Acapulco – A Great Destination for Ecotourism

The International Society of Ecotourism tells us that ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas.” It is travel that helps to “conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people." Acapulco, on the southern curve of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is a superb base of operations from which to explore all the wonders and beauty of the tropics.

Here you will find a profusion of plant and animal species especially adapted for one of two different climactic zones. The Southern Sierra Madres brush the coastline right at Acapulco. Up in the mountains you will find deciduous forest and temperate climates. Many of Mexico’s indigenous peoples still live in villages that dot these mountain ridges. Down near sea level, the terrain is a tropical savannah, which is very moist during summer months and dry in the winter. Here you will find jungles, fresh water lagoons, and – along the unpopulated areas of the rocky coast to the south of Acapulco – small virginal beaches, some of which you can only reach by watercraft.

Many ecotourists simply rent a rugged car in Acapulco, pack the gear and the camera, and take off for places where the roads turn to dirt paths. Others prefer the organized excursions and guided tours. Either way is fine. The only rule is the well-known caution: “Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”

Barra de Coyuca & Coyuca Lagoon. To the north and west of Acapulco a few kilometers, along the coast is the Laguna de Coyuca, a large body of fresh water separated from the ocean by only a narrow strip of land. It covers about 30,000 acres (over 12,000 hectares).The nearby pueblo is called “Embarcadero.” Lots of freshwater wildlife prosper in the lagoon. Motor craft are not forbidden, however. In the lagoon you will find four small islands, which comprise a bird sanctuary. (One of the islands is called “Pájaros,” which means “Birds”). Pelicans, ducks, storks, heron and many songbirds can be seen there. You can rent a small boat or take a guided tour.

Tres Palos Lagoon is on the other side of Acapulco, near the airport and on the way south along the coast. This, too is a very large fresh water lake. It is so wide and so close to the ocean that many people think it’s an inlet from the sea. But it is not. Here, too, you can rent your own water craft or take one of several guided tours. One of them is in a hydroplane boat. Those who have been in a tropical river bed (such as the Amazon) will recognize the narrow, open channels that the water naturally makes in the lily pads and other aquatic vegetation, so you can quietly approach the wildlife. Many local ecologists are pressing to have the Laguna de Tres Palos declared a nature preserve. So far, the politicians have not been interested in the cause, and as civilization encroaches, the lagoon is threatened with contamination.

Barra Vieja is an extended stretch of beach about 20 miles south and east of Acapulco. It does attract its share of tourists, mainly because of the many wonderful seafood restaurants you can find there. But the beaches are not overwhelmed with condos and vendors. You can find a palapa (a palm-thatched cabaña), perhaps with a hammock, and just lie back, if you like. Or stroll along the sand looking for shells and signs of sea life. Near Barra Vieja there is a sea turtle refuge that raises hatchlings and releases them into the sea at the right moment. Sea Turtles have become endangered because of poachers, who value their eggs. You can also find a place to arrange horseback riding – even up and down the beach, if you like.

El Veladero National Park is Acapulco’s main ecological preserve. The high mountainous area above and behind Acapulco creates a “geological amphitheater” that cradles the city and the bay. In 1980 the government protected 8,000 acres of this high land along the “El Veladero Ridge.” A few sites in the park are of historical significance, dating back to the time of independence. But most people come to see the petroglyphs (rock engravings) left by the Yopes – Acapulco locals from the era 200 BC to 600 AD. Here you can find sea eagles and virtually every other indigenous species of bird, mammal and reptile. If insects are your interest, you’ll find them here, too.

Other Excursions include Acapulco's Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Esther Pliego de Salinas) located near the Loyola Campus on the east side of the bay, just off the Carretera Escénica. Native tropical species are on display, together with desert plants, trees, shrubs, vines and more. You may wish to take a boat from Caleta Beach across to the Isla Roqueta, which is a nature preserve. There you can hike through a small tropical forest. The lagoon at Puerto Marques also offers a glimpse at mangrove forests. It’s called the “black lagoon” because the mangroves render the water unusually dark.

In short, Acapulco offers many options for those looking to explore the natural wonders of the tropics. It is not just a haven for beachers, brides and Spring breakers.