web |url=http://el-suracapulco.com.mx/anterior/2005/noviembre/22/acapulco.htm |title=Sister Cities |website=El Sur Acapulco |access-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927074855/http://el-suracapulco.com.mx/anterior/2005/noviembre/22/acapulco.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Manta, Ecuador|Manta]], 2005<ref name="Sistercities"/>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Ordizia]], 2008<ref name="Acapulco sister cities"/>
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Yalta]], 2012<ref name="Yalta Sosua">{{cite web |url=http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2012/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_IV_Vol.IV.pdf |title=Yalta Sosua |website=Acapulco Municipal Government |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903080201/http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2012/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_IV_Vol.IV.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} [[Sosúa]], 2012<ref name="Yalta Sosua"/>
* {{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], 2012<ref name="Nassau">{{cite web |url=http://www.purposegames.com/game/6a533cdfac |title=Sister cities of Nassau, Bahamas |website=Purpose Games |access-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218132233/http://www.purposegames.com/game/6a533cdfac |archive-date=December 18, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Peru}} [[Callao]], 2014<ref name="Callao">{{cite web |url=http://www.novedadesacapulco.mx/el-callao-ciudad-hermana |title=Sister cities of Callao |website=Novedades Acapulco |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091023/http://www.novedadesacapulco.mx/el-callao-ciudad-hermana |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]], 2017<ref name="Cartagena">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalguerrero.com.mx/principales/firma-evodio-velazquez-convenio-de-hermanamiento-entre-acapulco-y-cartagena-de-indias/ |title=Sister cities of Cartagena |website=Digital Guerrero |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122092213/https://www.digitalguerrero.com.mx/principales/firma-evodio-velazquez-convenio-de-hermanamiento-entre-acapulco-y-cartagena-de-indias/ |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Eilat]], 2017<ref name="Eilat">{{cite web |url=http://coctelacapulco.com/portal/firman-hermanamiento-entre-acapulco-y-eilat-israel/ |title=Firman hermanamiento entre Acapulco y Eilat, Israel |date=July 18, 2017 |website=Coctel Acapulco |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122005721/http://coctelacapulco.com/portal/firman-hermanamiento-entre-acapulco-y-eilat-israel/ |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==== Domestic ====
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Teocaltiche]], 2005<ref name="Sistercities"/>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Dolores Hidalgo]], 2009<ref name="Dolores Hidalgo">{{cite web |url=http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2009/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_I_Vol.VI.pdf |title=GACETA MUNICIPAL AÑO I VOL. VI |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903074158/http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2009/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_I_Vol.VI.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Guanajuato (city)|Guanajuato City]], 2010<ref name="Guanajuato City">{{cite web |url=http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2010/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_II_Vol.III.pdf |title=GACETA MUNICIPAL AÑO II VOL. III |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903073929/http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2009-2012/2010/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_II_Vol.III.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Boca del Río, Veracruz|Boca del Río]], 2012<ref name="Boca del Río">{{cite web |url=http://lasintesisacapulco.blogspot.mx/2012/03/acapulco-y-boca-del-rio-veracruz.html |title=Acapulco y Boca del Río, Veracruz, Ciudades Hermanas |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918022253/http://lasintesisacapulco.blogspot.mx/2012/03/acapulco-y-boca-del-rio-veracruz.html |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Morelia]], 2013<ref name="Morelia">{{cite web |url=http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2012-2015/2013/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_I_Vol.III.pdf |title=GACETA MUNICIPAL AÑO I VOL. III |access-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903080021/http://www.acapulco.gob.mx/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/cabildo/gaceta/2012-2015/2013/Gaceta_A%C3%B1o_I_Vol.III.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==UNESCO World Heritage Site nominations==
[[File:Manilajf9742 16.JPG|thumb|The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Memorial at Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila.]]

In 2014, the idea to nominate the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route was initiated by the Mexican ambassador to UNESCO with the Filipino ambassador to UNESCO.

An Experts' Roundtable Meeting was held at the [[University of Santo Tomas]] (UST) on April 23, 2015, as part of the preparation of the Philippines for the possible transnational nomination of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route to the World Heritage List. The nomination will be made jointly with Mexico.

The following are the experts and the topics they discussed during the roundtable meeting: Dr. Celestina Boncan on the Tornaviaje; Dr. Mary Jane A. Bolunia on Shipyards in the Bicol Region; Mr. Sheldon Clyde Jago-on, Bobby Orillaneda, and Ligaya Lacsina on Underwater Archaeology; Dr. Leovino Garcia on Maps and Cartography; Fr. Rene Javellana, S.J. on Fortifications in the Philippines; Felice Sta. Maria on Food; Dr. Fernando Zialcita on Textile; and Regalado Trota Jose on Historical Dimension. The papers presented and discussed during the roundtable meeting will be synthesized into a working document to establish the route's Outstanding Universal Value.<ref name="gov.ph">{{citation-attribution|1={{cite news |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/04/28/ph-mexico-push-to-nominate-manila-acapulco-galleon-trade-route-to-world-heritage-list/ |title=PH, Mexico push to nominate Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route to World Heritage List |newspaper=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |date=28 April 2015 |access-date=14 December 2017}}}}</ref>

The Mexican side reiterated that they will also follow suit with the preparations for the route's nomination.

Spain has also backed the nomination of the Manila-Acapulco Trade Route in the UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] list and has also suggested the Archives of the Manila-Acapulco Galleons to be nominated as part of a separate UNESCO list, the UNESCO [[Memory of the World Register]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/05/1473367/spain-backs-inclusion-galleon-trade-route-world-heritage-list |title=Spain backs inclusion of galleon trade route to World Heritage List |website=[[The Philippine STAR]] |access-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214072025/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/05/1473367/spain-backs-inclusion-galleon-trade-route-world-heritage-list |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; background:#fdfdfd;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead;"| Type {{small|(criteria)}}
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead; width:12.5em;"| Site
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead;"| Location
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead;"| Description
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead;"| Image
! scope="col" style="background:#ffdead;"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! scope="row" | Mixed
| style="font-weight:bold;" | The Historic [[Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade|Manila{{nbhyph}}Acapulco Galleon Trade]] Route
| [[Philippines]] {{small|and}} [[Mexico]]
| <!-- Description -->
| [[File:16th century Portuguese Spanish trade routes.png|thumb|none|White represents the route of the Manila Galleons in the Pacific.]]
|<ref name="gov.ph"/>
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Mexico}}
* [[Acapulco (municipality)]]
* [[Acapulco Chair]]
* [[Triangle of the Sun]]
* [[Loco in Acapulco]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{See also|Timeline of Acapulco#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Acapulco}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.acapulco.gob.mx|Official city government website}} {{in lang|es}}

{{Guerrero}}
{{Subject bar|auto=y|commons=Category:Acapulco|d=y}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Acapulco| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:1550 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Mexico]]
[[Category:Beaches of Guerrero]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1525]]
[[Category:Populated places in Guerrero]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns on the Mexican Pacific coast]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Mexico]]