Three days is enough to see the best of Acapulco without rushing. The bay is long and curved, so the trick is to group your days by area: the old town on the first day, the water on the second and a longer outing on the third. This plan is built around the sights and experiences in this guide, and it leaves the late afternoons free for the beach and the pool, because the heat is strongest around midday and the best light comes late in the day.
Day one: the old town and the cliff divers
Start in the morning at the Zócalo, the shaded main square of the old town, and walk the rehabilitated malecón before the heat builds. From there it is a short ride to the Fuerte de San Diego, the star-shaped fort that houses the city's best museum, with galleries on the Manila Galleon trade that linked Acapulco to Asia for two centuries. Have a long lunch nearby, rest during the hottest hours and head to La Quebrada in the early evening. The divers leap from about 35 metres into a narrow inlet, and the show is best at sunset. If you want a full evening, the dinner at La Perla puts a table above the cliffs, while the sunset drinks option is a shorter stop.
Day two: on the water
Spend the morning in the bay. The kayak tour to El Morro is the gentlest option, a guided paddle in calm water that suits beginners. If you prefer boats, the trip to Isla La Roqueta leaves from Caleta and gives you an island beach and a short hike, and the last boats back leave before sunset, so plan to return in the afternoon. Snorkellers can join the guided snorkelling tour, and anyone curious about diving can try the beginner scuba experience. Eat a simple seafood lunch by the water, then take a siesta, and finish the day at the Chapel of Peace in Las Brisas, a quiet, cross-shaped chapel with a view over the bay that is lovely in the late afternoon.
Day three: pick your outing
This is the day to match your interests. For nature, spend the morning on Coyuca Lagoon with a boat ride through the mangroves and a baby turtle release, then finish with lunch and a sunset at Pie de la Cuesta, the sandy spit that faces the open Pacific. For culture, join the city tour, which covers the highlights with a local guide, or take the longer day trip to Taxco, the colonial silver town in the hills, which is a full day and an early start. For adventure, fly over the water at the XTASEA zipline in Puerto Marqués. For something different in the evening, try a lucha libre night with tacos, a loud and friendly show that makes a good counterpart to the divers.
Where to base yourself
A three-day trip works from almost anywhere, but the middle of the bay on the Costera is the most convenient for taxis and restaurants. The old town and El Mirador put you beside the divers. The southern resorts in Diamante are quieter but need more transport. See our guide to where to stay for a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood comparison.
Practical tips
Taxis are the simplest way around, and you should agree the fare or confirm the meter before you set off. Carry some pesos for small purchases, tips and viewing charges. The sun is strong all year, so use sunscreen, a hat and water, and do your outdoor sights in the morning. Check current travel advisories from your own government before you book and again before you fly, and follow local guidance once you arrive. Hurricane season runs through November, so keep your plans flexible if you travel then and confirm tours and boat departures the day before.
If you have only two days
Combine day one with a shortened day two: the old town and the divers on the first day, and a morning on the water followed by the Chapel of Peace on the second. If you have four or five days, add the Coyuca Lagoon, a cooking class and the Taxco trip, and slow down the beach time. However long you stay, book the cliff divers and any guided outing in advance, and leave one evening open so that you can follow the sunset wherever it looks best.
