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Twin
Cities: 612 866 9262 Fax: 612 798 5845
5 State Area: 1 877 463 9446 (877 4 MEXIGO)
| DESTINATION
INFORMATION |
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| We have collected some
brief information on all our fantastic Mexico beach locations, also
great know before you go information. |
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| Few destinations
can match the natural beauty of Acapulco Bay, a 22-mile crescent
below the forested foothills of the Sierra Madres. Despite its
current reputation as a playground of chic resorts, the port
played a prominent role in Mexico's history. By the late 16th
century, Acapulco had become the main west coast seaport for
trade with Asia. Spanish Manila Galleons sailed to the Philippines,
where they traded with Asian merchants for silk and other precious
goods. |
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| In the
1940's Hollywood cast its glance on Acapulco and transformed
the city into a 9-mile swath of glitter and indulgence. Cliff
diving, Parasailing and the swim-up pool bar were first introduced
in Acapulco and contributed to the carnival atmosphere for which
Mexico is now famous. |
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| Constant
sunshine, warm waters and year-round temperatures in the 80's
make Acapulco one of Mexico's most vibrant beach resorts. Whether
one visits Acapulco to relax and let cares melt away or for
the adventure, there is something for everyone. Water recreation,
from boat tours, Skiing, Parasailing and fishing are in abundance.
For the shopper there are trendy boutiques as well as open-air
markets. For night owls, discos and nightclubs are open 'til
dawn. The area also appeals to families, thanks to several parks,
calm beaches, an aquarium and the world's only island zoo just
a 10-minute boat ride from Caleta Beach. |
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| Located
along the southern shores of the Yucatan Peninsula, this area
is considered the gateway to the Mayan world, which has captivated
imaginations for centuries. The resort city of Cancun was developed
in the 1970's when tourism experts chose it as the resort area
of the future. |
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| Today,
Cancun is Mexico's leading tourist destination and a perfect
base from which to explore the wonders of the Yucatan's archeological
and natural sites, including Chichen Itza, Xel-Ha, Tulum, Xcaret,
and Coba, as well as the islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. |
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| Cancun's
main claim to fame is its beaches; 12 miles of shoreline that
face the Caribbean sea feature tiny-grained sand that is almost
blindingly white. The water is clear and perfectly suited for
viewing tropical fish and elaborate coral formations. The Quintana
Roo coast is gifted with the second largest reef barrier in
the world, teeming with sea life to view and explore. |
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| Cancun
has something for everyone, a world of glitz combined with old
world charm. Golfers can tee off next to ruins of temples once
ruled by Mayan Kings. Shopping abounds, from designer shops
and boutiques to open-air markets. Dining ranges from fast food
to the finest international cuisine, while discos and nightclubs
offer entertainment into the wee hours. Water sports of almost
every kind are available, as well as bullfights on Wednesday
afternoons featuring some of the best bullfighters in Mexico. |
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| Cozumel,
Mexico's largest populated island lies 12 miles off the mainland
city of Playa del Carmen. Cozumel was first inhabited by the
Mayas, who believed it to be sacred, and remains of Mayan ceremonial
centers still dot the island. |
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| The US
used Cozumel as an air base during World war II and returning
soldiers told of the magnificent waters, underwater reefs and
sea life. Jacque Cousteau endorsed the island as one of the
finest diving spots in the world in the 1950's. |
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 Palancar
Reef is internationally famous among divers, with visibility
ranging from 150 to 200 feet. Along the shore of Chankanaab
Lagoon there are fascinating underwater caves with a myriad
of brightly colored tropical fish.
Swimming among the coral in these clear turquoise waters is
almost like visiting another planet. |
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| The only
island village is San Miguel, located on the west coast and
spanning several blocks along the shoreline. Life on the island
is relaxed; shorts and tank tops seem to almost as dressed-up
as anyone gets. |
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| Even though
the ambiance is laid-back there is plenty to do on Cozumel.
Dining ranges from traditional specialties to casual local cuisine.
