Acapulco is a major city, a tourist attraction and a seaport. The first inhabitants of the area settled around 200 BC. The Nahua Indians were there before the Aztecs. During the sixteenth century, the Spanish arrived and named the city Santa Lucia. They used Acapulco as a shipyard and point of departure to explore South America and Asia. This activity attracted pirates including the famous Sir Francis Drake.

The city's infrastructure was improved in the 50's, and the rich and famous of Hollywood became regulars.

Its proximity to Mexico City makes Acapulco a perfect spot for locals to spend their vacations.

There are many beaches, each with a unique characteristic of its own:

• Playa Caleta is where Acapulco got its start. It is popular now among locals. It is located at the western tip of the bay. Caleta has placid waters, perfect for children. Between Caleta and Caletilla, on a tiny island joined by a foot bridge is Magico Mundo Marino aquarium. Caleta Beach is also where you hire a skiff to whisk you across to Isla Roqueta. The five-minute boat ride to the island costs about $2.75 U.S. per person.
• Glass-bottom boats take passengers from Caleta to Roqueta Island, only ten minutes away. There you can find the Aca Zoo, and the lighthouse.
• Pie de la Cuesta is 15 miles west of the city. It divides the Pacific Ocean from a large lagoon called Coyuca. You can find boat tours, water skiing and exotic wildlife.
• The "Costera" Resort Zone is 15 miles long, and it is home of most of the hotels, shopping, nightlife and dinning.
• Puerto Marques is a tranquil bay, yet with lots of small businesses craving for clients. There are about 40 identical concrete restaurants over a concrete floor all of them trying to be the ones to attract the costumers.
• Punta Diamante is an area of almost 3,000 acres. There are many important new developments.

Because of its nice weather, beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan atmosphere and nightlife, Acapulco is one of the most important tourist places in the world and is compared to the French Riviera, of course with a much better climate.