Soaring from the cliff top high above, Acapulco’s Quebrada Cliff Divers form perfect swan like poses, before descending into the rough waters far below. Seeing the infamous cliff divers in person is an exhilarating experience.
The show is quite famous today, but it had rather humble beginnings. In the 1930s local fishermen dared each other to jump off from the top of a shear cliff in the community of Quebrada. The interest in this daredevil act grew and grew until it became a business.
The divers performing in shows today come from a long line of Quebrada Cliff Divers. In fact, only those related to the original divers are allowed in the prestigious club. Divers begin training as young as 5 years old and continue for as long as they are able. Knowledge of the cliffs, currents and diving techniques are passed down from generation to generation. Ranging in age from 15 to 70, there are at least 75 divers that perform in the daily shows and include both men and women.
La Quebrada Cliff is an impressive site. The 40 m (130 ft) high cliff stands above a narrow 7 m (23 ft) gorge. The ocean forcibly swirls in and out of the gorge making its waters very turbulent. As the water rushes in and out, the depth can vary by a few meters so timing their dive correctly is critical.
We stood on a viewing platform across from the cliff trying to figure out how the divers would get to the top when they quietly arrived on the platform behind us. Without any fanfare, we watched as they downclimbed a short cliff and dove into the rough waters in the gorge. One of the divers looked to be older and had the most beautiful swan dive. It was a joy to watch him. This man was likely a Quebrada diver when he was younger.
They warmed up in the rough water below and cleared away any floating debris. Once they felt ready, they free climbed 40 m (130 ft) up the shear cliff. That alone is impressive. Not only do they not have ropes, chalk or harnesses, their hands and feet are wet as they climb the steep wall.
There are a few different ‘diving platforms’ for the five divers. Some are 35 m high others are only a little lower. A sixth diver, the older man, remained on the edge of the gorge to clear debris as it floated in. Before each dive they pray to a shrine for Virgin of Guadalupe.
We could sense the tension in the air as the show was about to begin. The first diver leapt off his platform and performed a graceful swan dive that the Quebrada divers are famous for. The next two were synchronized swan divers; performing as good as any Olympian. The last three divers had a few tricks by incorporating back flips and somersaults into their dives. With each dive they had to be careful to leap far enough away from the cliff walls and time it correctly so the water in the gorge was deep enough.
The Quebrada Cliff Divers have been featured in a few movies over the years including; the 1948 Tarzan and the Mermaids and Elvis Presley’s 1963 Fun in Acapulco movie. Here’s our short video of these impressive divers.
These daredevil jobs don’t come without injuries. The divers have suffered from detached retinas, ruptured eardrums, fractured bones and chronic neck and back pain. Remarkably though there have been no deaths.
At the end of the performance, the divers climbed back up to the viewing platform, hoping for tips. Entrance to the show was only $5 USD, and they definitely deserved a tip. The divers’ incomes are based on the entrance fees and tips. They typically make $18,200 MXN ($930 USD) /month. Average salary in Acapulco is $24,000 MXN ($1,230) /month.
How to see Acapulco’s Quebrada Divers
Showtimes are everyday at 1pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm and are weather dependent. The viewing platform gets you very close to the action. Another option is to have dinner or just a drink at La Perla Restaurant at Mirador Hotel. It overlooks the cliff, but it is further away from the divers than the platform. You can also find boat tours that include a stop in the water below to watch them. At night, the cliffs are illuminated and it is said to be a fabulous show.
Acapulco
Sitting on one of the largest bays in Mexico, is the country’s original vacation destination. In the 1950s and 60s Hollywood’s elites came to Acapulco to play. The likes of Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth are just a few who chose Acapulco for their vacation. We would have loved to see it back then. Unfortunately, Acapulco has lost favour with international travellers, but it is still the preferred vacation getaway for residents of Mexico City.
You can’t deny that its location is stunning. It’s set in a keyhole shaped bay, fringed with golden sand beaches below steep hills. The views are incomparable.
The Golden Zone is where most of the city’s tourist hotels and restaurants are located. Unfortunately, these high-rise hotels come right up to the beaches and dilapidated homes fills in the space behind.
Walking along the beaches in the popular Golden Zone, we could see how popular Acapulco still is with Mexicans. It was a busy place with people building sand castles, swimming or playing on jet skis and parasails.
There was one odd site that we saw again and again on these beaches. Groups of friends and families had their chairs, coolers and beach toys set up under umbrellas on the sand. The strange part is that they also brought their home stereo speakers. Large, 3 feet tall, speakers that look like they’re from the 1990s were blaring music. And it wasn’t just one umbrella. Each group had their own and seemed to be trying to play louder than their neighbours. It was comical, but also made us glad that we didn’t have a hotel behind them.
We didn’t get pictures of those speakers, but did of another funny site. A full band with snare drums and a tuba were busking on the beach.
Once you get a block or two away from the beach, you can see that the city is very run down. In fact, a few of the streets felt more like one of El Salvador’s poor cities than the more prosperous Mexico.
Adding to this, there is a lot of hurricane damage. In October 2023, Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco and damaged over 85% of its homes and hotels near the water as well as much of the infrastructure. We were there only 6 months after the storm and saw many damaged buildings.
Between the beach and Quebrada is a marina for fishing boats, tour boats and speed boats. It has a nice setting in the small bay.
Safety in Acapulco
Acapulco has more cartel and gang related violence than many other tourist spots in Mexico. It is the 4th most violent city in world with 1,000 murders per year. The city used to welcome 350,000 international tourists but lately there are barely any. We visited shortly before the federal elections and there were reports of local politicians being gunned down by cartel.
Even though there are a lot of armed police guarding the beaches, you need to take more precautions than usual. Be very alert at night, keep valuables hidden and stay away from less desirable neighborhoods.
How to get to Acapulco
As the capital of Guerrero State, there are many ways to reach Acapulco. It has an international airport, and is well connected by buses to many other centres. There are a few different bus stations though, so make sure you know which station your bus uses.
Where to stay in Acapulco
Like many cities in Mexico choosing the right location is key to a comfortable and safe vacation. In Acapulco choose a hotel/guesthouse that is one or two blocks off the beaches of Golden Zone. Other safe options are the communities of Las Playas or the more secluded Diamonte.
Best Time To Visit Acapulco
The best weather will be from January to March and November/December. At these times temperatures will be in the low 30s C. By April and May, temperatures rise to the high 30s C. June to October are the rainiest months. We visited in May and it was unbearably hot.
To read more of our adventures in Mexico, click here.
Coming Next – Puerto Escondido – More Than A Surfing Beach
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