GENERAL INFORMATION
In Acapulco, one of several transportation options available to travelers is to hire a private driver or tour guide - which can be done prior to one's trip (by prearrangement via email) or after arrival. Some of the private services offered include airport (or cruise terminal) transfers, point-to-point transportation within the city (e.g. going out to dinner), personal private city tours, and daytrips to beach-areas on the outskirts of the city proper.
When arranging for these types of services, you should always (1) be as specific as possible regarding your needs, wants, and expectations, (2) ask about the type of vehicle you'll be transported in, (3) advise the driver, in advance, if you want or expect an air-conditioned ride (some may charge extra - or not have working a/c at all), and (4) don't hesitate to seek out, compare, and bargain for the best possible rates - although, to some extent, you get what you pay for. Most private drivers and tour guides are bilingual (Spanish and English), while some may also speak and understand an additional language or two - such as French, for example. Travelers should keep in mind, however, that for the majority of drivers, Spanish is their primary language - and that English skills (both speaking and comprehension) will vary from one to the next. Patience - and a mutual respect for cultural and language differences - should be at the top of every traveler's list; and whenever something's not clearly understood, one shouldn't consider it to be embarrassing or insulting to ask for clarification. Rephrasing a question or a comment often helps.
CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDES
Some private drivers and tour guides (though not all) may actually be Certified Tour Guides.
Tip: It's important to note that the mere inclusion of a driver's name on the list below does not imply that he or she is certified or specially-licensed in any way - which in most cases may be difficult (or impossible) to verify until after one has arrived in Acapulco.
Certified Tour Guides, who are usually bilingual and can easily converse with their English-speaking guests, have been certified and bonded by the Department of Tourism. If a driver or tour guide claims to be certified and bonded, feel free to ask to see their documentation - which is issued by the Secretaria de Turismo (Secretary of Tourism) and known as Credencial Authoriza para Prestar Servicies de Guia de Turistas Especializado (Authorized Credential to Serve as Specialized Tourists Guide). Each Certified Tour Guide's documents will also include a photo; and the license itself, which must be renewed every four years, should be current. [Note that calendar-dates in Mexico use a day/month/year format - and that some Certified Tour Guides have a permanent license, due to their tenure in the profession.]
Some signs of a 'good' Certified Tour Guide: he or she (1) never expects or requests any up-front payment or deposit (with rare exceptions), (2) doesn't pressure travelers to book any of his or her services, and (3) allows travelers to modify or cancel any prearranged plans (without explanation or hassle) at any time prior to commencement of those services, and (4) only expects to be paid after services have been rendered.
CITY TOURS
With Acapulco being a very large city, there's a lot to see and do; and there are many unique places to visit in both the main-bay area and the outlying sections northwest and southeast of the city proper. A private City Tour, if that appeals to you, can be arranged in advance via email or phone; or you may just as easily arrange one after your arrival (subject, of course, to a tour guide's availability).
Although a typical/standard tour often runs from 3-to-5 hours, most tour guides will gladly allow you to customize it to your own specific needs and wants. Cost will vary from one guide to another, sometimes significantly, and may also be influenced by the size of your group and the time of year. Therefore, it might be wise to solicit quotes from more than one tour guide - keeping in mind, though, that more-expensive doesn't necessarily mean better, nor does less-expensive mean inferior.
Some of the more popular attractions and sites often included in a City Tour are - La Capilla de la Paz (the Chapel of Peace, in the Las Brisas hills), La Quebrada (in Old Acapulco, where tour guests typically stop to see a cliff divers show), a drive by or stop at the city's big Central Market, a visit to the legendary Hotel Los Flamingos, an introduction to and view of Puerto Marqués Bay, a ride out to Playas Caleta and Caletilla (in Acapulco's southwest corner), a walk through El Fuerte de San Diego (across from the cruise terminal), and a stop at El Zócalo and El Malecón (Acapulco's old central square and boardwalk, where travelers may visit La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad as well as the local pier from which most fishing charters depart & return).
Note: A tour guide might also recommend and/or offer to introduce you to one or more of the city's restaurants or eateries - as well as places to shop for souvenirs or jewelry. Travelers should never feel pressured or swayed to stop, eat, or shop at any particular business; and a simple "No, gracias." should prompt your guide to move on with the tour if you're not interested. It is, after all, 'your money', 'your time', and 'your vacation'; so don't be afraid to speak up should you feel the need to do so. Likewise, should you decide (or plan) to have lunch or dinner somewhere, it's not unusual for a tour guide to join you for a bite to eat - though you shouldn't feel obligated to pay for his/her food-and-drink unless you freely wish to do so (although some travelers do). On the other hand, if you'd prefer to dine alone or just have a short period of quiet time together, you should politely convey this to your tour guide.
Normally, you pay for your tour at the end - when your driver returns you to your hotel (or wherever you've asked to be let off). Because most Certified Tour Guides are independently self-employed, the tip is understood to be built into his/her agreed-upon quote; but if you feel that your driver gave you more than your money's worth, provided an exceptional tour, or somehow made your tour extra-special, some sort of tip might be well-deserved - and always most welcomed, of course. That's entirely up to you.
Lastly, it's worth repeating that travelers should try to be as specific as possible with regard to places they'd like to see and things they'd like to do - or better yet, what they don't want to see and do. As has been said, don't allow a tour guide to take you to places in which you have no interest (e.g. flea markets, stores, shops, or restaurants), where some are known to be paid small 'commissions' for their referrals. Be aware that a few may try - in which case, it's up to you to object. Do bring along a camera or camcorder to capture what you see and experience - making sure that you also have fully-charged batteries; and don't hesitate to ask your tour guide to snap some personal photos for you, which most will happily do (and some do rather well). A 'good' city tour is one which not only familiarizes you with Acapulco and some of its many highlights but also creates memories you'll not soon forget. You should, in the end, be able to say that it was money well-spent.
