Cuajinicuilapa is 361 km from Chilpancingo and has an altitude of 50 m above sea level.

The climate here is semi-moist and hot with average temperatures varying from 19 C to 34 C during the year. There is a defined rainy season from May to October.

The most important river in this area is the Santa Catarina, which enters the municipality from Ometepec, and here it joins with the Quetzala to empty into the Pacific at the Barra de Tecoanapa.

In addition, there are a number of streams such as La Zanja, Arriero, Las Playitas, Mataplátano, Cuaulote, Cortija, El Chorro, La Serpiente, Carrizo, Arroyo Viejo, Soledad, Tecoyame, La Presa, Fortuna, and Samaritans.

There are some lagoons such as Monte Alto, Portezuela, and Albufera Salinitas.

As the vicinity is placed in a subduction zone, it is prone to earthquakes.

The municipality has the state’s largest population of Afro-Mexicans with most of the population of this ethnicity.

It is the seat of a municipality, which promotes its Afro-Mexican heritage. The town was host to the 13th Encuentro de Pueblos Negros in 2011, sponsored by the Centro Cultural de España en México.

The purpose of the event is to promote Afro-Mexican identity, issues, and culture in Mexico.

Cuajinicuilapa is the largest Afro-Mexican community in the Costa Chica region of Guerrero with most of the population of this ethnicity. The municipal government promotes Cuajinicuilapa as the “municipio negro” or “black municipality” as a way to obtain federal resources.

Afro-Mexican culture is not defined by language or dress, but rather by body language, vocabulary, and a shared history.

Much of the “black” population is mixed with indigenous. Those native to the municipality are called criollos even if black.

Much of the population of the area has migrated out since the 1980s. The population has grown, but much of this is because of migration into Cuajinicuilapa by other groups, including Amuzgos and Mixtecs, especially in the 2000s.

They have become the majority in a number of communities in the municipality including El Cuije and La Petaca.

As of 2010, there are just over 1,300 who speak an indigenous language, most of whom speak Amuzgo and Mixtec.

The name comes from the Nahuatl phrase “Cuauhxinicuilli-atl-pan”, which means “in the river of the Cuajiicuil plant (a kind of edible legume)”.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, Cuajinicuilapa was the province of Ayacastla, with the town of Igualapa as the capital. After Independence, the capital moved to Ometepec.

The area was conquered in 1522 by Pedro de Alvarado, who established the Spanish town of Acatlán.

In 1531, an uprising by the Tlapaneca caused many to flee the area. During the 16th century, the area lost almost all of its indigenous population due to war, oppression, and disease.

The loss of indigenous labor prompted the Spanish to bring African slaves over the colonial period for 300 years. Most of the slaves headed for Mexico arrived in Veracruz.

However, those who managed to escape began to make their way to the Costa Chica area. The area was dedicated to livestock, with much of the land owned by Mateo Anaus y Mauleon.

The isolation of the area and the lack of workers led to an arrangement between Anaus and the runaway slaves, trading cheap labor for sanctuary.

Over time the Cuajinicuilapa area was home to a number of communities of escaped slaves and their descendants. Many of these worked as cowboys or with leather.

Over time, many of these intermarried with indigenous and whites.

During the Mexican War of Independence, the main rebels were Afro-Mexicans Juan Bruno and Francisco Atilano Santa María, but their effect was limited as there was little access to firearms.

In 1878, much of the land came under the control of the Casa Miller enterprise, an association between Pérez Reguera and Carlos A. Miller. The enterprise consisted of a soap factory and land where they raised cattle and grew cotton.

The holdings include about 125,000 hectares, centered on Cuajinicuilapa. The town was home to whites.

The blacks lived in small huts with thatched roofs based on African-style construction. Product from the enterprise was shipped through Tecoanapa with destinations such as Salina Cruz, Manzanillo, and Acapulco.

On March 20, 2012, a 7.4 earthquake hit the area, which caused two deaths, severe damage to over 500 homes, and partial damage to another thousand.

Cuajinicuilapa is the commercial center of a rural municipality with two small supermarkets, various stores, and a traditional municipal market. Cuajinicuilapa has a high level of socioeconomic marginalization.

It is also the center of communications and transportation with mail service and telephone mostly limited to here and it has a small airstrip.

The Museo de las Culturas Afromestizas, formerly called the Museo de la Tercera Raíz, is the first museum in Mexico dedicated to the descendants of African slaves in Mexico and their history.

It is located in the center of the town, near the main plaza.

The main tourist attraction is Punta Maldonado, also known as El Faro. It is followed by the Santo Domingo Lagoon, which has extensive mangroves, and Barra de Pío.

Regional specialties include barbacoa, red and green mole, pig’s head with mole sauce, tamales of various types including iguana meat, and seafood prepared in various ways including shrimp and lobster.

Traditional drinks include chilate (similar to pozol) and a drink called chicha.

Los Diablos (the devils) is the best-known Afro-Mexican dance in Costa Chica with dancers wearing devil’s masks and dancing with wild, exaggerated movements. They are attended by assistants with whips.

From 30 October to 1 November, the dancers leave the cemetery to dance, eat offerings of food, and more. They spend three days in the streets with dance, music, and theatrical antics before “returning” to the grave.

The two main dancers represent the chief of the devils called Tenango or Pancho along with his wife La Minga, the mother of devils who also appears in other regional dances.

The dance has various influences including African and Catholic. While the dance and dressing up as devils were exclusively for men, this has changed as many have left to work outside of Costa Chica.

Women and children have now participated in the annual ritual.

Other dances in the municipality include El Torito (the little bull), which is centered on a frame in the shape of a bull that goes through town with residents dancing around it.

Versions of La Conquista and Doce Pares de Francia have unusual characters such as Hernán Cortés, Cuauhtémoc, Moctezuma, Charlemagne, and Turkish horsemen. Las Chilenas dance with erotic movements.

The main feast days are dedicated to the Apostle James (in August) and Nicolas of Tolentino in September. On the second Friday of Lent, a regional fair exhibits the area’s products, such as cattle, along with cockfights, horse racing, and popular dance.

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Tehuacalco archaeological site

The Tehuacalco archaeological site is on a hill surrounded by mountains, which were worshipped by the Yope.

Four mountains marked the cardinal directions and one (Compuerta) was used to mark solar events such as equinoxes and solstices as the sun rose behind it. Tehuacalco was occupied as a ceremonial site from about 400 CE to about 1100 CE.

Tehuacalco was the first archeological site associated with the Yope people to be excavated, in the 2000s.

The environment of the area is a deciduous tropical forest, whose trees lose most of their leaves during the dry season in the fall and winter.

The Tehuacalco site was opened to the public in 2008.

From Chipancingo:

• By bus from Chipancingo to Tierra Colorada, 50 minutes (twice a day)
• By taxi from Chipancingo (around 40 min)

From Acapulco:

• By bus from Acapulco to Chilpancingo, 2 hours (buses run every 2 hours).
• By bus from Chipancingo to Tierra Colorada, 50 minutes (twice a day)
• By taxi from Acapulco (around 50 min)

The word Ixcateopan is of Nahuatl origin, from íxcatl or íchcatl, “Cotton”, and teopan, teopancalli or teopantli, “temple”, hence “cotton temple”.

Ixcateopan (sometimes spelled Ichcateopan) from the Nahuatl words “ichcacates” (or “ixcatle”) and “moteopan,” “teopan,” or “teopancalli.” Most interpret the first word as meaning cotton and the second temple, leading to a translation of temple of cotton. However, some sources claim the real name of the area is Zompancuahuithli, and the name was changed to Ixcateopan after the arrival of Cuauhtemoc’s body and means (here is the temple/church). The glyph in the Mendoncino Codex for Ixcateopan reflects both interpretations, a cotton flower, a depiction of Cuauhtémoc and a pyramid. “De Cuauhtémoc” was added to Ixcateopan’s name by the Congress of the State of Guerrero in 1950.

However, according to the Mexico Municipalities Encyclopedia, Ixcateopan is a Nahuatl derived word, from the words Ichacates and Moteopan, which mean: “here is your Lord of great respect” according to this version, the ancient name of the municipality was Zompancuahuithli, other authors attribute the meaning to “here is the Church” and others “Temple of cotton”.

Hieroglyphs in the Codex Mendoza represents two elements; a cotton flower called Ixcatl in Nahuatl placed on the steps of a pyramid representing a temple (in Nahuatl teopantli), the translated symbols of means: “in the Temple of cotton”.

As noted above, there were three main groups occupying the area, at one time or another, these were the Cohuixcas, Chontales and Aztecs.

The first humans in the state’s territory were nomadic hunter-gatherers who left evidence of their existence in various caves starting about 22,000 years ago. Up until about 8,000 years ago, climatic conditions better favored human habitation than those today; however, sedimentary human habitation happened around this time in the mountainous areas with more moisture, and better soil for agriculture. After that, settlements appeared near the coast because of fishing. At these sites, evidence of weaving, ceramics, basketry and other crafts have been found. Around this time, a grain called teocintle, or the forerunner to corn, became the staple of the diet.

The first settlers of the state were the Olmecs during the Mesoamerican Preclassical period, establishing themselves in the vicinity of the Balsas River, living in caves. The chichimecas inhabited the Tierra Caliente region.

There is debate as to whether the earliest civilizations here were Olmecs who migrated to this region or native peoples who were heavily influenced by the Olmecs, especially in the Mexcala River area. Olmec influences can be seen in cave paintings such as those found in Juxtlahuaca and well as stone tools and jade jewelry from the time period.

Eventually, the peoples of the Mexcala River area developed their own distinctive culture, called Mezcala or Mexcala. It is characterized by its own sculpture and ceramics, distinguished by its simplicity. Olmec influence remained with this culture, especially evident in the grouping of villages, construction of ceremonial centers and a government dominated by priests. Later, the culture assimilated aspects of the Teotihuacan model, which included the Mesoamerican ball game.

Later migrations to the area brought ethnicities such as the Purépecha, the Mixtecs, the Maya and the Zapotecs who left traces on the local cultures as they established commercial centers around the 7th century. In the 8th century, Toltec influence was felt as they traveled the many trade routes through here in search of tropical bird plumage and amate paper. From the 12th century to the 15th, the various peoples of the state were influenced by the Chichimecas, culminating in Aztec domination by the 15th century.

In the 11th century, new migrations entered the area from the north, which included the Nahuas, who occupied what is now the center of the state and the Purépecha who took over the west. The Nahuas established themselves in Zacatula, Atoyac and Tlacotepec, later conquering the areas occupied by the Chontals and Matlatzincas.

By the 15th century, the territory of modern Guerrero state was inhabited by a number of peoples, none of whom had major cities or population centers. The most important of these peoples where the Purépecha, Cuitlatecs, Ocuitecas and Matlatzincas in the Tierra Caliente, the Chontales, Mazatlecos and Tlahuicas in the Sierra del Norte, the Coixcas and Tepoztecos in the Central Valleys, the Tlapanecos and Mixtecs in the La Montaña, the Jopis, Mixtecos and Amuzgos in Costa Chica and Tolimecas, Chubias, Pantecas and Cuitlecas in Costa Grande. Most of these lived in smaller dominions with moderate social stratification. One distinctive feature of the peoples of this was the use of cotton garments.

The Aztecs began making incursions in the Guerrero area as early as 1414 under Chimalpopoca as part of the conquest of the Toluca Valley. Incursions into the Tierra Caliente came around 1433 under Itzcoatl who attacked the Cuitlatecos settled between the Teloloapan and Cocula Rivers. By 1440, the Aztec Empire controlled the north of the state, or the mountainous areas. Attempts to take the Costa Chica area began in 1452 against the Yopis, which failed. Various battles would be fought between 1452 and 1511 before most of the rest of the state became Aztec tributary provinces. The modern state of Guerrero the comprised seven Aztec provinces.

Some of the inhabitants of this area before the Conquest were the Cohuixas and the Chontals. The native community located at what is now the southern edge of the town dates back to at least 350 CE. This community was an important regional ceremonial center as well as the headquarters for the guardian soldiers. It was also closely associated with the production of cotton and cotton products, a valuable commodity at the time. Ixcateopan was one of the last cities to be subjugated by the Aztec Empire. The location served as a point to gather and then distribute tribute from surrounding areas. Mexica from other parts of the Aztec Empire, including soldiers, came here due to the wars between them and the Purépecha Empire. Because of this, Ixcateopan, originally a purely Chontal city, became multicultural.

Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec Tlatoani (emperor), was born here in 1501. His mother, Cuayauhtitali, was the daughter of the Ixcateopan lord. Shortly before Cuauhtémoc was born, Ixcateopan was subjugated by the Aztecs and Cuayauhtitli was captured and brought to Tenochtitlan. There she met prince Ahuizotl, who married her. Cuauhtémoc was born of this union. Cuauhtémoc was educated in Tenochtitlan and then sent back to Ixcateopan. In 1519, he was ordered back to the Aztec capital to help defend it against the Spanish. After the deaths of Emperors Moctezuma II and, a short time later, Cuitláhuac, Cuauhtémoc became emperor, but was a captive of Hernán Cortés when Tenochtitlan fell in 1521. After enduring much torture, he and nine other Aztec lords were hung near a place called Izancánac in what is now Chiapas state. The remains of Cuauhtémoc, the other Aztec lords and a priest who opposed their execution were brought to Ixcateopan and buried here. From that time to the mid-20th century, the whereabouts of his tomb remained unknown.

Fray Torbio de Benavente, the local evangelist, and Fray Bernardino de Sahagún wrote texts about the death and burial of Cuauhtémoc which were initially kept at the Church of San Hipólito in Mexico City but somehow wound up in the hands of the family of Salvador Rodriguez Juárez, who was the doctor of Ixcateopan in the first half of the 20th century. The documents had been passed down in his family for generations. They told of how Cuauhtémoc’s body had been recovered and brought to Ixcateopan and initially buried at the palace of his maternal grandparents in 1525. In 1529, Fray Toribio de Benavente had the body moved to a spot in front of the destroyed pagan temple, where the Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción would be built over it. The documents indicated that this tomb was nearly directly under the main altar of the church. After Rodríguez Juárez showed the documents to elders at the parish church, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) was contacted, which sent archeologist Eulalia Guzmán to investigate the authenticity of the documents. After examining the documents, investigating the oral traditions of the area and other archeological and historical evidence, it was decided to excavate in the place where the documents indicated.

Towards 1100 CE, the Nahua-Cohuixcas and Purépecha arrived in the area; the Cohuixcas settled the central region of the State of Guerrero, founding the towns of: Taxco, Iguala, Tepecoacuilco, Huitzuco, Tlaxmalac, Cocula, Teloloapan, Atenango, Tlamacazapa, Ixcateopan, Acapetlahuaya, Zumpango del Rio, Tlapa, Tixtla, Acapulco and Chilapa. The Purépecha groups founded Pungarabato, Coyuca Zirándaro and took over throughout the Tierra Caliente region.

They are referred to as Nahua-Cohuixcas, possibly because they spoke Nahuatl.

The Nahua name is given to different ethnic groups who have Nahuatl or Mexican as a common language. Nahuatl means “something that sounds good, such as bell” and also “cunning or crafty man” (Ladino). The most important ethnic group in the Guerrero state was the Cohuixcas, who settled the central and northern regions. They came from northern territories. Coahuixca means “plain of snakes”.

The Cohuixcas were the oldest inhabitants of this region, within the Atenango del Rio municipality, upon the Spaniards arrival, they were tributaries of the Aztecs, who through their expeditions had come to dominate this region. The Chontales, Cohuixcas and other small fractions of peoples who spoke various languages, scattered from Guerrero to Oaxaca, nothing is known; modern people judges them from remains of tribes that preceded the Nations that left history traces.

This opinion is not so risky; Humboldt in the past, had tried the same judgment, while incurring certain errors. «The Nations that successively invaded Mexico, he noted, the Toltec, the chichimecas, the nahuatlaques, the Acolhuas, the Tlaxcaltecas and the Aztecs, formed a single group, almost like the Germans, the Norwegians, Goths and Danes, mixed into a single race; the Germanic peoples.» It is likely, that other Nations such as the Otomi, Olmecs, Cuitlateques, Zacatecos and Purépecha, have appeared in the region before the Toltec. Wherever people have progressed in the same direction, the place they geographically occupy somehow designates the chronological order of their migrations. By the same rule can place the Nations who spoke lost languages.

