The coast west and east of Acapulco repays a day's exploration away from the resort.
Barra Vieja, about 30 kilometres east along the coast road, is what Acapulco looked like before the high-rises arrived: a small fishing village on a sandbar between the Pacific and the Laguna de Tres Palos, with a string of open-air restaurants serving red snapper grilled whole over wood fires. Take a taxi or rental car; it takes about 45 minutes.
Pie de la Cuesta to the west (20 minutes by taxi) is good for an afternoon rather than a full day — the long wild beach, the lagoon, and the sunset make it worth the trip even if you only spend a few hours. The village is laid-back and inexpensive.
Taxco, the silver-mining colonial town in the mountains, is two to three hours north by bus. It is one of the most beautiful small cities in Mexico — white-painted buildings climbing steep hills around a magnificent baroque cathedral. Daily buses depart from the terminal on Cuauhtémoc. Many visitors go as part of a loop between Mexico City, Taxco, and Acapulco.