For after-dinner relaxation, outdoor cafes surround the main
square. For those with energy to burn, the discos and bars are
open for your enjoyment, even though the evenings begin and
end earlier on the island. For shopping, browse the upscale
shops along the waterfront or the great little shops on the
side streets, as well as the arts and crafts market on the main
square. |
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| These
twin destinations offer a contrast: between the large luxury-style
hotels and air-conditioned shopping malls of Ixtapa, and the
vendor stalls and casual beachfront restaurants of the somewhat
sleepy fishing town of Zihuatanejo, only 6 miles away. |
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| In
the 1970's, the Mexican government created Ixtapa, an ecology-minded
resort that keeps the hotels and residences limited in size
in relation to the land area. Activities abound in Ixtapa, with
world-class golf, deep-sea fishing, tennis, deep-sea diving
and ocean swimming. The nightlife, shopping and restaurants
are subdued, but there still seems to be something to please
every visitor. |
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| In contrast,
Zihuatanejo was occupied for many years prior to the Spaniards'
first encounter in 1527. The village is believed to have had
contact with Mexico's Olmec Civilization (1200 BC-200 AD). |
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| The town
is bounded by clean beaches and hemmed in by a sparkling tranquil
bay. Famous La Ropa beach has waving palms, sand-floored cafes,
a lack of neon and good swimming, surfing and windsurfing. |
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| Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
is the perfect Mexican destination. Sample the delights of both
the old and the new that Mexico has to offer. Begin with breakfast
and a market stroll in Zihuatanejo, followed by lunch, pool
lounging and a round of golf in Ixtapa, all the while enjoying
the lush tropical coastline, dozens of sandy beaches and coves,
and the backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains. |
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| Once used
in the 16th and 17th centuries as a frequent provision stop
and hideout for pirates awaiting passage of the Manila galleons,
Los Cabos has evolved into one of Mexico's most popular tourist
destinations. |
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| Resting
at the tip of the Baja peninsula are Cabo San Lucas and San
Jose del Cabo, which is more popularly known as Los Cabos or
"Cabo". The 29 kilometers (18 miles) between the two
cities is called The Corridor. |
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| Los Cabos
is Unique in its striking desert landscape, with 350 days a
year of sunshine, low humidity and refreshing sea breezes. Visitors
are surrounded by endless cactus, vermilion mountains and miles
of white sandy beach and clear blue waters. |
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| Each area
has its own unique quality. San Jose del Cabo is a pleasant
city, which was first visited by Cortes in 1535 and has evolved
into a modest center of shipping commerce. The Corridor region
is a stretch of fabulous beaches and is the site of the newest
resorts. |
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| Cabo San
Lucas is a boomtown, touting fine restaurants, sophisticated
shopping, a 300-slip marina and a spirited nightlife. Over the
years, Cabo has been popular with fishermen and divers and is
now considered also to be the true center of the Los Cabos resort
scene. Even non-sports enthusiasts are known to visit the marina
for boat rides or the sport fishing dock to view the day's catch. |
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| On several
counts, Manzanillo is not your typical seaside resort town.
Consider resort luxury and bustling commercialism on one hand,
and undeveloped remoteness on the other. Banana and coconut
plantations abut the shore, with thick jungle in the distance.
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| With its
fine natural harbors, Manzanillo was a strategic seaport even
before the conquest. First settled in 1522, it was used as a
departure point for Spanish expeditions to Baja and northern
Mexico. An abundance of hardwoods convinced Cortes to establish
Latin America's first shipyard here in 1531. |
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| The downtown
area is, first and foremost, a commercial port. A few short
miles up the coast you will find Manzanillo's luxurious, pleasant
resort zone where you will enjoy a vacation of slow-paced serenity.
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| Manzanillo's
main attraction is the understated beauty and serenity of its
resort zone. Ideal weather and wide uncrowded beaches make this
area a haven for sun worshippers, honeymooners and sports enthusiasts.
Water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling
and deep-sea fishing are among the favorites enjoyed by all.
