While some travelers prefer to sunbath on the stunning beaches or embrace the never-ending nightlife, another option for travelers to Acapulco is the experience of Acapulco’s rich, deep-rooted culture.  This living and thriving seaport has witnessed years of change yet maintained its roots in the history of the location. 

FORT OF SAN DIEGO:  This marvelous architectural jewel should be an obligatory visit during your stay in Acapulco.  Built in 1616 to defend the port against pirate attacks, the fort now houses the History Museum of the Fort of San Diego.  It has 12 permanent exhibition rooms and 1 offering temporary exhibitions.  It has an interesting collection of objects related to the Galleons, religious objects used on a daily basis, fabrics, maps and old drawings.  At night, you can observe the Multimedia Show that narrates the history of the port of Acapulco and it is offered during the season on Saturdays at 7:00PM and 8:30PM previous request.  The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sundays from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

THE HOUSE OF MASKS:  Located only a block from the Fort of San Diego, on the Cultural Corridor, the House of Masks offers the opportunity to discover this unique artistic expression.  Through these multicolored masks, Guerrero’s artisans show a fantastic trip through their religion and culture.  In some towns of Guerrero, the mask is closely related to their dances and traditions and is considered one of popular arts richest forms of expression.

HISTORIC NAVAL MUSEUM:  Located in the center of the city, the Historic Naval Museum of Acapulco has a large part of the history and culture of the Bay of Santa Lucia, which for more than 250 years was the principal port of commerce on the Pacific Coast.  It has a consulting library specializing in maritime themes, the workshop for building ship models is open to the public and visitors can observe the step-by-step construction of the naval models.  You can also admire the use of plans, materials and techniques corresponding to the construction of the original ship.

DIEGO RIVERA MURAL:  Located in the Traditional area of Acapulco, in the home of the late Dolores Olmedo, who possessed the largest collection of Diego Rivera paintings in the world and a long-time friend of Rivera, and the woman that Diego Rivera asked to marry him after the death of his wife, the controversial painter, Frida Kahlo.  Between 1956 and 1957, Rivera lived in Acapulco while recovering from cancer and it was then that he created the works found here. This house represents a cultural heritage and is a living witness to the art of Diego Rivera in Acapulco..  If you have the time, stop by this house located on Inalambrica #6 on the Cerro de la Pinzona.  You can appreciate the mural located on the outside wall called Exekatlkalli, a sculpture-painting where the Gods Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc, of the Aztec culture, can be appreciated.

CATHEDRAL OF LADY OF SOLITUDE:  Located in the Zocalo and constructed in 1930, the Cathedral is adorned with a dome in the style of the mosques and Byzantine towers.  The interior of the Cathedral is very simple and the walls are white and blue.  The Virgin of Solitude is the patron saint of Acapulco since Philip II sent the image of the virgin.

CASA DE LA CULTURE:  During your visit of the city, no not forget to visit this cultural center located on the Costera Miguel Aleman where you will find exhibitions of pieces found if different areas of the port and the state of Guerrero..  There are also exhibitions of paintings and photographs and it also offers fun-filled classes of dance, music, theater and cultural events.

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA OF ACAPULCO:  Located in the International Convention Center, and directed by Eduardo Alvarez, the Philharmonic Orchestra has professional musicians and a concert season every year in Acapulco.  They also tour within the state of Guerrero and they also visit other states in the Mexican Republic.

LA QUEBRADA: Impressive cliffs with a natural look-out platform from which one can enjoy spectacular sunsets and, on occasion, whales and dolphins, spotted mainly in the Winter season. La Quebrada is known as Acapulco’s icon throughout the world, famous for the performance which intrepid local divers offer from a height of 35 meters.  This risky activity began in the 1920s when fishermen would dive off the cliffs to free their nets caught on sharp rocky peaks, and among them they began a fraternal diving challenge gaining more height with practice. They also gained popularity as locals and visitors gathered to admire their feats. It was in 1934 when the performance became an actual show and the intrepid cliff divers of Acapulco became a tradition that was passed on from generation to generation. Presently the divers offer daily shows at 1:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.

PALMA SOLA: Archaeological zone located in the El Veladero ecological reserve, that measures approximately 3.8 hectares at between 350 and 400 meters above sea level. There are a total of 18 carved rocks in the area, which display important historical events, myths and habits of ancient Acapulco settlers. Palma Sola was a sacred place in the Pre-Hispanic era, where various rituals took place and were recorded through rock carvings. These were about productive agricultural cycles between 800 bc and 750 ac

PAPAGAYO PARK: A natural, protected area of over 200,000 square meters that offers the opportunity of becoming familiar with various types of animals and birds that migrate from the northern part of the continent. Its biodiversity and its facilities combine to allow for sports, recreational and cultural activities, and it is an ideal place for children to enjoy an outing with their families. It has a soccer field and basketball and volleyball courts, restaurants, an auditorium, a library, swimming pools, three lakes, a skating rink, a cycling rink and mechanical rides.

A magical combination of incredible beauty and hypnotic charm, Acapulco is Mexico's largest and most dazzling seaside resort attracting over 5 million visitors annually.  Acapulco is exotic yet easily accessible via direct or convenient connections via all major airline carriers from gateway cities across the U.S. For more information about Acapulco, visit www.visitacapulco.com.mx.