Acapulco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the city in Mexico. For the town in Peru, see Acapulco, Peru. For the beach in Tunisia, see Sounine.
| Acapulco</big> | |
|---|---|
|
Image:Escudodeacapulco.gif Image:Location Acapulco de Juarez.png
| |
| Official Name | Acapulco de Juárez |
| Country - State: - Municipality | Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Guerrero Acapulco |
| Population (2005) | 722 499 hab |
| Altitude | 0° msl |
| Coordinates - Latitude: - Longitude: | 16° 85' N 99° 92' W |
| Foundation - Foundation: | |
| Major | Félix Salgado Macedonio |
| Political party | PRD |
| Time zone: | UTC -6 |
| Demonym | Acapulqueño(a) |
| Postal code | 39300-39898 |
| Area code | 744 |
| Website: www.acapulco.gob.mx | |
Acapulco (Officially: Acapulco de Juárez) is a city and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 300 km (190 miles) southwest from Mexico City, at . Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay. It is a port of call for shipping and cruising lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California, USA. In 2003 the estimated population was 637,000 people.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The town is built on a narrow strip of low ground, scarcely half a mile wide, between the shore line and the lofty mountains that encircle the bay. There is great natural beauty in the surroundings, mountains render the access to the town, though not difficult to access particularly since the construction of a 2-km-long tunnel to the waterfront from the hinterland in the 1990s. An earlier effort to admit the cooling sea breezes by cutting through the mountains a passage called the Abra de San Nicolas had some beneficial effect. [1]
[edit] History
Acapulco has been well known as a traveler's crossroads for at least a millennium. Its name is a Nahuatl word, meaning "plain of dense reeds".
The earliest local remains, stone metates and pottery utensils, were left in the 3rd millennium BC. Much later, sophisticated artisans fashioned curvaceous female figurines.
Other artifacts resemble those found in highland Mexico. Although influenced by Tarascan, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Aztec civilizations, sometimes paying tribute to them and frequented by their traders, Acapulco never came under their direct control, but instead remained subject to local caciques until the Spanish conquest.
After conquering the Aztecs, Hernán Cortés sent expeditions south to build ships and find a route to China. The first explorers sailed from Zacatula, near present-day Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, on the coast 400 km (250 miles) north-west of Acapulco. By a royal decree dated April 25, 1528, "Acapulco and her land ... where the ships of the south will be built...." passed directly into the hands of the Spanish Crown. Voyages of discovery set sail from Acapulco for Peru, the Sea of Cortez, and to Asia. None returned across the Pacific, however, until Augustinian priest Andrés de Urdaneta discovered the northern Pacific tradewinds, which propelled him and his ship, loaded with Chinese treasure, to Acapulco in 1565.
For more than 256 years, a special yearly trading ship, known to the English as the Manila Galleon, set sail from Acapulco for the Manila and the Orient. Its return started an annual merchant fair in Acapulco where traders bargained for the Galleon's cargo of silks, porcelain, ivory, and lacquer ware. This trade connection, which persisted up to Mexican independence, was instrumental in placing the Philippines on the east side of the International Date Line until the end of 1844.
Acapulco's yearly treasure soon attracted marauders, too. In 1579, Francis Drake attacked but failed to capture the Galleon, but in 1587, off Cabo San Lucas, Thomas Cavendish seized the Santa Anna. The cash alone, 1.2 million gold pesos, severely depressed the London bullion market.
After a Dutch fleet invaded Acapulco in 1615, the Spanish rebuilt their fort, which they christened Fort San Diego in 1617. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1776, the fort was rebuilt by 1783. The War of Independence (1820–21) stopped the Manila Galleon forever, sending Acapulco into a century-long slumber.
The town suffered considerably from earthquakes in July and August 1909.
Image:Acapulco nammer.jpgThere are exports of hides, wood, and fruit, and the adjacent district of Tabares produces cotton, tobacco, cacao, sugarcane, Indian corn, beans, and coffee.
The 1968 Summer Olympics yachting (now sailing) regatta took place in Acapulco.
Acapulco was devastated by Hurricane Pauline in October 1997.