The last external offensive from forces loyal to the Aztecs came from the Malinalcas, Matlatzincas and Cohuixcas. Spaniards Andrés de Tapia and Gonzalo de Sandoval stop their advance.

There are two ethnic groups called Chontales, which do not have any cultural or linguistic relationship to each other:
Chontales of Tabasco

Chontales de Tabasco, as they are commonly known, another designation is mayas-chontales or Maya putunes in the academic environment. As a result of the own struggles for social, political, economic demands, basic services, cultural rights and defense of their identity, the native groups call themselves, yoko-winik “the real man”. The Chontal Supreme Council call themselves Yokokiniko ethnia: “real man and natives of these lands”.

This Chontal group is a descendant of the Mayans, the so-called Acalan-Tixchel chontales, and today are seated in the municipalities of Nacajuca, Centla, Jonuta, Macuspana and Center, in prehispanic times their presence extended to other municipalities such as Tenosique, Emiliano Zapata, Jalapa, Cardenas and Cunduacán.

Yoko ochoco, also known as Chontal Maya, and Acalan, is a Maya language of the Cholan family spoken by the Chontal Maya people of the Mexican state of Tabasco. There are at least three dialects, identified as Tamulté de las Sábanas Chontal, Buena Vista Chontal, and Miramar Chontal.

Chontales of Oaxaca

Chontales de Oaxaca or Tequistlatecos, the term comes from Tequisistlán, one of its main towns in the past. Their language, tequistlateco Joca-Meridional group and trunk Yumapacua, seems to be related with some languages of Baja California Norte, in the southeast of Mexico, Honduras and/or Nicaragua; however, to date their linguistic origin is still uncertain. There are dialect differences between speakers of the mountains and the coast, which hinders their mutual understanding.

The Tequistlatecan languages, also called Chontal of Oaxaca, consists of three distinct languages. One called Huamelultec or Lowland Oaxaca Chontal, Tequistlatec (which is probably extinct), and Highland Oaxaca Chontal. The Chontal languages are spoken by the Chontal people of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Highland Chontal and Lowland Chontal (Huamelultec) are mutually unintelligible languages.

The Tequistlatecan languages are part of some versions of the controversial Hokan Macro-family proposal, but generally considered to be isolates. Campbell and Oltrogge (1980) believe that the Tequistlatecan languages may be related to Jicaquean but this hypothesis remains to be explored further.

The archaeological site remains so far explored comprise a section that possibly functioned as an important ceremonial center at regional level. Ixcateopan was placed of cult and war goods storage inhabited by various native populations, such as Cohuixcas “people from the place with small lizards”, the chontales “foreigners” and by mexicas, at the time when they were at war with the purépecha. The buildings correspond to at least five different constructive periods; the complex was dedicated to religious ceremonies, administrative activities and trade.

After some Mexica military raids to areas near the Balsas River, under the command of Itzcóatl fourth Mexica Tlatoani (from náhuatl tlahtoāni “the speaker”), the military success over the northern part of the current Guerrero State was formalized during the ruling of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, fifth Mexica “huey tlatoani” from 1440 to 1469, during which period the people of Oztuma, Ixcateopan, Taxco, Tlaxmalac and Cuetzala were conquered. Therefore, Ixcateopan became a tributary province of Tepecoacuilco.

The above was intimately associated with storage activities and clothing manufacturing from cotton, raw material that had to be the main source of supply and cult in the region. The archaeological zone is formed by a series of over laid structures built on the natural land elevation, it occupies approximately 5 thousand square meters. For construction they used local materials like: stone slabs, limestone and marble; for finishing, stucco and red paint was used.

Finding of ancient instruments in the Ixcateopan archeological site corroborates that this place was subjugated by the Mexica military power.

Ixcateopan was one of the last places conquered and dominated by the Mexica military power, becoming towards the end of the 15th and early 16th century, a tributary of the Triple Alliance; tools found at this archaeological site corroborate that this prehispanic site spun cotton for Tenochtitlan, which was used to make soldiers suits.

In several site excavations ancient instruments were found, mainly spindle whorls apparatus (malacates), in the remains of some rooms.

The Malacates or disks with a central hole, sometimes referred to as “Rodelas” (washers), are complex to analyze. On the one hand, they have often been associated with spindle whorls, although there is little ethnographic documentation to support it was their main function. On the other hand, sometimes it is considered that these could have been beads or hanging decoration. It is difficult to consider other features for these curious samples.

The other functional possibility, that considered them as beads or hanging decoration, is somewhat complex to analyze, considering these are disks with perforated center holes and not precisely on its edges, as they could easily hung as necklace beads and pendant disks. In fact, the rodelas could have functioned as necklace beads, on a necklace that used on edge rather than front position. In other words, is a peculiar ornament, but not impossible to do.

The Malacates are all artifacts of primary class ceramic artifacts. Decoration on its upper side, many of them are flat on the bottom section, but the shape -all are circular- is variable in their section. In the past, (in Chiapas), it was mentioned that some Malacates were tapered, flat and mixed existed. Its most definite function, more than any of the remaining ceramic artifacts, always considered as spindle whorls. However, as a secondary or alternate function could also serve as necklace beads.

The finding of malacates, plus the Nahuatl site denomination, “Cotton Temple”, implies that Ixcateopan provided large amounts of this plant, already manufactured, to the towns of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan.

It is considered that Ixcateopan spun cotton that was used to make suits of the mexicas soldiers. These data corroborate the narrow relation between Ixcateopan and the center of Mexico; local ceramics remains found here, are similar to those from the Valley of Mexico.

These aspects seem to point out that, since Ixcateopan did not have the topographic and strategic characteristics of sites located in the war belt, very possibly it formed part of the Mexica rear and was a storage place, for foods and war equipment.

Ixcateopan was a Chontal settlement, and even though neither their language nor physical features are known, archaeological y physical anthropologic studies shall determine the various aspects of this cultural group, unknown to date. However, this prehispanic site had a multi-cultural configuration.

In the north of the Guerrero State, Ixcateopan represents the only late postclassical period (1200–1521 AD.) site that has been extensively explored.

Excavations from the first field season at this archaeological site, conducted in 2008, provided detection of at least three constructive stages, from 1450 to 1521 AD. This is known from ceramic remains of the denominated type Aztec III, other locally manufactured as an imitation of the previous, fragments of the type called “Rojo Texcoco”, from Cholula and, in addition, two local types colored dark red over beige and “Yestla”-Orange.

This unique village could well be named “the marble town”, because its narrow streets are paved with this noble material, which magnificently beautifies the physiognomy of the town, due to the borrow sites surrounding the town.

Ixcateopan covers an extension of about one hectare and a half, and it is within the city of the same name, where circular altars are distributed and stairways, finished in a dice shape.

East and west sections of the site have been explored, which was built on a natural slope. In the first area vestiges of a 56 meters long wall was found, part of a platform; and in the second area (west) a series of terraces were found.

The top of this slope was arranged by means of artificial terraces, which facilitated the construction of a large platform on which the ceremonial center was built, as well as plazas, walkways, stairways, living quarters and storage.

The constructions, from the postclassical period, were built between 1350 and 1450 CE.

The buildings are at least from five different constructive periods; the complex was dedicated to religious ceremonies, administrative and trade activities.

Esto a su vez, está íntimamente asociado an actividades de almacenamiento y elaboración de productos derivados del algodón, materia prima que debió ser la principal fuente de abasto y de culto en la región.

The archaeological zone consists of a series of overlays built on a natural elevation of the terrain, which occupies approximately 5 thousand square meters. Construction materials employed include: stone slabs, marble, limestone, boulders; and stucco and red paint used for finishing.

Ceramic artifacts are a large and important group of samples found, generally mentioned in archaeological reports, serve to describe as well as chronological placement of sites, although seldom are investigation and study specific subjects.

The typical ceramics used at that time was made of three legged hollow “Boxes” (cajetes), and with a streamlined serpent shape, or metlapilcoate. “Cajetes” were painted brown over beige, and there were other decoration painted color brown, black and polychrome beige.

The 16th century geographic relations written by Lucas Pinto, state that in “Ichcateopan”, people adored two main Gods, a man and a woman, called “Iztac Tlamacazqui” (white priest) and Acxoyatl Cihuatl (the fir tree woman). Two main priests were in charge of the cult and the sacrifice of virgin women. The population made penances and self-sacrifices; they stuck their tongue and ears with thorns, removed blood and ignited copal. The white priest seemed to represent cotton, part Ixcateopan glyph of the place name.

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…

The name Ixcateopan (sometimes spelled Ichcateopan) from the Nahuatl words “ichcacates” (or “ixcatle”) and “moteopan,” “teopan,” or “teopancalli.”

Most interpret the first word as meaning cotton and the second temple, leading to a translation of the temple of cotton.

However, some sources claim the real name of the area is Zompancuahuithli, and the name was changed to Ixcateopan after the arrival of Cuauhtemoc’s body and means (here is the temple/church).

The glyph in the Mendoncino Codex for Ixcateopan reflects both interpretations, a cotton flower, a depiction of Cuauhtémoc, and a pyramid.

“De Cuauhtémoc” was added to Ixcateopan’s name by the Congress of the State of Guerrero in 1950.

Some of the inhabitants of this area before the Conquest were the Cohuixas and the Chontals. The indigenous community located at what is now the southern edge of the town dates back to at least 350 C.E.

This community was an important regional ceremonial center as well as the headquarters for the guardian soldiers. It was also closely associated with the production of cotton and cotton products, a valuable commodity at the time.

Ixcateopan was one of the last cities to be subjugated by the Aztec Empire. The location served as a point to gather and then distribute tribute from surrounding areas.

Mexica from other parts of the Aztec Empire, including soldiers, came here due to the wars between them and the Purépecha Empire. Because of this, Ixcateopan, originally a purely Chontal city, became multicultural.

Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor, was born here in 1501. His mother, Cuayauhtitali, was the daughter of the lord of Ixcateopan. Shortly before Cuauhtémoc was born, Ixcateopan was subjugated by the Aztecs and Cuayauhtitli was captured and brought to Tenochtitlan.

There she met Prince Ahuizotl, who married her. Cuahtémoc was born of this union. Cuauhtémoc was educated in Tenochtitlan and then sent back to Ixcateopan. In 1519, he was called back to the Aztec capital to help defend it against the Spanish.

After the deaths of Emperors Moctezuma II and, a short time later, Cuitláhuac, Cuauhtémoc became emperor but was a captive of Hernán Cortés when Tenochtitlan fell in 1521.

After enduring much torture, he and nine other Aztec lords were hung near a place called Izancánac in what is now Chiapas state. The remains of Cuauhtemoc, the other Aztec lords, and a priest who opposed their execution were brought to Ixcateopan and buried here.

From that time to the mid-20th century, the whereabouts of his tomb remained unknown.

Fray Torbio de Benavente, the local evangelist, and Fray Bernardino de Sahagún wrote texts about the death and burial of Cuauhtémoc which were initially kept at the Church of San Hipólito in Mexico City but somehow wound up in the hands of the family of Salvador Rodriguez Juárez, who was the doctor of Ixcateopan in the first half of the 20th century.

The documents had been passed down in his family for generations. They told of how Cuauhtémoc’s body had been recovered and brought to Ixcateopan and initially buried at the palace of his maternal grandparents in 1525.

In 1529, Fray Toribio de Benavente had the body moved to a spot in front of the destroyed pagan temple, where the Church of Santa María de la Asunción would be built over him. The documents indicated that this tomb was nearly directly under the main altar of the church.

After Rodríguez Juárez showed the documents to elders at the parish church, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) was contacted, which sent archeologist Eulalia Guzmán to investigate the authenticity of the documents.

After examining the documents, investigating the oral traditions of the area, and other archeological and historical evidence, it was decided to excavate in the place where the documents are indicated.

From February to September 1949, other investigations corroborated the story related to the documents.

The main altar of the church was dismantled and taken away and began to excavate below it. They dug about 1.5 m down and found a rock layer, that covered a multitude of burials that dated from the early colonial period.

Another meter or so down, they found a layer of stucco and adobe bricks, then a layer of large rocks with spaces between them filled in by smaller ones, called a Momeztli.

Underneath this was a cavity with an east-west orientation were the remains of several bodies dating from the 16th century. Underneath these was another cavity covered in an oval copper plate with the inscription Rey e S. Coatemo.

Underneath this were other bones, a spear-point, other pieces of metal, and remnants of objects long ago rusted. The discovery of Cuauhtemoc’s tomb was announced on 26 September 1949.

The authenticity of the find was challenged, so the INAH sent other teams to investigate the find.

Results of the corroborative efforts were mixed with researchers casting doubt on the age of the bones found, the documents that led to their discovery, and the authenticity of the artifacts found at the site. In 1976, a Judging Commission determined:

First. That the skeletal remains belong to eight individuals and come from different epochs and different forms of burial. Second. That the young adult mestizo whose remains face and teeth are part of Ichcateopan finding could not have been buried in 1529 [the year of the death of Cuauhtemoc] (…) Fourth. That oral tradition does not start until the 16th century and in its current form is known only since 1949. Fifth. That all documents-both those that gave rise to the finding as presented later-are apocryphal and were developed after 1917 (…) There is no scientific basis for claiming that the remains found on September 26, 1949 in the church of St. Mary of the Assumption, Ichacateopan, Guerrero, are the remains of Cuauhtemoc, the last lord of the Mexica and heroic defender of Mexico-Tenochtitlan

Informe de la Comisión de 1976

Recent investigations determined that the remains are judged not to be of Cuauhtémoc, but instead corresponding to eight different bodies and the skull is female. Early research reports by Eulalia Guzmán, distorted the facts.

Today the burial is considered a forgery by archeologists, although many locals and cultural activists still consider it to be genuine.

The town of Ixcateopan has about 2,400 residents, which is over a third of the municipality’s inhabitants. One thing that stands out about this town is that streets are paved in unpolished white marble and many of the walls around properties contain it as well.

The town of Ixcateopan has similar colonial architecture as the larger Taxco: white houses topped with peaked roofs with red clay tile roofs. However, they are not as well-maintained as those in Taxco.

Because of the discovery of Cuauhtémoc’s tomb here, Ixcateopan has become a place of national interest. Flags fly here at half-mast on 28 February, the anniversary of Cuauhtémoc’s death.

Because of the discovery of the tomb of Cuauhtemoc and the continued discoveries at the archeological site on the southern edge of town, Ixcateopan draws archeologists, anthropologists, and historians.

Museum of Santa María de la Asunción

The Museum of Santa María de la Asunción, located just south of the main plaza in the center of town, was the parish church for the community from the 16th century until the mid-20th when it was declared a national monument.

Since the discovery of Cuauhtémoc’s tomb under the main altar, this building and its grounds have been converted from a religious sanctuary to a civil one. Most, but not all, of its Christian iconography has been taken out.

Where the main altar used to be is now a shrine to the last Aztec emperor, with his remains on public display.

A small museum occupies the former church’s annex. Jairo Rodríguez, son of the doctor who made the documents about Cuauhtemoc’s burial public knowledge, is the official chronicler of Ixcateopan and the guardian of the museum.

The explored archeological remains are located at the Ixcateopan (archaeological site).

South of the Santa María de la Asunción Museum on Vicente Guerrero Street is the archeological zone of Ixcateopan.

The site has been dated from between 350 and 1450 C. E. with at least five construction stages, three of which are dated from between 1350 and 1450 C.E. Although construction seemed to have ceased after 1450, it is known that the site was occupied up until the Spanish arrival in 1521.

The archeological zone is formed by a series of constructions over a natural elevation and occupies about 5,000 metros2. Local materials were used in its construction: flagstone, limestone, marble, and smooth pebbles which were covered in stucco and painted.

This excavated complex was dedicated to religious ceremonies, administrative activities, and the local hierarchy’s relations with the rest of the world. Religiously, it was of regional importance.

Ixcateopan was a Chontal settlement that was conquered by the Aztecs, by Moctezuma I and Ahuitzotl.

The Chontales are a little-known group with most information about them coming from documents written in 1579, but nothing of their language is known as no human remains from their burials have been found. stages

The site has provided much information about the development of what is now the north of Guerrero state in the late pre-Hispanic period when it was populated by groups such as the Matlatzincas, Tepoztecos, Nahuas as well as Chontales.

