Amazing Acapulco

Acapulco is enormously popular, both with international visitors and the thousands of weekend tourists who come from Mexico City for the beaches and unbeatable nightlife.

What brought early tourists to this broad sweep of beach and bay - a delightful, sunny climate and a great array of sports and dining options.

A must-see is offered at La Quebrada (kay-brah-dah) north of the city. Cliff divers plunge 39 m (130 feet) into a tiny sea pool of churning water, and are rewarded by tips and applause by the appreciative crowds.

Outdoor activities include deepsea fishing, golf on five golf courses, and tennis courts abound. And of course perfecting your tan, along with the other bronzed bodies on the beach. They may be sleeping... because they are recovering from, or preparing for, the town's incredible nightlife.

Things start to warm up around 11 p.m. and peak when the fireworks go off over the bay around 2 a.m. But most clubs stay open til breakfast time. So you may find yourself asleep on the beach too!

Acapulco is also a great destination if you enjoy a little retail therapy on your vacation. There's a colourful central market perfect for bargaining for t-shirts and souvenirs, and elsewhere there are sparkling malls and the famous department store Sanborn's.

Getting around is super-easy. Hundreds of VW Beetle (the "old" kind) taxis scuttle up and down the Costera, or main boulevard. Rates are posted in hotel lobbies as most don't have meters.

• Acapulco
• Cancun
• Cozumel
• Los Cabos
• Puerto Vallarta
• Riviera Maya