Kid Friendly in Acapulco

Our Local Expert Says:

Take a glass bottom boat from Playa Caleta to see this underwater statue of the Virgin Mary 30 feet underwater.

Description:

Take a glass bottom boat from Playa Caleta to see this underwater statue of the Virgin Mary 30 feet underwater.

Description:

This beach offers calm and gentle water because it is located in a corner of Puerto Marques Bay and is perfect for the entire family.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a traditional Mexican restaurant that is good for breakfast. Try the Huevos rancheros.

Description:

This restaurant is especially attractive for its high arches and cast iron, replicating the type of small plaza traditionally found in Mexican country haciendas (big estate houses favored by the landed gentry.) As one might expect, the food is similarly inspired. Everything from simple tacos de albañil (crunchy pork cracklings garnished with avocado, onion, tomato, coriander and chili peppers) to the delicious tampiqueña meat dish (a tender cut of beef fried or roasted,) accompanied by enchiladas (maize tortilla filled with chicken and garnished with a mole chili and chocolate spice sauce,) beans and totopos (fried maize tortillas,) and an oil fried golden taco are on the menu. Aside from evening meals, breakfast is also served.

Our Local Expert Says:

The stylish bar is beautiful and sometimes a magician will come to your table and entertain you with card tricks.

Description:

This has the best water park for kids in town and some exceptional activities and shows(salsa bands, circus), depending on the season and who is in charge. The watery lobby with pillars makes a grand impression and the Mayan theme on the whole is a winner, if you can keep your cynicism at bay. Foreign guests love the sports bar area and the variety of foods in the differently-themed restaurants. However, you have wandered into package and time-share land here, which leaves you somewhat in limbo - in Acapulco … but not really. Food is tasty and varied but rooms vary in quality, size and decor depending whether you are "Grand Mayan", or one of the other categories. Pre-planned outings are not bad, and on the whole, if you find a good price, this is fine for those who want to sit back and let someone else do the running.

Our Local Expert Says:

Probably the top cultural venue in town, with temporal art exhibitions, classical concerts and promoting the excellent festival of the Nao. The museum is well worth a visit to find out about Acapulco's fascinating history as a port and the riches brought in by the Manila Galleon. Exhibits are labeled in appalling but decipherable English. Workshops for kids in the summer.

Description:

"La Fuerte," as it is referred to in town, is the main historical monument in Acapulco and the most important maritime fort along the Pacific coast. Acapulco´s first claim to fame was for being the port for the Nao de China (also known as the Manila Galleon) that brought splendid goods from the Orient, which were then transferred to Veracruz and sent to Europe. Here you will be greeted by the carriage of William of Holland which made its way from Veracruz in the 1840s, replicas of galleons, fine silks, treasure chests and plentiful models. Visitors will also find pre-conquest history, with faces and tools from La Sabana river area, Mezcala faces for the dead, a Mexica altar, information on wall paintings from nearby Pie de la Cuesta and a general insight into Guerrero state´s pre-Hispanic sites. Nautical fans will be in paradise with probes, hour glasses, sextants, compasses, hoists and marine astrolabes. These compete with military trappings, armor and shields, and delicate, ancient flags and standards. The displays are beautifully conceived, and attentive visitors will note how Mexican artists began to reproduce stylized decorations in their own crafts, with examples from Puebla´s... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Perfect place to take the kids for the day. Lots of locals go here on the weekends so it can get busy.

Description:

This beach club is located a few kilometers away from downtown Acapulco, but free transportation is available from several public bus stops on the Costera. The club's facilities include swimming pools, water slides, beach volley courts, soccer fields on grass or sand, ample gardens which contribute to the peaceful atmosphere and a restaurant which offers a buffet, included in your admission fee. This experience is all perfectly framed by the lovely waters of Pie de la Cuesta beach.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great take out. Has a place for kids to play. Fast service.

Description:

As its name suggests, the specialty of this restaurant is chicken cooked Sonoran style (a Northern Mexican state close to the US border). Thus the Charcoal grilled Chicken is accompanied by roasted onions and hand made tortillas, all garnished in a delicious Mexican sauce. Other recommended dishes are the chilorio (a Northern meat and chili dish) and quesadillas (folded maize tortillas filled with either meat, cheese or mushrooms inside.) Try one of the original root beers also from Sonora. The facilities are fairly simple, but include a parking lot, play area for children, and an ocean landscape that is quite beautiful to gaze out on. Service is quick and friendly, and includes a special booth for take away orders.

Our Local Expert Says:

The stylish bar is beautiful and sometimes a magician will come to your table and entertain you with card tricks.