The site was first excavated in 1976 by archeologist Juan Yaveún, with subsequent studies by Guadalupe Martínez, Alajandro Pastrana, José Hernández Rivera, and Elizabeth Jiménez.

However, excavations in the mid 2000s have uncovered new finds at the site including a set of stairs that run from south to north on the main plaza, dwellings, and storage facilities as well as workshops with ceramics showing Aztec and Cholulteca influence and purely local designs.

With these, it is possible to reconstruct something of these people’s relations with these groups.

Most of the excavations here have followed an east-west axis and about 3,000 m2 have been explored. Efforts have been made to have Ixcateopan and “archeological monuments zone” as well as obtain resources to continue excavations here.

Annual ceremony in honor of Cuauhtémoc

Cuauhtemoc has become a symbol of Mexican cultural identity and for many dancers who come here to celebrate, a symbol of their modern identity. Cuauhtémoc has become a symbol of ethnocultural identity, nationalism, and resistance, and this place brings indigenous people from all over Mexico and other nations in the Americas.

The end of February is important as Cuauhtémoc’s birthday (23 February) and death (28 February) are commemorated here. His day of birth draws the most dance groups who come from all over Mexico, the U.S., Canada, and South America, to lay offerings, dance and sing in many different languages.

Preparations at the church/museum and the rest of the town occupy the days and nights before the 23rd.

For several days straddling the birthday itself, dances and ceremonies continue almost non-stop, accompanied by huehuetls (Aztec drums), and wind instruments made of animal horns and large conch shells and accompanied by copal incense.

…

The type of climate is predominantly warm subhumid, with minimum temperatures of 22 °C and maximum 26 °C.

The rainfall covers the months of June, July, August, and September, with an average annual rainfall of 900 to 1.100 mm, the recorded wind direction is from east to west and from north to south in summer.

Some historians say the name derives from the Nahuatl Atenango, which translated into Spanish means “in the wall of water”, but others argue it should be interpreted as “place of the dam or dike.”

The addition of the river was due to its location on the banks of the river Amacuzac.

Prehispanic Background

As stated in the Codex Mendoza Atenango paid tribute to the Aztecs who had managed to dominate the region. The tribute was to give them corn, beans, chile, cotton blankets, and carved stones for necklaces, which they called “chalchihuitl” or green stone, commonly called jade.

Colonial history

In colonial times was present Atenango for being the setting in which Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon wrote a “Treatise on the orders of the Archbishop of Mexico, which narrates the customs that were the indigenous inhabitants of these lands.”

The title of the treaty was “Treaty of Customs and Rites today we live gentile inhabitants of this place,” as well at that time were built three churches in the colonial style existed in the municipality, being that of Atenango River, Comala, and Santiago Gómez-Zacango.

19th century

Atenango is present because Generalissimo Don Jose Maria Morelos, having emerged from Uruapan to Tehuacán escorting the Congress came to Atenango Morelos, and wanted to cross the river requested information, did not receive one and the cross where Crey + or should be choked his soldiers and horses, annoyed ordered to burn the village, leaving only standing the house, kept going and Tesmalaca as it was called then Temalac, decided to rest his people.

Only the colonial army commanded by the top leaders who had come following in the steps, to arrive at Atenango Tulimán, villagers were told they were not far away, rushed his way and on day 5 November 1815, having sent forward to Members and the file, Morelos was in the rear and was discovered when he was about to reach the summit of the hill of Tecaballo whose foot is Temalac.

The colonial soldiers were led by a villager who was forced to teach a path come their way, Morelos tried to hide but was caught by Matthew Carranza who was a soldier who had fought under the command of Morelos and was now siding with their enemies.

Morelos was captured and brought to Atenango where on Nov. 6 in his presence, were shot soldiers taken prisoner along with him. The generous people with their heroes contain the remains of these soldiers and annually pay tribute to them on 17 September.

20th century

The beginnings of the revolution against Porfirio Díaz in Atenango had relevance for the following situation: Having invited many people to participate in the insurrection Mata Figueroa brothers, came and took the place of Atenango peacefully, on 26 February 1911.

In this place, we read a proclamation that the teacher had written Francisco Mata Figueroa, which unknown to Porfirio Díaz as President and also among other things asked for free elections.

To remember this historical event President Luis Echeverria Alvarez, visited the town on that date important to deliver deeds to the people made by the government of the Republic, counting among these the most important works, the bridge over the river to the neighboring municipalities Amacuzac of Copalillo and Olinalá and the states of Puebla and Morelos.

Between forty and fifty years the town lost territory to be annexed to Huitzuco communities: Tulimán, Paso Morelos, San Miguel de las Palmas, and Cahuilotla Chaucingo.

…

The town and municipality are located southeast of the Guerrero capital of Chilpancingo. It is part of the Costa Chica region of the state which extends from Acapulco to the Oaxaca border.

The municipality straddles the Sierra Madre del Sur and the flatter areas that reach down towards the Pacific Ocean.

About 65% of the terrain of the municipality is mountainous and rugged, mostly in the north with small mountain ranges known as Pajaritos and Malinaltepec, which reach about 2,000 meters above sea level.

The two most important elevations are the Cerro Verde and the Cerro de Agua. About 25% is flat and semi-flat with the rest being small valleys and riverbanks.

The main river is the Santa Catarina which separates the municipality from the state of Oaxaca. Other important rivers include the Puente and the San Pedro or Xochistlahuaca River.

These rivers with year-round flow provide potable water for most of the area’s population in towns such as Tres Arroyos, La Montaña, El Pájaro, El Chacale, La Guacamaya, El Lagarto and Arroyo Caballo.

Other rivers include Atotonilco Verde, Mujer, Totole, Fierro, Pájaro and Lagarto. There are also many streams which flow year round as well.

The climate is semi moist with temperature ranges between hot, semi hot and temperate depending on altitude. Tlacoachistlahuca border is the coolest. The average annual temperature is 25°C.

Average annual rainfall is between 1000 and 2000 mm per year with defined rainy (May to October) and dry (November to April) seasons which is agriculturally and culturally important.

Most of the territory is used for either agriculture or livestock. There are some areas with forest. There are two main types of wild vegetation in the municipality.

The first runs along the north side of the Sierra Made del Sur where there are mixed forests with various species of trees including oak and mahogany. On the south side, there is low-growth rainforest (under fifteen meters in height) with much of the area’s fruit growing taking place.

Many of the trees lose at least some of their leaves during the dry season. Much of the area’s habitat has been degraded but there is still some wildlife such as raccoons, badgers, foxes, wild boar, deer, wildcats, and a number of reptile and bird species.

Xochistlahuaca is the largest of the Amuzgo communities which are located in this mountain area on both sides of the Guerrero/Oaxaca border although eighty percent are in Guerrero.

Most of the Amuzgos in the municipality still speak the language, which is of the Oto-Manguean family. Some are monolingual, not speaking Spanish.

The origin of the Amuzgo people is not known but as their language is related to Mixtec, it is possible they migrated along with these people from the north and separated out to this region to escape inter-ethnic violence.

There are some mestizos, which live primarily in the seat.

Most of the municipality’s cultural heritage is based on that of the Amuzgos, the largest community of this ethnicity.

Children from the municipality have been gathering indigenous oral stories for recording as part of the Concurso National de Narraciones Orales en Lenguas Indígenas (National Contest for Oral Narrations in Indigenous Languages).

The name Xochistlahuaca comes from the Nahuatl “xochitl” (“flower”) and “ixtlahuatlan” (“plain”, “plain of the flowers”).

The Amuzgo name for Xochistlahuaca is Suljaá.

There is evidence that Xochislahuaca was the capital of an Amuzgo dominion, which was subject in part to the Mixtec province of Ayacastla when the Aztecs arrived in the 15th century.

While Ayacastla was subjugated, the Amuzgos were never completely or directly under the control of the Aztecs. However, because of Aztec domination of the area, the name Xochistlahuaca comes from Nahuatl and means “plain of flowers.”

This is also the case for “Amuzgo” which means “where there are books,” probably referring to the Xochistlahuaca’s role as an administrative center.

Much of the Amuzgo concentration in this region is due to the displacement of these people from the coast, first by Mixtec expansion, then by Spanish domination.

Lastly, escaped slaves and their descendants came to dominate former Amuzgo lands, especially in what is now Cuajinicuilapa. The community of Cozoyoapan was founded by displaced Amuzgos in the colonial period from what is now San Nicolás in Cuajinicuilapa.

The area was conquered by Pedro de Alvarado in 1522. After the Spanish conquest, many indigenous in Guerrero died of disease and war, leaving the Amuzgos as one of only four ethnic groups to survive.

In 1522, Xochistlahuaca had a population of about 20,000 but in 1582, this was down to 200 Amuzgos before recovering later in the colonial period. The Amuzgos were integrated into colonial rule via evangelization.

In 1563, the town was named an administrative and religious center, similar to its role in the pre-Hispanic era. During the 16th century, it was subject to Oaxaca city (then called Antequera) then it became part of the Puebla province.

In the 17th century, it became part of the Chilapa diocese under Puebla and in 1884, it lost its status as a religious center.

During the Mexican War of Independence, Vicente Guerrero and his troops passed through the area in 1812, stopping at the Cerro Verde to reorganize and supply.

In 1821, it became part of the Capitanía General del Sur but then went back to Puebla in 1823 as part of the municipality of Ometepec. When the state of Guerrero was created in 1849, the town was made the seat of a municipality, which was then ratified in 1872.

However, the seat was moved to Abasolo in 1873. In 1932, the town became a seat of a municipality again, this time separating from Ometepec. This was recertified in 1934.

From the colonial period through the 19th century, the Amuzgos lost control of their lands, paying rent to Spanish lords such as Guillermo Hacho. In 1920, the Amuzgos began to fight to regain control with the Xochistlahuaca ejido established in 1933 on 6,384 hectares.

This ejido was recognized as the Xochistlahuaca municipality in 1934. In 1967, the ejido/municipality received 1,419 hectares more territory for a total of 7,803 hectares today.

In 1997, Hurricane Pauline, one of the worst cyclones to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast, caused heavy rain leaving the municipally stranded by the loss of roads.

Since the latter 20th century, the political situation in Xochistlahuaca has been unstable. It is complicated by the fact that there are two authorities, traditional indigenous councils, mostly Amuzgo, and the constitutional municipal government, dominated by mestizos.

The Amuzgo council usually consists of elders selected for their participation in the community, especially the sponsorship of religious festivals as well as family ties.

The municipal authorities are dominated by mestizos because of their command of Spanish and greater ties to the overall Mexican culture.

This has caused tension between the two groups which has been complicated by converts to Protestantism who reject the traditional councils and independent political movements, especially since the 1980s.

In the early 2000s, the political situation was particularly volatile with the municipal president Aceadeth Rocha refusing to recognize certain traditional authorities. In 2001, a group of Amuzgos took over the municipal palace to protest.

This action spurred the creation of the Frente Cívico Indígena de Xochistlahuaca and the Frente Comunitario de Xochistlahuca, which have had influence in both political and social issues.

Sentiments among the Amuzgos have run particularly against the PRI political party, which dominated municipal politics for decades and mostly in favor now towards National Action Party (PAN).

Since 2006, both traditional and municipal authorities have recognition but the situation remains uneasy.

On March 20, 2012, a 7.4 earthquake was centered very near the municipality affecting it and most of the rest of the Costa Chica region. It was the strongest in Mexico since the 1985 earthquake.

Over fifteen communities in the municipality suffered moderate damage including large cracks and separated walls in a number of community churches and landslides covering roads.

The Museo Comunitario Amuzgo has two halls.

One contains pre-Hispanic pieces, other historical items such as those from the Mexican Revolution, and other antiques. The other is dedicated to the Amuzgo handcrafts, especially textiles, and photographs related to the Amuzgo people.

On the feast day of Saint Mark, which comes at the beginning of the rainy season, chickens are sacrificed over a set of blue rocks which represent thunder and lightning. This is in petition for abundant rain and crops for the coming growing season.

The end of the growing season and harvest are marked by the feast day of the Archangel Michael on September 29.

Traditional medicine men and healing are still preferred by many as illness is generally conceived of as spiritual.

Other important festivals include Carnival and the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12. In the community of Cozoyoapan, the feast day of Saint Sebastian on January 20 is important.

Most women and even men wear traditional clothing, made with either commercial or hand-woven fabric. Industrial weaving has made hand weaving obsolete except for specialty garments or for those made for sale.

The Amugo women of Xochistlahuaca are known for their hand-woven fabric using the most traditional techniques and designs. Most of this fabric is sewn into huipils, a traditional women’s garment, and other traditional items such as tablecloths, napkins, and rebozos.

All pieces are original with no two exactly alike. Amuzgo women begin learning the weaving process when they are children with simple tasks such as cleaning and carding cotton.

As they grow, they learn more difficult techniques and designs from the mothers and grandmothers using a traditional backstrap loom. Historically, weaving was to make clothing for the family, but it has become an important source of income for many Amuzgo families.

A number of Xochistlahuaca weavers have won awards for their work such as the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes in 2004 and the weavers receive support from federal and other sources.

Cooperation with government and university institutions has allowed the weavers to create new items and designs including pants, bathrobes, skirts, and more.

However, the huipil remains the most common and most sought-after item even though they tend to sell better to foreign buyers than Mexican ones as foreigners tend to appreciate the effort that goes into traditional weaving.

The traditional diet of the municipality is based on corn and other locally grown products. Chocolate is generally consumed as a beverage, especially during special events such as weddings.

Tamales are a fundamental part of the diet and come in a variety of forms and fillings such as sweet corn, pork, chicken, freshwater shrimp, and more. One local dish is called the “Cabeza de Viejo” (“Old man’s head”) and there is a type of sweetened tortilla called a “ticaso”.

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The word “Tehuacalco” comes from the Nahuatl “tehuacalli” which refers to holes bored into stones to be used for ritual purposes. It can be interpreted as the “place of the stone box,” “House of priests” or “house of the sacred water”.

While mostly Tehuacalco is associated with the Yopes, it is not completely certain. There may have been Yopime or even Tlapaneca settlements here as well.

Occupation of the site began around 400 CE with its height between 650 and 110 0CE. At this time, the population center covered about eighty hectares and the ceremonial center covered twelve.

Most of the structures were built when the Toltecs were at the height of their influence.

The Yopes of Tehuacalco were sedentary farmers with different social classes with classes of rulers and priests on top, followed by warriors, merchants, and artisans. The diet consists of meat from hunting and corn.

The Yopes thought of the mountains as repositories of water and seeds. These mountains were worshipped as a way to ensure good harvests.

The sun was thought to be devoured by a monster at the end of the day and had to fight in the underworld to arise the next morning. It was considered obligatory to “feed” the sun to help it return.

The area around the site was named Yopitzingo in Nahuatl, and it was one of the few areas that the Aztecs could not conquer in the late Post Classic period even though by then the Yopes had become semi-nomadic practicing intermittent agriculture.

However, after the Spanish Conquest, the Yope were decimated by European diseases. They did not submit completely to Spanish rule and had one major rebellion. However, this was crushed with the Spanish scattered the remaining Yopes to other settlements.

Tehuacalco is the first site related to the Yope to be extensively explored, which was done in the 2000s.

Nineteen structures have been discovered so far, mostly by fieldwork performed in 2006 and 2007.

Afterward, forty million pesos were spent to ready the site for tourism and it was opened to the public in 2008.

The site is located on a hill surrounded by taller mountains. Four of these mountains, Compuerta, Capulín, Tierra Colorada, and Gavilpan, mark the cardinal directions. The site hill was considered to be a “fifth” direction, where power was concentrated.

The site has four aspects, areas with rock etchings, the surrounding mountain terrain, pyramidal structures, and caves in the hills with offerings.

The rock etchings include the Piedra de Los Pies Pintados, with markings of feet, and Monument W which has circular patterns used to count lunar cycles.

Fifty-seven caves on the sides of Compuerta have been explored with findings of offerings such as braziers and incense burners. These caves were related to the worship of the sun.

The site possesses various characteristics related to archaeoastronomy. The site is oriented towards the Compuerta Mountain. This mountain and smaller peaks on each side were used to mark equinoxes and solstices, as the sun rose from behind them.

The site was a ceremonial center with a plaza surrounded by various pyramid bases and other structures.

