Most U.S. residents gave up on once-famed Acapulco Bay as a vacation destination a long time ago. They ceded it to the Mexico City millions, who helped make it a big city on the beach.

But now there is a new reason to come back.

It’s the “new” Acapulco conveniently located about 10 miles southeast of Acapulco Bay. Also conveniently, the international airport borders it. Called Acapulco Diamante, it began about 15 years ago as mostly luxury homes and $250,000-and up condos for Mexico’s ultra-rich.

Peasant farmers and fishermen were bought out from the lush area, which features the open Pacific Ocean with mild-to- surfable waves on one side and a massive lagoon on the other. Three golf courses were constructed just off the beach.

The mid-1990s economic crisis froze much of the development today, however, its wind-swept beaches and miles of lightly populated oceanfront have enough hotels (eight) and enough services to offer variety and competitive rates.

Acapulco Diamante (”diamond”) is practically eco-tourism. You can run alone on the beach or take a truly romantic walk at sunset. There is no fast food - yet and only a few mini-marts.

Diamante’s newest hotel, the Grand Mayan, offers a sprawling, open-air island of good taste and plenty to do. A pool that’s more like a river runs through the resort,as does a lagoon. It joins its slightly, older sibling, the Mayan Palace, and the two hotels share many of the same services, which include two water parks.

At night, there are bars and a nightclub. The Grand Mayan’s rooms, especially the suites, are modem, airy and hip. The Jacuzzi is in the bedroom. Your personal mini-pool is on the sun deck (in the suites). Views are spectacular. A regular room can I run $300 a night (depending on the time of year) , and suites go for $425 but can hold as many as six people.

Nearby, the Mayan also has a mostly time-share property, Sea Garden, that offers rooms just off the beach. The pool is across the street, practically on the sand. It’s a superb hangout.

The Fairmont hotels, the Princess and the Pierre Marques, have shared a big chunk of beach near the popular Revolcadero surfing spot for 30 over years. 0f course Diamante as a distinct area it did not yet exist. They are just two hotels far from everything.

The Princess is the nicer of the two. Built like a pyramid, it looks just a few years old. Both hotels regularly have conventions. But the Princess is a Diamante tradition, with great food, great service and a great beach.

Both the Mayan and the Fairmont properties are big.  But Diamante also offers a near-boutique hotel (74 rooms) that sits on a cliff above Revolcadero Beach.

At the Quinta Real, rooms are spacious, with all the amenities one can expect for $400 a night. A full spa offers mud baths, massage and a variety of skin treatments and ways to relax.

Another Diamante hotel is actually on a tidy little bay: Puerto Marquez, between the open ocean and Acapulco beach The Camino Real offers a private beach, extensive water sports and luxury rooms. It often offers great deals.

When paradise gets old, that other Acapulco with its blazing water scooters, beach vendors and raging night life is just a short taxi trip away.

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