Sights in Central Pacific Coast
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Islands
Resembling breaching whales in silhouette, the three photogenic land masses jutting from the sea are Mazatlán's signature islands. With secluded beaches and limpid waters ideal for snorkeling - and great multitudes of seals and marine birds - they provide an ideal day trip destination. On the left is Isla de Chivos (Island of Goats); on the right is Isla de Pájaros (Island of Birds), and in the center is Isla de Venados (Deer Island), which is the most visited of the three.
The islands are part of a wildlife refuge designated to help protect the marine fauna and birds they harbour. The most popular option for visiting the islands is the five-hour Deer Island Tour to Isl…
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Isla de la Piedra
Escape artists love Isla de la Piedra, located southeast of Old Mazatlán, for its beautiful, long sandy beach bordered by coconut groves. Anyone with an appetite sings the praises of the simple palapa (thatched-roof shelter) restaurants. Surfers come for the waves, and on Sunday afternoons and holidays the restaurants draw Mexican families. Most other times you'll have the beach to yourself.
Several companies offer no-hassle, all-inclusive excursions to Isla de la Piedra (it's actually a peninsula) including open bar, lunch, and a menu of activities such as water sports and short rides on forlorn, skinny horses.
It's a simple matter to get to Isla de Piedra on your own. …
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Fuerte de San Diego
This beautifully restored pentagonal fort was built in 1616. Its mission was to protect the Spanish naos (galleons) that conducted trade between the Philippines and Mexico from marauding Dutch and English buccaneers. It must have been effective because this trade route lasted until the early 19th century.
After a 1776 earthquake damaged most of Acapulco, the fort had to be rebuilt. It remains basically unchanged today, having been recently restored to top condition by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). The panorama of Acapulco you'll get from the fort is free and alone worth the trip.
The fort is now home to the Museo Histórico de Acapulco, which h…
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Isla Isabel
You can make an interesting trip further afield to Isla Isabel, four hours northwest of San Blas by boat. You really need a couple of days to appreciate this national park and protected ecological preserve. To visit you'll need permission from the port captain. The island is a bird-watcher's paradise, with colonies of many species and a volcanic crater lake. There are no facilities, so be prepared for self-sufficient camping.
The official price for transportation of up to five people is around $5000, but deep discounts are possible depending on your negotiation skills. For trips to Isla Isabel, ask at the boat landing on Estuario El Pozo. Alternately, you can make the tri…
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La Quebrada Cliff Divers
The famous clavadistas (cliff divers) of La Quebrada have been dazzling audiences since 1934, swan diving with graceful finesse from heights of 25-35m (82-115ft) into the narrow ocean cove below. Understandably, the divers pray at a small shrine before leaping over the edge, as did Elvis Presley in the 1963 flick Fun in Acapulco.
At least three divers perform each time, and you're allowed to stay for more than one show. For a view from below the jump-off point, walk up Calle La Quebrada from the zócalo then climb down about 60 steps to the viewing platform. Be sure to tip the divers when they come through the crowd.
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El Tortugario
El Tortugario is a beachside turtle sanctuary located 4km east of Cuyutlán. Since it opened in 1993, conservationists have released more than 500,000 green, black and leatherback turtle hatchlings into the wild here. The center also has small iguana and crocodile sanctuaries, an education center, swimming pools and a picnic area. Don’t miss the Tortugario’s lagoon trips on the Palo Verde Estuary, a nature preserve that’s home to 1007 species of birds, including 257 migratory birds. Lanchas move through mangrove tunnels and past sunbathing crocodiles. The 45-minute ride costs M$40.
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Palma Sola Archaeological Site
Located deep in a forest high above Acapulco, the Palma Sola Archaeological site is one of 12 known petroglyphs sites in the Acapulco area. Palma Sola is the most accessible and contains 18 petroglyphs dating from 200 BC to AD 600. Little is known about the people who created the drawings, which range from simple stick figures to elaborate scenes of ancient life in Acapulco.
A steep, sturdy trail winds 400m uphill past the petroglyphs, all marked by Spanish and English signs, and ending at a rewarding view of Acapulco Bay. Bring good hiking shoes and water.
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Caletilla
A small beach blending into Playas Caleta in a cove on the south side of Península de las Playas. Both beaches are backed by a solid line of seafood palapa restaurants. The area is popular with families who have small children, as the water is very calm. All buses marked 'Caleta' heading down La Costera arrive here. The Mágico Mundo Marino aquarium sits on an islet just offshore, forming the imaginary line between the two beaches; boats go regularly from the islet to Isla de la Roqueta.
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Cerro de la Contaduría
The climb to the top of the Cerro de la Contaduría has a double payoff: a gratifying view and a strong aura of history. Stroll around the ruins of the 18th-century Spanish La Contaduría Fort, where colonial riches were once amassed and counted before being shipped off to Mexico City or the Philippines. The place is still guarded by a collection of corroded cannons. Nearby are the gorgeous ruins of the Templo de la Virgen del Rosario, built in 1769.
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Playas Caleta
A small, protected beach blending into Caletilla beach in a cove on the south side of Península de las Playas. Both beaches are backed by a solid line of seafood palapa restaurants. The area is popular with families, as the water is very calm. All buses marked 'Caleta' heading down La Costera arrive here. The Mágico Mundo Marino aquarium sits on an islet just offshore, forming the imaginary line between the two beaches; boats go regularly from the islet to Isla de la Roqueta.
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Playa La Ropa
If you walk over the hill along the steep Carretera Escénica for 15 to 20 minutes (less than 1km) from Playa Madera, you'll reach the broad expanse of Playa La Ropa, named for a Spanish galleon that wrecked and washed its cargo of silks ashore. The beach is bordered by palm trees and seafood restaurants. It's an enjoyable walk, with the road rising up onto cliffs that offer a fine view over the water. One of Zihua's most beautiful beaches. You can also rent sailboards and sailboats.