The site has a distinct construction style, which consists of boulders with spaces between them filled in with layers of flat rock and red clay. This allows the structures to withstand earthquakes.

Of the discovered structures, eight are considered major complexes with the rest minor. The most important of these is four large pyramidal structures and a Mesoamerican ball court.

Some of the pyramid bases are in unusually good condition.

The four main structures are Encinera or Main Temple, the Palace, the Templo del Espejo de Agua, and Platform W. The Palace, also denominated as Building Five, is the largest on the site, with a base that measures eighty meters on each side. It has sunken patios and various courts.

The La Encinera is twenty meters tall and was the site for various rituals performed by priests and rulers.

The ball court measures 37.8 meters long.

Platform W had residences for the elite with internal patios and drainage systems.

However, the most sacred part of the site is a hill dedicated as a sanctuary for the worship of water and rain.

Some of the minor structures include the Templo Verde, the Templo Rojo, and La Anona. The last two form the Solar Group.

There is a welcome center with explanations about the site in Spanish, but the explanatory signs on the site are in Spanish and English.

From Chipancingo

• By bus from Chipancingo to Tierra Colorada, 50 minutes (twice a day)
• By taxi from Tierra Colorada to Tehuacalco archaeological site, 7-10 minutes

Or directly in a taxi from Chipancingo (around 40 minutes)

From Acapulco

• By bus from Acapulco to Chilpancingo, 2 hours (buses run every 2 hours)
• By bus from Chipancingo to Tierra Colorada, 50 minutes (twice a day)
• By taxi from Tierra Colorada to Tehuacalco archaeological site, 7-10 minutes

Or directly in a taxi from Acapulco (around 50 minutes)

Teopantecuanitlan is located in the state of Guerrero, about 20 km in the southwesterly direction from the town of Copalillo. The nearest village is Tlalcozotitlan. It is situated at the convergence of the Amacuzac and Balsas rivers, and five miles (8 km) from where the Amacuzac flows into the Mezcala River, providing an environment for trade and travel. Teopantecuanitlan occupies some 1.6 to 2 km² (500 acres), and is situated at the foot of a sharp hill which rises 200 m above the site.

Teopantecuanitlan was a center for a region that included Oxtotitlán, Juxtlahuaca, Xochipala, Zumpango del Río, and Chilpancingo.

Teopantecuanitlan was occupied from 1400 to 500 BCE, which is generally divided into four phases, peaking in population and complexity during Phase II, between 1000 and 800 BCE. The site’s settlement largely consisted of residential compounds characterized by four structures arranged around a shared courtyard or plaza. The structures themselves were made of perishable materials built over stone basal foundations. Imported shell and obsidian artifacts, as well as Olmec-influenced ceramic wares, have been found in association with and inside the residential groups. These artifacts provide material evidence that the Teopantecuanitlan community was a part of an interregional trade network that linked the Gulf Coast with the highlands of Central Mexico.

Mezcala culture type artifacts were found in the Teopantecuanitlan area.

To the north of the Sunken Patio, clay sculptures were found. These were the oldest sculptures on the site. Some similarities are found between them and the monuments at Ojo de Agua, Chiapas, dated to 1200-1100 BC.

In addition to the residential areas, Teopantecuanitlan is notable for its monumental architecture, art, and agricultural terraces, in particular one of the first civil-ceremonial structures in all of Mesoamerica, El Recinto (“the enclosure”), also known as the Sunken Patio, constructed during Phase II (between 1000 and 800 BCE). The Sunken Patio is so-named because it is 2 meters (7 ft) below the natural ground level, built on a base of yellow clay, dressed with travertine blocks.

Four large, nearly identical, monumental travertine blocks adorn the east and west sides of the Sunken Patio. These blocks are carved to resemble anthropomorphic creatures, most likely were-jaguars, with almond-shaped eyes and down-turned mouths. In fact, it is these 3- to 5-ton monuments that are referred to in archaeologist Guadalupe Martinez Donjuán’s name for the site, Teopantecuanitlan, Nahuatl for “place of the temple of the jaguar”. According to Martinez Donjuán, these sculptures are situated so as to mark the equinoxes or solstices, and they “symbolized the opposing forces that ruled the world”.

The back of one of these monuments, Monument 2, contains symbols which Martinez Donjuán interprets as “10 Flower”. If this interpretation is correct, this would be the oldest Mesoamerican calendar date yet discovered.

This site also contains two ballcourts. One miniature ball court is located within the Sunken Patio itself[8] while the other lies 900 m to the northeast. At one end of the smaller ball court there is an adobe sweat bath. This sweat bath was most likely used as a social bonding environment for the developing elite class of Teopantecuanitlan.

Stone-faced patios and bas-relief monumental art are the features that are also found at the site of Chalcatzingo, Morelos. These are the only two sites known with these features. The sunken patio of Teopantecuanitlan is older. There are also other parallels between these sites.

Teopantecuanitlan is also home to the oldest known Mesoamerican dam. This dam was constructed around 1200 BCE and built of rough uncut rocks. This dam relied on gravity to bring water to the agricultural land. Canals, or channels, made of large flat stone slabs are also present in Teopantecuanitlan. The lining of these canals were of benefit to the domestication of plants by being a means of irrigation. These canals prevented erosion damage, loss of water also acted as a sewer.

This site is also the first known within Mesoamerica to utilize the architectural feature known as a corbelled vault. This vault allowed for high ceilings without the use of trapezoidal cut stone. These corbelled vaults were used in ancient structures such as the tombs of the elite and in temples.

Teopantecuanitlan society was not egalitarian — otherwise such monumental structures would not have been built. There was a leader in place to oversee the building of these structures as well as instruct the laborers and ensure that all the necessary resources were available.

Teopantecuanitlan was discovered by Martinez Donjuán in 1983, after reports of looting at this Guerrero site. She was assisted in this effort by, among others, Christine Niederberger. Niederberger focused in particular on the residential areas known as the Lomerios zone, or as Tlacozotitlán.

Olmec connections

Olmec influence is seen in many of the monuments of Teopantecuanitlan. In addition to the four prominent monuments discussed above, Olmec style or Olmec-influenced artifacts have been found throughout the site.

There are several theories regarding how such Olmec motifs and designs — perhaps even deities — came to be at a site hundreds of miles/kilometers from the Olmec heartland. Martinez Donjuán believes that the roots of the Olmec culture lie in Teopantecuanitlan, and a splinter group left Teopantecuanitlan to colonize what we call the Olmec “heartland”. a revival of Miguel Covarrubias’s hypothesis, first formulated in 1946.

The state of Guerrero seems to have played important role in the early history of Olmec culture. Olmec-style artifacts tend to appear earlier in some parts of Guerrero than in the Veracruz-Tabasco area. In particular, the objects from the Amuco-Abelino site in Guerrero reveal dates as early as 1530 BC.

Noted archaeologist Michael D. Coe has said that this “position is contradicted by the environmental constraints” imposed by the semi-arid Guerrero highlands.[13] Niederberger finds Olmec influence only in the monumental architecture, with the rest of the culture derived from indigenous sources.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

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The park is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur, primarily in the northeast part of Guerrero state. This section of the Sierra Madre del Sur is made of rock, mostly limestone, that was formed under oceans millions of years ago.

The caverns extend through the municipalities of Pilcaya, Tetipac, and Taxco of Guerrero state, and extend into Morelos state in the municipality of Coatlán del Río.

The park extends over 2,700 hectares of land and is located southwest of Mexico City, near the silversmithing town of Taxco. This is a well-known cave system in Mexico and is popular for caving.

The park is visited by about 350,000 people annually, generating an income of about 8 million pesos each year.

Cacahuamilpa is one of the largest cave systems in the world. It is a “live” cave system, meaning that groundwater still filters down into it, and that the formations there are still growing.

Inside the cavern system are ninety large “salons” separated by large natural rock walls and connected to one another via a central gallery.

However, only about twenty of these are fully explored and open to the public. Most of these salons are located under the Cerro de la Corona, a limestone mountain ridge borehole opening.

These salons average about forty meters wide and vary in height from twenty to 81 meters.

Most have names that reflect the major formations found in them such as the Goat Salon, the Throne Salon, and the Cathedral Salon.

All the openings have numerous rock formations growing from both the ceiling and the floor.

One of the drier salons has been dubbed the “Auditorium”. It has a large flat floor and has been outfitted with seats.

It is rented out for events and has been the site for a number of concerts including one in 2007 by Miguel Bosé and one by the Acapulco Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009.

Tours of the open cave system run every hour and last about two hours. On the walkway to the entrance, there are a couple of amate trees (Ficus Insipida) with their roots wound around the rocky walls of Limontitla Canyon.

The entrance is a large arch about forty meters wide and twelve meters tall. From the entrance, one descends about twenty meters to the level of the caverns.

The path has a mostly level cement walkway, and there is artificial illumination on both the path and parts of the salons. However, since it is a live cave, the high humidity can make the trek uncomfortable for some people.

At least parts of the cave system have been known for centuries, and parts have been occupied since pre-Hispanic times. Excavations in the caverns have produced fragments of pottery.

This area was home to the Olmec people, and later the Chontal tribe. Both peoples used the caves for ceremonial purposes.

The original name of the caves was “Salachi”. The current name, “Cacahuamilpa,” comes from a location near the cave entrance and means “peanut field.”

After the Conquest, the existence of the caves was kept hidden from the Spaniards by the indigenous peoples.

Credit for the “discovery” of the caves is given to Manuel Sainz de la Peña Miranda, who used the caves in 1834 to hide from Spanish authorities, which prompted a thorough search of the area.

In 1866, Dominik Bilimek and Maximiliano von Habsburg made the first bio-speleological visit to the cave. F. Bonet surveyed and mapped the cave up to 1,380 meters in 1922 and it was opened to the public during that decade.

The first scientific expedition to the caves was organized by the Secretary of the French Legation in 1935, and the national park was established in 1936 by President Lázaro Cárdenas.

Guided tours began in 1969, and the second survey in 1987 established the cave system’s length at between four and five kilometers.

In one of the salons is a gravesite. The story behind this grave is that an Englishman got lost exploring the cave and eventually died of starvation. He was accompanied by a dog, which he sent to get aid.

However, no one on the outside paid any attention to the dog, so it returned to the cave to die along with its master. When the remains were found, they were buried there with rock and a simple cross.

The Grutas de Carlos Pacheco is located 400 m to the south of the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa. They were named after Mexican General Carlos Pacheco, who fought against the French Intervention in Mexico.

Just beyond the entrance, the cave divides into two branches. The infiltration of water into these caverns is minimal and parts are entirely dry. For this reason, this is considered to be a fossilized cave.

The stalagmites and stalactites here stopped forming hundreds of years ago. However, a number of these formations are very uncommon and some seem to defy gravity.

These caves can be visited by arranging a tour separate from the tour of the Cacahuamilpa Caverns.

The park has two underground rivers called the Chontalcoatlán, which is eight km long, and the San Jeronimo, which is 12 km long. The tunnels that have been formed by these rivers are still completely active, as the water continues to cut away little by little at the rock.

Both have areas with rocks and sandy beaches on each side and the darkness is complete in much of the tunnels’ lengths. The San Jeronimo River has its origins in natural springs that lie in San Pedro Zictepec, Mexico State.

The walls of the cavity in which it flows are up to eighty meters high. It is possible for visitors to explore this river, which requires about seven hours to do so; however, it is easier for the two to explore as it is more level.

The waters of the Chontalcoatlán originate from the Nevado de Toluca. Its descent underground has carved out an entrance fifty meters high. It is also possible to visit this natural tunnel although it is necessary to get to the entrance by vehicle. It is relatively easy to travel to a point called La Caraboya or La Ventana.

However, after this point, the river descends steeply and those not in good physical condition are not advised to continue. Just after the two rivers reemerge above ground, they join to form the Amacuazac River, which is a tributary of the Balsas River.

The Limontitla Botanical Garden exists to demonstrate the native flora that exists in this subtropical, mostly deciduous forest. Tours of the garden can be done alone or with a guide to explain the species on display here.

The best time to visit the garden is during the rainy season (approx. June to October) when everything is green and in bloom.

The park also has a large swimming pool located at a point that overlooks the place where the San Jeronimo and Chontalcoatlán Rivers meet to form the Amacuazac.

Iguala experiences a tropical savanna climate, which is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons.

Dry Season (November to April)

During this period, Iguala experiences lower humidity levels and minimal rainfall. Days are typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 32°C. This is considered the most comfortable time to visit, as the weather is generally pleasant for outdoor activities.

Wet Season (May to October)

The wet season in Iguala brings heavy rainfall and increased humidity. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common during this time. Daytime temperatures remain warm, ranging from 28°C to 34°C, but the frequent rain can affect outdoor plans.

The best time to visit Iguala

The best time to visit Iguala largely depends on your preferences and planned activities:

November to April: If you prefer dry and pleasant weather for exploring the city, sightseeing, and outdoor adventures, this is the ideal time to visit. The comfortable temperatures and lower chance of rain make it a popular choice among tourists.

May to October: While the wet season can be less crowded and offer a different perspective of Iguala’s lush green landscapes, it’s important to be prepared for rain and potential disruptions to outdoor activities.

However, this period can be great for experiencing the local culture and festivities.

General Vicente Guerrero was the first military leader to swear allegiance to the Mexican flag in Acatempan, on March 12, 1821. On February 24, the Plan de Iguala was signed by Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero, ending the long Mexican War of Independence.

Gaining independence from Spain was represented by the first national flag, known as the Flag of the Three Guarantees, which was made by José Magdaleno Ocampo. Thus, Iguala is called the birthplace of the Flag of Mexico.

The San Francisco Church (Iglesia de San Francisco) is a landmark in the city, built in the 19th century in the Neoclassical style. It is surrounded by Tamarind trees, and for them, Iguala is known as “la Ciudad Tamarindera” (the Tamarindo city).

The Lagoon of Tuxpan (Laguna de Tuxpan), is a lake in the city known for its beauty.

The altitude varies from between 0 and 1,000 meters above sea level. Much of the municipality is rugged terrain with the rest being semi-flat or flat. Major peaks here are the Sierra de la Cuchara and the Cumbre de la Peatada.

Major rivers here include the Verde and the Ixtapa. There are also a number of small streams such as the Real, Pantla, Zapote, and Lagunillas. Land wildlife mostly consists of small mammals, bats, and lizards.

The bay contains fish such as red snapper, bass other fish, and sea turtles.

Because of the climate’s temperature and humidity, the beaches of Zihuatanejo are apt for the incubation of various sea turtles’ eggs such as the leatherback, hawksbill, and Olive Ridley.

The annual program for the collection and protection of turtle eggs starts at the beginning of June and lasts until the end of December. 31 December is celebrated with a massive baby turtle release along the coasts north and south of Zihuatanejo Bay.

The program consists of twenty-one incubation corrals, along thirty-two kilometers of beaches.

These corrals protect the dozens of turtle eggs collected each day during this time period by government staff and trained volunteers. After birth, they are kept here until they grow large enough to avoid most natural predators and increase their chances of survival.

Zihuatanejo enjoys a tropical climate, with warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

The dry season typically spans from November to May, characterized by sunny days and lower humidity. The wet season, which brings the majority of the annual rainfall, occurs from June to October.

The climate is warm and mostly moist, with an average temperature of 26 °C. Average temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year, making it an appealing destination for those seeking warmth and sunshine.

The rainy season is from June to September.

The best time to visit Zihuatanejo

The ideal time to visit Zihuatanejo is during the dry season, from November to April. This period offers pleasant weather for outdoor activities, water sports, and exploring the town’s attractions.

However, this is also the peak tourist season, so it’s advisable to plan and book accommodations in advance. The wet season can still be a viable option for travelers who don’t mind occasional rain and prefer a quieter atmosphere.

There are two possible origins for the name Zihuatanejo.

One origin might be from the Purépecha language meaning “water of the yellow mountain”.

Another possible origin might be from Nahuatl – Cihuatlán – meaning “place of women”.

“Cihuatlán” refers to the western paradise of the Nahuatl universe, the home of the “goddess women”. According to tradition, these women arose in the afternoon to lead the sun at dusk to the realm of the dead, Mictlan, to give a dim light to the dead.

“De Azueta” is in honor of José Azueta, who died fighting a U.S. incursion into the country in Veracruz in 1914.