DRIVERS & TOUR GUIDES
The following list of names is in no particular order; and travelers should be certain to read the IMPORTANT FOOTNOTES at the end of this article.
In addition to the drivers and tour guides listed below, there are hundreds of taxi drivers who move about the city in an assortment of vehicles - many in older Volkswagen Beetles, others in small sedans, and some in larger (more comfortable) four-door hotel cabs. Generally speaking, it's not 'a must' to hire a private driver or make advance arrangements to get around the city, although some travelers prefer to have a plan-of-action in place and may feel more at ease by having on hand the names and telephone numbers of one or two (or several) recommended drivers from which they can pick-and-choose.
Caution: This Insider Page was initially started to present a selection of private drivers and tour guides who had previously received multiple personal recommendations by travelers with real-life experiences - travelers who, upon returning from Acapulco, posted positive comments or reviews at Trip Advisor's Acapulco forum. That, however, is no longer true, as some drivers below have since 'listed themselves' (or had others do so) without having been recommended by travelers who'd used their services or confirmed their abilities and safety. Therefore, all are advised to exercise caution when relying upon this list and to seek verification of prospective choices at the Acapulco travel forum. Use the forum's 'search' feature to find prior comments about a particular driver or post a new topic to solicit opinions from other travelers.
Note: An asterisk (*) precedes the names of drivers and tour guides who have received numerous thumbs-up personal recommendations from fellow travelers at Trip Advisor's Acapulco forum. They are well-regarded individuals and are known to be professional, reliable, fair, and safe. Lack of an asterisk does not necessarily reflect on an individual driver's abilities or professionalism, but simply suggests to travelers that they may wish to do further research before making any decision. One should also understand that even recommended drivers and tour guides have their faults - and that some have been subject to an occasional criticism for their infrequent mistakes or failings; but overall, they are honest hardworking people who've been lauded and applauded by many travelers who've used their services. Everyone, of course, should draw their own conclusions - and choose a driver or tour guide who best suits their own needs.
Arturo Cruz: guiasacapulco@hotmail.com / 044-744-108-4001 / www.ourexplorer.com
Jose Carlos J.R.: 044-744-153-9572
Anselmo Carranza Guzmán: orion_1934@hotmail.com / 044-744-113-3466 (also speaks French)
Oscar Javier Morales: moreofoscar@hotmail.com
*Hector: angel_herrera77@hotmail.com
*Larry (Hilario) Silva - Sr. and Jr.: aca_larry@hotmail.com
Edel Genchi: edel_genchi@yahoo.com
Ines Maria: thepinklady@hotmail.com
Olga Olmedo de Escuen: pinkladyolga-aca@hotmail.com
Rosie: dew_days@hotmail.com
Dany Carranza: taxidany@hotmail.com
Arturo: artpros@prodigy.net.mx
*Pepe Pipa: 044-744-133-5283
*Cesar Olea Santos: c_olea_santos@yahoo.com
*Sebastian Hernandez: eskp_rsh@hotmail.com / 044-744-168-3086
Benjamin Alcaron: benjamin_alarcon@yahoo.com
Roberto Alarcon: robertoalrey@yahoo.com.mx / 044-744-421-9608
Roman F. Zarate: acaguide@hotmail.com
Arturo Solis: zx3_14@hotmail.com / 044-744-449-4790
Rodolfo (Rudy) Fregoso: info@tourbyvan.com / 044-744-153-9916 or 110-4324 or 440-1542 or 484-2200 or toll-free 1-866-473-4432 or Nextel 62*274015*1 (www.tourbyvan.com or www.ourexplorer.com )
Silverio Chavez Valencia: Jasue_eloisa@hotmail.com / 744-154-2496
Aca-Taxi: aca-taxi@hotmail.com
Max Valenzo: maxvalenzo@hotmail.com / 129-4026 (sony2332.webs.com)
Roberto Hernandez: 185-2847
*Ismael Silva: ismael_silva1772@yahoo.com / 044-744-182-6257
Oscar Andres Gomez Perez: margo_gope@hotmail.com or margoorganizacion@prodigy.net.mx or touring_aca@yahoo.com / 044-744-185-3531 or office 466-3715 or Nextel 62*15*53*705*10063 (www.cruise-ship-tours-acapulco.com or www.margoacapulcoadventure.com)
Ismael (Izzy) Segovia Manzanerez: acabarb@msn.com / 044-744-119-1865
*Angel Flores: angel_enacapulco@yahoo.com.mx or angelinacapulco@gmail.com / 044-744-138-0593
Octavio: ocvibet@hotmail.com / 044-744-439-1712
IMPORTANT FOOTNOTES - regarding drivers' contact information listed above:
1. When writing, be sure to include any underscores ( _ ) as shown in some email-addresses (i.e. copy email-addresses exactly as written).
2. Be patient when contacting drivers via email, as it may take a day or two for some to respond. Typically, private drivers and tour guides respond within 24-48 hours; if not, draw your own conclusions.
3. The telephone numbers listed above are shown as would be dialed direct from within Acapulco - and unless otherwise noted, are drivers' cel-phone numbers. To phone direct from the U.S., first dial 011-52-1, omit the '044', then key in the rest of the cel-phone number. To dial a home- or office-number direct from the U.S., first dial 011-52-744 then the number.
4. Bear in mind that email-addresses, telephone numbers, and websites are subject to change - and that some of the information above may not, in fact, be current.
