Behind the town of Acapulco rise the Sierra Madre Mountains , a favourite location for photographers who relish the greenery, the rocky cliffs and the breathtaking views over the bay. The surf is rough. Ixtapa , to the north of Acapulco, is a new resort complex with moorings for yachts and a golf course. Manzanillo , a major seaport, has recently become an important resort. The emphasis is on watersports, but the spacious beaches afford good swimming.
Fishing is of a world-class standard.
Mazatl n , famed as an angling centre, also has numerous beaches and facilities for surfing, skindiving, tennis, golf, riding and shooting. The name of the town means 'Place of the Stag' in the Nahuatl language, an indication of the town's longstanding association with sporting activities. The malec n , which runs along the beachfront, is disguised by a variety of names, being named Avenida Camaron in the north and then proceeding through a number of name changes till it becomes Olas Atlas in the south. El Faro' on the promontory of Cerro del Creston is one of the highest lighthouses in the world. There are direct flights from Los Angeles as well as from numerous Mexican cities, and a ferry crosses regularly from La Paz in Baja California.