· Open -

1934

· 1st Owner -

Carlos Barnard Maldonado - one of Acapulco's earliest investors

· Stars - ****

· Guests -

John Wayne - Johnny Weissmuller - Errol Flynn - Elizabeth Taylor - Frank Sinatra - Sammy Davis Jnr. - John F Kennedy

· History -

This used to be a Hollywood hangout in the 1950's and 60's. In the 1960's the Hotel Mirador was known as one of the best hotels in the world.

Big money started rolling in and hotels were going up everywhere. This was Mexico's first beach resort and it was number one for a long time. Hopefully this violence will pass and it will regain its former status.

· Signature -

Hall of Fame - Celebrities signatures and pictures

· Rooms -

133 rooms @ $96 - $850 - Book one with a balcony and ocean view

· Tales -

The jobs as divers are handed over from fathers to sons, some starting as young as five years of age. There can be three generations of divers and women do it now too. 

There is usually around 60 divers employed and they make a reasonable wage and have health benefits. They have to time the dive with a wave coming in so that the water is deep enough for them to safely enter the water. The drop is 135 feet. Supposedly the tradition started when two neighbouring fishermen challenged each other to a dare to see how brave they were.

Their road to worldwide fame came from an unusual source. A Swiss born band leader named Ernest "Teddy" Stauffer was known as the "Swing King" of Europe. He wasn't so popular with the Nazis though and as WWII broke out he made his way to the USA. He plied his craft writing music for the movies.

After a time he had visa problems and had to head south to Mexico to sort them out. Unfortunately he had no money. His Hollywood pal Errol Flynn saved the day and the pair sailed down south on Errol's yacht.  Things didn't go too smoothly with Teddy's cocaine habit not helping his bad temper and Errol suspecting him of fiddling the books. In rather heated circumstances he was dumped in Acapulco and left to fend for himself.

He managed to get himself a job with Carlos Banard the owner of the Hotel Mirador to run the new nightclub La Perla. He was offered a 25 year deal and a third of the profits. He was an immediate success. He organised and promoted the cliff divers as a part of the cabaret for the night club and it was very successful. He also invited his Hollywood pals down like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr. and Elizabeth Taylor. He became known as Mt Acapulco and was married to Hedy Lamarr at one point.

They suffer frequent injuries such as detached retinas, ruptured eardrums, broken forearms and neck and back problems. In the 80 years they have been diving not one person has died.

Their biggest threat these days is a lack of tourists due to the violence related to the drug trade.

Urban legend had it that Johnny Weissmuller's stunt double died while doing the jump off of the cliffs. He did but it was 50 years later in 2004 when he was injured having one last dive at the age of 76. He was a local celebrity named  Raul Garcia. 

Johnny died here in 1984 and is buried in Acapulco too. Apparently as he was fighting dementia at the end of his life he would let go a Tarzan call late into the night.

You haven't been to Acapulco if you haven't seen the cliff divers.

Braulio Zaragoza Maganda a local politician was gunned down in the restaurant while eating with his family.

· Claim to Fame -

World famous view of the Acapulco's La Quebrada Cliff Divers

Johnny Weissmuller made them famous when he jumped off them in the 1948 Movie "Tarzan and the Mermaids".

Elvis did the same thing in the 1963movie "Fun in Acapulco" the highest earning picture of the year.

Only it wasn't them it was their stunt doubles. In fact Elvis never set foot in Acapulco, but Johnny fell in love with the place.

· Innovations -

The hotel had its own water supply from a nearby spring. More expensive hotels in the city were vulnerable to water shortages.

· Feature -

Built into the cliffs with breathtaking views and extraordinary sunsets

· View -

Pacific Ocean views

· Facilities -

3 outdoor swimming pools ("La Poza" the salt water pool down at sea level with nibbling fish and crabs in it) - with loungers, solariums and ocean views - on-site boutiques

· Unique -

2 panoramic funiculars taking you to the rooms area while giving you appealing views of the Pacific Ocean

· Restaurants -

Don Carlos Restaurant - ocean views, buffet breakfast and a la cart later in the day

La Perla Restaurant - open later in the dy and THE place to watch the spectacular diving show

· Bars -

Bar La Perla - with a wide mix of drinks to choose from

· Sights -

Acapulco Cathedral - San Diego Fort - El Centro - Acapulco Historical Museum - Zocalo, the central Plaza

· Extra -

See Mexico in 'Countries' for #28 Yucatan Loop + Belize. Click here to go to the markers map.