Pre-colonial era

The first human inhabitants of the region were nomadic tribes with a hunting and gathering culture. By the 15th century, the area was inhabited by groups called the Chumbia, the Panteca, and the Coixcas. These groups mined salt in what is now Ixtapa.

The two main settlements in the area were Cihuatlán, which is near the modern Zihuatanejo, and Petatlán. These two settlements along with much of the surrounding area were part of a pre-Hispanic dominion called Cuitlatepan.

It extended from the Atoyac River along the coast and inland to the borders of what are now the states of Michoacán and Mexico State. Little remains of these two settlements, mostly because they were abandoned by most of the local inhabitants after being conquered by the Aztecs.

The area had always been sparsely populated before the colonial era. There are some myths and legends related to the place.

There is a story that states that Zihuatanejo was a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Cihuatéotl, who was of Olmec origin. She was considered to be the mother of the human race and the goddess of women who died in childbirth and of warriors who died in battle.

In modern Zihuatanejo, there is an area called “La Madera” to the east of the port that may have been a shrine or sanctuary due to the significant number of pre-Hispanic clay figures that have been found. It is thought that this was dedicated to her.

The area also appears to have been a sanctuary for the burial of important persons. In pre-Hispanic times, Purépecha kings used this area as a recreational area.

Just south of the Zihuatanejo Airport, there is a large archeological site at La Soledad De Maciel and the small town of La Chole. While artifacts have been found there since the 1930s, excavations were only started between 2000 and 2010.

The site was occupied from 3000 BCE to the early 600s CE when it was destroyed by a tsunami. It was occupied by three different cultures and was an important trading city for both Teotihuacan and the Olmec.

At its height, it had a large population with the site possibly covering a 10 square km area.

Only a small part of the site has been excavated because most of it is owned by the local farmers who grow fruit trees, vegetables, coconuts for copra, and tobacco that they roll into cigars.

The Mexican government is in the process of buying back the site but it will be a slow process. Still, what has been uncovered is worth seeing.

Cuitlatepan was conquered by the Aztecs under Ahuizotl in 1497. It was renamed Cihuatlán and turned into a tributary province.

Colonial era

The Spanish arrived in the 1520s. The first Spaniard to arrive here is said to have been Gonzalo de Umbria, sent by Hernán Cortés to explore the area to see if there was any gold.

The conquest caused the native peoples to mostly abandon the area, and it is not known where they went. Those left to provide tribute were known in the Mexican highlands for their cotton shawls and decorated conch shells.

The oldest document with Zihuatanejo’s name is called the Matricula de Tributos (Record of Tribute). Today the local dialect has been lost and the only trace of the native population is a small archaeological site that was explored by INAH in the 1990s.

The Spanish used the bay as a point of departure to explore the Pacific coast as well as a port for the first ships to sail to the Philippines, Florida, Espiritu Santo, and Santiago.

These ships were ordered and built by Hernán Cortés and offered to the Spanish king Carlos V. According to the chronicles written by Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the ships were constructed here using Spanish carpenters and local wood.

They left Zihuatanejo Bay on 31 October 1527 with Captain Alvaro de Saavedra y Cerón. Only Florida made it to the Asian islands, and neither the captain nor crew ever returned to Mexico.

The Ixtapa area was given to Anton Sanchez as an encomienda, with nearby Pochutla and Tamaloca as part of this arrangement.

With the disappearance of the native population, fields, and forests were worked by Spaniards, leaving little in the way of the colonial system which was prevalent in other parts of Mexico.

The Spanish raised chocolate, cotton, vanilla, and corn here, however, the main export was tropical woods such as cedar, oak, walnut, and others. Much of this was exported to Europe.

Some gold was found here, mostly in an area in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains in an area called Real de Guadalupe and areas north of the current municipality.

During the colonial period, the Spanish galleons of Manila brought coconut trees to the area, which still flourished. They were the basis of the economy of the coast for some time.

Few, if any, vestiges of the haciendas of the area remain, mostly because lasting constructions such as stone mansions or aqueducts were never built, as they were in other parts of Mexico.

These haciendas were generally owned by foreigners, such as the Inguarán company of France, or by Creoles.

The town now known as Zihuatanejo was a fishing village, surrounded by large haciendas.

Between 1680 and 1740 there are indications that the port was used for contraband trade; that is, for the trade of arriving Asian products between New Spain and Peru, and interregional trade that had been forbidden.

In the second half of the 16th century, the original Spanish shipyards at Zacatula burned. Unable to reconstruct them, new ones were built at Zihuatanejo. The surrounding haciendas occasionally used the bay as a port to ship wood and minerals.

The bay was visited during the colonial period by many pirates.

Independence and post-colonial era

The municipality was spared involvement in the Mexican War of Independence, except for its use by José María Morelos y Pavón as a logistic port in 1811. Morelos created the province of Tecpan, which included Zihuatanejo.

However, the municipality did suffer consequences during the Mexican Revolution. Generally, it was sympathetic to the rebel cause and many joined, such as brothers Alfredo, Leonel, Hector, and Homero Lopez.

Because of its sympathies, various bands associated with the different forces fighting against the Porfirio Diaz government (and each other) came through here, as well as federal forces. These led to a certain amount of sacking, pillaging, and vandalism.

In 1823, with the first republic, Zihuatanejo was separated from Tecpan and became part of the district of Acapulco. When the state of Guerrero was created, Zihuatanejo was part of the municipality of La Unión and Petatlán.

20th century

In 1926, a group called the “vidalistas” attacked the town which led to a secret agreement with the government to free a number of the compatriots.

In 1952, there was a strike by workers on coconut plantations from Acapulco to Zihuatanejo. Strikers blocked the highways of the town. In 1953, the town gained municipality status.

In the 1970s, the area changed radically when the federal government decided to develop the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa area into a tourist attraction. This caused the population to increase dramatically, especially in the 1980s and today the main economic base is tourism.

Tourism in Zihuatanejo was negatively impacted by some events in the 2000s. In May 2008, bull sharks gathered in large numbers along the coast for unknown reasons; two surfers were killed and a third was injured.

The attacks occurred during a three-week period causing a “Jaws-like mania” the construction of lifeguard towers and the establishment of a shark patrol for the beaches of Zihuatanejo and north. It was a rare phenomenon that subsided after the sharks dispersed.

On 20 February 2009, a group of men in a pickup truck threw explosive devices at the installations of the Secretariat of Public Safety of the municipality of Zihuatanejo, resulting in five persons injured.

The attack occurred at 7:45 p.m. near the municipal docks. At the time of the attack, the 56th Infantry Battalion had been stationed in Zihuatanejo, mostly to interdict the traffic in arms, drugs, and stolen vehicles.

The grenade attack on the security headquarters was followed by a highway ambush that killed four policemen.

The kidnapping of Mexican citizens has been a problem here as well. In one instance four kidnapping victims were rescued by elements of the Mexican military and police, killing one suspect in the process.

The fishing town and resort of Zihuatanejo spread out around the Bay of Zihuatanejo and inland toward the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. The town is the seat of government for the municipality and the principal community in the region.

Since the 1970s, it has been developed in conjunction with nearby Ixtapa but conserves its traditional Mexican feel.

The downtown is called “El Centro” and is located on the north end of the bay. The center still has its narrow streets paved with stones or bricks. The town also has a long-standing community of Swiss and Italian immigrants.

The heart of Zihuatanejo is the waterfront walkway Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman’s Path), also called the malecón. This tree-lined pedestrian walkway goes along the municipal beach between the archeological museum and the fishing pier.

It is lined with restaurants offering seafood and many other dishes, as well as a variety of stores selling rugs, arts and crafts, and souvenirs, and a small shell market. In the evening, this area is filled with people socializing.

Instead of a traditional plaza, the center is a basketball court that is in front of the beach and serves as a point of reference. It is surrounded by benches and shade trees. Next to this are the gazebo and the Casa de la Cultura.

These venues host music, concerts, cultural presentations, and art shows.

The main thoroughfare for cars is Juan Alvarez, a block behind the malecón. Sections of several of the main streets are designated pedestrian zones. The main church of the town, the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is located nearby.

Zihuatanejo’s oldest building was part of the Ingrana family hacienda, which was a coconut plantation. Today, the building houses “Restaurant Coconuts”, but was the storage facility for the plantation when it was built about 150 years ago.

The plantation remained in the family until the Mexican Revolution when this particular building was confiscated and turned into a field hospital and the rest of the plantation was divided into smaller units.

The current restaurant opened in 1979 after restoring this building. Much of the timber in the bar area is original. The gallery of Restaurant Coconuts has a collection of Works done by Guerrero native Nicolás de Jesús.

Museum of Archeology

Archeological Museum of the Costa Grande is located at the southern end of the municipal beach and the Paseo de los Pescadores. It has six rooms that document the history, archeology, and culture of this part of the Guerrero coast.

Many of the artifacts are from as far away as the Olmec and Toltec civilizations, as both explored this area.

The town of Zihuatanejo’s main attraction is its bay, which is well protected from the open ocean. It is a favorite place to moor boats from small private ones to large yachts during the winter months.

The bay’s width varies from between 950 to 1,750 meters in width and averages 18 meters deep. It is mostly surrounded by beaches, most of which have gentle waves. On land, the bay is surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains.

The development of this area has caused some environmental problems. The town’s five water treatment plants can no longer keep up with demand, with some untreated wastewater and sediment flowing into the bay.

There has also been some wholesale destruction of the hills right on the bay to create development space, and there is concern about damage to the local coral reef.

Some development projects, such as a dock for cruise ships and Punta del Mar (a complex of hotels, villas, pools, and a marina) have been delayed due to the need for environmental impact studies.

The ring of beaches of Zihuatanejo Bay begins with the Municipal Beach which is in front of the town center and next to the port. From there, there is a cement and sand walkway that leads to Playa Madera (“Wood Beach”).

It is a 2-kilometer stretch of light-colored sand between the municipal beach and Playa La Ropa.

The waves here are gentle with the occasional wave. This beach contains a number of bay-view restaurants, bungalows, condominiums, and hotels, as well as a walkway that extends the length of the beach. Part of the beach is covered in pebbles.

Moving away from the town center along the bay, the next beach is called Playa La Ropa (“Clothes Beach”). The name Playa La Ropa (“Clothes Beach”) refers to the sinking of a merchant ship near the bay during colonial times.

Its cargo of fine silks, belts, cloaks, and fabrics from Bombay washed up on this beach. This beach is about 1.2 km long and is considered the best for swimming as there is little wave action. During the winter months, many sailboats moor here.

Just behind the beach, the land rises suddenly into cliffs, which are dotted with hotels, large residences, and guest houses.

A number of these hotels sponsor the local turtle conservation campaign, setting up fenced-off areas in which turtle eggs found along the beach are gathered and protected during incubation from August through December.

After hatching, the baby turtles are kept in tubs and released periodically into the ocean at sunset. These hotels invite guests to help with the release.

The beach contains a very small fenced estuary which is home to several crocodiles. They have lived here for years and are well-fed by the local restaurants, although they are still wild creatures.

In a parking lot at the end of La Ropa Beach, one of the parking spaces has become a place of reverence for the Virgin of Guadalupe. According to local reports, an image of the virgin appeared on the bole of a plum tree on 27 November 2006.

This is considered by many to be a miracle, especially as it occurred shortly before the Virgin’s feast day of 12 December.

The tree has a base constructed around it with stairs allowing visitors to see the image more easily. There are places to deposit candles and offerings and flowers have been planted around the tree. On 12 December, a mass and candlelit vigil is held here.

Playa Las Gatas (Cats Beach) is on the opposite side of the bay from town and is accessible only by boat as there are no paved roads that lead to here and a small, poorly defined, rocky footpath leading from Playa La Ropa.

Las Gatas was originally named for a small cat shark that used to inhabit these waters. It is located at the entrance to the bay at a place called Punta del Rey (King’s Point). This leaves the area open to ocean breezes.

Wave action is stronger, but not as strong as those beaches that face the open ocean as there is a coral reef and a man-made stone barrier in front of it.

According to legend, Purépecha chief Calzontzin had a stone barrier built here to keep the waves down and the sea creatures out, creating a kind of swimming pool. Las Gatas is the most popular snorkeling beach in Zihuatanejo.

Gear can be rented at Carlo Scuba, along with PADI instruction and certification. Colorful tropical fish can be seen along the man-made breakwater, as well as the abundant coral and sea urchins.

At the far end of the beach, surfing is possible and a path leads to the lighthouse on the point of the bay.

The town center has its own beach, called the “municipal beach”, but it is not recommended for swimming. Due to its proximity to the port, there is constant maritime traffic in this part of the bay.

***

Outside of Zihuatanejo Bay, some of the most important beaches include Quieta Beach, Majahua Beach, Playa Larga, and others.

Prior to the 1970s, economic activity was based on fishing and agriculture. At that time, the federal government decided to make a planned resort at Ixtapa, just north of the municipal seat of Zihuatanejo, constructed on what was once a coconut plantation and mangrove estuary.

It is a complete tourist center with a hotel strip three kilometers long, white sands, shopping centers, restaurants, nightclubs, golf courses, and residences.

To the south of Zihuatanejo Bay, there are a number of beaches and a lagoon on the way to the regional airport.

Playa Larga (Long Beach), Playa Blanca (White Beach), and Las Pozas (The Wells) are parts of the same long stretch of white sand that runs from Zihuatanejo Bay, past the airport and down to Barra de Potosí.

The total length of these beaches is about fifteen kilometers. Swimming is strongly not encouraged off any of these beaches as they face the open ocean and have heavy undertows riptides and currents.

Behind the beaches are coconut groves, small huts, and mango trees.

Cacti grow on the hillsides, sometimes down to the beach itself. Activities that are recommended for this area include whale watching from December to February and dolphin watching all year round, both of which can be done from the beach.

There is horseback riding on the beaches and into the adjoining hills. The beach is dotted with open-air restaurants with roofs thatched with palm fronds, tree branches, and flowers.

Volleyball nets and soccer posts are set up in front of many of the restaurants as well.

Port

The port is mainly used by fishermen who arrive at the docks every morning with their catch, “pangas” and other boats that ferry passengers to places like Las Gatas beach, and fishing charters.

There is also a cruise ship greet and rest area for passengers who visit the town.

Sport fishing is a major draw to this part of Zihuatanejo. In February 2001, Sport Fishing Magazine rated the Zihuatanejo area second worldwide for sail-fishing, based on the number of strikes per day and other factors.

Yearly, on the first weekend of May, Zihuatanejo hosts the International Sailfish Tournament. The event brings hundreds of fishermen and boats into town in the hopes of winning one of the many prizes offered for the largest sailfish, marlin, and dorado.

Fish that can be caught here include roosterfish, jacks, snook, grouper, and small tuna close to shore between Wamaluli Point and Morro de Pampanoa, but they are not the main attraction here. Most of the sport fishing occurs offshore, about five miles out.

Billfish of one of the major attractions. Sport fishing operations exist here using boats such as super pangas and luxury cruisers. Sailfish and marlin can be had, caught, and released. The seas can be very choppy near the shore but calm farther out.

Most visitors come for these two fish, which are available year-round.

Blue and black marlin are available much of the year, with February and March being the best months. Several huge fish have been caught here such as the 500 kg black marlin caught just 0.4 km offshore. Other fish include skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna.

Cruises often stop at Zihuatanejo, the city has become a major cruise stop and a major attraction for its beaches. The city is also famous for its catamaran tours of both Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa Bay where snorkeling, spinnaker flying, and sunset cruises are offered.

There is also one small archeological site named Tierras Prietas.

Inland there are a couple of attractions. La Vainilla is an ecological park located 8 km from the town of Zihuatanejo on the hilly terrain of the foothills of the Sierra Madre. It covers approximately 344 hectares and contains 428 species of plants.

These are distributed in three plant communities; bosque tropical semi-evergreen seasonal forest, deciduous seasonal forest, and gallery forest, with the first type most prevalent.

On the southern end of the beaches in the village of Barra de Potosí. There is a lagoon here, called Laguna de Potosí and islets called Morros de Potosí. The lagoon area has a large mangrove estuary filled with bird wildlife.

Birdwatching, kayaking, and fishing are popular here. The lagoon opens to the ocean and the beaches contain many “enramadas,” palm-thatched outdoor restaurants. Many of these “enramadas” are decorated with colorful paper or plastic cutouts, especially during the Christmas season.

