ACAPULCO

'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. 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, United States. As of the 2005 census, the population of the urbanized area was 616,394, while that of the administrative municipality was 717,766 people. The municipality, which has an area of 1,882.6 km² (726.88 sq mi), includes numerous small localities outside of the city. The tourist resort city of Acapulco is the largest city in the state, by far larger than the state capital of Chilpancingo, in second place.

Contents

Toponymy

Geography

History

Archaic Era

Pre-Colonial Era

Spanish Era

Present day Acapulco

Acapulco as a holiday resort

Transportation

Attractions

Notable people

References

See also

Toponymy

The most accepted version is that the name of the city comes from the nahuatl words ácatl (reed), poloa (to destroy) and co (place), which together form: "The place where the reeds where destroyed". Other experts sustain that it comes from ácatl, pul (superlative suffix) and co: "The place of the big reeds". There is a nahuatl Legend of Acapulco that explains the origin of this name, same that can be interpreted as an allegory to the fact that nahuatls, and in particular aztecs, were not present in Guerrero until the end of the XV century of our era due to the ferocious resistance of local cultures like the Yopes, whom dominated the coastal region until the arrival of the spanish.
It has been suggested too that the name of the city derives from the latin acqua (water) and pulchra (clean or beautiful).

Geography

The town was built on a narrow strip of low ground, scarcely half a mile wide, between the shoreline and the lofty mountains that encircle the bay to the north and east. Access to the town from inland is through the mountains via a 2 km tunnel that was constructed in the 1990s. A passage through the mountains, called Abra de San Nicolas, has been constructed and it allows cooling sea breezes to reach the city.
The climate is tropical, with warm to hot temperatures year-round. Precipitation is heavily concentrated in the high-sun period (northern hemisphere summer), while the low-sun period (northern hemisphere winter) is mostly dry and sunny.

History

Archaic Era

Archeological evidence shows that Acapulco was inhabited since before 3000 BC. The first vestiges of human presence consist of figures and pottery made of clay, stone, and ceramic. The pieces found in the coastal region of Puerto Marqués are of the earliest known ceramics from Mexico and it is especulated that they could be the oldest in all mesoamerica.
Cave paintings from 1200 BC and petroglyphs were discovered on Pie de la Cuesta. They indicate the early presence of fishermen settlements, with agriculture and hunting as secondary activities. In a mountainside on the locality of Palma Sola, situated in the Veladero National Park, calendaric beads and 18 giant granite stones engraved with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometrical details were found. They were created between 200 BC and 600 AC.
During this period nomadic tribes from the northeast of Mexico entered the actual state of Guerrero. Testimony of their transit were left in the vicinities of the city.

Pre-Colonial Era

Spanish Era

The first reference to Acapulco in the history of New Spain was made as early as 1519, by Bernal Díaz del Castillo in his "Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de Nueva España" (spanish for True History of the Conquest of New Spain). Spaniard captain Hernán Cortés sent several expeditionary groups to the mexican Pacific coasts in order to find a new commercial route towards Asia. The expedition leaded by Francisco Chico discovered Acapulco on December 13th, 1521, Santa Lucía's day, after whom he named the new found bay. Later, in 1523 Juan Rodríguez Villafuerte leaded the Zacatula's expedition arriving first to Zihuatanejo where he built the first shipyard of the New Spain. Then, after producing several caravels and brigantines he sailed to Acapulco, where he formally took possesion of the port in the name of the Kings of Spain: driving in the sand the cross and the staff with the banner of Castilla and Aragón.
On 1532 by royal order, Acapulco became a direct dependence of the Spanish Crown, receiving the name of Ciudad de los Reyes (City of the Kings). Later, in 1550, Carlos V King of Spain and Emperor of Germany and the Indias Occidentales (Western Indies), promoted it to historical city by royal decree.
It soon became a major port for Spanish ships carrying silks and spices gathered from Asia-Pacific.
For more than 256 years, a yearly trading movement, known as the Manila-Acapulco Galleon, set sail from Acapulco to the Philippine Islands. It's trade started an annual merchant fair in Acapulco where traders bargained for the Galleon's cargo of spices, silks, porcelain, ivory, and lacquer ware.
Acapulco's yearly treasure soon attracted sea pirates from both English and Dutch sailors who had sailed from the Caribbean sea. In 1579, Francis Drake attacked the coast of Acapulco, but failed to capture the Spanish Galleons; but in 1587, off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Thomas Cavendish seized the ''Santa Anna'', taking most of the treasures.
After a Dutch fleet invaded Acapulco in 1615; the Spaniards rebuilt their fort, which they christened ''Fort San Diego'' in 1617. The fort was destroyed by an earthquake in 1776 and was rebuilt by 1783. The Mexican War of Independence between 1810 to 1821, put a permanent stop on the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade.

Present day Acapulco

Acapulco has hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics yachting. The city was also devastated by Hurricane Pauline in 1997.

