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.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours luxuriating however you please at Las Caletas, a paradisical resort that is only accessible by boat. The former home of movie director John Huston – who discovered Puerto Vallarta while filming “The Night of the Iguana” there in 1963 – Las Caletas has been expanded to include amenities such as an indulgent spa and a fine restaurant. Even so, this exclusive private property has remained remote and wild as it is tucked away on a long stretch of beach backed by precipitous cliffs and dense jungle. Although you will be free to do whatever you wish at the resort, you might explore the forest on a guided nature walk, ease into a hammock with a good book, bask in the sun, kayak and snorkel just offshore, and join a mezcal tasting and Mexican cooking class. There is no end to the possibilities as the only scheduled event is a bountiful buffet lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Las Caletas, a resort that can only be reached by boat.
• Spend hours at the beach, swimming in the sea, kayaking and most anything else you wish.
• Join a mezcal tasting, learn to make authentic margaritas and participate in a cooking class.
• Savor a buffet lunch of international dishes and enjoy the open bar.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

Sample the highlights of San Diego during this guided excursion. Take a city drive to see the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and downtown San Diego. You'll drive through the magnificent 1200 acre Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Then onto the seaside village of La Jolla, considered the "Jewel of Southern California." Indulge in free time to shop and explore this affluent, hilly seaside resort community featuring boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Last stop is San Diego’s historic Old Town offering the finest in theater, galleries, shops and free, live entertainment.

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

Learn more about tacos than you ever imagined during an all-you-can-eat taco party at a hacienda-style home in the historic district around Machado Square. The home offers a wonderfully relaxed setting to delve deep into the history of tacos as they are being prepared for your meal. Traditional Mexican music will be playing to set the fiesta-like tone for this immersion into the world of tacos. Now a staple, the taco is pre-Columbian creation being made by hand, you can sample as many varieties of tacos as you like. The options include ones made with corn mushrooms, pork rinds, shrimp and even prickly pear cactus. The go-with salsas will be just as varied. They typically range from a fresh tomato-based pico de gallo to a fiery tatemada, a salsa made with charred tomatoes and hot chili peppers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Eat a variety of homemade tacos – as many as you care to – at a hacienda-style home.
• Learn about the history of tacos and how they became such a well-known staple.
• Watch tortillas being handmade and filled with your favorite ingredients for lunch.
• Sample handmade salsas that can be served alone or to complement your tacos.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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, and ambiance music.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Watch a highly entertaining Lucha Libre wrestling show much like the flamboyant performances of the mid-20th century, the heyday of this classic Mexican sport. To prepare for the fun that follows, you can take advantage of the open margarita bar on arrival there and snacks at the venue. You can expect the performance that follows to be wild and woolly. Lucha Libre means “free fight,” although there are some rules to keep the fast-moving action from getting out of hand. Most luchadores wear colorful masks – even in public when not wrestling – that conjure up images of ancient Aztec warriors and spiritual figures. A wrestler that removes an opponent’s mask in the ring is instantly disqualified. The luchadores will execute high-flying aerial maneuvers throughout the show, moves similar to those in mixed martial arts. It will be easy to get caught up in the action, so feel free to cheer loud and long.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See a wild, gravity-defying performance by masked Lucha Libre wrestlers.
• Be awed by the wrestlers’ acrobatic, high-flying maneuvers.
• Enjoy the open margarita bar and traditional Mexican snacks at the venue.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

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

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

Ride an open-air trolley through Old Town and hop off at attractions where the city’s history comes to life. Being on the coast, Mazatlán has long revolved around the sea as you will discover at the Monument to the Fisherman, a statue by the large, multi-colored letters that spell “Mazatlán”. Nearby, you will see street vendors selling freshly caught shrimp and pause to watch daring cliff divers leap into the crashing ocean 50 feet below. Playa Olas Atlas – Mazatlán's Old beach front (not recommended to swim)– helped fuel its early tourism in the 1950s and is still a popular draw. Even so, Old Town’s attractions aren’t all water related. The trolley will also allow time for shopping and to visit the twin-spired 19th-century Immaculate Conception Cathedral. From Watchman’s Hill, you will see why the Spaniards found Mazatlán's natural harbor so appealing when they established a settlement there nearly 500 years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through Old Town on a trolley for an outstanding overview of Mazatlán.
• Drop by the Fisherman’s Monument and pass by the city’s Old Beachfront..
• Admire architectural treasures such as the 19th-century Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
• Watch cliff-divers perform death-defying leaps into the sea.
• Snap a selfie at the sign that spells “Mazatlán” in large colorful letters by the Fisherman´s Monument.

HELPFUL HINTS

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