Mexico
Introduction
Mexico is a land of unending contradictions. Ritzy hotels tower over ramshackle
buildings and burrows attached to rickety carts plod alongside express highways.
This extreme diversity is perhaps Mexico's biggest enticement, and a smorgasbord
of attractions beckons cruisers to its shores.
Hi-rise hotels and crystal-white beaches wrangle for vacationers' attention, and
the ocean surf and the swaying hammock are the predominant destinations for many
people.
More serious travelers know that the character of Mexico lies in the rugged
villages that speckle its mountains, jungles and countryside. Despite rampant
modernization, there are still more than 50 distinct indigenous peoples with
their own customs. Collectible folk art and the breathtaking remains of ancient
civilizations are testaments of these cultures.
Getting Around
Like the Caribbean, Mexico offers great opportunities for self-guided
explorations. Tourist hubs let cruisers shop and sun without having to travel
far, and the best restaurants are often within walking distance. This is
especially true for Mazatlan and Cancun. |
Cruise Tip
Sign up for spa services, sporting events, salon
appointments and other activities as early as possible.
...More Tips |
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Cruisers looking to experience the authentic Mexican culture will need to
venture into the outskirts of most Mexican ports of call. Historic sights,
old-world factories and traditional plantations remain the true heart and soul
of Mexico, and guided tours may make getting to them a little easier.
Examples of shore excursion opportunities in Mexico
include:
Sports Excursions
- Scuba dive amidst Cabo San Lucas' extensive
submarine canyons and view puffer fish, king angelfish, Moorish idols, starfish,
sea fans, urchins and sponges.
- Bass fish on the beautiful 7,000-acre lake of
Cajon de Pena, which holds the submerged ruins of the town of Santiago.
- Mountain bike past rustic towns and an abundance
of wildlife in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Adventure Expeditions
- Sail through protected waters and secluded coves
in the Bay of Banderas.
- Horseback ride past tropical vegetation and
quaint Mexican villages along the Mascota River.
- Sea kayak across the San Lucas Bay to Lover's
Beach, one of the few beaches in the world that is adjoined by two seas.
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Cultural Attractions
- Attend an authentic old style rodeo at El
Cortijo in Puerto Vallarta and witness horse tricks, lasso artists, burro races
and bullfighting.
- Visit a local glass blowing factory in Cabo San
Lucas and observe the skills of native craftsmen.
- Walk through an adobe brick-making factory where
contemporary bricks are formed and fired exactly as they were centuries ago.
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Shopping Districts
- Stop at the Plaza Marina in the center of Puerto
Vallarta and purchase trinkets, clothing and gifts.
- Browse the famous Golden Zone in Mazatlan for
authentic Mexican arts and crafts.
- Barter at the massive city market, where prices
depend upon your power of persuasion.
Nature Trips
- Observe tobacco, mango, melon and coconut
plantations throughout Mazatlan's rolling countryside.
- Behold the magnificent Los Arcos, a dramatic
natural rock monument that arches starkly out of the sea at Land's End.
- Trek the rocky, cavernous La Quebrada, a series
of cliffs made famous by daredevil cliff divers.
Historical Tours
- Tour Acapulco and see the Chapel of Peace, the
Trouyet Cross and the Hotel Flamingos - a favored hangout of John Wayne, Gregory
Peck and other stars of the 1950's.
- Walk through the Old Town of Mazatlan and see
the Continuity of Life Monument, the Military Hospital, the House of Music and
the Angela Peralta Theater.
- Visit Taxco, an old mining town founded in 1532,
and see the church of Santa Prisca, one of the greatest masterpieces of Mexican
Baroque architecture.
Wildlife Interaction
- Whale watch for California gray whales, finbacks
and blue whales off the coast of the Gulf of California.
- Swim side by side with bottlenose dolphins at
the Nuevo Vallarta Marina in Puerto Vallarta.
- Visit the renowned colony of sea lions in Cabo
San Lucas.
| Enhance
your travel to Mexico by reading about its culture, people and history in these
novels: |
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Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone
- Mary Morris
On Mexican Time (a new life in San Miguel) - Tony Cohan
Sacred Money River, A Canoe Trip with the Gods - Christopher Sahw
Sliced Iguana - Isabella Tree
Travelers' Tales: Mexico - James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger
King of the Moon - Gene Kira
The Journey of the Flame - Walter Nordhoff
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - B. Traven
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