Coiba Divers

By: Joe Loiacano
The Mexican Riviera is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world. It has become famous for its pristine beaches that are set against stunning cliffs, coves, and verdant jungle landscapes. It is fast-becoming a Caribbean alternative as more and more ships traverse the region on a year-round basis, and more importantly, more and more tourists are attracted to this cruise destination.

To get to the Mexican Riviera, you would normally start the cruise in Los Angeles, or at times, in San Diego. Some of the cruise lines that offer Mexican cruises include Disney, Holland America, Silver Sea, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. You can choose the length of your cruise from 5 to 11 days, depending on your schedule. This trip is ideal for family celebrations since the destinations are family-friendly, that is, there's always something for everyone. Popular stop points of a Mexican cruise adventure are Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, and Manzanillo

Acapulco is home to four lovely and popular beaches - Condesa, Los

Hornos, Caleta, and Caletilla. They offer a great variety of water sports and adventures. Acapulco is also famous for its La Quebrada, a cliff diving site. You could find yourself gasping with the crowd gathered above a cove of water where young men take breathtaking dives a steep cliffs. Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to try the plunge for themselves. Those who are not into these kind of adventures, especially the ladies, can enjoy great deals on European designer clothes and perfume in Zona Dorado, a high-end shopping district.

Cabo San Lucas offers a wide array of fun activities. Their main attractions are the beaches where you can do scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, and other activities. You can also visit El Arco (The Arch) which is a rock formation in an area where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. You can visit those rock formations to watch and listen to noisy sea lions. There is also a spot where you can do whale watching at specific months of the year.

For sports fishing enthusiast, Mazatlan is the place to be. This is also a place to munch some shrimp tacos and sip some beer. You can also visit the historic part of the city famous for its old cathedrals. Be sure also to take the Pulmonias, which are open-air taxis that climb the steep hillsides for perfect views of the Mazatlan bays and islands and a view of the legendary Sierra Madre mountain range.

Nightlife belongs to Puerto Vallarta. What's also unique of Puerto Vallarta among other Mexican Riviera resorts are its lush tropical jungles, forests, and waterfalls. Some interesting activities in Puerto Vallarta include bungee jumping and zip lining. I had a blast on the zip line and recommend it to anyone who seeks adventure.