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La Capilla de la Paz
Perched on a hilltop high above Acapulco, La Capilla de la Paz is a beautiful, quiet spot for reflection and meditation. The minimalist, open-air chapel features cascading water, gardens and benches to savor the beautiful aerial view of Acapulco. The chapel’s giant white cross is visible from miles across the bay. Sunset is the best time to visit, when tourists jockey for positions to capture the sun setting within the sculpture of clasped hands. Silence is golden here.
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Playa Las Gatas
Isolated Playa Las Gatas is named for the whiskered nurse sharks who once inhabited the waters. It's a protected beach, crowded with sunbeds and restaurants. It's good for snorkeling (there's some coral) and as a swimming spot for children, but beware of sea urchins. Beach shacks and restaurants rent out snorkeling gear. Boats to Playa Las Gatas depart frequently from the Zihuatanejo pier. Buy tickets at the booth at the foot of the pier; one-way tickets can be bought on board.
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Playa Larga
About 10km south of Zihuatanejo, just before the airport, Playa Larga has big waves, beachfront restaurants and horseback riding. Nearby Playa Manzanillo, a secluded white-sand beach reachable by boat from Zihuatanejo, offers the best snorkeling in the area. To reach Playa Larga, take a 'Coacoyul' combi (around $6, 10 minutes) from Juárez opposite the market and get off at the turnoff to Playa Larga; another combi will take you from the turnoff to the beach.
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Jardines Botánicos de Vallarta
Orchids, bromeliads, agaves and wild palms line the paths of this gorgeous nature park, located half an hour south of Puerto Vallarta. Butterflies flit by as you dine at the open-air restaurant. Follow hummingbirds down paths and through fern grottoes. Slap on some bug juice and make a day of it. Take the ‘El Tuito’ bus (M$20) from the corner of Carranza and Aguacate in Puerto Vallarta, or hop in a taxi (about M$200).
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Isla de la Roqueta
This island has a popular (crowded) beach, and snorkeling and diving possibilities. You can rent snorkeling gear, kayaks and other water-sports equipment on the beach. Boats make the short trip every 20 minutes or so. A glass-bottomed boat makes a circuitous trip to the island, departing from the same beaches but traveling via La Virgen de los Mares (the Virgin of the Seas), a submerged bronze statue of the Virgen of Guadalupe.
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Plaza de Toros
Mexico's Pacific Coast is considered a region without much local enthusiasm for bullfighting, and bullfights performed here are largely motivated by the tourist dollar. Having said that, Puerta Vallarta has the largest and newest plaza along the coast - it's a smaller version of the famous Plaza del Toro in Mexico City. Anyway, you know the deal: red cape, angry bull, cheering crowds, blood. Buy your tickets at the plaza.
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Museo Regional de Nayarit
Residing in a palatial 18th-century neoclassical house with a lovely courtyard, the Museo Regional de Nayarit presents changing exhibitions concerned primarily with pre-Hispanic objects, including ancient pottery and tomb artifacts, as well as colonial painting and Huichol culture. Also on hand are an important pre-Hispanic bas-relief found near Mexcaltitán, and one stupendous stuffed crocodile.
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Bahía de Banderas
Below the warm, tranquil waters of the Bahía de Banderas is a world of stingrays, tropical fish and garishly colored corals. Great spots for diving and snorkeling are Los Arcos, the rocky islands south of the city center, and the Islas Marietas, which are surrounded by reefs, tunnels, walls and underwater caves. Dolphins, whales and giant manta rays are often sighted between December and April.
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Playa Las Islitas
The best beaches are southeast of town around Bahía de Matanchén, starting with Playa Las Islitas, 7km from San Blas. To get here, take the road toward Hwy 15 and turn off to the right after about 4km. This paved road goes east past the village of Matanchén, where a dirt road goes south to Playa Las Islitas and continues on to follow 8km of wonderfully isolated beach.
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Playa del Palmar
Playa del Palmar is all about big hotels and a lovely long stretch of white-sand beach that's teeming with parasail and jet-ski outfits. Be very careful if you swim here: the large waves crash straight down and there's a powerful undertow. The west end of this beach, just before the entrance to the lagoon, is locally called Playa Escolleras and is favored by surfers.
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Playa Olas Altas
In Old Mazatlán, the crescent-shaped Playa Olas Altas is the beach where tourism first flourished in the 1950s. The small pebbly beach in a small cove is not ideal for swimming, but it's a grand place to soak up some regional history. The breezy seafront road, Paseo Olas Altas, strongly evokes 1950s-era Mazatlán, with a couple of faded relic hotels.
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La Quebrada
Acapulco’s most popular tourist attraction, the famous cliff divers of La Quebrada have been dazzling audiences since 1934, diving with fearless finesse from heights of 25m to 35m into the narrow ocean cove below. The last show usually features divers making the plunge holding torches. Tip the divers when they come through the crowd.
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Casa de la Máscara
This enchanting mask museum is near the fort on the pedestrian portion of Morelos. It has an amazing collection of masks from around Mexico, including some by Afro-Mestizos from the Costa Chica, as well as masks from Cuba, Italy and Africa. A central room displays modern creations. The scant signage is in Spanish.
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Bahía Puerto Marqués
The beaches on Bahía Puerto Marqués, are very popular, and its calm waters are good for waterskiing and sailing. You get a magnificent view of Bahía de Acapulco as the Carretera Escénica climbs south out of the city. Frequent 'Puerto Marqués' buses run along La Costera every 10 minutes from 05:00 to 21:00.
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