[edit] Acapulco as a holiday resort
For most of a century exotic and historic west-coast Acapulco, the origination of the famed Acapulco Galleons treasure ships, has been a popular resort for tourists taking long holiday weekends and cruises from the United States, the Mexican interior and countries in South America. Eventually, it began competing directly with east-coast Cancun as a super-tourist destination in the recent three decades long era of affordable air fares as international airlines added flights and infrastructure was emplaced to support the increasing air travel. The two beach resorts are essentially located on opposite coasts oriented due East and West from the other at essentially the same latitude . The city has had its star-spangled times, prompting none other than Frank Sinatra to give the place a mention in his all time classic "Come Fly With Me". Modern Acapulco has a great appeal and is a featured destination for many Pacific cruise ship packages and international air carriers. The vast majority of the tourists are Mexicans, but it's balmy subtropical climate and pleasant year round temperatures draws in many other foreign nationals year round providing the volume to support the numerous bars and clubs dotted around the bay. Whether seeking a break from northern climes, winters or heat, or the southern hemisphere's seasonal analogs, the resorts proximity to the equator on the narrows of the North America continental isthmus gives it an economically important geographic centrality rivaled by only a few resorts in the world.
In recent years, within the younger crowd, Acapulco has made up some ground on Cancun as a popular spring break destination. This growing popularity may be because Acapulco offers a different unknown experience and a larger, international student crowd than Cancun due to it's prominence as an international tourist mecca with many available international transatlantic and transpacific flights. Apart from just the beach, Acapulco's best known island Roqueta, is a great attraction which is typically reached by transparent-bottom motor boats (enabling clear view of the bottom sea). As in Cancun, water sports such as water skiing, para-sailing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, sailing and snorkeling excursions are available in many price ranges amongst the picturesque coastal waters.
Several real estate, hotels and timeshares had been developed in the Acapulco Diamante (Diamond Acapulco) zone. A very important development has build by Mayan Resorts the largest vacation club and golf operator in Mexico.
[edit] Nightclubs in Acapulco
Palladium: The center of the Acapulco nightlife and the biggest and best nightclub, if you want to follow the crowd. The amazing view, good music, friendly bar staff, a decent layout to meet new people, and a mind-blowing show at 4:00 am make it the top-rated disco in Acapulco. But during spring break and on holidays, you may wait a long time to get in and get served. Located in Las Brisas.
El Alebrije: A humongous and popular disco, but also the youngest crowd (average age of 18-20). The stadium seating is very conducive to meeting new people and the bartenders are excellent, and the waiters are good and the music is great.
Baby'O: The best disco in Acapulco for the social elite of Mexico. Baby'O is smaller than most others, has an all ages crowd, and is a first class establishment. However, space and seating is limited, it's a bit difficult to meet new people, and it costs US$30-60 to enter NOT including drinks. If exclusivity is your preference, this is the place to go.
NJoy: A large disco with many couches, a good-sized dance floor, dancers on stages, and your typical selection of Spanish dance music. Located south of Cinemark on La Costera. Saturday is the night to go - because it is so large, you will have more fun if it is crowded.
Mandara (Formerly Enigma): Located in Las Brisas next to Palladium, next door (literally) to Siboney, and under the after-hours bar Privado, Mandara is an elegant night club with a beautiful view of the bay. It is a good place to take a date and to be seen with the social elite from Acapulco. Go here on Fridays, and hit Palladium on Saturdays and/or Thursdays.
[edit] Transportation
The port city grew greatly in the 20th century. Acapulco is served by General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport, and by Teniente Jose Azueta International Transatlantic port. The Airport is also a great place to score chicks.
[edit] Attractions
Since 1934 the La Quebrada Cliff Divers perform their impressive jumps into the shallow stream of water of dangerous tides that forms in the bottom part of La Quebrada.
[edit] External links
- Acapulco travel guide from Wikitravel
- Satellite picture from Google Local
- Beaches at Acapulco.
- Acapulco hotels, Online hotel reservations, city guide, map, attractions, events, nightlife.
- Acapulco Attractions Acapulco attractions, weather, tourist information
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] See also
ca:Acapulco cs:Acapulco da:Acapulco de:Acapulco et:Acapulco es:Acapulco fr:Acapulco de Juárez gl:Acapulco ko:아카풀코 nl:Acapulco de Juárez ja:アカプルコ no:Acapulco pl:Acapulco pt:Acapulco ru:Акапулько fi:Acapulco sr:Акапулко sv:Acapulco tr:Acapulco uk:Акапулько zh:阿卡普尔科
