Mexican Riviera – The less-visited Mexican coast for Brits….

If you mention the phrase ‘Mexican Riviera’, most Brits would probably assume you meant the stretch of coast from Cancun down to Playa del Carmen, but in fact the Mexican Riviera consists of a collection of ports straddling the rocky Pacific coast.  The most popular ports of call tend to be Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta; so what is there to do?

Well, ‘Cabo’, to use its’ shortened name, is a beautiful port with a multitude of beaches to choose from, largely segregated into watersports beaches at the eastern end, vs whale-watching beaches on the western side.  There’s a cool marina, popular with weekenders flying down from California, which makes it a North-American version of Monte Carlo and Ibiza combined!

Mazatlan is a larger, more residential, authentic, and less touristy feel to it, but still has some beautiful beaches and islands just off the coast, where you can go kayaking or just exploring in general.

Puerto Vallarta is the jewel in the crown of this stretch of coast, made famous by numerous celebrities who have had homes here.  It’s also been used in various films, and you can go to visit the film set from the 80s classic film ‘Predator’, not far from the town itself.  Beaches are of course aplenty here, and boat trips to the islands of ‘Los Arcos’ and the ‘Marietas Islands’ are popular, and within about an hour’s ride away.  Scuba diving here is amongst the best you’ll find on the Pacific coast, along with the Sea of Cortes.

All three of these ports can be visited on a 7-night cruise out of Los Angeles or San Diego, so if you want to see the Mexican coast lesser-visited by Europeans, it’s easily accessible, plus you can enjoy a stopover in LA too!  Longer cruises also include the likes of Acapulco, so if it’s a 2-week adventure you crave, you won’t be stuck for options!