Acapulco - General Info
Description:
The name of this city is probably well known to most people and is famous for its beaches, nightlife and other holiday attractions.
Reports from cruisers state that the town is quite dangerous with drug-related crime, however, the marina is reported to be safe.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
The docks at Marina Acapulco were completely destroyed during Hurricane Otis (25 October 2023.) All of the other marinas sustained significant damage. One year on, and the port is still slowly recovering. Moorings and services are back in operation. All sunken vessels have now been removed.
Position:
16° 49.24’N, 99° 53.18’W (bay entrance)
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Related to following destinations: Acapulco, Mexico, West Coast (Mexico)
Port Navigation
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Fire at clubs de Yates Acapulco https://www.cbs17.com/news/international-news/2-injured-as-2-boats-destroyed-in-massive-fire-at-yacht-club/1679368418. Uncertain wants the impact on operations is.
Marina Santa Lucia: We spent 4 days here Dec 2018. Manager Brenda, dock foreman Santiago and all the staff are just great. We didn’t want a Med moor due to our dinghy on davits, so the friendly staff took great care to set us up with a side tie, held off the fixed concrete pier by moorings fore and aft.
Brenda speaks very clear English and she personally took us to the port captain’s office and helped with our paperwork on arrival. On our departure date, the office was closed but Brenda set up a private appointment for us so we could clear out. The marina is not conveniently located to any stores or businesses as it is separated from them by short but steep roads.
We used taxis and one of the marina staff also drove us on one of our trips to the business district. You can get marine supplies, high priced, at the store in Club Yates but there is a small marine store with an amazing inventory of boat parts at better prices in Refacctionaria Las Americas, at Lopez Mateos #48 in the La Playa district. The men’s bathroom has good facilities including a shower and cleanliness was fine but the women’s restroom needed cleaning and there is no shower there.
Marina Santa Lucia. Spent three days there in April 2015. Manager Brenda speaks English well and is very helpful regarding local restaurants and even had a marina employee talk us and another cruising couple into the Port Captains office. Prices are quoted as $1.40/ft/night but are negotiable. The docks are concrete and they do NOT float so many fenders will be required, or much moving of fenders, especially if you are here near a full moon. While we were there two sailboats came and left immediately once they saw the concrete docks with rough edges. Staff are quite vigilant about helping keep an eye on fenders and lines though, especially if the owners request them to do so. Med moor style works best unless your boat is over 40′ then they put you on the end of the dock with a side tie. Beware if they try to attach your boat to the one next to it as the fishing boats bop around when the tide changes. Showers are in the men’s restroom only, Women’s restroom is toilet only, no seat, small sink. Women can use the men’s showers if someone guards the door for you. Nothing much not this side of town, grocery has basics, Walmart is better, but 45 min drive, hour with traffic. Good shopping and restaurants and movie theater near the tourist strip where the big hotels start. City is full of armed men…army, marine, federal. Safe enough if you stay on the main tourist areas.
New grocery store for provisioning in the West End (marina end) is called Superama, located across the street from La Marina. Great fresh produce and staples, reasonable prices, especially considering no taxi ride needed to the East End of Acapulco.
The new marina in Acapulco is Marina Santa Lucia, located in the West End right before you reach Acapulco Yacht Club. Marina Santa Lucia has Euro-style mooring. We dropped the hook, backed part way in, picked up their float for their side spring lines, then backed all the way in and sent over 2 stern lines to their staffer. Nice, new, not very expensive for this first year. They’ll call you a taxi, as it’s a long way up and around by road.
May 2014.
We stayed for a couple of nights at La Marina Acapulco. Cost ~$70 per night for a 47 ft Catamaran. No facilities. No restaurant, bar or laundry. The showers are dirty, broken, and in a construction area covered in animal faeces. There is a nice (and very empty pool). However, we were not allowed to use it. We were told it was only for condo owners or monthly slip renters. We moved to Club de Yates. A bit more expensive, but much, much nicer!