EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW
Enjoy an inspired wine tasting and gourmet lunch at a winery restaurant in the Guadalupe Valley, a fertile area known as the Napa of Mexico, in part because the vast majority of Mexico’s wines are produced there. During the drive inland, you will notice the terrain becoming hillier with an abundance of sprawling farms and idyllic valleys such as Guadalupe. Its microclimate is similar to that in the Mediterranean as the summers are relatively cool with constant ocean breezes. Red wine grapes, in particular, flourish there, and over the past three decades or so, more than 150 wineries have become established along the valley’s wine route. Your introduction to one of the premier wineries will begin with an enlightening, behind-the-scenes tour. Afterwards, you will sample a wide selection of characteristic wines that beautifully represent the Guadalupe Valley. They will be paired with cheeses and artisan bread, which will perfectly complement the fabulous 3-course lunch that follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy a spectacular scenic drive through the Guadalupe Valley, the Napa of Mexico.
• Gain an understanding of the valley’s terroir by touring a premier winery.
• Sample several representative Guadalupe Valley wines and enjoy a gourmet 3-course lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Learn about the history of the area from your guide while you’ll pass by the city’s highlights. You’ll stop at the elegant Riviera del Pacifico, a once dazzling beach resort and casino. The highlight of your tour will be the 25-mile drive to the south for approximately one hour, along the Baja California countryside to scenic Punta Banda.

This area is known for an impressive blowhole called La Bufadora, a natural sea spout that shoots water from 60 to 100 feet into the air, depending on the tide. You’ll have free time to experience the flavors of Mexico at the open air market, with a wide selection of national art. You’ll also visit Ensenada’s main shopping district, offering everything from Mexican handicrafts to imported items. You may return to the ship with your guide or remain and return on your own.

Your tour begins with an interesting ride along Mazatlan’s oceanfront for a view of the lighthouse and offshore islands. Continue into the heart of the old downtown for a short visit to the imposing cathedral before a stop at a waterfront rocky promontory to view the brave cliff divers.

You’ll have time to browse or shop at the Golden Zone before heading for a resort for an afternoon of swimming, sunning and relaxing, where you’ll also enjoy a delightful lunch with a colorful Mexican folkloric show. Your escort will guide you to a place to change and show you where lunch will be served.

The return to your ship will be by taxi in groups of four.

OVERVIEW

Get a literal and figurative taste of Ensenada by visiting historical attractions and sampling locally made mezcal. Your introduction to the city will begin by strolling the grounds of the former Hotel Riviera del Pacifico, a traditional Spanish-style resort built in 1930 with a casino that Al Capone frequented. The margarita was supposedly invented at this landmark. How fitting that you will also visit a mezcalaria to sample mezcal, a spirit similar to tequila but with a greater variety of tastes. After an explanation of the artisanal process, you will try as many as five characteristic mezcals. You may wish to try the traditional accompaniments, worm salt – a blend of sea salt and ground agave worms – and dried grasshoppers. If those offerings are beyond your comfort zone, don’t worry. A dessert of tasty confections follows at a nearby candy shop. Other notable attractions in town include lovely Ventana al Mar park and Flag Plaza.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through the gardens of a former hotel where the margarita may have been invented.
• Hear tales of the Hollywood celebrities that stayed at the hotel in the 1930s, along with Al Capone.
• Sample several mezcals at a mezcalaria and learn how the spirit differs from tequila.
• See landmarks such as Ventana al Mar park on a driving tour of Ensenada.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the wilds of Canopy River Park in a 4x4 ATV and then toast the adventure with a tequila tasting. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will hop into a 4-person Polaris RZR and take the wheel or ride as a passenger. Either way, it will be a nonstop thrill as you zip down the dirt trails that crisscross the rainforest that blankets the Sierra Madre Occidental, a volcanically formed mountain range. At one point, you will cross the world’s longest vehicular suspension bridge with nothing below but dense jungle and the winding Cuale River. Feel free to pause for a swim there and snap photos of the extraordinary natural beauty. Once you catch your breath and return to the base camp, you can relive your ATV adventure while snacking on chips and salsa and taking part in a tasting of local tequilas.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip through the mountains and rainforest in a 4 person 4X4 ATV built for rugged terrain.
• Drive across the world’s longest vehicular suspension bridge.
• Take a refreshing splash through the Cuale River, or stay dry if you like.
• Participate in a tequila-tasting class back at the base camp.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with closed-toes.

Are you ready to try Mexican salsa, margaritas and learn how to dance the Salsa? Then this tour is for you! Upon arrival, by open air bus, at one of Mazatlan’s beachfront resorts, you’ll learn the art of making the best Mazaritas “Mazatlan Margaritas” in town and experience a hands-on cooking class. You’ll learn about spices and make a variety of sassy salsas while snacking on fresh cheese quesadillas and chicken taquitos.

After your cooking lesson, get ready for some real fun! A salsa instructor will show you step by step, the moves and swings of the salsa. Your hosts will have you spinning, stepping, and strutting to this lively blend of African rhythms with Latin beats. By the end of the tour you’ll be ready for the dance floor and armed with fantastic recipes. After the class you’ll have the choice to relax on the beach, enjoy one of the hotel’s pools, or shop at the stores of the Golden Zone which is just a short stroll from the resort. Once participants join their tour, they will be required to complete a liability waiver.

