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.

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

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.

OVERVIEW

See a remarkable number of historical attractions at a whirlwind pace and enjoy snacks and drinks in between, an experience that will present an authentic picture of Ensenada. You will pause to snap photos at landmarks that include the colorful Ensenada sign, the Tara statue that represents Mother Earth, the dramatic Fisherman’s Monument and Bodegas de Santo Tomás, the oldest winery in Baja California. And that is just for starters. A brief but enlightening stop at the Regional History Museum will set the stage for another historical immersion at Ensenada’s cultural center, which is housed in the former Hotel Riviera del Pacifico. You will be served an icy margarita, an iconic Mexican beverage that is said to have been invented in the hotel’s Bar Andaluz. You will also enjoy a beer at Hussong’s Cantina – a fixture since 1892 – and a ceviche tostada and a flavored water at yet another iconic spot.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a surprising number of iconic destinations in just a short period of time.
• Pause for photos at landmarks ranging from the Ensenada sign to Baja’s oldest winery.
• Enjoy a margarita at Bar Andaluz, where this quintessential Mexican cocktail was invented.
• Drink a beer at famed Hussong’s Cantina and snack on a ceviche tostada.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Ultimate thrills and excitement are guaranteed on this off road 4 x 4 adventure. Head of out Cabo to a private Canyon, located on the highway to the Capital of La Paz. On arrival, meet the team and gear up as you board your 4 x 4 UTV. Follow your expert guides as they lead you into secluded canyon road ways, ascend steep climbs, speed through natural waterways, test your skills as you drive expertly over natural rock formations and explore the desert areas of the Baja. The guides are fun and enthusiastic, but are also experts on the local flora and fauna and you will have the chance to learn more about the indigenous plant and animal life of the area. Complete your off road adventure in a beach front terrace where you will enjoy freshly made, classic Mexican Lunch with a choice of traditional Mexican dishes, all with the unique Baja touch. A great way to explore the Baja with you behind the wheel. menos

OVERVIEW

Cruise to the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula in a spacious semi-submersible that offers panoramic views from the open deck and through large windows in the climate-controlled cabin just a few feet below the surface. Along the way, you will pass Neptune’s Finger, a thin rock formation that rises straight up out of the sea. The sights will be equally spectacular underwater as the rock attracts all sorts of colorful tropical fish. Before long you will reach Land’s End, the peninsula’s appropriately named terminus. Its dramatically rocky landscape is so photogenic that it has become a Cabo San Lucas icon, especially the huge arch that the sea and wind have carved out of the granite at Land’s End. The only inhabitants are sea lions, which you can expect to see frolicking on shore and swimming in the sea. An open bar and nachos on board will enhance the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise in a semi-submersible to the iconic rocky arch at the end of the Baja Peninsula.
• Watch frolicking sea lions from the vessel’s open deck and enjoy the panoramic views.
• Observe the marine life underwater through the windows below the water’s surface.
• Snack on nachos while enjoying the open bar.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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

Spend hours luxuriating however you please at the Krystal Grand Puerto Vallarta, an extraordinary resort overlooking the sea. It won’t take long to reach this 4-star slice of paradise, which will allow you all the more time to enjoy the generous amenities. As soon as you arrive, the concierge will present an overview of the property so you can maximize your time. Feel free to head straight to the beach and stretch out in a lounge chair. Beach umbrellas are also available if you would rather lie in the shade. If you prefer freshwater to saltwater, it will be comforting to know that the resort has four swimming pools, including an adults-only infinity pool on the rooftop with a bar serving drinks and sushi right there. This beach escape also includes a sumptuous buffet – one exclusively for adults, the other for families – and the use of single and double kayaks if you are feeling adventurous.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the waterfront Krystal Grand Puerto Vallarta resort.
• Spend hours at the beach, swimming in the pools, kayaking and doing most anything else.
• Savor a traditional Mexican buffet lunch and enjoy the open bar.

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

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.