Hotel Los Flamingos is perched on the highest cliffs of Acapulco, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Fittingly, it glows a deep shade of hot pink from among the palm trees. We stopped by for some birthday drinks and to soak up the ocean views. Yes, even after Las Brisas I'd still not had my fill of pink hotels.
The hotel has some history, notably in the 1950s and 1960s when it was owned by a gang of Hollywood actors that included John Wayne, Errol Flynn and Johnny Weissmuller. The veranda around the reception area is a gallery of photos from those party-hard years. Today, Los Flamingos' cliff-top terrace remains the place to enjoy the Pacific sunset with drink in hand. Its pink walls glow spectaculary in the last sun rays of the day.
Los Flamingos is also known for its house cocktail, the Coco Loco - a ubiquitous concoction of spirits and juices served in a green coconut. Of more interest, is the hotel's lesser-known Tortuga, created there in 1963. Its a cocktail of rum blanco, apricot liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice and red wine. Deep red and served in large goblet with ice cubes, the Tortuga was potent, fruity and cooling. The friendly service only added to the relaxed atmosphere.
Las Brisas - the breezes - must rank among the loveliest places to stay anywhere. Set high on the hillside overlooking Acapulco, this resort comprises landscaped terraces of white and pink casitas set among swaying palms. Each of these little flat-roofed bungalows has its own pool and patio (now there's something charming about that word). There can't be many places where you're chauffeured around, from sunset bar to your own private pool, in pink & white jeeps.
Opened in 1958, Las Brisas must have been the last word in mid-20th century tropical resort luxury. It remains the height of elegance, having had a 50th birthday refurbishment. Our casita had incredible bones, with marble floor, stone feature wall behind the bed, and an open-roof shower with sunken bath in stone. These rougher textures helped to balance the white furniture and hot pink feature wall.
The patio offered complete privacy and stunning views down across Acapulco Bay. With Hibiscus flowers floating on the pool, red wine from Baja de California delivered daily, and a white canopy for shade, it was all pretty romantic stuff.
Undeniably, a pink and white paradise.
Acapulco. The name sounds so exotic. During its heyday, Acapulco competed with Waikiki and Tahiti as a jet set destination and a by-word for tropical glamour. Even Elvis starred in Fun In Acapulco (1963), as a cliff diver who must overcome his fear of heights to win the diving championship (and Ursula Andress). But sadly, from the 1970s the 'Pearl of the Pacific' seemed to fade with over-development, population growth and pollution.
On a recent trip to Mexico, we decided to take a chance on Acapulco, having heard that things had been cleaned up. I also suspected there may be some faded retro delights in the offing. A warm glow certainly descended as soon as the Aeromexico air hostess happily poured us tumblers of straight tequila...
Admittedly, away from the beaches, Acapulco is a city with chaotic traffic and plenty of people struggling to get by. But the natural setting is undeniably superb. La Bahia de Acapulco is a deep blue harbour with gorgegous arc of golden beaches surrounded by mountains. We stayed at Las Brisas, a hillside wonderland of 1950s white and pink bungalows with sensational views, day or night. The water is warm. Perfect weather. Friendly locals. Afternoon swims and margueritas on the beach at sunset. Out on the Pacific coast, los clavadistas still scale dizzying heights to perform their diving show into the ocean. Further along the coast, the cliff-top terrace at the Hotel Los Flamingos is the perfect place to sip a 'coco loco' and watch the sun slowly sink over the Pacific Ocean.
