Acapulco
Acapulco is situated around a horseshoe-shaped natural bay and backed by the Sierra Madre Mountains. There are several sweeping golden beaches, and at La Quebrada, the world-famous cliff divers who plunge 100 feet to the sea. Close by is the small fishing village of Pie de la Cue which if staying overnight, is worth visiting for its spectacular sunsets.
Acapulco (Mexico)
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of the long peninsula of Baja California where the Pacific merges with the Sea of Cortez. On the coast, sea lions can be seen at the El Arco rock formation, or for a taste of old Mexico and boutiques, travel to nearby San Jose del Cabo, founded in 1730. The main square has boutiques, art galleries and excellent restaurants, sometimes offering live Latin music.
Cabo San Lucas (Mexico)
Costa Maya
Costa Meya is a purpose-built port constructed to resemble a Mayan city, and includes a shopping mall, beach club, saltwater pools and a plaza. It encompasses the small villages of Mahahual and Xcalak on the Mexican coast, with a coral reef offshore and plenty of facilities for diving. The little-visited Mayan ruins of Chacchoben and Kohunlich are nearby
Costa Maya (Mexico)
Cozumel
The Mexican island of Cozumel has been a centre for scuba diving and snorkelling since the discovery of the island's Palancar Reef by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960s. It is also known for the Mayan ruins of San Gervasio, situated in the centre of the island, and for watersports, including kite-surfing and a tourist submarine.
Cozumel (Mexico)
Ensenada
Ensenada is a port in the Mexican state of Baja California on the Pacific Coast. It may be included on cruises en route to and from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Acapulco. Ensenada is situated in Mexico’s richest wine-producing region and close to San Pedro Martir National Park and the world’s largest blowhole, La Bufadora. Whale watching is a popular pastime during the migration season between December and March.
Huatulco
Bahias de Huatulco is a resort area spread across nine picturesque bays and numerous small coves in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It falls inside the jungle and coastal area of Parque Nacional Huatulco and the coast has some of the best coral reefs in Mexico. Inland, the unspoilt surroundings are perfect for hiking and birdwatching.
Huatulco (Mexico)
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is a popular tourist destination with 5 miles of white sands on the Mexican Gold Coast, overlooked by the cliff-top lighthouse, El Faro. The town can be explored by three-wheeled taxi, taking in the old market square and an aquarium which houses sharks, reef fish and seahorses. There is a seashell supermarket and open-air stores in the downtown area. Trips from Mazatlan might include the rustic villages of Copola and Concordia below the Sierra Madre Mountains and the colonial town of El Rosario.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is situated on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, south of Cancun and west of Cozumel. Cave divers come to dive in the sinkholes, and there is reef diving offshore on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The main thoroughfare is the bustling Quinta Avenida, which is lined with shops, bars and restaurants. South of the town is Xcaret and the Mexican-themed eco-archaeological park.
Progreso
Progreso is in the Mexican state of Yucatan. On its lovely beaches you will find small restaurants serving up grilled fish. Nearby is the city of Merida, built on the ruins of a Mayan city and rich in colonial and 16th-century architecture, and the Mayan ruins of Dzibilchaltun and Xcambo. Also close by is the ecological reserve and mangroves of El Corchito, which can be reached by local boat.
Progreso (Mexico)
Puerto Vallarta
Until John Huston filmed 'Night of the Iguana' in Puerto Vallarta, it was a small fishing village, but has since grown into an international resort, overlooked by the Sierra Madre Mountains. Playa de Oro is the main beach, backed by hotels, and quieter bays include Conchas Chinas. Swimming with dolphins in Nuevo Vallarta, tours of the tropical forest and admiring the colonial villas of Gringo Gulch are popular tourist activities.
Puerto Vallarta (Mexico)