The Morros de Potosí is offshore and is a popular place for snorkeling, with Red-billed Tropicbirds, Brown Boobies, and Brown Pelicans nesting on the rocks.

In the winter season the bay hosts humpback whales, mother/calf pairs, and some males are seen leaping from the water. There is a Whale Study Project, Whales of Mexico, that takes place in the winter as well.

In popular culture

Zihuatanejo was featured in The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama film based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

Andy dreams of living freely in Zihuatanejo while he is being held in Shawshank Prison, and in the final scene of the movie, Andy and Red are finally reunited there on the beach.

Although based in Zihuatanejo, the final scenes were actually shot in the Caribbean on the island of St. Croix, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The TV series “Family Guy”, season 7 Episode 15 which originally aired May 10, 2009, parodied The Shawshank Redemption. In it, Peter Griffin, playing Andy Dufresne, refers to Zihuatanejo as a “Filthy Mexican Village”.

In the TV series The Last Man on Earth, the character Todd was planning to travel to Zihuatanejo, due to his love of The Shawshank Redemption, before discovering the survivors in Tucson.

In the 2014 film Two-Step, the antagonist, Webb, remarks that he plans to travel to Zihuatanejo.

In the 2017 television series, The Arrangement, Kyle tells Megan that he is buying an island in Zihuatenejo.

In the 2016 Television series, “The Night Shift”, Hannah tells Dr. Jordan Alexander that she bought a house on a beach in Zihuatanejo.

The local specialty is Huachinango (“whole red snapper”), usually prepared Veracruzana (with savory tomato sauce) or “al mojo de ajo” (with garlic sauce).

The town hosts an annual festival called the Annual Zihua Sail Fest, which raises funds for the education of disadvantaged children in Zihuatanejo. The five-day event takes place in February with more than 100 boats, some from as far away as Alaska coming into the bay.

Events include cocktail parties, concerts, auctions, sailboat races, chili cook-offs, and street fairs. In 2009, the event raised $640,000 pesos, along with a matching grant and a donation of $20,000 USD by the Rotary Club.

Another festival is the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival which is held in March; it is a week-long event held at multiple locations every night, with a children’s show as well as a free public show at the main plaza.

The Zihua Guitar Fest brings guitarists from all over the world such as Canadian artist Adrian Raso, South Africa’s Margarets Daughter, Nashville’s Eric McFadden, and Texas-based Los Pistoleros to name a few.

This festival prides itself in drawing tourism to the area which helps support the many small family-owned businesses. This festival began in 2004 and has been a big hit for locals as well as tourists.

Recently, a new highway called the “Maxipista Siglo XXI” was built to connect Zihuatanejo with Morelia, cutting the travel time from Mexico City to about six hours.

Zihuatanejo can be reached by air, bus, and highway and has its own airport, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International. Flights are available from Mexico City, several provincial cities, and various places in the United States and Canada.

Airlines: Aeromexico, Interjet, Air Canada (seasonal), Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (seasonal), Delta Air Lines (seasonal), Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet.

Charter Lines: Apple Vacations, Champion Air, Funjet Vacations, MLT Vacations, Ryan International, Sunwing Vacations, and others.

Bus Lines: Autovias, Costa Line, Estrella de Oro, Estrella Blanca, La Linea Plus, Parhikuni, Primera Plus and Tap.

Cruises often stop at Zihuatanejo, the city has become a major cruise stop and a major attraction for its beaches.

The city is also famous for its catamaran tours of both Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa Bay where snorkeling, spinnaker flying, and sunset cruises are offered.

The climate in Taxco is mild, with average highs around 27 °C (81 °F) and average lows around 17 °C (63 °F) year-round. The dry season lasts from October to May, with rains typically occurring from June to September.

Taxco’s population as of 2010 was 52,217 (in 13,933 households), of whom 48% were men and 52% were women. Taxco’s population grew rapidly from 1950 (10,023) to 2000 (50,488).

The name Taxco is most likely derived from the Nahuatl place name Tlachco, which means “place of the ballgame.” However, one interpretation has the name coming from the word tatzco which means “where the father of the water is,” due to the high waterfall near the town center on Atatzin Mountain. “De Alarcón” is in honor of writer Juan Ruiz de Alarcón who was a native of the town. Like many municipalities in central Mexico, the municipality’s coat-of-arms is an Aztec glyph. This glyph is in the shape of a Mesoamerican ballcourt with rings, players and skulls, derived from the most likely source of Taxco’s name.

Before the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico, the indigenous community known as “Taxco” was not located where the modern city is now. The name referred to a village about ten kilometers to the south, which is now referred to as Taxco El Viejo (Old Taxco). In pre-Hispanic times, this village was the most important in the area as it was the seat of the Aztec governor who presided over tribute collection in the surrounding seven districts. The modern Spanish town of Taxco was founded by Hernán Cortés in an area previously known as Tetelcingo, because of the abundance of silver here.

Mining here began in the pre-Hispanic period with natives extracting a number of stones for decorative and ritual purposes. The Spanish discovered silver lodes here in around 1532, which started commercial silver mining in the area. Mining operations in the area during the early colonial period was carried out mostly by mining haciendas such as the Hacienda del Chorrillo and the Hacienda San Juan Bautista, established by Cortés or soldiers of Cortés. In the mid 18th century, José de la Borda arrived to Taxco and started more modern operations in mines called Pedregal, El Coyote, San Ignacio and Cerro Perdido.

For most of the colonial period, the area was sparsely populated, including the town of Taxco itself. For this reason, it was governed as a dependency of Mexico City. When the modern state of Guerrero was created in 1850, Taxco was chosen to be the seat of the municipality of the same name. Since it was the only town of any size in the area, the town was taken a number of times during a number of different conflicts. During the Mexican War of Independence, it was taken by Hermenegildo Galeana in 1815. During the Reform Wars, it was taken by Porfirio Diaz in 1865. During the Mexican Revolution, it was taken by Jesus Moran and Margarito Giles in 1911, and occupied by Carranza’s forces in 1916.

Silversmithing was reinvigorated in Taxco by American William Spratling, who moved to the town in the 1920s, creating silver design workshops and exported items, mostly to the United States. With its fame for silversmithing, tourism became a major economic force in Taxco.

Taxco is a town famed not just for its silver jewelry production but also for Spanish colonial architecture.

Buildings in the city typically have Spanish-style, red-tile roofs. Taxco was recently declared as a Magic Town, full of historic monuments, and fantastic museums considered in Mexico as national heritage sites. Many of the main attractions in this picturesque town are wonderfully preserved colonial buildings, just waiting to be explored.

On a walking tour of Taxco, or while enjoying an extreme sport, you may run across a badger, an armadillo, a lizard, an ocelot, or even a wildcat wandering around. In the surrounding areas of Taxco there are also lots of birds, reptiles and mammals coexisting due to the good climate, the plentiful water supply and the dense vegetation, typical of the north of Guerrero State.

Silverwork and tourism related to Taxco’s status as a silver town is the mainstay of the economy.

Mining is no longer a major employer in the city; the last major mining operation on the outskirts of town, Industrial Minera México S.A., phased out operations beginning in 2007 due to the depletion of reserves and labor problems.

Most commercial activity related to silver is the production and sale of silver jewelry, silverware and other goods. Commerce in silver here is both regional and international. Streets in the town are filled with silvershops selling jewelry, silverware and other goods.

Plaza Borda, the main square

The town’s main plaza, officially called Plaza Borda after José de la Borda, is commonly referred to as the Zócalo. On the north side of this plaza is the Casa Borda (Borda House), the most important non-religious construction in the city. The front facing the Zócalo has two stories, but the back, facing the Plaza de Bernal, has five. This is due to the uneven ground on which the house was built. Much of the house is now dedicated to the Casa de Cultura (Cultural Center) where classes in languages, fine arts and sports such as judo are taught. The rest of the main plaza is surrounded by silver shops, restaurants and bars.

Santa Prisca Parish Church

The icon of Taxco, Parish of Santa Prisca y San Sebastían, commonly referred to as the Santa Prisca Church, is located on the east side of the main plaza of Taxco, and is one of the few Baroque buildings in the state of Guerrero.

Santa Prisca was a labor of love for town hero José de la Borda (ca. 1700–1778). Despite his wealth, however, the opulence of the church nearly bankrupted him, but the risk produced an extraordinary legacy.

The local Catholic hierarchy allowed the silver magnate to donate this church to Taxco on the condition that he mortgage his mansion and other assets to guarantee its completion. It was designed by Spanish architects Juan Caballero and Diego Durán, and was constructed between 1751 and 1758.

It is built with pink stone, flanked by two towers which are plain in the lower half but highly decorated in the upper bell portions. The cupola is covered in colored tile. Inside, there are a number of floor-to-ceiling altarpieces, all covered in gold.

This church, dedicated to Saint Prisca and Saint Sebastian, is an excellent example of New Spanish baroque art, apparent in the ‘churrigueresque’ (extremely decorated) style used on its facade and the use of talavera tiles in one of its chapels, as well as in its eye-catching dome.

Due to its great importance, the construction of this parish church involved several artists who gave this unique building its shape and added their own distinctive touches. On its lavish facade there are diverse sculptural forms made of pink quarry stone. Its two tall towers are embellished with images of saints, and in the center there is the image of the Immaculate Conception, to whom the people of Taxco are devoted followers.

Inside the church there are a total of 12 altars, each one adorned with extraordinary paintings, wood and gold leaf. Here, different saints, especially St. Sebastian and St. Prisca, are faithfully worshipped by the local people.

Borda House

Nearby, the Casa Borda cultural center displays works by local artists, and hosts music and theater events.

Built by José de la Borda in 1759, the Casa Borda serves as a cultural center hosting experimental theater and exhibiting contemporary sculpture, painting and photography by Guerrero artists. The building, however, is the main attraction. Due to the unevenness of the terrain, the rear window looks out on a precipitous four-story drop, even though the entrance is on the ground floor.

This colonial mansion exhibits monograms of the Holy Family, as well as magnificent sacred and secular works of art distributed throughout the 14 halls. Even the hallways are adorned with pieces depicting the rich religious history of Guerrero. This museum was built in honor of Mr. Jose de la Borda, a European businessman who ordered the Santa Prisca Parish Church to be built as sign of the great love that he had for this picturesque town.

La Casa de la Cultura (Taxco House of Culture)

La Casa de la Cultura (Taxco House of Culture) is situated inside Casa Borda where a variety of social and cultural events take place.

Museo William (Guillermo) Spratling

This very well laid-out three-story history and archaeology museum is off an alley behind Templo de Santa Prisca. It contains a small but excellent collection of pre-Hispanic jewelry, art, pottery and sculpture from US silversmith William Spratling’s private collection. The phallic cult pieces are a particular eye-opener.

On the basement floor there are examples of Spratling’s designs using pre-Hispanic motifs. The top floor hosts occasional temporary exhibits.

Museo William Spratling is named for the man credited with establishing Taxco’s silver-artisan community in the 1930s, and it displays archaeological and art objects from his collection.

This museum shows us, through photographs and street plans, how the town of Taxco has evolved.

Also on exhibit are about 300 pieces of pre-Hispanic art, such as vessels and statuettes, typical of the cultural diversity of ancient Mexico.

Inside the exhibition halls, you’ll feel nostalgia for ancient Taxco upon seeing the furniture and other original items while at the same time, in contrast, you can enjoy the modern conveniences of computers available for researching any museum topic.

Viceroyal Art Museum of Taxco (Casa Humboldt)

Near the main plaza are two museums: the William Spratling Museum, which contains silver and archeological pieces from Spratling’s personal collection, and the Museum of Viceregal Art.

This is an amazing museum, located in a beautiful 17th century building, known as Casa Humboldt (Humboldt House), named after the explorer Alexander Von Humboldt, who stayed in this house when he visited Taxco in 1803.

This museum features a baroque style facade and 14 exhibition halls with many objects that recount the history of the city and its mining growth, as well as important information about St. Prisca Parish Church, the main construction in Taxco. Here, you can admire religious objects, a wide variety of baroque art, ornaments from the 17th and 18th centuries, and temporary art exhibitions.

This house was restored in 1991 to become the Museum of Viceregal Art and contains colonial period art and artifacts, some of which belonged to José de la Borda.

San Bernardino de Siena Ex-convent

The Church of the Ex-monastery of San Bernardino de Siena is the oldest in the area, constructed at the end of the 16th century and restored in the 19th after a fire. This convent’s orchard is now the garden of the Posada San Javier Hotel.

This old building, featuring a beautiful neoclassic facade, is one of the oldest convents on the American Continent. The original construction was made with adobe, under the watchful eye of the Franciscan monk, Francisco de Torantos, in 1592. Once, during its long history, a fire destroyed part of this temple only to be reconstructed again, in 1804. Since then, thanks to the extreme care that the population of Taxco has given this building, it remains in an excellent condition.

Church of Veracruz

The Church of Veracruz is located on the Plazuela de la Veracruz on Juan Ruiz de Alarcón. Its principal attraction is an image of Christ which is nicknamed “The General”. This plaza is one of three that house monuments to the playwright Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, who was born in a house near here.

Holy Trinity Temple

Taxco SightseeingThis is one of the most ancient monuments in the city, dating back to the 16th Century. Despite the passing of time and the fact that this temple has been remodeled several times, it still has its original structure thanks to the extreme care taken by the local people, who consider this place as the representative symbol of faith in Taxco.

Former City Hall

This incredible edifice, built at the end of the 18th century, features a mural that recounts the history of Mexico. In addition, it is furnished with period pieces that harken back to the days of powerful landowners, when horse-drawn carts rolled down the cobblestone streets. Nowadays, this building houses the City Council.

Cristo Monumental (Monumental Christ)

In 2002, a monumental statue of Christ was constructed and located on the Cerro del Atachi (Hill of Atachi), overlooking the city of Taxco. This statue can easily be visited by car or by walking up the hill. If you are in the area, then definitely visit this monument because the panoramic view, of the quaint town of Taxco, is simply amazing.

Juan O’Gorman’s Mural

This magnificent mural was created by Juan O’Gorman, creator of the famous murals that adorn the Central Library of the UNAM (Mexico’s main University). These murals have given this university campus, in southern Mexico City, international fame and recognition. O’Gorman, along with his close friends Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, loved visiting Taxco. The plastic artist used the colorful local stones in this particular mural, taking advantage of their natural reds, greens and yellows to put together an impressive tribute to Cuauhtemoc, the last Aztec emperor, and beloved son of the nearby area of Ixcateopan.

Twentieth Century Social History Museum of Taxco

One of the greatest examples of 18th century colonial architecture, this museum teaches us all about the culture and evolution of the people of Guerrero. You’ll feel as if you have stepped back in time when you see the sculptures, paintings, pictures, and different ornaments, strategically placed and well-lit, to highlight their beauty and the importance of the events that have led to what is now the gorgeous village of Taxco de Alarcon.

“Antonio Pineda” Silversmith Museum

In this museum, also known as “Patio de las Artesanias” (Craft Patio), you’ll be able to see Mr. Antonio Pineda’s collection of silver items from many artisans and designers. He managed to amass a magnificent collection, representative of silversmiths throughout the country. Moreover, the museum also displays the works with which Mr. Pineda won national and international awards thanks to his unique designs. On the museum walls there are magnificent murals, by David Castaneda, a local artist, that tell, in a very interesting way, the recent and ancient history of Mexico.

Silver shops

Silver shops with local handmade jewelry are scattered throughout the town’s cobbled streets, and workshops in the outskirts provide further insight into this craft.

The Cable Car

From the top of a steep hill, the cable car at Hotel Montetaxco offers bird’s-eye views of the town and neighboring mountains.

Taxco features a cable car that runs half a mile high for almost 200 yards; an attraction that can only be enjoyed in very few places in Mexico. Traveling all the way from Los Arcos, where the ride begins, to Monte Taxco, the cable car ride delights passengers with its incredible panoramic views of the city. Do not miss the opportunity to view Taxco from a truly unique perspective.

Ex Hacienda del Chorrillo

On the north side of town is one of the major colonial period silver haciendas, the Ex Hacienda del Chorrillo. The hacienda was constructed by soldiers of Hernán Cortés and is one of the oldest in the region. Its aqueduct, built in 1534, is partially preserved.

