The
Mexican Riviera refers collectively to several cities and resorts lying
on the Pacific coast of Mexico. From North to South they are Mazatlan, Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Acapulco. The distance from Mazatlan to Acapulco
is approx. 870 miles. Although there are large distances between these
cities, they are often referred to as the Mexican Riviera because of
their popularity among tourists. Cruise ships often visit three or four
of these destinations on their longer cruises.
The Mexican Riviera is truly a year-round destination. Temperatures
remain balmy, in the 70's and 80's most of the year. August and
September can be on the hot side, with temperatures in the 90's coupled
with humidity that can be a little unpleasant. Generally speaking, the
climate of the Mexican Riviera is sub-tropical to tropical. This means
that most of the rain falls in the summer months and September, while
the winters are much drier. Temperatures don't vary greatly from month
to month.
Today, the Mexican Riviera is the fourth most popular cruise
destination in the world and is rapidly building a reputation as a
Caribbean alternative, particularly as cruise lines are assigning newer
and bigger ships to the region, not to mention introducing year-round
service. Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are two of the traditional ports of call on a Mexican Riviera cruise. Acapulco and Manzanillo are two other frequent stops. The ports of Ixtapa and its neighbor Zihuatanejo
are increasingly showing up on cruise itineraries as well. Some cruise
lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, offer year-round sailings
to the Mexican Riviera, though the majority focus on itineraries from
September through May.
Mazatlan
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Pacific”, Mazatlan is located just south
of the Tropic of Cancer, so although it's in the tropics, temperatures are a
little cooler than the other tourist destinations further south.
Mazatlan is a busy deep sea port. Many charter boat companies offer a wide
variety of fishing expeditions. Mazatlan has great beaches, many
attractions, a variety of interesting historical sites and many interesting
monuments spread out all over the city. Just visiting the monuments and
statues could take up an entire day.
Generally speaking, Mazatlan is more "laid back" than other Mexico destinations. It
offers you many different choices for your vacation: kicked back - full relaxation, active -
adventurous, ecological - exploratory. You may come to Mazatlan to relax but the lure of exploration
is a constant possibility if you happen to venture very far away from your
hotel.
Riviera What? If you haven't heard of the Riviera Nayarit yet, that might be because it's just that new. The 200 miles of Pacific Coast and mountains north of Puerto Vallarta launched itself as a brand new destination in 2008. Since then, it has been busy putting itself on the map, investing major time and funds into building new tourism infrastructures.
Since the Riviera Nayarit is so close to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, it's easy to get to and airfares are competitive from departure points around the U.S. Located at the heart of the Banderas Bay, Riviera Nayarit (Mexico's Pacific Treasure) is home to an amazing array of sights and activities to satisfy the palate of the most demanding traveler.
Because it's not yet a major tourist destination like neighboring
Puerto Vallarta, and because the region is spread out, it's easier to
find affordable activities and food in the towns of the Riviera Nayarit.
From a quaint "Posada" hotel on a forgotten beach, to the ultra modern family travel oriented resorts in upscale Nuevo Vallarta and Flamingos, Riviera Nayarit has the kind of accommodations and services that will send you home refreshed and rejuvenated. If exclusive special category retreats are more your style, take a look at the elegant luxury embodied in the resorts of Punta Mita.
With 7 world class golf courses in the area, Riviera Nayarit is fast becoming a golfer's paradise. Other activities like bay cruises, city tours, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, scuba, hiking, biking, horseback riding and nearly 50 miles of unspoiled beaches, bays and coastline waiting to be discovered, all combine to make a visit to Riviera Nayarit the experience of a lifetime. and will keep you coming back for more!
The
Mexican Riviera, with its palm-fringed beaches and luxuriant jungle
vegetation, hosts several beachside resorts. But no resort better
typifies the classic Mexican beach vacation than does Puerto Vallarta.
Known for
its quaint cobblestone streets, "old world" charm, and thriving
nightlife, Puerto Vallarta offers travelers an authentic glimpse of
Mexico through its natural, cultural, historical and gastronomical
delights.
