The Traveler’s Guide to
Acapulco’s Magical Beaches

When you ask someone from Acapulco about what makes the city worth visiting, what do you expect them to tell you?  Do you want to hear directly from their mouth the word “beaches”?  Well, don’t just expect them to say the exact word as they will even tell you everything about the Acapulco beaches.

The Acapulco beaches are basically the city’s crowning jewel.  They occupy almost ¼ of the place and each has its own character.  Some appear to be like a small fishing village somewhere in Mexico, while others are so wide to occupy hundreds of people from different walks of life.  Many of these beaches are located just within the city or just stones throw away from your hotel or condominium, but there are also some that are nestled on the outskirts of Acapulco.  With their massive numbers, it’s no wonder that no matter what kind of experience you’re looking for, there is a great possibility that you’ll find it.

Types of Acapulco Beaches

The beaches in Acapulco come in two different types.  The first is the so-called “beaches in the city”, for which the name implies is located just within Acapulco.   These beaches tend to have calmer water as they are often situated on the protected areas inside the Bahia Santa Lucia and Bahia de Puerto Marques.   They are located inside the Acapulco bay areas and that they are just a walk away from the famous establishments in the city, including shopping malls or centers, golf and tennis courses, hotels and condominiums, restaurants, discotheques and bars, and museums.  It is the accessibility to the main city that makes all these beaches worth visiting.

The second type of Acapulco beaches is known as “beaches to the northwest”.  Well, as implied by the term, the beaches that belong to this category simply are located on the northwestern part of Acapulco.  Unlike the first type, the water in these beaches tends to be dangerous for the large waves and tides.  But this nature doesn’t actually hinder beachgoers to go and enjoy the place, especially the adventurers.  In fact, the beaches on the northwest of Acapulco have been deemed as perfect for the adventure seekers or for those who want to experience a new, exciting sort of game, like surfing.  However, it is important to take caution when considering these beaches as there are some instances when the wave activity is strong, making it dangerous to enter the water except along the shoreline.

Well, both types of beaches in Acapulco are known throughout Mexico and its neighboring countries.  Some of these beaches are even featured on magazines and travel brochures, so it’s no surprise when many of the tourists are somehow familiar with the Acapulco’s magical beaches.  It is further worth noting that in today’s highly competitive world, the beaches in Acapulco are continually developed and maintained to attract more and more people from near and far away places.

The Best Acapulco Beaches

As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of beaches in Acapulco.   Each has its own character and features that lure beachgoers close to them.   The white sand and the tanning sun are just part of the fun and it’s nice to know that some of the wonderful beaches in Acapulco are located close to the city, making them highly accessible to the best facilities in town.

Now, if you want to know exactly what beaches in Acapulco are the best known, then don’t worry.  I have mentioned below some of the top rated Acapulco beaches that are visited by celebrities and ordinary people alike.   Note, however, that this is not a complete list, so you are free to do your own search for more wonderful Acapulco beaches if you want.  But before you do so, check these beaches out first.

Playa Barra Vieja 

Located approximately 25 miles southeast of the heart of Acapulco, between Laguna de Tres Palos and the Pacific, the Playa Barra Vieja is one of the most visited beaches in Acapulco. This place brings you the long stretch of white sand beach perfect for those who wish to sunbathe and swim.  For a number of years, families and tourists from near and faraway places have made the place their ultimate hub during the weekend where they can not only enjoy the white sand and the waters, but also taste the huachinango de la talla and other seafood specialties that are prepared in many of the small restaurants nearby.

Another interesting fact to know about Playa Barra Vieja is that it offers a full range of services designed for locals and tourists.  Included in the list of these services are food and beverages services, horseback rides, ATV rides, walking along the beach, swimming, surfing, and a lot more.   And, if you want to spend the night or your entire trip at this place, Playa Barra Vieja has some of the small hotels that could accommodate you comfortably and conveniently.

Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla

Nestled on one of Acapulco’s oldest neighborhoods, the Peninsula de las Playas, Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla are built adjacent to each other.  These beaches are very popular with tourists from Mexico and from other places in the world who have enough budgets for their Acapulco vacation.  These places are also popular with the Hollywood crowd as well as with families who want to enjoy their days in a white sand beach with the most inviting blue-green waters.  And, perhaps what’s best about Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla is that they boast small, yet nice restaurants and a full array of amenities for locals and tourists alike.  A number of large hotels are also located just nearby to give you the most comfortable accommodations available.

Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla, for long years, are referred to as the Morning Beach for the reason that they received the most sunlight early in the day.  Today, these beaches provide access to the local transportation in Acapulco.  Busses operate back and forth along the Costera Miguel Aleman, which is but a coastal road that links Bahia Santa Lucia along with a number of hotels, restaurants and attractions in the city.   Those who wish to experience a true taste of Mexico go directly to these beaches.

Playa La Angosta

Playa La Angosta is but a small beach located in a small cove that opens directly into the Pacific Ocean.  It is located not far from La Quebrada where the fearless fellows who dive from the cliff down to the surging waters of the Pacific perform.  The Playa La Angosta also lies beneath the towering mountain cliffs that are dotted with small hotels and homes that can accommodate tourists who come to visit the place.  Aside from that, there are also some restaurants nearby and within the beach, three bathrooms and a changing area are available for the visitors to use.  Chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent.  And, just like the Playas Caleta and Caletilla, this Acapulco beach is easily reached by public busses that operate along the Costera Miguel Aleman.

Playa Dominguillo and Playa Tamarindo

Located only a few feet from Costera Miguel Aleman, the Playa Dominguillo and Playa Tamarindo are but two of the other popular beaches in Acapulco.   These beaches have long been considered as the basecamps for the local fishermen who used to store their boats on a part of the beach and return early in the morning with their daily catch.

Just like the other popular beaches in Acapulco, these Playas are shared with swimmers from different walks of life, and what’s nice to know about these places is that there seems to be no conflict between the two.  For instance, in the Playa Dominguillo, tourists and locals alike stand in the water fishing.  They flock there during most of the afternoons.  This is also true in Playa Tamarindo.

Playa Papagayo

One of the popular beaches fronting the Acapulco Bay and the Costera Miguel Aleman roadway, the Playa Papagayo has long been considered perfect for a quite hot experience on a warm day.  Just like the rest of the Acapulco beaches, this beach offers a number of services for their guests, including chair and umbrella rentals, water sport rentals, food and beverage services, and a lot more.

Playa Papagayo is also popular throughout Acapulco and Mexico as an ideal destination for an ultimate shell hunting experience.  This is basically for the fact that at Playa Papagayo, an abundance of beautiful seashells can be found.  So don’t be surprised when you peoeple early in the morning scouring the Playa’s beach for something to add to their collection.

On weekends, the Playa Papagayo is flocked by groups of people, usually families.  It is also frequented by many Canadians and Europeans during the high tourism season which is actually during winter.  It is this situation that makes this beach one of the international Acapulco beaches.

Playa Hornos and Playa Hornitos

Another two of the best beaches in Acapulco are Playa Hornos and Playa Hornitos.  These beaches are both located just few steps away from the Costera Miguel Aleman.  With this location, the Playas can easily be reached by public buses or taxis.   What is notable about these places is that they are often crowded especially on weekends and holiday or vacation periods when people from out of town come to the city just to enjoy everything that the place has to offer.

Large hotels and a number of restaurants are located just nearby these beaches.  So if you want to spend your night or your entire vacation in either of these beaches, the nearby hotels are out there willing to give you the best accommodation possible.  And, with the accessibility of restaurants, dining at these beaches can be so easy.  From these restaurants, you can order everything from a meal, sodas, or some cocktails.   You can even buy a t-shirt and other merchandise on the nearby stores.

Playa Condesa

Referred to as “the strip”, Playa Condesa is one of the very popular beaches in Acapulco that highlight a very cosmopolitan and international setting.  It is international and cosmopolitan in the sense that Playa Condesa lures visitors from Mexico and other countries in the world.  It is nestled about 30 feet below the adjacent Costera Miguel Aleman, which is but one of the city’s popular tourist districts.   What is further nice to know about this beach is that it is lined by some of Acapulco’s best known restaurants and bars, and a full array of services designed for locals and tourists are available, including chairs, tables, and umbrella rentals, food and beverage services, water sports rentals, bungee jumping, and a lot more.