Cacahuamilpa Caverns

Northeast of town, the Parque Nacional Grutas de Cacahuamilpa caverns are filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

In the southern Sierra Madre, in a mountainous area only a few minutes from Taxco, visit the Cacahuamilpa Caverns and be amazed by the marvels that Mother Nature is able to produce. Large amounts of limestone and mineral deposits that have accumulated over thousands of years can be observed throughout the inner caverns. Helped by low lighting, shadows and rock structures, visitors’ imaginations work overtime as they admire the stalactites and stalagmites that have taken incredibly unique forms over thousands of years.

These marvelous caverns awaken the explorer in each person that enters. Moreover, they have a mysterious atmosphere enhanced by the many legends told by the locals, giving a unique touch to this visit that really is an amazing experience.

Ixcateopan Archaelogical Zone

This archaeological site is located 22 miles from Taxco, in the town of Ixcateopan. This was one of the last towns conquered by the Mexicas and still features the remains of groups of houses and ceremonial structures. Ixcateopan is also the city where Cuauhtemoc, the Aztec emperor was born. His remains were buried under the main indigenous temple where the first catholic church of the town was built.

Holy Week is the most important religious festival by far. Local people take the celebrations very seriously and make processions along the cobblestone streets where the faithful carry out different penitence rites.

We cannot fail to mention the famous “Jornadas Alarconianas,” considered the third most important cultural festival in the country, celebrated every year in honor of the famous dramatist Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, prodigal son of Taxco. During this traditional event, many exhibitions of art and culture are held, as well as entertainment and fireworks. You can be certain that, no matter what time of year you visit Taxco, you’ll always find some festivity, since holidays and feasts in Taxco never end.

Día del Jumil

The Monday after the Day of the Dead (November 2), locals celebrate the jumil – the edible beetle said to represent the giving of life and energy to Taxco residents for another year. Many families camp on the Cerro de Huixteco (above town) over the preceding weekend, and townsfolk climb the hill to collect jumiles and share food and camaraderie.

Fiestas de Santa Prisca & San Sebastián

Taxco’s patron saints are honored on January 18 (Santa Prisca) and January 20 (San Sebastián), when locals parade by the Templo de Santa Prisca for an annual blessing, with their pets and farm animals in tow.

***

Holy Week in Taxco involves elaborate processions and ceremonies that have gained international fame. Between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, there are ten major processions, six during the evening and four during the day. Most processions are about two and a half kilometers long and take about two hours to complete. These commemorations date back to at least 1622 when they were begun in the atrium of the Church of the Ex monastery of San Bernardino de Siena. Now these processions and ceremonies center of the Santa Prisca Church.

Other notable events include the San Antonio Abad Festival in January, the Jornadas Alarconianas (Alarconian Days) in May, the Jumil Festival in October, and the National Silver Fair in late November and early December.

Corn is a staple of food in Taxco. Common dishes include pozole and tacos. Dishes distinctive of Taxco include jumiles (a type of stink bug) prepared in tacos or moles, fiambre, cecina natural (a cured meat), plum and bean tamales, and a drink called berta.

Basketball is the most popular sport in Taxco Municipality. In the city of Taxco, there are basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, as well as soccer fields.

Taxco lies along Mexican Federal Highway 95 and the toll road Mexican Federal Highway 95D.
Taxco has two long-distance bus stations: the Terminal Estrella de Oro in the south and the Autobuses Estrella Blanca station in the northeast.

Transport within Taxco is generally on foot, by taxi, or by “burritos” or “combis” – converted Volkswagen vans that serve as minibuses.

There is no airport in Taxco.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

In pre-Columbian times, the area was occupied by the Olmecs, who built an extensive tunnel network through the mountains, and left the cave paintings in the caverns of Juxtlahuaca.

The city of Chilpancingo was founded on November 1, 1591 by the Spanish conquistadores, its name meaning (“Place of Wasps”).

During the War of Independence, Chilpancingo was crucial to the insurgent cause as its population participated actively and decisively in their favor, and became strategic point for military action in south.

Chilpancingo was very important to Mexican history because it was here where the National Congress met under José María Morelos y Pavón in 1813 during the Mexican War of Independence, and it was also of significance during the Mexican Revolution. In 1853, Chilpancingo was declared the provisional capital of the state, due to an epidemic that struck the then capital of Tixtla, and regional ecclesiastical organizational changes were made at the same time.

In 1870 it was again declared capital by Governor Francisco O. Arce, due to the opposition led by General Jimenez, who was in possession of the official seat of government at Tixtla. It was not until 1871, when the state legislature agreed to a change of venue, that the capital was moved again from Chilpancingo.

During the Mexican Revolution, Chilpancingo was deeply troubled, and had political and administrative importance as a strategic place for the sides in the debate. Battles took place in the vicinity in the 1910s, in which Emiliano Zapata defeated federal forces of Porfirio Diaz, Francisco I. Madero, Victoriano Huerta and Venustiano Carranza. A major defeat of Huerta’s southern forces took place here in March April 1914; the Zapatistas took the town until after the Constitutional Convention.

In 1960, the city entered a severe social crisis with the start of a student popular movement at the Autonomous University of Guerrero, protests which led to a general strike at the institution and later swarmed to various forces and social sectors of the city and the state. The main objective was to diminish the power of the state government and seek autonomy for the college.

On April 27, 2009 an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 was centered near

“Pezuapan” is an archaeological site located in Chilpancingo city. It sits on the eastern slope of the Chilpancingo valley. The archaeological vestiges found at the site cover the total area of 4000 m2. The dates are from 650 AD to 1150 AD.

Other archaeological sites found in this area of Guerrero:

• Teopantecuanitlan
• Oxtotitlán
• Tehuacalco
• Organera-Xochipala
• Cuetlajuchitlán

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Acapulco is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero and is classified as one of the seven regions, dividing the rest of the Guerrero coast into the Costa Grande and the Costa Chica.

40% of the municipality is mountainous terrain. Another 40% is semi-flat, and the other 20% is flat.
The altitude varies from sea level to 1,699 meters.

The highest peaks are Potrero, San Nicolas, and Alto Camarón.

There is one major river, the Papagayo, which runs through the municipality, along with a number of arroyos.

There are also two small lagoons, Tres Palos and Coyuca, along with a number of thermal springs.

Acapulco features a tropical wet and dry climate: hot with distinct wet and dry seasons, with more even temperatures between seasons than resorts farther north in Mexico, but this varies depending on altitude.

The warmest areas are next to the sea where the city is.

Tropical storms and hurricanes are threats from May through November.

The forested area tends to lose leaves during the winter dry season, with evergreen pines in the highest elevations.

The fauna consists mostly of deer, small mammals, a wide variety of both land and sea birds, and marine animals such as turtles.

The full name of the city is Acapulco de Juarez.

The Yope Indian legend was the inspiration for giving its name to Acapulco.

The story goes that Ácatl (cane), the oldest son of one of the chiefs of the tribe was in love with Princess Quihuitl (rain), the daughter of the tribal chief rival. But discouraged to marry her, Ácatl fell into a depression so deep that his own tears melted his body, forming a large swamp of mud where the cane grew.

Meanwhile, Princess Quihuitl with great sadness, was lost in the bay as a cloud, and upon discovering the death of her lover, became a huge storm that destroyed the cane and she died with her beloved Ácatl, and this act, was united forever in Acapulco, that’s how they called this place; Aca-pōl-co “where the canes were destroyed”.

The “de Juárez” was added to “Acapulco” in 1885 to honor Benito Juárez, former President of Mexico (1806–1872).

Pre-Columbian

By the 8th century around the Acapulco Bay area, there was a small culture that would first be dominated by the Olmecs, then by a number of others during the pre-Hispanic period and before it ended in the 1520s.

At Acapulco Bay itself, there were two Olmec sites, one by Playa Larga and the other on a hill known as El Guitarrón. Olmec’s influence caused the small spread-out villages here to coalesce into larger entities and build ceremonial centers.

Later, a Teotihuacan influence made its way here via Cuernavaca and Chilpancingo.

Then Mayan influence arrived from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and through what is now Oaxaca. This history is known through the archaeological artifacts that have been found here, especially at Playa Hornos, Pie de la Cuesta, and Tambuco.

In the 11th century, new waves of migration of Nahuas and Coixas came through here. These people were the antecedents of the Aztecs.

In the later 15th century, after four years of military struggle, Acapulco became part of the Aztec empire during the reign of Ahuizotl (1486–1502). It was annexed to a tributary province named Tepecuacuilco.

However, this was only transitory, as the Aztecs could only establish an unorganized military post on the city’s outskirts. The city was on territory under the control of the Yopes, who continued defending it and living there until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1520s.

16th century

There are two stories about how Acapulco Bay was discovered by Europeans. The first states that two years after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, Hernán Cortés sent explorers west to find gold.

The explorers had subdued this area after 1523, and Captain Saavedra Cerón was authorized by Cortés to find a settlement here. The other states that the bay was discovered on December 13, 1526, by a small ship named the El Tepache Santiago captained by Santiago Guevara.

The first encomendero was established in 1525 at Cacahuatepec, which is part of the modern Acapulco municipality.

In 1531, a number of Spaniards, most notably Juan Rodriguez de Villafuerte, left the Oaxaca coast and founded the village of Villafuerte where the city of Acapulco now stands.

Villafuerte was unable to subdue the local native peoples, and this eventually resulted in the Yopa Rebellion in the region of Cuautepec. Hernán Cortés was obligated to send Vasco Porcayo to negotiate with the indigenous people giving concessions.

The province of Acapulco became the encomendero of Rodriguez de Villafuerte who received taxes in the form of cocoa, cotton, and corn.

Cortés established Acapulco as a major port by the early 1530s, with the first major road between Mexico City and the port constructed by 1531. The wharf, named Marqués, was constructed in 1533 between Bruja Point and Diamond Point. Soon after, the area was made an “alcadia” (major province or town).

Spanish trade in the Far East would give Acapulco a prominent position in the economy of New Spain.

Galleons started arriving here from Asia by 1550, and in that year thirty Spanish families were sent to live here from Mexico City to have a permanent base of European residents.

Acapulco would become the second most important port, after Veracruz, due to its direct trade with the Philippines. This trade would focus on the yearly Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade, which was the nexus of all kinds of communications between New Spain, Europe, and Asia.

In 1573, the port was granted the monopoly of the Manila trade.

17th–19th centuries

The galleon trade made its yearly run from the mid-16th century until the early 19th. The luxury items it brought to New Spain attracted the attention of English and Dutch pirates, such as Francis Drake, Henry Morgan, and Thomas Cavendish, who called it “The Black Ship.”

A Dutch fleet invaded Acapulco in 1615, destroying much of the town before being driven off. The Fort of San Diego was built the following year to protect the port and the cargo of arriving ships.

The fort was destroyed by an earthquake in 1776 and was rebuilt between 1778 and 1783. At the beginning of the 19th century, King Charles IV declared Acapulco a Ciudad Official and it became an essential part of the Spanish Crown.

However, not long after, the Mexican War of Independence began. In 1810, José María Morelos y Pavón attacked and burnt down the city after he defeated royalist commander Francisco Parés at the Battle of Tres Palos.

The independence of Mexico in 1821 ended the run of the Manila Galleon. Acapulco’s importance as a port recovered during the California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, with ships going to and coming from Panama stopping here.

This city was besieged on 19 April 1854 by Antonio López de Santa Anna after Guerrero’s leadership had rebelled by issuing the Plan de Ayutla. After an unsuccessful week of fighting, Santa Anna retreated.

20th century

In 1911, revolutionary forces took over the main plaza of Acapulco. In 1920, the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) visited the area. Impressed by what he saw, he recommended the place to his compatriots in Europe, making it popular with the elite there.

Much of the original hotel and trading infrastructure was built by an East Texas businessman named Albert B. Pullen from Corrigan, Texas, in the area now known as Old Acapulco. But some of Acapulco’s best-known hotels were built by others.

In 1933 Carlos Barnard started the first section of Hotel El Mirador, with 12 rooms on the cliffs of La Quebrada. Wolf Schoenborn purchased large amounts of undeveloped land and Albert Pullen built the Las Americas Hotel.

In the mid-1940s, the first commercial wharf and warehouses were built. In the early 1950s, President Miguel Alemán Valdés upgraded the port’s infrastructure, installing electrical lines, drainage systems, roads, and the first highway to connect the port with Mexico City.

The economy grew and foreign investment increased with it. During the 1950s, Acapulco became the fashionable place for millionaire Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher, and Brigitte Bardot. Former Swing Musician Teddy Stauffer, the so-called “Mister Acapulco”, was a hotel manager (“Villa Vera”, “Casablanca”), who attracted a lot of celebrities to Acapulco.

From a population of only 4,000 or 5,000 in the 1940s, by the early 1960s, Acapulco had a population of about 50,000. In 1958, the Diocese of Acapulco was created by Pope Pius XII. It became an archdiocese in 1983.

During the 1960s and 1970s, new hotel resorts were built, and accommodation and transport were made cheaper. It was no longer necessary to be a millionaire to spend a holiday in Acapulco; the foreign and Mexican middle class could now afford to travel here.

However, as more hotels were built in the south part of the bay, the old hotels of the 1950s lost their grandeur.

In the 1970s, there was a significant expansion of the port.

The Miss Universe 1978 pageant took place in the city. In 1983, singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel wrote the song “Amor Eterno”, which pays homage to Acapulco.

The song was first and most famously recorded by Rocio Durcal. Additionally, Acapulco is the hometown of actress, singer, and comedian Aída Pierce, who found fame during the 1980s, 1990s, and the first decade of the 21st century.

During the 1990s, the road known as the Ruta del Sol was built, crossing the mountains between Mexico City and Acapulco. The journey takes only about three and a half hours, making Acapulco a favorite weekend destination for Mexico City inhabitants.

It was in that time period that the economic impact of Acapulco as a tourist destination increased positively and, as a result, a new type of service emerged like the Colegio Nautilus.

This educational project, backed by the state government, was created for the families of local and foreign investors and businessmen living in Acapulco who were in need of bilingual and international education for their children.

The port continued to grow and in 1996, a new private company, API Acapulco, was created to manage operations. This consolidated operations and now Acapulco is the major port for car exports to the Pacific.

The city was devastated by Hurricane Pauline in 1997. The storm stranded tourists and left more than 100 dead in the city.

Most of the victims were from the shantytowns built on steep hillsides that surround the city. Other victims were swept away by thirty-foot waves and 150 mph (241 km/h) winds. The main road, Avenida Costera, became a fast-moving three-foot-deep river of sludge.

The resort area of Acapulco is divided into two:

The north end of the bay is the “traditional” area known as “Zona Dorada” (“golden zone”), where the famous in the mid-20th century vacationed and the south end “Diamante” (“diamond”) is dominated by newer luxury high-rise hotels.

Zocalo (Main Square)

In the old part of the city, there is a traditional main square called the Zócalo, lined with shade trees, cafés, and shops.
Zócalo lies on the western side of La Costera.

It’s cool, shady, and peaceful during the daytime. There are two fountains and many mature, multi-trunked trees that are a sight in themselves. The Zócalo tends to expose more local culture than other, more tourist-centric, areas.

Zócalo contains Acapulco’s cathedral, as well as many restaurants ranging in size from sidewalk bistros and tiny street-corner kitchens. Many of the smaller restaurants will provide full dinners for as little as 35 pesos.

The Zócalo at night is worth experiencing. Between 8:00 and 23:00, the place is flooded with locals and “chilangoes”. Clowns entertain the crowd for tips. One is dressed as some sort of Aztec warrior/statue thing. He is silver from head to toe.

The Cathedral

At the north end of the square is Nuestra Señora de la Soledad cathedral, with blue onion-shaped domes and Byzantine towers. The building was originally constructed as a movie set but was later adapted into a church.

Fort of San Diego

Acapulco’s most historic building is the Fort of San Diego, located east of the main square and originally built in 1616 to protect the city from pirate attacks.

The fort was partially destroyed by the Dutch in the mid-17th century, rebuilt, then destroyed again in 1776 by an earthquake. It was rebuilt again by 1783 and this is the building that can be seen today, unchanged except for renovations done to it in 2000.

Parts of the moats remain as well as the five bulwarks and the battlements.

