Acapulco
Acapulco de Juárez (Spanish: [akaˈpulko ðe ˈxwaɾes] ⓘ), commonly called Acapulco, Guerrero (/ˌækəˈpʊlkoʊ/ AK-ə-PUUL-koh, US also /ˌɑːk-/ AHK-; Nahuatl languages: Acapolco), is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, 380 kilometres (240 mi) south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico's history. It is a port of call for shipping and cruise lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California, United States. The city of Acapulco is the largest in the state, far larger than the state capital Chilpancingo. Acapulco is also Mexico's largest beach and balneario resort city. Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero is the municipal seat of the municipality of Acapulco, Guerrero.
Acapulco | |
|---|---|
| Acapulco de Juárez | |
From top, left to right: Acapulco panoramic skyline, Diana the Huntress Fountain, Fort of San Diego, La Quebrada, La Roqueta Island, Acapulco Hotel Zone, Mexican Open (tennis), Boca Chica Channel | |
|
Coat of arms | |
Acapulco Location of Acapulco within Guerrero Acapulco Acapulco (Mexico) | |
| Coordinates: 16°51′49″N 99°52′57″W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Guerrero |
| Municipality | Acapulco, Guerrero |
| Founded | March 12, 1550 |
| Government | |
| • Municipal president | Abelina López () |
| Area | |
| • City | 1,880.60 km2 (726.10 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 85 km2 (33 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,538.5 km2 (1,366.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation (of seat) | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
| • City | 658,609 |
| • Density | 350/km2 (910/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 852,622 |
| Demonyms | Acapulqueño (a) Porteño (a) |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $10.3 billion |
| • Per capita | $10,100 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Postal codes | 39300–39937 |
| Area code | 744 |
| Website | Official website (in Spanish) |
The city is one of Mexico's oldest beach resorts, coming into prominence in the 1940s through the 1960s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires. Acapulco was once a popular tourist resort, but due to a massive upsurge in gang violence and homicide numbers since 2014, Acapulco no longer attracts many foreign tourists, and most now only come from Mexico itself. It is both the ninth deadliest city in Mexico and the tenth-deadliest city in the world as of 2022; the US government has warned its citizens not to travel there. In 2016 there were 918 murders, and the homicide rate was one of the highest in the world: 103 in every 100,000. In September 2018 the city's entire police force was disarmed by the military, due to suspicions that it had been infiltrated by drug gangs.
The resort area is divided into three parts: the north end of the bay and beyond is the "traditional" area, which encompasses the area from Parque Papagayo through the Zócalo and onto the beaches of Caleta and Caletilla, the main part of the bay known as "Zona Dorada" ('golden zone' in Spanish), where the famous in the mid-20th century vacationed, and the south end, "Diamante" ('diamond' in Spanish), which is dominated by newer luxury high-rise hotels and condominiums.
The name "Acapulco, Guerrero" comes from Nahuatl language Aca-pōl-co, and means "where the reeds were destroyed or washed away" or "at the big reeds", which inspired the city's seal, which is an Aztec-type glyph showing two hands breaking reeds.
The "de Juárez" was added to the official name in 1885 to honor Benito Juárez, former president of Mexico (1806–1872). The island and municipality of Capul, in the Philippines, derives its name from Acapulco, Guerrero. Acapulco, Guerrero was the eastern end of the trans-Pacific sailing route from Acapulco to Manila, in what was then a Spanish colony.