Day 12 – Acapulco

After Ixtapa, Acapulco is maybe the most beautiful Mexico port on the Pacific. Besides the beauty there is lots to do as a traveler. There’s a lot you can see when you visit here and all the excursions ships offer are pretty solid. Don’t want to do a formal tour? Just walk out the terminal, hang right, walk 100 yards or so and there are beautiful beaches. The cliff divers are always a safe and interesting excursion. The dolphin swim is unique in that you will swim in a stadium that mimics SeaWorld and after you get to spend time in the local water park. No one I talked to around the boat hired a private taxi or tour guide to show them the area.

Now, the down side with Acapulco. When I was here in 2008 it was a big, yet cozy and safe town. Things have changed a bit in the last 5 years. The drug violence has found its way to this town and problems have occurred in and near the tourist areas. If you decide to do any tour or sight seeing on your own, stick to the beaches. Should you decide to venture off the main street to see things, take a tour. Things are bad enough here that the US has officially issued a travel warning for all American citizens. The day before we arrived in port everyone received a separate piece of paper from the captain, warning us about the dangers and need to be extra safe. We received no such paper in any other port nor have I ever on any other trip I’ve been on. As a result of all this, the boat is packed. In fact, at noon you’d think we had a sea day with all the people still onboard. Rightly or not, I guess a lot of people are worried enough to simply not take a chance by getting off today.

Just be careful when you stop here. Be mindful of your surroundings and don’t put yourself in a position where someone or something could take advantage of you being our of your normal surroundings.