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.

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.

OVERVIEW

See firsthand how two iconic Mexican drinks – beer and tequila – are produced locally and sample a variety of both. Before arriving at the first venue, you will enjoy a panoramic drive around Ensenada that will likely include commentary describing how the town boomed in the 1920s when alcohol was banned during Prohibition in the United States. Craft beers and premium tequila are still major draws. The master brewer at the esteemed Olympo microbrewery will show you each step of the process as a prelude to your sampling of a flight of four beers. The selection may include a triple-chocolate stout and a sushi lager made with Japanese rice. Similarly, an enlightening tour of Tequilera Doña Engracia will reveal its distilling process. During the sampling that follows, you will taste an array of spirits such as a white tequila, a caramel-flavored añejo tequila and an agave-forward reposado aged in whiskey barrels.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a tour of Olympo microbrewery and sample a flight of its premium beers.
• See how various tequilas are produced at a local distillery and taste several of them.
• Settle in for an introductory driving tour and admire Ensenada’s key landmarks.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

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

Revel in the party atmosphere and festive music while enjoying a complimentary cocktail at three vastly different restaurant bars, each with its own personality. Located within the iconic Punto Valentino entertainment complex, Onaltica is known for its innovative drinks and extraordinary views as this beachfront restaurant overlooks the sea. The ambiance is lively but sophisticated. Just a short walk away, you will stop for another cocktail at the Onaki Beach Club. Always glamourous and outrageous at times, this popular venue exudes a Las Vegas-style vibe. It too is right on the water, but Onaki is more than a bar; it is an experience not to be missed. A scenic ride along the coast – with a complimentary beer to keep the party flowing – will bring you to Vista del Palma, a rooftop bar with spectacular views of the sea. The cocktails are handcrafted and the good times nonstop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a complimentary cocktail at three of the liveliest bars in Mazatlan.
• Get caught up in the nonstop party atmosphere as you hop from bar to bar.
• Admire the waterfront views from each bar, especially from rooftop Vista del Palma.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Participate in a hands-on cooking class at a premier Mexican restaurant and dine on the array of dishes that the chef will help you prepare for lunch. As an introduction to the cuisine of Sinaloa, the state in which Mazatlan is located, you will browse the stalls of a local market that offers every imaginable traditional ingredient. The guide will describe and select the ones that will be used in your cooking class at El Presidio restaurant. The exact menu will depend on what seasonal items are freshest to ensure that the dishes will be bursting with flavor. Because of the proximity of the sea, Sinaloa cuisine tends to focus on seafood – especially shrimp – cooked with fruits and vegetables and seasoned with spices such as chipotle and guajillo chili peppers. Before sitting down to dine, you will sample several tequilas whose tastes are wonderfully complex and characteristic of Sinaloa.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to prepare several signature local dishes in a hands-on cooking class.
• Help select the ingredients for the class in a market that the locals frequent.
• Dine on the dishes that you have prepared in class at El Presidio restaurant.
• Enjoy a tequila tasting to enhance your dining experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise the turquoise seas off Mazatlan in a sleek triple-hulled trimaran and enjoy an array of water activities while anchored off Deer Island. While cruising along the coast with a refreshing mimosa in hand, you will pass Bird Island, part of a pristine ecological reserve that is protected from development. Similarly, only wildlife inhabits larger Deer Island, which also lies within the reserve. Depending on where the trimaran drops anchor, you may spot seabirds, pods of dolphin and seals along the coast. You will be free to enjoy the crystal-clear waters as you please. You might take a leisurely dip, float around on a swim noodle, paddle off in a kayak and bask in the sun while stretched out on a water mat. All the gear is available on board as is a box lunch whenever you get hungry. The open bar will make the adventure all the more enjoyable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the tropical views while sailing along the coast in a triple-hulled trimaran.
• Engage in all sorts of water activities while anchored off uninhabited Deer Island.
• Enjoy a box lunch on board and an open bar throughout the cruise.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Celebrate like a local at the Mexican fair held daily at El Tenampa, a restaurant in a country-like setting. You will first visit the 19th-century Mazatlan Cathedral for an understanding of how religious traditions influence Mexican fairs and the annual Carnival that is held in the spring. To prepare for those festive events, many locals shop at a nearby market, where you will see a variety of colorful merchandise. After a short walk through the historical district, you will drop by a store that sells jewelry much like that worn during Carnival. By the time you arrive at the restaurant, you will be well versed in the traditions of Mexican fairs. After dining on an array of dishes that may include gorditas and tacos filled with ingredients such as Jamaican flowers – which are dried red hibiscus buds – you can join in a host of games typically played at fairs. Tastings will also be offered.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Play traditional Mexican games at a restaurant that celebrates every day with a lively fair.
• Dine on a hearty lunch of classic dishes usually served at Mexican fairs.
• Visit a market and jewelry store where locals buy merchandise in preparation for fairs.
• See how religious tradition influences fairs by visiting Mazatlan Cathedral.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Humpback whales visit the shores of the Baja each year and Los Cabos is famous for whale watching. Board our specially designed, inflatable fast boats and journey out of the bay. Accompanied by an expert marina mammal guide and local captain, begin your exploration, searching for these gentle giants. With a variety of boats located in the bay and communication between all captains, these rapid ocean vessels are fast at finding the whales in the deep blue oceans. Each boat hosts a hydrophone, allowing you to hear the whales sing and communicate between each other in the ocean depths. These low level watercraft allow everyone onboard to capture that special photo and to enjoy the amazing breaches, tail splashes and interaction between these giant mammals. Complete your adventure with a short stop at the famous arch and sea lion colony to see nature at its best before heading back to the marina. Definately an adventure not to be missed!

Are you ready to try Mexican salsa, margaritas and learn how to dance the Salsa? Then this tour is for you. Upon arrival 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. 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.

OVERVIEW

Take full advantage of the amenities at the Veleros Beach Club, which include an open bar and a beautiful beach that rims an enviable spot on the Sea of Cortez. It won’t take long to reach the exclusive beach club, giving you all the more time to relax as you please. The beach is private and spacious, so you can easily find your own quiet piece of paradise. You might stretch out on a cushioned lounge chair and bask in the sun or lie in the shade under a beach umbrella. If you wish to explore a bit farther, feel free to stroll along the shore. The sea there is one of the few swimmable spots in Cabo San Lucas, so a refreshing dip is another great option. Music will be playing to enhance the ambiance and the bar will be open for the first two hours after you arrive.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend hours relaxing at the exclusive Veleros Beach Club.
• Relax on the private beach, which rims one of the few swimmable spots in town.
• Bask in the sun or lie in the shade on a cushioned lounge chair.
• Enjoy the open bar, ambiance music and chips and salsa for a snack.

HELPFUL HINTS

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