With Memorial Day just around the corner, summer is officially here! Acapulco, in the Mexican Pacific coast, is preparing to welcome American travelers in search of sun, sand, and lively nightlife. You can visit the local hotspots and follow in the footsteps of Classic Hollywood Royalty Elizabeth Taylor to today’s Pop Stars Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez and many others.
Few places in the world can rival Acapulco, the heart of the Mexican Riviera, when it comes to being celebrity hot spots for fun in the sun, from movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Era to today’s favorite pop stars. Here’s a guide to a few of Acapulco’s star-studded hotspots with celebrity tales to tell, from restaurants and clubs, to beaches and hotels across the Pacific resort.
“Acapulco has a particular history with celebrities, since the gilded age of Hollywood to recent years with Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber and many others,” says Pedro Haces, president of the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office. “Our resort gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘stargazing.’”
Where to Stay
Nestled high on a hillside with a spectacular view of Acapulco Bay and with a stunning beachside pool, it is easy to see why the dreamy pink and white Las Brisas Hotel is a celebrity favorite. John and Jackie Kennedy chose Las Brisas for their Acapulco honeymoon, bringing a sense of Camelot to the beach, with Bill and Hillary Clinton honeymooning here a few decades later. It has also been the choice of Denzel Washington, John Travolta and the father and son duo of Julio and Enrique Iglesias, among many others. Many of these stars have left a souvenir of themselves behind in the form of hand prints set in pink concrete which adorn the lobby. The tradition has been observed by Elizabeth Taylor, Johnny Carson, Sophia Loren, Clint Eastwood, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Kevin Costner.
Today, Acapulco is awash in upscale accommodations where you can vacation like a star, such as the legendary Princess Mundo Imperial and Pierre Marques Mundo Imperial. Resort Mundo Imperial hosts celebrities all year round, some of them performing at the Forum Mundo Imperial.
South of the iconic Bay of Acapulco, and featuring Asia-inspired luxury pool-villas, top-notch restaurants, pools and a state of the art spa, the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques is one of the newer hotels that has proven popular with celebrities, attracting the likes of Justin Bieber, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlet Johansson, and even Prince Charles.
Another favorite among stars is Hotel Encanto, a stylish adults-only property in Las Brisas neighborhood. Its minimalist architecture and bold, neon lighting attracts a hip crowd that enjoys trendy rooms, impeccable service and secluded surroundings. Hotel Encanto’s cool vibe was also the backdrop to some of the scenes in Jennifer Lopez’s video for her song Follow the Leader, a collaboration with Wisin & Yandel.
Where to Play
Acapulco’s attractions and scenery have also long been among Hollywood’s darlings. No film embodies the US movie industry’s love affair with Acapulco as much as Elvis Presley’s 1963 Fun in Acapulco. Elvis played lifeguard and diver Mike Windgren who triumphs over a rival at the famous 136-foot diving cliff La Quebrada, a few miles from the center of town and a must see for any visitor. Sexy bombshell Lana Turner starred on the same beach in the 1965 mystery Love Has Many Faces.
The dives continue today, with professionals and amateurs alike catapulting themselves over the cliff day and night, a live spectacle in full view of the adjacent Mirador Hotel.
Farther from town, beachgoers seeking seclusion head to Revolcadero Beach, in front of the Princess Hotel. Nearby Playa Diamante, close to the airport, offers even more privacy. From the center of town to the most secluded stretches, many of these beaches were featured as the glamorous backdrops to JLopez’s video Follow the Leader.
Some areas offer adventure and tranquility, like Laguna de Tres Palos, just to the southeast of the city. One of Guerrero State’s best birdwatching areas, heron and other birds frolic among the lily pads and blossoming tropical flowers edges. This enormous lagoon along with other Acapulco sites was where the 1966 Tarzan and the Valley of Gold movie starring Mike Henry movie was filmed.
Coyuca, a beautiful fresh water lagoon north of Acapulco, was the backdrop to the early Tarzan movies – including Johnny Weissmuller’s 1932 blockbuster -, Rambo II with Sylvester Stallone and The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
If you are looking for excitement, you can dance with the stars at Baby’O - for nearly four decades one of the world’s most mythical clubs, a favorite of stars like Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Naomi Campbell and Bono. The enormous Palladium has a young, fun crowd, and some of the most famous DJs in the world, such as Tiësto, Avicii, Steve Aoki and Paul Van Dyk, have entertained late into the night in this club. A fantastic lighting system, Aztec dancers adorned in plumed finery and pyrotechnics ensure a night to remember. The Hannah Sun Club, meanwhile, is where the younger crowd flocks to enjoy good music and a spectacular view over the bay.
Another favorite among thrill seekers is XTASEA, the world’s largest over water zip-line. An experience combining adrenaline, adventure and fun, XTASEA crosses the Bay of Puerto Marqués and spans over a mile long reaching 75 mph at an altitude of 328 feet.
Where to Dine
Celebrities tend to enjoy fine gastronomy, and in Acapulco, one of their favorites is Becco al Mare, where they can savor exquisitely prepared dishes and marvel at the view. Tara Reid, Luis Miguel and many others have been spotted here.
Other classic options include Zibu, overlooking the beautiful Bay of Puerto Marques, the award-winning Bellavista at Las Brisas Hotel, Tabachin at Pierre Mundo Imperial, Mizimu at Resort Imperial and Saffron at Banyan Tree Cabo Marques.
La Perla, El Mirador Hotel’s restaurant overlooking Acapulco’s legendary cliffs at La Quebrada, is also a favorite among celebrities. Inside, a wood paneled wall of autographs in white paint commemorates the visits of many from Acapulco’s heyday like Bob Hope, Ann Miller and Roy Rogers, to more recent outings by Luis Miguel.
For more information on Acapulco, visit www.goacapulco.travel.
