Beaches of Mexican Riviera beckon travelers

The Mexican Riviera stretches along the west coast of Mexico from Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja Peninsula to Ixtapa, and it includes Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Acapulco.

The various cruise lines that sail this route all offer slightly different itineraries, and the cruises last from seven to 14 days.

Most of the cruises will offer two or more days at sea, which we consider some of the best days on a cruise.

This is a time you can kick back, read, visit the casino, sun yourself on the deck around the pool, or just watch the ocean go by.

Each of the ports has something special to offer.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a golfer’s paradise with more than a dozen championship-quality golf courses.

Generally the port call there is long enough to easily play 18 holes of golf on one of these special courses.

Cabo also is famous for deep-sea fishing. This sport is the one that put Cabo on the map and that draws sport fishers from all over the world.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a traditional Mexican city with a central square.

Walk along El Malecon through the center of town and discover the intricate architecture of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Los Arcos, an open air theater with live performances and displays of local artwork.

There are lots of shops and miles of luxurious beach resorts. The beaches, which were damaged by a hurricane in 2003, are now repaired and beautiful again.

Mazatlan

Mazatlan, again, is a traditional city with expansive beaches, golf, shopping and a wide variety of local arts and crafts.

Palm-fringed, golden sand beaches are the biggest attraction, but shops featuring local wares are also plentiful and there are fine restaurants and bars for everyone.

Acapulco

Acapulco is a wonderful resort city made famous by artists and actors of the 1950s and now having a grand resurgence of popularity. It is famous for its grand resort hotels, sheltered beaches and vibrant night life.

Cliff divers

A perpetual attraction, cliff divers at La Quebrada are still amazing visitors. It has become a very cosmopolitan community in all regards.

Ixtapa

Ixtapa, and its neighbor Zihuatanejo, are both high energy beach cities.

Zihuatanejo’s Playa la Ropa is a calm, gentle bay that offers excellent snorkeling and swimming and fantastic sunsets.

Just four scenic miles away, Ixtapa is more upscale, but no less relaxed and beautiful.

The entire Mexican Riviera was made for fun and relaxation, for water sports and parties

So the next time you need a place in the sun to relax, consider one of the several cruises that sail these waters all seasons of the year.

You will not be disappointed.

Linda and Dr. Don Overend are principals in The Travel Group, a full-service travel agency.