Anyone interested in a guided tour of Acapulco in an A/C van?
Janice is working on this for us and needs to know how many are interested. She has some excellent contacts; check this thread for info. ACA Dude is the Port Authority guy in Acapulco, and has a fabulous reputation.
Here is the info I just got from Roberto (ACA Port Dude) for the guided tours. He is the Operations Manager for the Acapulco Port Authority so we will be in good hands. Please read it and let me know you opinions on the two different ones and if you would be interested in either of them.
And I'd like to please stay on topic for this thread so Roberto doesn't have to read through all our chatter.
From Roberto:
On another note, regarding vans for tours, there are different prices,
From 1 to 4 guests $25 Usd per hour
From 5 to 8 guests $35 USD per hour
From 9 to 15 guests $50 Usd per hour
They are all AC, fully licensed, insured and have my personal seal of approval. I strongly advise against getting drivers from internet ads since they usually over book and then when you arrive; you are handed off to a cousin, brother or something worse. Not getting the person you hired the service with.
With the port approved drivers you satisfaction is guaranteed, if you don't enjoy your tour, you don't pay. Simple as that. plus i keep a close eye on the drivers you are assigned.
I have an awesome idea, lets have a bar hopping tour; It's fairly cheap and we hit 3 or 4 bars in one evening, have a welcoime drinks, 1 free bungy jump for any one who can dare to do so. Let me know if you guys are interesred, so i can book some trolley cars. We can decorate them a few minutes before we leave., or make a pirate themed bar hopping. I can just imagine it all over again.
What say you, arghhhhhhh
From Janice:
Roberto,
Everyone in our group is very excited about coming to your beautiful city. There are so many great things to see, that we don't know where to start.
Can the drivers take us to where we want to go or is it a set tour? Are the prices you quoted for the van or a per person cost for the hour? And how long would you suggest for a good tour?
I love the fact that all the drivers have your personal seal of approval. It will give a lot of my cruisers who have never traveled in Mexico before, peace of mind.
As for the bar hopping, it sounds like something you did with that wild and crazy Chud. We just happen to have a lot of people on our cruise who are party animals so we might do something like this too, but only if you say you'll come with us!!
Maybe a tour of the city during the day and a pirate bar hopping expedition at night, would be the perfect way to experience Acapulco!!
BTW~~Can the ship leave the dock without your permission? We wouldn't want to leave any cruisers behind!!
From Roberto:
The price quote is per van, and those are the capacities per van. I will make sure you have our best drivers assigned, feel free to email me with prelminary details on number of people that wish to do a city tour. The places that it covers, are Cliff, divers, Home of Dolores Olmedo (Diego Rivera Murals), Chapel of las Brisas, a ffew of the look out points though out the scenic road, Flamingos hotel, Casa Blanca hotel (great picture opportunity of the port and bay) maybe the Princess hotel and Mayan Palace. It all takes about 4 hours.
As for the bar hopping,done it 2 times and yes I will be the host, so, you will get to party with me. It costs about 40 or 45 USD (can't remember) that includes transportation with an open air trolley with capacity of 20 persons (only 2 trolleys) one domestic drink included at each stop 4 bars, We can decide which one we want to go to Mangos, Barbas Rojas, Paradise, Hard Rock Cafe,Planet Holliwood, Sr Frogs, Carlos and Charlies) IMO, start at Barba Rojas (pirate themed bar) then walk to Paradise, right next door, watch one of in our group jump from the bungy, goo to HRC dance a bit to live music, then head to finish off at Sr Frogs and dance the night away...as an added bonus, we can stop at the bar in the cruie terminal and take over the port. And no worries, the ship can not leave with out my say so.
Althuogh we need to organize this so a small group decorate the trolleys and another group buy party supplies such as screamers, clappers, beads for prizes. OMG, it will be a hoot, it will be the highlight of the entire cruise. Fun will actually depend on how rowdy the group is, last time I did this; woke up on a Korean navy ship. I helped set it up for a small group, called the "ship of fools" you can just imagine the events that take place. I had a lot of XXX pics on my camera, when I left it on the table to go to the rest room, next day, my then GF almost chewed my head off due to some of them.
Lets get the ball rolling on this one, I will take care of the logistics, I just need a count for each activity. And payment will be done as follows:
1,. Day time Tours - directly with the drivers after you end your tour
2.- Bar hopping Pirate - a few minutes before starting the tour.
So no deposits are needed and no cancellations fee, so its a win win situation.
Hi Spirit Cruisers,
Here is another option for a tour in Acapulco. Some of you have already been to this beautiful city and are looking for something different. This is something that you would never be able to get through a ship excursion and this would be set up through Roberto also.
In case any of you are leery or worried about taking any of these tours, please don't be. Quite a few people from here, including Chud who is a CLF Steward, has gone on these tours and have raved about them.
Another great option for a tour is Lomas de Chapultepec
Well this is a brand new tour, it’ not on any of the regular tours, and can be arranged only through me, only one party has done it and they had a blast…Let me explain how it’s arranged.
The van(s) will leave the pier and head to Sr. Frogs Mirador, then take you to Puerto Marques Mirador, at that point you can tell him if you wish to visit the Princess or Mayan Palace Hotels, if so you will stop for about 20-30 minutes for looking around.
Hector Garcia (Authorized Driver) takes you to his home town (Lomas de Chapultepec 30 minutes away) where he gives you a small tour of the place, it’s like being transported to Mexico in 1859, this little fisher town hasn’t changed in years. After he takes you to his “huerta” or field wher you can pick your own fresh lemons, watermelon, papaya or what ever fruit is in season.
After the fields you will go to the river where there will be a “palapa” (shade made of palms leaves) and hammocks for every one, the people who are interested can ride the horses or enter a “burro race” yep, you heard me right a donkey race. You can have a coconut sliced for drinking or eat the interior after.
Then you can rent a boat for a river excursion and go to the bird island, and swim a bit I the river, although there is a small current and it has a rocky bottom.
He will prepare a “Huachinango al Talla” or red snapper in a brick oven and have lunch right there on the spot.
I recommend you bring the following items;
1.- Sun tan lotion…sun may get very warm
2.- A cap or hat…same as above, it’s always very sunny (forecast says clear skies)
3.- Sandals or beach foot ware…sand is terrible to get out of sneakers
4.- Light clothing, humidity in Acapulco is 65° average and 92°F
5.- Sun glasses.
6.- Mosquito repellent, remember this is a natural area with no outsiders.
7.- Cameras & camcorders, you will definitely want to show your friends & family back home that you won a burro race against a local.
Hector will treat you like if I was riding along, and you will have a great time, the cost per van (up to 10 people) is $50.00 per hour, per van, it usually takes about 5 hours in all. Please note that you may require to tip the guys that provide additional services, like the guy that arranges the horses or burros and the coconut climber, lunch is also optional and you can go wioth Hector to pick the snapper you wish to have for lunch.
You have another fun option not in the normal tours, althuogh I recommend no more than 20 people on this tour since there may not be enough hammocks for all, maybe about 10 hammocks and chairs to sit at the river.
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Probably Tony and Patty too. 
Here is the info I just got from Roberto (ACA Port Dude) for the guided tours. He is the Operations Manager for the Acapulco Port Authority so we will be in good hands. Please read it and let me know you opinions on the two different ones and if you would be interested in either of them. 
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