Description:

This has the best water park for kids in town and some exceptional activities and shows(salsa bands, circus), depending on the season and who is in charge. The watery lobby with pillars makes a grand impression and the Mayan theme on the whole is a winner, if you can keep your cynicism at bay. Foreign guests love the sports bar area and the variety of foods in the differently-themed restaurants. However, you have wandered into package and time-share land here, which leaves you somewhat in limbo - in Acapulco … but not really. Food is tasty and varied but rooms vary in quality, size and decor depending whether you are "Grand Mayan", or one of the other categories. Pre-planned outings are not bad, and on the whole, if you find a good price, this is fine for those who want to sit back and let someone else do the running.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the heart of the old central neighborhood of Acapulco. While catering to tourists it also retains local authenticity, and is a showcase for some of the town's elderly characters of the "popular classes," as they are called here.

Description:

The Zócalo was the heart of Spanish Acapulco, founded on December 13, 1521, when Fernando Chico sailed into Acapulco Bay, and remains the most traditional section of the entire city. The busy neighborhood's vital center is a pretty tree-lined plaza between the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Soledad and the bay front avenue, La Costera. The church, built only in 1930, is unusual in Mexico: onion-shaped twin towers covered in blue and yellow tiles resemble those of a Russian Orthodox church.

The plaza's arcades contain restaurants and ice cream stores and if you explore the surrounding side streets you will find decent prices for souvenirs. The cruise ship terminal is within walking distance of the Zócalo and the sidewalks are frequently packed with passengers enjoying a day in port. Walk up the hill behind the church to La Quebrada and watch the cliff divers.

Description:

Longtime Acapulco scuba operator Swiss Divers Association offers novice divers and snorkelers the chance to gain experience in pool sessions or the shallow waters of Playa Caletilla and Isla Roqueta. More experienced divers visiting Mexico can choose from boat, wreck, and nitrox dives in deep Acapulco Bay or in the Pacific Ocean. Visibility varies daily but is usually from between 15 and 45 feet and sea life like octopus, turtles, stingrays, and dolphins are regularly spotted.

Boats sail in the morning and afternoon; one interesting dive visits the submerged bronze statue of the Virgin of the Seas in Boca Chica channel. The friendly staff takes your safety seriously and also speaks English, Spanish, and German. The company also rents, sells, and repairs diving equipment, and makes souvenir photos and videos of your dive. Swiss Divers Association offers free transportation to and from hotels, including Las Brisas and Casa Condesa.

Our Local Expert Says:

Excellent place for the kids. Check out the little zoo with monkeys and rabbits and the little lake. A unique experience in dining.

Description:

La Granja offers a great variety of dishes which are typical of the coast and are served by a staff that is warm and friendly. As you enter La Granja, you will find yourself under a great sized thatched roof, to one side they have a playground and in the back there is a small lake where games are organised such as boat races, or a contest to see who can cross the lake by hanging on a rope. It also has a mini zoo where the lion, the racoon, the rabbits and monkeys are always an attraction.

Our Local Expert Says:

The stylish bar is beautiful and sometimes a magician will come to your table and entertain you with card tricks.

Description:

This has the best water park for kids in town and some exceptional activities and shows(salsa bands, circus), depending on the season and who is in charge. The watery lobby with pillars makes a grand impression and the Mayan theme on the whole is a winner, if you can keep your cynicism at bay. Foreign guests love the sports bar area and the variety of foods in the differently-themed restaurants. However, you have wandered into package and time-share land here, which leaves you somewhat in limbo - in Acapulco … but not really. Food is tasty and varied but rooms vary in quality, size and decor depending whether you are "Grand Mayan", or one of the other categories. Pre-planned outings are not bad, and on the whole, if you find a good price, this is fine for those who want to sit back and let someone else do the running.

Description:

These beaches became the center of fun for both the national and international film stars during the 50's and 60's. They are protected naturally by Roqueta Island which does not allow the strong currents of the Pacific to pass through, and giving these beaches gentle waves and shallow waters, ideal for the family.

Our Local Expert Says:

Lots of locals go here. Decent prices. Stick to the Mexican cuisine here, although they do offer a variety.

Description:

Not fancy at all, Julio's is known for its good service and affordable prices. Clean, simple and pleasant, this establishment calls for casual, informal attire. Seafood happens to be their specialty and they serve Mexican and international cuisine, which tends to be seasonal. Hours may vary according to the tourist season.

Our Local Expert Says:

The stylish bar is beautiful and sometimes a magician will come to your table and entertain you with card tricks.

Description:

This has the best water park for kids in town and some exceptional activities and shows(salsa bands, circus), depending on the season and who is in charge. The watery lobby with pillars makes a grand impression and the Mayan theme on the whole is a winner, if you can keep your cynicism at bay. Foreign guests love the sports bar area and the variety of foods in the differently-themed restaurants. However, you have wandered into package and time-share land here, which leaves you somewhat in limbo - in Acapulco … but not really. Food is tasty and varied but rooms vary in quality, size and decor depending whether you are "Grand Mayan", or one of the other categories. Pre-planned outings are not bad, and on the whole, if you find a good price, this is fine for those who want to sit back and let someone else do the running.