Acapulco as a holiday resort

Since the 20th century, Acapulco 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 the east-coast (Cancún) as a super-tourist destination. In the past three decades, air fares have become increasingly affordable as international airlines added flights and infrastructure 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 its 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 Cancún 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 Cancún due to its 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 Cancún, 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 been built by Mayan Resorts the largest vacation club and golf operator in Mexico.

Transportation

From the U.S. many airlines now fly to Acapulco year-round. While in the city, there are many buses and taxi services one can take to get from place to place, but most of the locals choose to walk to their destinations. However, an important mode of transportation is the government subsidized 'Colectivo' cab system. These cabs cost 10 pesos per person to ride, but they are not private. The driver will pick up more passengers as long as there is space, and will transport them to their destination based on first come first serve rules. These cabs each have a designated areas of the city to which the travel, the three main ones being Costera, Colosio, Coloso, or a mixture of the three. Coloso cabs mainly travel to old Acapulco. Colosio cabs travel through the majority of the tourist area of Acapulco. Costera cabs drive up and down the coast of Acapulco, which is where the majority of the hotels for visitors are, but also includes some of old Acapulco. Where a driver will take you is partly up to his choice, some are willing to travel to the other designated areas, especially during slow periods of the day. In addition, some destinations, such as the resorts of Acapulco Diamante, may cost an additional 10 pesos per person if one wishes to be dropped off at the door and not at the entrance to the resort complex (this is because the cabs do not normally go there).
The bus system is highly complex, and can be rather confusing to an outsider. As far as transportation goes, it is the cheapest form other than walking in Acapulco. The majority of the buses cost under 5 pesos, and generally speaking the less you pay the less you will get. The most expensive buses have air conditioning, while the cheaper buses do not. For tourists, the Acapulco city government has established a system of yellow buses with Acapulco! painted on the side of them. These buses are not just for tourists, but are certainly the nicest and most uniform of the bus systems. These buses, travel the tourist section of acapulco, driving up and down the coast basically. There are buses with specific route and destinations (generally written on their windshields or being shouted out by a barker riding in the front seat). Perhaps the most unusual thing about the privately operated buses is the fact that they are all highly decorated and personalized, with decaling and home made interior designs that range from comic book scenes, to adult themes, to hello kitty themes.

Attractions

Since 1934 the La Quebrada Cliff Divers have performed their impressive jumps into the shallow stream of water of dangerous tides that forms in the bottom part of La Quebrada.The Acapul co cliff divers were seen regularly on weekend sports programming in the United States during the 1970s.
There is a very vibrant night life in Acapulco which caters to all comers. Especially during Spring Break, many bars and night clubs sign special contracts with US based travel companies and cater specifically to the needs of an American crowd, which pay in advance through the travel company (it is open to everyone however). Due to this, there are distinct areas in which the American spring breakers are dominant, mainly around the coast in which the majority of the hotels are located. Most clubs are open bar, while the smaller bar establishments are pay on tab (these also tend to have dj or live music and dancing). Of the American favored clubs, the top three are Palladium, Mandara, and Privado, all located within a mile of each other. These clubs play mostly American music (during spring break), with some popular music from Mexico, generally rock, rap, or pop (and lots of shakira). The price varies due to the type of the year, but generally 40-50 American dollars is the cover (once again the bars are free inside, and very well stocked and staffed). Music is often live, and live performances are regular. There are multiple clubs which tend to cater to the local population as well as visitors from Mexico D.F. and other locations within the country. The two most popular are Salon Q and Ninas, both located on the coast a few blocks apart in the heart of Acapulco. Cover is also variable, but generally speaking the price is 20-25 American dollars with open bar. The music is a mixture of live music, with DJ'd music during the breaks. In addition, each has a performance every night, which includes a mixture of lip synching, crossdressers, and Latin exhibition dancing. The majority of the musica is Latin, Cumbia, Duranguense, Norteňo, Merengue, and Salsa are the most common. In addition to a younger crowd, it isn't surprising to find older couples as well. At around 2:00-3:00 a.m., the live bands retire, and music will switch over to include a large amount of Mexican/American current favorites (as well as a surprising amount of 70-80's US music).

Notable people

★ José Azueta Abad

★ Jorge Campos Navarrate

★ Juan R. Escudero Reguera

★ Roberto Palazuelos

★ Omar Jaramillo

References

[1] Armella de Fernández Castello, Corina, Acapulco, Ed. Estoril, 1997.
[2] Brush, Charles F., Pox Pottery: Earliest Identified Mexican Ceramic, Science, Vol. 149, No. 3680, pp. 194-195, 1965

★ Official Municipal Website of Ciudad de Acapulco

★ Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática

★ Guerrero Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

★

★ Acapulco climate statistics

See also

★ History of the west coast of North America

★ Spring Break

★ Acafest