Manzanillo's three lush golf courses have been named among the
100 greatest in the world by Golf Digest magazine. |
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| Mazatlan
is rich in history. For thousands of years prior to the arrival
of the Spaniards in 1531, Native Americans migrated through
the region following game herds. The name Mazatlan translates
to "land of the deer" in the language of the Aztecs. |
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| Mazatlan
is Mexico's second largest coastal city and boasts the largest
fleet of commercial shrimp vessels in Latin America. Despite
the importance of its visitor industry, Mazatlan remains very
much its own city, being Mexico's largest West Coast port. |
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| Since
the 1950's, the city has earned the reputation of being affordable
and friendly. The combination of affordability and seaside charm
makes it a popular Mexican fun-in-the-sun destination. Long
wide sandy beaches with rolling surf are lined with open-air
bistros and bars, clamoring with activity of sunbathers, strolling
vendors and water sports enthusiasts. |
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| Mazatlan
is made up of three zones, offering something for everyone.
"Old Mazatlan" to the southern end of the peninsula
is where you find the port and downtown area, with its large
ships and restored colonial mansions. Next, the Malecon's sweeping
walkways follow the curve of the seacoast as it leads to "Zona
Dorada", or the Golden Zone to the north. The Golden Zone
is home to nearly all of Mazatlan's visitor attractions and
resorts. Here you will find entertainment, shopping, art galleries,
nightclubs and restaurants offering what many consider the finest
seafood on the Pacific. |
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| Playa
del Carmen was once the mainland departure point for Mayan pilgrims
visiting the sacred island of Cozumel. Because of its location
as a departure point for Cozumel and only about 40 miles from
Cancun, Playa del Carmen has become a tourist destination in
its own right. |
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| North
of the ferry dock is the Playa of old: casual beach restaurants
with thatched roofs and smooth coral-free sand with dense jungle
lying just beyond the western city limits. To the south are
the newer luxury hotels and condominium developments, as well
as restaurants and mini malls. |
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| Playa
del Carmen is the perfect base from which to explore the Mayan
ruins at Chichen-Itza, Uxmal and Tulum. One of the world's longest
unbroken barrier reefs, which has been the undoing of many ships
over the centuries, stretches along the Caribbean coast. You
may also explore underground rivers running through limestone
caves and swim with brightly-colored fish in the crystal waters
offshore. |
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| For
a change of pace, Cozumel is easily accessible by passenger
ferry. Experience the glitz and excitement of Cancun by traveling
on one of the many buses or vans running a regular schedule
to the city. |
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| Nestled
on the shores of Banderas Bay, this city's history traces back
to 1541. For the next 300 years the area served as a respite
for Pirates plying the pacific coast. In 1851 Guadalupe Sanchez,
who settled with his family at the mouth of the Rio Cuale, first
inhabited the area. |
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| By 1918
the village had become a farming community of 1,500 residents,
became a municipality and renamed Puerto Vallarta, in honor
of the governor of the state Jalisco. By the 1950's, the idea
of turning the area into a weekend resort for nearby Guadalajara
stirred some interest. |
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| American
director John Huston came to the area to film The Night
of The Iguana starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth
Taylor, putting the city on the map, as well as in Hollywood
headlines during the filming of the movie. |
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| Today
Puerto Vallarta is a busy town of over 180,000 residents, attracting
over 1.5 million visitors a year. Even with the proliferation
of huge hotels and high rises, the city has been able to preserve
its Paradise-by-the-sea atmosphere. The heart of the community,
Viejo Vallarta, maintains a rustic appearance, with cobblestone
streets, whitewashed stucco walls and red-tiled roofs reminding
one of Mexico's colonial traditions. |
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| Puerto
Vallarta is the perfect blend of old-world tradition and modern
comfort. Its diversity includes the paradise setting of secluded
beaches in the north, lush tropical jungles to the south and
the sight of the Sierra Madre Mountains disappearing into the
blue Pacific. |
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