Golfers
will find courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf among the
7 championship layouts in the area. Puerto Vallarta's climate makes
golf a year-round option! If romance is in the air and the ultimate destination wedding is your
goal, Puerto Vallarta offers many wedding coordinators who will
effortlessly handle the paperwork and arrangements to make your
ceremony (and honeymoon) the ultimate in romance, beauty and
tranquility. For family vacations, you won't find a finer destination. There are
abundant activities for all ages and interests, from beachside fun to
craft and sports gatherings for kids and adults.
Built along the
gorgeous Pacific Coast, with a definite Moorish-Mediterranean feeling, Manzanillo may make you forget you are in the new world, with
over 500 years of notable history and boundless untouched beauty.
Manzanillo has a rich heritage that dates back to the 1500's at the time of Cortez. Choose from miles of white or black sand beaches, glistening bays, or
charter a yacht and see the beauty of Manzanillo from the sea.
Manzanillo has been touted as the "Sailfish Capital of the World," made famous by the fishing tournaments held in November and February. It also rivals Los Cabos as a Mexican golf destination. The city is a destination resort and has many hotels and self-contained resorts, particularly built on the small peninsula jutting out into the Pacific from the city centre. Just south is the resort Las Hadas ("the fairies"), which is the most famous of the city's resorts, having been featured in the movie '10' starring Bo Derek and Dudley Moore.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are two towns on the Pacific coast, a little over four miles away from each other. Despite their
proximity, these are two towns with very distinct characteristics:
Ixtapa offers you the experience of a modern resort, whereas
Zihuatanejo offers you the experience of a rustic, traditional Mexican
fishing town.This combination
offers travelers a unique opportunity to experience the two contrasting
choices on a Mexican coastal vacation: mix the comfort and luxury of
the new with the atmosphere, character and feel of the old
Ixtapa was a coconut plantation, until the Mexican Tourist Board, looking for a geographical location to build a Cancun-like resort on the Pacific Coast in the 1970s chose this village, which lies about 125 miles northwest of Acapulco, as the next 'big place' for Mexican tourism.
Zihuatanejo offers you the opportunity to experience local provincial life and a quiet, relaxed and very natural atmosphere. Accommodations here range from the simple to the elegant, depending on your tastes and budget.
Both locations are set against the backdrop of the majestic Sierra Madre mountains, have excellent beaches and stunning natural scenery. There is a bicycle track between the two towns - and pedal-bikes may be rented locally.
Acapulco is the orignal Mexican Riviera resort city. Since the 1950's, the rich and famous have flocked to the gorgeous beaches, opulent villas and exhilarating nightlife of Acapulco. Though newer, trendier resort cities have sprung up in recent years, Acapulco hasn't lost its luster. The number of luxury resort hotels lining Acapulco Bay continues to grow.
Stand on the beach in Acapulco and you'd never think you were within the city limits of a city of almost three-quarters of a million people. The four popular beaches, (Condesa, Los Hornos, Caleta and Caletilla) are unspoiled, beautifully maintained and some of the most spectacular in Mexico.
Water sports of all
kinds are popular here. Scuba diving and deep sea fishing are also
readily available. It's a 'typical' tropical resort city. Acapulco's
main attraction by far, though, is the cliff diving at La Quebrada.
Throughout the day and early evening, young men make a perfectly timed,
breathtaking 150 foot dive from a steep cliff into a small cove of
water below.
For the golfer, there are four championship courses from which to choose, but perhaps the real jewel is the Club de Golf Acapulco, a nine-hole wonder right in the heart of the city.
The
Mexican Riviera refers collectively to several cities and resorts lying
on the Pacific coast of Mexico. From North to South they are Mazatlan, Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Acapulco. The distance from Mazatlan to Acapulco
is approx. 870 miles. Although there are large distances between these
cities, they are often referred to as the Mexican Riviera because of
their popularity among tourists. Cruise ships often visit three or four
of these destinations on their longer cruises.
For the golfer, there are four championship courses from which to choose, but perhaps the real jewel is the Club de Golf Acapulco, a nine-hole wonder right in the heart of the city.
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