Acapulco (ah-kah-POOL-co) is a city that invites superlatives. It delivers an action-packed, 24/7 exuberance that makes every moment count with an array of attractions and activities to please any visitor.

Popular yearound with foreign and domestic visitors, Acapulco is the queen of Mexican beach resorts. As the "birthplace" of the Mexican tourist industry, it is world-renowned for several firsts: the disco, parasailing, the swim-up pool bar, guest rooms with private swimming pools, tequila "poppers," pyramid-shaped hotels, and cliff diving.

Activities center around three areas. South of Acapulco Bay is the Playa Revolcadero/Diamante area. This long, flat stretch of open ocean beach is backed by an enormous tropical lagoon and is now home the Tres Vidas Golf Course and several high-rise apartment/condo projects.

To the north is the Puerto Marqués area. This tranquil bay, for years of little interest to developers, is now the site of the enormous Acapulco Diamante resort and residential development.

Then there is spectacular Acapulco Bay, a mountain-framed natural harbor that rivals Rio de Janeiro and Hong Kong for natural beauty. A highway descends from the steep cliffs of the bay’s southern end, becoming the coastal Avenida Miguel Alemán, also known as the Costera. This is the heart of Acapulco’s resort strip and home to nearly all of Acapulco’s high-rise hotels, non-stop nightlife, dining and shopping. The Costera continues north along the bay toward Old Acapulco and the aging, but partially renovated downtown area.

Acapulco is the largest, loudest and most boisterous resort in Mexico. Its tempo is more urban than resort, as the city approaches 2 million residents. Yet seclusion from the port´s traffic and clamor can be found at several hotel properties. In fact, Acapulco offers over 300 hotels (totalling 16,000 rooms) and boasts some of the world's swankiest resorts, along with dozens of affordable beachfront choices.

Thanks to its dazzling discos, bars, clubs and "Las Vegas, Mexican-style" atmosphere (without the gambling), Acapulco is the # 1 choice with party lovers. Honeymooners fall in love with the resort’s tropical beauty and festive Mexican atmosphere. The area also appeals to families, thanks to several parks, calm beaches and the CiCi water sports park for children.

Sports enthusiasts have plenty to do. Water sports of every variety lure visitors to the seashore, while golfers are coming to recognize Acapulco as a world-class destination thanks to the city’s four excellent courses. For those who can stumble out of bed at a decent hour, there are several new eco-based tours that take in the areas lagoons, jungles, islands and estuaries.

Dining is diverse, not only in cuisine, but also in setting. Most restaurants are al-fresco, and many offer breathtaking views of Acapulco Bay. Shopping is excellent, either in the resort's several American-style malls or at its bustling downtown mercados.

Despite its current reputation as a playground of chic resorts, the port played a prominent role in world history. In fact, Acapulco was a cornerstone in the development of world trade as far back as the 16th century. For 250 years the Spanish colonial empire tapped the wealth of Asia with great fleets of galleons that crisscrossed the Pacific. From Acapulco, ships sailed to the Philippines where traders from two hemispheres met to exchange Mexican silver for spices, silk, ivory, precious stones, pearls and fine porcelain. Acapulco’s San Diego Fort, a sentinel overlooking the harbor, was built in 1616 to guard the famous Manila Galleons from marauding pirates.

Following the Spaniards departure in 1810, Acapulco remained outside the mainstream of Mexican development until this century, when improved roads and air service linked the port with Mexico City. In 1955 a new highway opened that made the trip from Mexico Cíty a mere six hours. Direct international air service began in 1964. Soon after Acapulco staked its claim as THE international playground for Hollywood’s elite and the rich-and-famous from around the globe. Many "celebs" still own homes here.

The resort is undergoing a city-wide renaissance and improved scheduled air service. This effort has included improved roads, a new section of the Costera, that replaces the underpass at Papagayo Park, cleaner water and beaches, landscaping of public areas, major hotel renovations and the relocation of street and beach vendors. There is a new sanitation system and the open-air landfills are a thing of the past. Much of downtown has been spruced up. Cleaning brigades are out in force, and a new bilingual tourist police force dressed in smart white safari uniforms has been deployed to answer questions. Ultra-deluxe developments at Punta Diamante and Playa Revolcadero have enhanced Acapulco’s resort inventory and opened up new areas outside Acapulco Bay for visitor enjoyment.