La Quebrada Cliff Divers in Acapulco, Mexico

One of the highlights of visiting Acapulco is going to see the famous La Quebrada Cliff Divers. La Quebrada is the name of the cliffs where the divers climb to perform the death-defying dives into the narrow water below. The divers are all professionals of various ages that perform daily for the crowds that come to cheer them on. We chose to watch them from the La Perla restaurant in the El Mirador Resort that made them famous, but there is an observation deck where you can see them even closer without the expense of a meal.

DSC_3672_cropped
Divers Waving to the Crowds
DSC_3621
Observation Deck Across from the Cliff
DSC_3654
Diver Doing a Flip
DSC_3642
La Quebrada Cliff Lit Up for the Performance

The divers perform one show during the day at 1pm and then they do four performances in the evening at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30. While the afternoon performance might be best from a photographic perspective, seeing them in the evening is quite impressive. We chose to go to the 7:30 show as we were able to watch a beautiful sunset around 6:30 as we enjoyed our meal and waited for the divers to start their performance. Just sitting and enjoying the beautiful views of the La Quebrada cliffs and the water crashing into the “Gulch” is a worthwhile experience.

DSC_3674
About to Dive
DSC_3665_cropped
Starting to Climb the Cliff
DSC_3629
Setting Sun
DSC_3670
Diver Entering the Water

Prior to the start of the performance, some of the younger divers came out to dive from the smaller cliffs below the observation deck. In addition to practicing the diving skills and warming up, it was also their responsibility to clear away any seaweed that had been brought in by the tide. It was surprising to see how young some of the divers actually were, but they made sure to dive from the lower cliffs. Once the main divers arrived, also working they way down through the crowds on the observation deck, they also dove into the water and swam around in order to loosen up for the performance.

DSC_3652
Divers Gathering Before the Performance
IMG_4598
Lobby of the Resort with Famous Tarzan Actor Photograph
DSC_3658
Young Diver
DSC_3623
Water in the “Gulch”

Once it was time for the performance to begin, the first of the divers began the climb up the steep cliff wall using only his hands and his bare feet to scale to the top of the cliff. Then other divers started to climb the cliff with several of them going to a perch just below the summit. Each diver then patiently eyed the water below before leaping from the cliff and soaring through the air and into the water below. It is quite a fascinating show and certainly worth seeing when visiting Acapulco.

DSC_3645
Beautiful Colors as Sunset Ended
DSC_3653
Warming Up

The Beaches of Acapulco, Mexico

We really enjoyed our recent trip to Acapulco and the beaches were definitely the star of our time there. We have been to other Pacific resort towns in Mexico including Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Acapulco was unique in comparison to both of those for a variety of reasons. One is the proximity of Acapulco to Mexico City, which makes it a destination for locals who would like to get away from the city and enjoy time at the beach. Another is the combination of restaurants, water sports, and water that is suitable for swimming throughout all of the beaches that line the bay.

DSC_3535
People Enjoying the Water

DSC_3521
Sitting in a Palapa

IMG_4320
Enjoying Our Time at the Beach

DSC_3602
Looking Down the Beach from Our Resort

The beaches are very walkable and you can easily spend all of your day exploring all along the beach. You will find many different companies offering you the opportunity to rent jet skis, parasail, or take a ride on a banana boat. There are also people selling various items, especially jewelry, which is inexpensive in the area, as well as food. We didn’t find them to be as pushy as perhaps they are in other resort areas. As you walk passed all of the palapas that line the beach, you will get many offers to join the different restaurants for lunch and there isn’t anything that distinguishes where one restaurant’s tables end and another begins.

DSC_3613
Parasail Over the Bay

IMG_4321
Getting Our Feet Wet in the Waves

DSC_3513
Heading to the Beach

DSC_3490
View from Our Room

Perhaps because Acapulco is so close to Mexico City or because it is so far south and not as easy to get to from other countries, but there were not nearly as many foreigners as we have seen in other resort cities. It also meant that the crowds were much larger on the weekend than during the week during our stay. Regardless of its popularity among people outside of Mexico, we found the people to be friendly and the beaches to be very beautiful. The temperatures were quite warm, even in February, with daily temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (about 32 degrees Celsius). Fortunately, the ocean temperature was perfect to get a break from the heat by walking in the gentle waves or going for a quick swim.

DSC_3534
Walking Along the Beach

DSC_3607
View from Our Cabana by the Pool

DSC_3507
Neighboring Resorts

DSC_3512
Cabanas, Umbrellas, and Palapas

 

Sunset Cruise in Acapulco, Mexico

We happened to be in Acapulco over Valentines Day, so we decided to do a sunset cruise to make it a romantic evening. The cruise left from the marina, which was about fifteen minutes from our resort. The cruise takes you out through the bay and into the ocean where the views are amazing. We have taken many similar tours over the years and usually people just wander the upper deck to enjoy the scenery, however this tour had chairs lined up on the deck, so the earlier you arrive, the better your seat.

DSC_3587
Sun Reflecting off of the Resorts

IMG_4376
Seagulls Flying with the Boat

IMG_4399_adjusted
Sun Setting Over the Ocean

DSC_3571
Stadium Seating to Watch the Sunsets

DSC_3589
Colorful Sunset

The cruise had an open bar with unlimited drinks, so we enjoyed a nice, cold margarita to help offset the heat. Once the boat started moving and heading towards the ocean, there was a nice breeze that also helped to cool us off. As the ship moved its way out of the harbor, you past by the various cliffs along the bay all of which had beautiful homes and resorts perched along the clifftops. Watching the sunsets in Acapulco is extremely popular, whether from a cruise, resort, beach, or home, but there is even an area with stadium seating just for people to gather and watch the sun as it sinks below the horizon.

DSC_3556
Seagulls Filing the Sky

IMG_4389
Homes and Resorts on Top of the Cliffs

DSC_3552
Sitting in the Marina

DSC_3577
Start of the Sunset

DSC_3574
Views of the Coastline

We were joined on our cruise by not only a variety of tourists, but also a flock of seagulls flew along side of our boat as well. At times, there were so many seagulls that they pretty much blocked our views of the shoreline. The waters were very smooth during our tour  and we were able to see the sun setting over the open ocean as well as behind some of the cliffs that line the bay. It was certainly a perfect way to end our first full day in Acapulco and we would highly recommend taking a sunset tour anytime that you visit the Pacific coast.

IMG_4361
Enjoying a Margarita

DSC_3598
Peak of the Sunset

DSC_3562
Resorts Along the Bay

DSC_3567
More Buildings on the Cliffs

DSC_3580
Leaving the Bay and Entering the Ocean