Scenic Vistas on the Mexican Riviera

Cruises to the Mexican Riviera are probably one of the most affordable in the world. Most of the Mexican Riviera cruises leave from San Diego in California. They are mostly of seven-night duration. These cruises are a popular choice for people as a vacation, particularly for those that live on the western coast of the United States of America. The number of cruises that are available is growing because the cruising season lasts throughout the year. The Mexican Riviera is also called the `Gold Coast’. It is on the western coast of Mexico. The cruise has many attractions. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping and fishing. There are many historic churches in the villages. There is wildlife also in the Mexican Riviera that includes whales, dolphins and sea lions. There is a large variety of tropical fish that can be seen in the vistas here. The cruise lines operating in the Mexican Riviera are the Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. They offer their cruises throughout the year. Royal Caribbean offers a seven night cruise on the Mariner of the Seas liner which is the largest cruise ship that is home porting on the west coast of the United States of America. The popular ports of call on the Mexican Riviera cruise are Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. The cruises begin mostly from San Diego in California. It is an ideal location to begin and end your Mexican Riviera cruise vacation. The weather is beautiful throughout the year. San Diego has more than seventy miles of world class beaches. The Big Bay offers many adventure opportunities for the whole family. You can explore San Diego before you take your cruise. All cruises leave from the downtown ship terminal. Some of the cruise lines offer baggage service where the ship personnel will collect your baggage and take it to your cabin for you. The first usual port of call on the Mexican Riviera cruise is Cabo San Lucas. It is a resort place. You will find many famous celebrities on vacation here. The most famous attraction in this region is the Land’s End. It is a series of formations of rocks at a point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Cortez Sea. The landscape is filled with all kinds of cacti. The place is also famous for sports fishing. It is a golf circuit haven with many championship golf courses of international class. Whale watching can be done during January to March season. The official language used is Spanish. The most important structure at `Land’s End’ is El Arco which is a large arch of granite that was formed by waves and wind. The next usual port of call is Acapulco which is another well known resort point of Mexico. You can see cliff diving shows here. It has good beaches and a vibrant nightlife. It is a major sea port in Guerrero State on the Mexican Pacific Coast. The Acapulco Bay is deep blue in color. The places of interest in Acapulco are the San Diego Fort, The Zocalo or the Town Square and Nuestra Senora de la Soledad Church. You can see many dolphins at the Acapulco Magico Mundo Marino. You can watch the professional cliff divers at the La Quebrada. The next usual port of call is Puerto Vallarta which is a historical place. Its town area is full of shops and bars. You can watch the wonderful whales at the Puerto Vallarta Bay and the dolphins at the Banderas Bay. At Puerto Vallarta, you can also take the famous pirate ship tour. The Pirates of the Bay tour is a show that has impressive acrobatics too. Two costumed pirates will welcome the tourists and give them ID bracelets along with color codes for deck seating. While here, you may also visit some tequila factories or try catching the Pacific sailfish while watching the blue marlins. The next usual port of call and the last one is Mazatlan. It is well known for its deep sea fishing and water sports. It is a resort city at the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Many cruise operators are hesitant to stop over here for issues of security concern, much like the St. Croix Island in the Caribbean. The important places to visit, however, in Mazatlan are the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Esplanade along the Olas Atlas Beach. If you are looking for reasonable cruise fares to the Mexican Riviera, you should not travel from mid-June to mid-August as the tariff is highest during this period. This is because most families travel when their children have school vacations. The off-season rates are available from January to May. The average temperature in the Mexican Riviera throughout the year is quite high and generally in the eighties (Fahrenheit). It can get quite humid and hot during the summer. The scenic vistas of deserts, beaches, blue surf and big fish are unforgettable along the Mexican Riviera and the southern region of Baja California where there is great weather all the year round. This place has been spiced up and romanticized by the Hollywood stars and writers.