What It’s Like to Visit Acapulco Today

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on June 5. It was updated on June 17 with an official statement from Acapulco's tourism organization regarding the destination's safety and security for tourists.

If the return of international flights is any indicator of a destination’s recovery, then the future is looking bright in Acapulco, Mexico’s original jet-set vacation destination.

On May 25, United Airlines resumed service linking Acapulco with its Houston hub, fielding once-weekly roundtrips on Saturdays using Embraer EM-175 aircraft.

This recent development is just the latest example of Acapulco’s rebound after Hurricane Otis delivered a devastating blow to the city last October.

Large-scale events are also back in Acapulco. This March, the city hosted the Mexican Open, a major tennis event at the recently reopened Arena GNP Seguros, an event venue owned by Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality, one of the largest players in the city’s hotel and entertainment scene. And in April, hundreds of tourism industry insiders flocked to Acapulco for Tianguis Turistico, Mexico’s annual tourism conference.

Hosting Tianguis Turistico and the Mexican Open have provided the destination with an opportunity to showcase its swift and ongoing recovery, according to Aida Perez, operations director for Tourism Promotion Trust of Acapulco. Praising the resilience of the city’s residents, she says that Acapulco is on track for continued recovery.

“It was impressive to see how life changed for all Acapulquenos from one day to the next,” she said. “However, it was even more impressive to see how we’ve gotten back on our feet since that first day — to see how strong we are; that, in spite of adversities, we’re a community united to work together to see our city being reborn, like a phoenix.”

Perez predicts that Acapulco will be ready to welcome even more visitors for the peak winter season.

“We’re very excited and confident because our expectations for the end of this year are high,” she said. “We’ve had rapid advances after the hurricane, to the point where today, we can say that we were the hosts of the Tennis Open and Tianguis Turistico after just a few months.”

Indeed, as the city continues to witness the reopening of more hotels, restaurants and attractions, tourism authorities are hoping for a boom in arrivals in the coming months.

The Acapulco Experience for Visitors

As a reporter covering Tianguis Turistico, I was able to experience firsthand what it’s like to visit Acapulco today. Upon arrival at Acapulco’s glistening international airport (which features a terminal that debuted in 2018), the only difference noticeable was that the upper-level gates weren’t back in service yet, but the spacious lower level provided all the facilities necessary for both arriving and departing passengers.

Driving around the city, I noticed that some buildings had roof tiles or windows missing, and some construction projects appeared to be halted. But, for the most part, our group was never inconvenienced or suffered from lack of dining or entertainment options.

I stayed at Las Brisas Acapulco, one of the city’s most legendary hotels and a celebrity magnet that I found to be just as classically beautiful as always, with the same unforgettable views from the private pool terraces. Some members of the media also stayed at Emporio Acapulco, which is centrally located in Acapulco Bay’s beach area.

Additional hotels that are open and receiving guests include Encanto Acapulco, a dramatically modern luxury hotel set on a hilltop (it may be of special interest to Jennifer Lopez fans, since she stayed and shot a video there in 2012), as well as multiple Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality properties, including Palacio Mundo Imperial and Pierre Mundo Imperial, both of which resumed operations in February.

In addition, Mundo Imperial recently announced a new luxury real estate project in Acapulco: The Pierre & Diamonds, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Mundo Imperial is decidedly in growth mode in Acapulco; by December 2030, the company estimates that it will manage and operate more than 8,500 rooms in the destination.

During my visit, our group enjoyed delicious meals at a variety of restaurants, including seafood eatery Wahoo, multiple open-air seafood restaurants along Bonfil Beach and Tres Vidas, a golf club that hosted a lavish beachfront party during Tianguis Turistico. 
Live entertainment is back in Acapulco, too, most notably in the form of the famed cliff divers, who can be viewed while enjoying drinks, lunch or dinner at Mirador Acapulco's La Perla Restaurant. Also offering a full schedule of live shows is Forum Mundo Imperial, a 4,000-seat theater that hosts live music and other performances.

Still to Reopen in Acapulco

Several attractions still have yet to fully open. La Isla — the upscale, open-air shopping mall and entertainment complex — is slated to reopen in October, according to tourism officials. A reopening date for Xtasea, the zipline that extends across one of the city’s bays, has yet to be announced.

Hundreds of additional hotel rooms are slated to re-enter the market in the coming months. Properties gearing up for reopening include Fiesta Americana Acapulco Villas and Princess Mundo Imperial, both of which are set to reopen this October. Next year, Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, Camino Real Acapulco Diamante and Quinta Real Acapulco will make their comebacks, while Dreams Acapulco Resort & Spa is slated to reopen in 2026. 

Acapulco's Safety and Security 

Considering the fact that the U.S. State Department includes the state of Guerrero (where Acapulco is located) on its “do not travel” list due to high crime rates, it’s not surprising that many travelers and travel advisors have safety concerns about visiting the city. But the government continues to work to combat crime and violence, with increased presence of police and other security forces on the street. 

FIDETUR, the destination's tourism organization, reports that positive feedback from visitors is proof of Acapulco's recovery, as well as the effectiveness of security measures:

"Hundreds of families enjoy [the destination's] attractions every day, in an environment of peace and tranquility, and go back [home] wanting to return soon to Acapulco," the organization said in an official statement released to TravelAge West. "Our satisfaction surveys reveal that visitors have unforgettable experiences and that they would recommend this destination as the best beach vacation option for families. The satisfaction of our visitors is the best calling card." 

Still, continued reports of crime and violence this year can cause concern. Travelers may find a greater sense of safety by staying at hotels that are set back from public areas and have their own extensive security presence — properties such as Las Brisas Acapulco, for example. Limiting sightseeing to well-known areas of the destination may also be a good idea, according to Ethel Hansen Davey, a travel consultant for Ontario-based Uniglobe Enterprise Travel who attended Tianguis Turistico in Acapulco this year.

“I suggest that, if [travelers] are unfamiliar with Acapulco, they stick to the tourist areas such as the Zocalo, la Quebrada and the Costera in general," she said. "Of course, out in the Diamante area taxis are recommended, since the distances are [greater] between hotels and restaurants along the highway.”

“Personally, I didn't have, in my two recent visits to Acapulco, any safety concerns,” Hansen Davey added. “My concerns are more about the readiness of the larger hotels to be ready to accommodate guests with all facilities up to standards. Being a regular visitor to Acapulco for the past 40 years, I do not feel any safety concerns, and I wander around the town on my own — or this year, with a few women of my ‘vintage,’ and we had no issues whatsoever. I would have no concerns about going back; but just know that services may not be up to par this season.”