By Air:
International travelers will likely have to transit through Mexico City first. Once there, you can book a plane from one of the following airline:
- Mexicana ++52 (561) 516-8414. on-line reservations.
- AeroMéxico ++52 (561) 516-3765. Use mexicana.com for on-line booking.
- Aero California ++52 (561) 514-8507
A few airlines have opened routes to Acapulco from abroad: Mexicana (from Los Angeles, 3½ hours), American Airlines (from Dallas, 4½ hours), Continental (from Houston) and Canadian World of Vacation (from Toronto). If you book enough in advance, you should be able to buy a ticket from the US for $600 with restrictions. From November to April, a few charter companies from Canada and the United States fly directly to Acapulco at a reasonable price.
Tips: Changing or canceling an air ticket reservation can be expensive in Mexico. Adjusting your flight date may cost 25% of the ticket price. Arrive early at the airport: overbooking is common. Try to carry on your lugguages and avoid checking in valuable goods.
The Juan N. Alvarez International Airport (ACA) (Ph: 74/66-94-34) is located about 20 minutes east of the city. Once there, buy a ground ticket at the window that says Transportes Aeropuerto (Ph: 74/62-10-95). This is a special set-price airport taxi service. If this is your first time, tell the clerk what hotel you are going to, as the zone-based system is a bit complex. Private taxis are not permitted to carry passengers from the airport to town. The ride from the airport to Golden Acapulco costs about $6 per person with a shared shuttle ("colectivo"), and starts at $25 for a nonshared cab.
By Boat:
Six months a year - from November to April - luxury liners pull in daily, sometimes two at a time, such as the Queen Elizabeth II, the Rotterdam, all the Princess ships, Crystal Harmony and several other around-the-world cruise lines. Most originate from Los Angeles. Cruise operators include
- Celebrity Cruises (PHONE: 800/437-3111)
- Crystal P&O (PHONE: 310/785-9300)
- Cunard Line (PHONE: 800/528-6273)
- Krystal Cruises (PHONE: 800/446-6640)
- Princess Cruises (PHONE: 800/421-0522)
- Royal Caribbean (PHONE: 800/327-6700).
By Bus:
A host of lines connect virtually every town and most villages around Acapulco. If possible, take one of the luxury express coaches that speed between major towns. All these buses have plush reclining seats air-conditioning, on-board toilet and video. First-class cost slightly less, and are often as comfortable, but can be much slower as the driver may stop en-route to take or drop off passengers. These buses are safe and usually well maintained.
You can either reserve by phone, or buy it directly at the station. Luxury and first-class lines are rarely sold out. If possible, request a reserved seat number in the front of the bus (seats numbered 1 to 30 in most buses). The rear seats are occupied by smokers and often nosier passengers.
The major bus line serving Acapulco are:
- Estrella Blanca. First-call and luxury buses depart from the Papagayo Terminal. There, plenty of staff can help you with finding a hotel. Tel. ++52 (744) 469-2028. Second class buses depart from Cuauhtemoc 101, seven blocks north of the Zocalo. Tel 7/482-2285.
- Estrella de Oro.
Second-class buses should be avoided, except if you are on a very tight budget, or you really enjoy cultural immersions. Seating is first-come, first-serve on these lines, and you may well end up spending the whole trip standing. An advantage of second-class buses is that you can open the windows and get some fresh air.
From Mexico City, first class, air-conditioned bus service operated by ADO leave every hour from Mexico City's Terminal Oriente (east) Bus terminal, also called TAPO (Metro station San Lazaro).
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VIDEO EXCERPT
View La Quebrada divers defying death by hurling themselves off the cliff walls
 (small) (real)
View end of the trip boat to Roqueta Island
(small) (real)
Excerpt from Acapulco DVD, with English soundtrack.
SEE ALSO:
 Taxco Practicalities
Zih-Ixtapa Practicalities
TRAVELOGUES
Downtown Acapulco
Old Town Beaches
Roqueta Istand
La Quebrada
Golden Acapulco
Watersports
Costera Boulevard
Diamond Acapulco
Out-of-town Beaches
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Printable Version