However, it is important to note that in this part of city, the waves are often strong.  So it is important for every beachgoer to watch out for the big waves before entering the water.  This beach is also easily reached by Acapulco’s public means of transportation, so going to and from the beach can be done so easily.

Playa Pretil

If you are looking for a place that is beachfront in all of Acapulco, the Playa Pretil can be your best choice.  This beach is actually nestled in line with high rise hotels and condominiums, including the Continental Emporio, Crowne Plaza, Ritz and Mar Azul.   Well, what is nice to know about this beach is that a number of services other than umbrella and chair rentals and food and beverage services are available for the swimmers to enjoy, including banana boat rides, parasailing, and other forms of water sports.  And with its calm waters, swimming in Playa Pretil is so good, making it really a good beach to visit and enjoy all day long.

Playa Puerto Marques

Going outside of the central part of Acapulco, there is Playa Puerto Marques, the city’s first major beach that is located about 10 miles southeast of the city center.  With its location, you may find the place as another part of Mexico, not just of Acapulco. 

Playa Puerto Marques seems to be almost deserted except during weekends and holidays when people from Mexico and other places in the world flocked to enjoy the white sand beach and the turquoise blue waters that Playa Puerto Marques has to offer.  Also, a selection of restaurants, hotels and rental stores are available just nearby, so you’ll surely get everything you’ll need for your holiday getaway.  The place is even accessible to Acapulco’s major roads, so going to and fro is easy.  And, since Playa Puerto Marques is located outside of the city’s center, a day trip to the beach is truly worth considering.

Pie de la Cuesta

Also known as the Sunset Beach, Pie de la Cuesta is but one of the popular beaches in Acapulco situated northwest of the city.  It is named as the Sunset Beach mainly for the reason that it boasts the spectacular views of the sunset that draw and encourage the beachgoers to remain until the sun completely sets.  The beachfront of Pie de la Cuesta is lined with small hotels and restaurants that offer comfortable accommodations and a complimentary dining to their guests.  The place is also reachable by bus, taxi or a private car, making your transportation to and from the beach easy.

However, just like the other beaches in Acapulco, the wave action along Pie de la Cuesta can be very strong, the reason that swimmers are required to observe the safety flags that advise of how dangerous a particular level of the water is.  So be careful, and make sure that you know how to swim before entering the water.

General Safety Tips

So everything about the types of beaches in Acapulco is said.  Well, now I want you to consider some of the safety tips for Acapulco beaches.  Note that these safety tips are given to make sure that you will enjoy your Acapulco beach vacation as ultimate as it should be.  So before you consider planning for your beach vacation in Acapulco, Mexico consider first the following:

Tip #1:  Wear Your Sunscreen

Spending a whole day in Acapulco beach can be dangerous to your skin, especially if you expose yourself in the sun without wearing any sunscreen.  Yes, the sun in Acapulco can be intense, especially during the morning and early in the afternoon.  So if you want to protect your skin and yourself from whatever possible consequences, then there’s no other great thing you can do than to wear sunscreen, especially if you wish to stay out in the sun.  This is pretty practical though.

Tip #2:  Watch Out for the Giant Waves

The wave action in most of the Acapulco beaches can be dangerous, especially to those beaches located at the Pacific Ocean.  So, before you go swimming, snorkeling or body surfing, make sure that you know how to fight and carry the waves.  The point here is to be careful and if you bring small children with you, then don’t ever leave them unattended even at the shoreline.

Tip #3:  Keep an Eye on Your Possessions

Acapulco is not a perfectly safe place.  Some forms of crimes are present here, and the beaches are no excuse to thefts.  So, when planning to go to beach on one of Acapulco’s popular beaches, try not to bring too many possessions with you.  Just bring enough money, or things that you need to use, such as cameras and phones.  Don’t leave them unattended even in your own cottage.  Thefts may be around, so keep an eye on your belongings.

So that’s said!  But before you go, note that today with a number of beaches around Acapulco, the place is enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.   It has been in the tourist business for 50 years now and its reputation is becoming intense with more and more tourists recognizing how wonderful it is to visit the place.