Today the fort serves as the Museo Histórico de Acapulco (Acapulco Historical Museum), which shows the port’s history from the pre-Hispanic period until independence. There are temporary exhibits as well.

The Dolores Olmedo House

The Dolores Olmedo House is located in the traditional downtown of Acapulco and is noted for the murals by Diego Rivera that adorn it. Olmedo and Rivera had been a friend since Olmedo was a child and Rivera spent the last two years of his life here.

During that time, he painted nearly nonstop and created the outside walls with tile mosaics, featuring Aztec deities such as Quetzalcoatl. The interior of the home is covered in murals.

The home is not a museum, so only the outside murals are able to be seen by the public.

Casa de la Máscara (House of Masks)

There is a small museum called Casa de la Máscara (House of Masks) which is dedicated to masks, most of them from Mexico, but there are examples from many parts of the world.

The collection contains about one thousand examples and is divided into seven rooms called Masks of the World, Mexico across History, The Huichols and the Jaguar, Alebrijes, and Dances of Guerrero, Devils and Death, Identity and Fantasy, and Afro-Indian masks.

The Botanical Garden of Acapulco is a tropical garden located on lands owned by the Universidad Loyola del Pacífico. Most of the plants here are native to the region, and many, such as the Peltogyne Mexicana or purple stick tree, are in danger of extinction.

Plaza de Toros (Bullring)

Acapulco also has a bullring, called the Plaza de Toros, near Caletilla Beach. The season runs during the winter and is called the Fiesta Brava.

La Quebrada Cliff Divers

Another enigmatic attraction at Acapulco is the La Quebrada Cliff Divers. The tradition started in the 1930s when young men casually competed against each other to see who could dive from the highest point into the sea below.

Eventually, locals began to ask for tips from those coming to see the men dive.

Today the divers are professionals, diving from heights of forty meters into an inlet that is only seven m wide and four m deep, after praying first at a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

On December 12, the feast day of this Virgin, freestyle cliff divers jump into the sea to honor her.

Dives range from the simple to the complicated and end with the “Ocean of Fire” when the sea is lit with gasoline, making a circle of flames which the diver aims for.

The spectacle can be seen from a public area that charges a small fee or from the Hotel Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirador from its bar or restaurant terrace.

La Quebrada Cliff Divers – No visit to Acapulco is complete without watching the cliff divers perform their impressive jumps into the shallow stream of water of dangerous tides that forms in the bottom part of La Quebrada.

They have been doing it since 1934. You can see the dives from a small platform by the cliff for a small entrance fee, or eat at the La Perla restaurant which offers a good view of the divers. Showtime at 13:00, 19:30, 20:30 and 21:30.

Golf courses

There are a number of golf courses in Acapulco including the Acapulco Princess and the Pierre Marqués course, the latter designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1972 for the World Cup Golf Tournament.

The Mayan Palace course was designed by Pedro Guericia and an economical course called the Club de Golf Acapulco is near the convention center. The most exclusive course is that of the Tres Vidas Golf Club, designed by Robert von Hagge.

It is located next to the ocean and is home to flocks of ducks and other birds.

Tennis courts of the Princess Mundo Imperial

Another famous sports tournament that has been held in Acapulco since 1993 is the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, a 500 ATP that takes place in the tennis courts of Princess Mundo Imperial, a resort located in the Diamante zone of Acapulco.

Initially, it was played on clay courts but it changed to hard courts. The event has gained popularity over the passing of the years. The athletes who participated in the competition were some of the most famous players in the last couple of years.

Acapulco’s main attraction is its nightlife, as it has been for many decades. Nightclubs change names and owners frequently.

For example, Baby ‘O has been open to the national and international public since 1976 and different celebrities have visited their installations such as Mexican singer Luis Miguel, Bono from U2, and Sylvester Stallone.

Another nightclub is Palladium, located on Escénica Avenue, the location gives the nightclub a beautiful view of the Santa Lucia Bay at night. Various DJs have had a performance in Palladium among them DVBBS, Tom Swoon, NERVO, and Junkie KID.

Informal lobby or poolside cocktail bars often offer free live entertainment. In addition, there is the beach bar zone, where younger crowds go. These are located along the Costera road, face the ocean, and feature techno or alternative rock.

Most are concentrated between the Fiesta Americana and Continental Plaza hotels. These places tend to open earlier and have a more informal dress. There is a bungee jump in this area as well.

The Centro Internacional de Convivencia Infantil or CICI

The Centro Internacional de Convivencia Infantil or CICI is a sea-life and aquatic park located on Costera Miguel Aleman. Especially nice for kids.

It offers wave pools, water slides, and water toboggans. It features many different pools and slides, a Skycoaster (a mix between a swing and a bungee jump), and a dolphinarium. There are also dolphin shows daily and a swim with dolphins program.

The entrance is 100 pesos.
Dolphin shows are on offer and one-hour swims with the dolphins for $120 USD.

Parque Papagayo

Another place that is popular with children is the Parque Papagayo: a large family park that has life-sized replicas of a Spanish galleon and the space shuttle Columbia, three artificial lakes, an aviary, a skating rink, rides, go-karts, and more.

Beaches

There are a number of beaches in Acapulco Bay and the immediate coastline.

In the bay proper there are the La Angosta (in the Quebrada), Caleta, Caletilla, Dominguillo, Tlacopanocha, Hornos, Hornitos, Honda, Tamarindo, Condesa, Guitarrón, Icacos, Playuela, Playuelilla, and Playa del Secreto.

In the adjoining, smaller Bay of Puerto Marqués there is Pichilingue, Las Brisas, and Playa Roqueta. Facing the open ocean just northwest of the bays is Pie de la Cuesta and southeast are Playa Revolcadero, Playa Aeromar, Playa Encantada, and Barra Vieja.

In addition to sunbathing, the beaches around the bay offer a number of services, such as boat rentals, boat tours, horseback riding, scuba diving, and other aquatic sports.

Lagoons

Two lagoons are in the area, Coyuca to the northwest of Acapulco Bay and Tres Palos to the southeast. Both lagoons have mangroves and offer boat tours. Tres Palos also has sea turtle nesting areas that are protected.

Roqueta Island

One popular cruise is from Caletilla Beach to Roqueta Island, which has places to snorkel, have lunch, and visit a small zoo and a lighthouse. Isla de la Roqueta has a beautiful beach with shallow areas for families to play.

There is also an underwater statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe here, created in 1958 by Armando Quesado in memory of a group of divers who died here.

Many scuba-diving tours come to this area as well, where there are sunken ships, sea mountains, and cave rock formations.

Another popular activity is deep-sea fishing. The major attraction is sail fishing. Fish caught here have weighed between 89 and 200 pounds. Sailfish are so plentiful that boat captains have been known to bet with a potential customer that if he does not catch anything, the trip is free.

You can get there by water taxi or the glass-bottom harbor tour boat from Caleta Beach.

Pie de la Cuesta

Pie de la Cuesta is a quiet strip of land roughly 6 miles northwest of Acapulco, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on the other by a freshwater lake (Laguna de Cuyoca) on the other.

The lagoon is extremely tranquil, but tourists are advised not to enter the Pacific Ocean at Pie de la Cuesta because the surf is very dangerous. One can reach Pie de la Cuesta via bus.

If you are on the Bay Side along the Costera, between Escudero and Diego Mendoza, look for the bus that says Pie de la Cuesta PLAYA LUCES.

These go up that narrow strip of land. You can also take one that says San Isidro and that will let you off in the Zocalo in Pie de la Cuesta, but you have to walk a couple of blocks to the strip and about a half kilometer up to the lagoon.

Puerto Marquez

Puerto Marquez is located at a smaller bay just east of Acapulco, Puerto Marquez sees much less tourist traffic than Acapulco. One side of the bay is completely covered by adjacent beach-side restaurants offering very reasonably priced food and beer.

The restaurant owners (as well as most other locals) are very friendly to tourists and some will offer discounts or a free round of beer to groups.

Tourists and locals alike munch on shrimp enchiladas, sip Negra Modelos, wade in the waters, and enjoy the breathtaking sunsets. Fewer locals speak English in Puerto Marquez than in Acapulco, so it is recommended that visitors speak some rudimentary Spanish.

One can reach Puerto Marquez via bus.

Acapulco’s gastronomy is very rich, the following are typical dishes from the region:

Spicy and fragrant such are the appetizing dishes of Acapulco, a coastal town which has in the fishes and the seafood its best heralds of taste, and in the traditional morisqueta – white rice – an inseparable ally, a loyal gastronomy squire.

Delights from where to choose on a varied menu, with famous stews such as the pescado a la talla – culinary bastion of the well-attended beach of Barra Vieja -, prepared with mayonnaise and a special sauce based on chilli; or the extremely accepted pellizcada, a traditional “Mexican Whim” in an Acapulco version, in which the corn omelette is stuffed with fish, olives, tomatoes, and diverse spices.

A recipe that deserves the palate’s attention is the Acapulco cebiche, in which small pieces of fish are cooked with lemon juice, accompanied by onions, olives, capers, tomatoes, oregano, salt, small cubes of avocado, and cilantro.

Caldo de cabeza de pescado (“fish-head broth”), a powerful though tasty substance, or the octopuses on vinegar, stuffed squids, fish tamales with mint, clams with sausage, and a very long and tasty etcetera that you should not miss.

Relleno is baked pork with a variety of vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, raisins, carrots, and chiles. It is eaten with bread called bolillo.

And since people do not live on seafood only, make use of your stay at Acapulco to taste the traditional food of the state of Guerrero, inspiring crossbred gastronomy that conjugates pre-Hispanic and European tastes, creating sublime recipes that should not be ignored by fine-food advocates.

A result of this crossbred is the famous pozole. Pozole is a soup with a salsa base (it can be white, red, or green), corn, and meat that can be either pork or chicken, and it is accompanied by ‘antojitos’ like tostadas, tacos, and tamales.

Pozole must be preceded by some drinks of mescal – a strong and very dry liquor – a cactus brandy- that alerts and prepares the stomach for what is to come next: a weighty bowl (pozolero) overflowing with a white broth comprising lemon, oregano, onion, avocado, green chilli and crackling fried delicious sardines.

There is also the green pozole, of similar preparation but the broth has this color. In either case, both are served accompanied by fried omelettes daubed with cream and powdered with cheese.

Another exquisite dish, though a lot lighter, is the fiambre (cold meat), a combination of pork, chicken, and beef seasoned with jalapeno chillies, grapes, raisins, almonds, and olives.

Whenever you wish to sweeten your day, do not miss the tulips of tropical fruits, little balls of pasta stuffed with sorbet ice cream, and a sauce made of several fruits, the pastry filled with Acapulco coconut, and tamarind, and even sweet chilli.

When drinking, take into consideration the petaquilla, a beverage based on mescal and squash of wild grapes of the region, known as the Blood of Backus, a well-considered and big item liquor in this part of the world.

If exploring exotic tastes is not your favorite hobby, you do not need to worry. Acapulco has excellent and innumerable restaurants worshiping international gastronomy.

Festival Internacional de la Nao

One cultural event that is held yearly in Acapulco is the Festival Internacional de la Nao, it takes place in the Fort of San Diego, located near the Zócalo in the downtown city.

The Festival honors the remembrance of the city’s interaction and trade with Oriental territories which started back in the Sixteenth Century.

The Nao Festival consists of cultural activities with the support of organizations and embassies from India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea. The variety of events goes from film projections, musical interpretations, and theatre to gastronomical classes, some of the events are specifically for kids.

French Festival

The annual French Festival takes place throughout Acapulco city and offers a multitude of events that cement cultural links between Mexico and France.

The main features are a fashion show and a gourmet food fair. The Cinépolis Galerías Diana and the Teatro Juan Ruíz de Alarcón present French and French literary figures who give talks on their specialized subjects. Even some of the local nightclubs feature French DJs.

Other festivals celebrated here include Carnival, the feast of San Isidro Labrador on 15 May, and in November, a crafts and livestock fair called the Nao de China.

In the city, there are many buses and taxi services one can take to get from place to place, but most of the locals choose to walk to their destinations.

Colectivo

However, an important mode of transportation is the government-subsidized ‘Colectivo’ cab system. These cabs cost 13 pesos per person to ride, but they are not private. The driver will pick up more passengers as long as seats are available, and will transport them to their destination based on first-come-first-served rules.

The colectivos each travel to a designated area of the city, the three main ones being Costera, Colosio, Coloso, or a mixture of the three.

Coloso cabs travel mainly to old Acapulco.
Colosio cabs travel through most of the tourist areas of Acapulco.
Costera cabs drive up and down the coast of Acapulco, where most of the hotels for visitors are located.

Bus

The bus system is highly complex and can be rather confusing to an outsider. As far as transportation goes, it is the cheapest form, other than walking, in Acapulco. The most expensive buses have air conditioning, while the cheaper buses do not.

Buses are worth experiencing even if you don´t want to travel on them. Destinations are printed on the front window of each bus. There is no need to be at one of the bus’s regular stops in order to get on. Just wave your arm or look at the driver. He will stop and encourage you to get in. In fact, drivers will stop and try to get you to ride with them if you are even walking in the same direction that they are driving in.

For tourists, the Acapulco city government has established a system of yellow buses with Acapulco painted on the side of them. These buses are not for tourists only but are certainly the nicest and most uniform of the bus systems. These buses travel the tourist section of Acapulco, driving up and down the coast.

The bus system in Acapulco has been fully privatized – each bus is privately owned. This means they can decorate them however they want. Pink buses cruise around blaring out traditional Mexican music, racing against ones decked out in UV lights pulsing out club music into the night air. The complete lack of suspension and the bizarre incentive for the buses to race each other to each bus stop as they compete for passengers makes for an unforgettable ride.

There are buses with specific routes and destinations, generally written on their windshields or shouted out by a barker riding in the front seat. Perhaps the most unusual thing about the privately operated buses is the fact that they are all highly decorated and personalized, with decals and homemade interior designs that range from comic book scenes to pornography, and even to “Hello Kitty” themes.

The Acabus infrastructure has a length of 36.2 kilometers and counts 16 stations that spread through the city of Acapulco and 5 routes. This project will help organize traffic because the buses now have a specific line on the roads and there would be more control over transportation and passengers.

Taxis

Taxis are everywhere in Acapulco. Since they are unmetered, make sure that you agree on a fare before entering. Always negotiate.

The old Volkswagen Beetle cabs are cheaper than newer air-conditioned cars.

Shared Cabs (usually white with yellow) run between major destinations and are very convenient. They usually display their destination in large letters and charge a flat fee of $12 pesos, irrespective of distance.

You should not have to pay more than $50 pesos per cab ride within the Costera area but fares can reach as much as $120 pesos for rides from La Costera to La Quebrada, Princess Hotel (Revolcadero Beach), and the airport.

Alternatively, most hotels can arrange for taxi transportation for a fixed fare (usually inflated). Prices will usually be about 50% more expensive than for a taxi hailed on the street.

Car Rental

Rental Car Although the rates aren’t always low, and the cheapest cars tend to be manual transmissions, renting a car is a good way of getting around the city. Although if you are just planning to stay at the hotel, then it’s a no, otherwise is a good idea. Traffic is not that heavy, except on Spring Break and the Mexican Holidays, and parking in hotels is not expensive (3-4 USD for your stay), and gas is very cheap.

Private Autos It is generally unwise to try to drive yourself around Acapulco. Traffic is heavy and drivers aggressive, parking is scarce, streets do not run in a neat grid, and even change names unexpectedly. Most, if not all streets lack signs indicating their name. In addition, foreign tourists driving rental cars can become targets of the Acapulco police officers, who will accept payment (~$400 pesos) for violations in person at the time of pullover, without providing a receipt or proof of violation or clearing of said violation.

Airport

Juan N. Alvarez International Airport (ACA) is well-connected domestically and internationally. Flights from Mexico City to Acapulco take approximately 45 minutes and ground transportation from the airport to the major tourist area of La Costera takes more or less the same time. Round trip fares depending on the season and class, range from USD$23 to USD$50.

The safest way to arrive at your hotel is by pre-booking a transfer from one of the following well-known companies:

Gray Line Shuttle
Amstar DMC Acapulco Private Airport Transfers

The metropolitan area of Acapulco is made up of the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez and Coyuca de Benitez. The area has a population (as of 2005) of 786,830.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700