SHORE EXCURSIONS

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

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

Sample an inspiring selection of cheese, wine and beer as a prelude to a traditional lunch at a farm in the Valle de Ojos Negros. Agriculture thrives in this fertile valley and the Ramonetti family has been farming there for four generations. Their dairy farm, Rancho la Campana, is renowned for its stone cheese cave – La Cava de Marcelo – which holds as many as 10,000 wheels of cheese. Each wheel must be rotated daily to prevent moisture from building up. You will see how the namesake Ramonetti cheese is produced step-by-step using hormone-free milk from German Holstein cows. You will also sample cheeses such as ricotta, quesos frescos and several aged varieties in the climate-controlled cheese cave, one of the first in Latin America. Locally produced wine and craft beer will be served, as well. To round out this culinary experience, you will enjoy a hearty meal in the farm’s serene gardens.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a fourth-generation family dairy farm in the Valle de Ojos Negros.
• Observe how various cheeses are naturally produced without the use of hormones.
• Sample a variety of cheeses in La Cava de Marcelo, a climate-controlled cheese cave.
• Enjoy a tasting of locally produced wine and craft beer, followed by a traditional lunch.

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

Race through the wilds of the Guadalupe Valley in a Razor ATV, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle designed for adventure. After a briefing on how to safely operate the ATV, you will make a few practice runs to ensure that you maximize the experience. Then, off you will go into the valley. You can drive or simply ride along if you feel more comfortable as a passenger. Either way, it will be exhilarating as the ATV is open on the sides for unobstructed views. You will drive off-road and along dirt trails, following the guide caravan-style. If it has been raining, the ride will be even more fun as mud will be flying in every direction. Stops will be made along the way to admire the hauntingly beautiful scenery. Back at base camp, you can enjoy a glass of wine, a fitting way to toast the adventure as the Guadalupe Valley is wine country.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a guide caravan-style through the Guadalupe Valley in an open-sided ATV.
• Drive the ATV or just ride along as a passenger if you prefer.
• Ride on dirt trails and off-road for an exhilarating backcountry experience.
• Toast the adventure with a glass of wine back at base camp.

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.

Located at Land's end, where the Pacific Ocean merges into the Sea of Cortes, the area surrounding Cabo is perfect for Sailing adventures. Board one of our specially designed, wide berth sailboats and begin your day of Ocean exploration. Head out to the famous Arch and Sea Lion colony and enjoy delicious snacks onboard. Then cruise to a secluded bay, where the captain will drop anchor so you can dive into the depths of the blue waters. Snorkel in the bay, searching for corals, star fish and tropical sea life or try your hand at Stand up paddle boarding, all included in the tour. Back onboard, sit back and relax while being served a mouthwatering lunch, including, shrimp, guacamole, fresh Cesar salads, pastas, fresh fruit and pastries. Accompanied by an unlimited open bar, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or ice cold beer as the staff hoist up the sails. Enjoy the thrills and excitement of sailing in the bay, passing by the homes of the rich and famous and the stunning coastline. Search for wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and manta rays, and if lucky, in the winter months, you may see Humpback whales breaching in the ocean. The top tour in Cabo!

OVERVIEW

Watch a highly entertaining dancing horse show at Fuego Cocina del Valle, a distinctive and wonderfully atmospheric venue in the heart of Guadalupe Valley, Baja California’s wine country. A brief introduction to the estate will set the stage for the performance to follow, but nothing quite compares to watching it in person from a front-row seat. Dancing horse shows are thought to have originated in the court of Imperial China in the 3rd century B.C. and have since spread throughout the world. In this case, the horses are trained to “dance” to a traditional Mexican beat in a beautifully choreographed and dramatic fashion that will leave you mesmerized by their abilities. The accompanying music is an essential part of the pageantry as the horses are trained to respond to it. Dancing horse performances are often reserved for parades and fairs, which makes this exclusive show all the more special.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See a performance of dancing horses at a premier venue in the Guadalupe Valley.
• Gain an understanding of how the horses are trained to perform.
• Be awed by the prodigious talents of the horses and how they respond to the riders.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

OVERVIEW

Learn to prepare ceviche from scratch in a hands-on cooking class and then enjoy the freshly made dish for lunch. The venue for this culinary experience will be Manzanilla, one of the city’s premier restaurants. Chefs Benito Molina and Solange Muris source the ingredients for every dish in their home state of Baja California. You will accommodate one of the chefs to a nearby market to select the fish for the ceviche that you will make. During the fun and instructive class that follows, you will learn each step in the process. Ceviche originated in Peru millennia ago and there are many variations of this raw fish dish. You will prepare two versions of ceviche using sustainable ingredients such as lime juice, onions, tomatoes, hot green chili peppers, avocado and Manzanilla green olives – the delectable ingredient that inspired the restaurant’s name. Afterwards, you will dine on the fruits of your labor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Prepare two versions of ceviche in a hands-on cooking class lead by a renowned chef.
• Select a freshly caught fish for the ceviche in a local market.
• Learn how ceviche recipes vary from region to region.
• Enjoy a glass of wine and the raw fish ceviche that you have prepared for lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

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