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Sabal Playa Beach Club, an exclusive resort that overlooks an absolutely gorgeous stretch of sand. It won’t take long to reach the club, which allows all the more time to enjoy the amenities. You might bask in the sun on a lounge chair as the waves gently lap at the shore. Take a refreshing swim in the Pacific Ocean. Walk along the coast without a care in the world or do most anything else that you find relaxing. There is plenty of shade under the coconut palms and beach umbrellas if you prefer that setting. You are also welcome to enjoy the infinity pool that overlooks the sea. Other options include dining on your own in the open air restaurant or even poolside, and taking advantage of the ocean kayaks and paddleboards. Everything imaginable is at your fingertips to ensure that your time at Sabal Playa Beach Club is carefree and immensely pleasurable.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Relax in complete comfort at the exclusive Sabal Playa Beach Club.
• Take a refreshing swim in the Pacific Ocean and the infinity pool.
• Lounge around the beach, poolside and in the shaded grassy areas.
• Enjoy access to the restaurants and watersports such as kayaks and paddleboards.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with closed-toes.

OVERVIEW

Fly high above beautiful Desert Nest natural preserve on a series of ziplines for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Upon arriving at the residential resort community Cuatro Cuatros, you will be briefed on how to maximize the experience. After being harnessed into the zipline, off you will go on the first of five exhilarating courses that will carry you over a distance of more than two miles. You can expect it to be a nonstop thrill as you race downhill at hair-raising speeds on the dual steel-cable ziplines. Along the way and while pausing on the elevated platforms between the ziplines, you will enjoy a literal bird’s-eye view of the surrounding Guadalupe Valley, one of Mexico’s finest wine-producing regions. Following the adventure, you will pause at the Cuatro Cuatros winery. The vineyards yield mostly red wines with the main varieties being cabernet sauvignon, merlot and zinfandel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race over the Desert Nest natural preserve on five exhilarating ziplines.
• Race over the Desert Nest natural preserve on five exhilarating ziplines.
• Visit the winery within the Cuatro Cuatros residential resort community.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Luxuriate at an exclusive beach club in Rosarito Beach and complement the experience with a classic Mexico meal of tacos and margaritas. As you travel up the scenic coastline, you will see one beautiful stretch of white sand after another, the reason this part of Baja California attracts so many beach lovers. Upon arriving at gorgeous Rosarito Beach, which runs the full length of the resort city of Rosarito, you will spend hours relaxing however you please at the stylish and wonderfully laid-back Sunio Beach Club. Feel free to bask in the sun on a lounge chair, stroll along the wide beach, take a refreshing swim in the sea and watch the surfers that often congregate there to take advantage of the waves. Sipping on freshly made icy-cold margaritas will make the experience all the more enjoyable. The accompanying lunch of chicken and beef tacos will be just as satisfying.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend hours relaxing at the exclusive Sunio Beach Club on Rosarito Beach.
• Enjoy a carefree experience doing most anything you please on the wide stretch of sand.
• Savor a classic taco lunch and margaritas at the luxurious resort.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Snap photos of yourself in the most picture-perfect locations in Ensenada, including Bufadora, the world’s second-largest marine geyser. It’s almost impossible to take a bad picture as the ocean water is furiously forced through the Bufadora blowhole and spews into the air. Even so, a photo expert will be on hand to offer tips on everything from composition to lighting. You will also have the opportunity to capture some of Ensenada’s most vibrant shopping areas and the Cultura Riviera complex. The latter was a Moorish-style hotel and casino until 1935 and attracted celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Rita Hayworth. The margarita cocktail was supposedly invented there, so it’s only fitting that you sit in on a margarita tasting. The Monumental Flag is another photogenic spot. This massive flag of Mexico proudly soars high over the waterfront and watching it snap in the wind is quite the sight.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Take spectacular selfies at scenic spots by following tips from the photo expert guide.
• Snap photos of the Bufadora blowhole spewing high into the air.
• Enjoy a margarita tasting at the former hotel where the cocktail was supposedly invented.
• Take a picture of the oversized Monumental Flag as it flies more than 300 feet above.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

You’ll be taking an approximately 30-minute drive to the ranch. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a safety briefing and helmet and assigned to your horse. During your one and a half hour horseback ride, you’ll enjoy magnificent view of Salsipuedes Bay, Todos Santos Island and the Gold Coast. Your leisurely trail ride will take you through the beautiful hills of San Miguel. You’ll be treated to a snack before taking the trail back to San Miguel.

This excursion combines the charm of both the old and new Mexico. Begin with a drive through the Marina Vallarta area and a stop at the small village’s local church. Continue to Hacienda Dona Engracia, one of the finest tequila factories in the area for a first-hand look at the manufacturing process of tequila and some free time to explore the grounds of this working hacienda. A short shopping stop will be made on the way into the center of Puerto Vallarta where you can walk along the popular Malecon, visit the Cathedral of our Lady of Guadalupe and see Old Town City Hall, while taking in fantastic views of the waterfront and the charm of the cobblestone streets. You may choose to stay in town on your own or return to your ship.