Mexican Riviera Cruises: Excursions

Explore the city of Cartagena. Begin with a stop at La Popa Monastery, built during the 17th century and dedicated to Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, patron saint of Cartagena and a Colonial museum. Visit a small chapel to see the famous wooden statue of the Virgin, and marvel at the wonderful gold leaves laminated main altar. Continue to San Felipe de Barajas situated outside the walled city for a panoramic view of this monumental fort considered to be the most outstanding feat of Spanish military engineering in the New World. Then, continue to Las Bovedas Artisan Center, built as dungeons and as a means of storage. Walk through narrow cobblestone streets and squares inside the walled city. Wander through Plaza de Bolivar which features a statue of its namesake. Visit the Inquisition Palace, established in the year 1610 to punish any crimes against the Catholic faith. You’ll see samples of jails and torture chambers. The sentencing ceremony used to take place in public, in the middle of the plaza. Next, visit the San Pedro Claver cloister and monastery built in homage to the protector of slaves. Before returning to your ship, take home some souvenirs from the Pierino Gallo shopping center and enjoy panoramic sightseeing through Bocagrande, the modern part of the city. Note: Casual clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended. Wear sunscreen and bring your camera. less

Las Caletas was once the private home of the famous film director John Huston, who considered it one of the most beautiful places in the world. Today, Las Caletas is an exclusive tropical beach hideaway where you can enjoy an extraordinary day of sun, fun, and adventure. This lovely beach was named by Trip Advisor as one of the top 4 secluded beaches in the World for 2012. Only accessible by sea, this well-secluded nature preserve stands out against a steep, jungle-clad backdrop of tropical forest in an isolated cove on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. As you cruise towards this tropical paradise aboard a first-class catamaran, you'll enjoy the most fantastic coastal scenery that Puerto Vallarta has to offer. Once arriving at Las Caletas, you can choose between pure relaxation or gentle exploration in the unspoiled natural setting of this tropical beach hideaway. If relaxing is on your personal agenda, you can kick-back on the beach, relax in the shade on a comfortable hammock, or indulge in a therapeutic body massage or facial at the hilltop Spa (additional charge). As you relax and unwind, the gentle lapping of the surf on the private golden beach beckons you to take a closer look at the calm, clear waters of this isolated cove. Throughout the day, bilingual eco-guides offer snorkeling and kayaking tours giving everyone a chance to explore in a fun and relaxed way. On land, you can take a Paella cooking lesson, discover the prolific flora and bird life on a free guided nature walk through the jungle, orchid gardens and interactive parrot center. For the youngest explorers (4-11) there is the kid’s adventure camp with zip lines, a climbing wall, animal encounters and an exciting donkey ride. Note: Tour includes moderate walking on uneven surfaces and numerous steps. Please wear your swimsuit underneath comfortable clothing and bring sunscreen, a hat and a towel. less

Start your tour of the beautiful city of Cartagena with a photo stop at San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, situated outside the walled city and considered the largest Spanish fort in the New World. Continue to the Old City and wander through narrow cobblestone streets and squares while you admire the Colonial architecture, balconies and old churches. Your next stop will be the Gold Museum where you'll see beautiful displays of valuable pre-Colombian gold artifacts and some of the old ceramics in the Americas. You'll also learn about the Zenu nation’s amazing hydraulic engineering achievements. Enjoy a folkloric show during your visit to the Navy Museum which was established in 1986. Here, you’ll find historic military efforts of Cartagena, see the wealth of historical artifacts, maritime life and naval history of Colombia. A bottle of water or soft drink will be served upon arrival at the museum. Before returning to your ship, take home some souvenirs from Pierino Gallo shopping center and enjoy panoramic sightseeing through Bocagrande, the modern part of the city. Note: Casual clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended. Wear sunscreen and bring your camera. less