Eager for an escape into untamed nature, just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from bustling Acapulco? Cruise north toward peaceful Coyuca Lagoon, a world away from the high-rise hotels and crowded beaches.
The freshwater lagoon spreads across some 72 square kilometers (28 square miles), and is particularly important for migrating birds. As your boat slides past the lush jungled shore - featured in movies such as Rambo, Tarzan, and The African Queen - you will come upon several small islands that act as sanctuaries for colonies of pelicans, herons, storks, and other species.
Most tours include a fabulous seafood buffet featuring the bounty of both the sea and lagoon. If you've got cooking facilities at your hotel or villa in Acupulco, ask your guide about stopping in the tiny town of Embarcadero to pick up the freshest seafood possible.
While the vast majority of visitors book an all-inclusive day trip to Coyuca Lagoon, you can certainly do it on your own. Buses marked "Pie de la Cuesta" leave regularly from La Costera in central Acapulco, dropping you off at the broad, sandy peninsula that separates the Pacific from the estuary. There are several simple seafood restaurants and plenty of places to enjoy the sunshine, though swimming is a bit more dangerous here than in the protected bay of Acapulco.
