MEXICO
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The top spots to visit in Mexico are:
Cabo San Lucas
The once sleepy fishing village of Cabo has changed
dramatically.
The area that used to be primarily
populated with groups of men with day-growth
beards, cases of beer, and
fishing tackle has been replaced with sun-seekers, honey-
mooners
and movie stars like John Travolta, who flew in on his private jet
to have a
huge 50th birthday celebration. There are 7
world class golf courses, designed by Jack
Nicklaus, Roy Dye and Robert
Trent Jones Jr. The courses take full advantage of their
natural
surroundings including the combination of desert & ocean, unusual
rock forma-
tations, a variety of desert foliage, dramatic canyon-like
arroyos, plus drop dead gorgeous
views of the ocean from many of the
holes.
You can revitalize both your mind and your body with one of the 11 spas
in Cabo.
Massage, facials, body wraps, aerobics, yoga,
meditation/relaxation classes, salt glow,
hydrotherapy all available
for a day of indulgence.
Dining is diversified -- choices range from new or traditional Mexican
specialities,
wonderful seafood, French, Spanish, Italian, Asian &
Pacific Rim cuisine; and with warm
weather and great views of the
ocean, you'll find many outdoor dining
opportunities.
You can also find fine
dining, traditional Mexican architectures and shopping in the
"suburb" of Cabo; San Jose Del Cabo.
Puerto
Vallarta & Surrounding Area Like Cabo,
"PV" (as the locals call it), hasn't been a sleepy fishing village
since the filming of "Night of the Iguana" 30 years ago.
Following that, it became a hot tourist spot and remains one,
with good bargains, a quaint downtown area, and lovely hotels. The town
itself is filled with flowers, cobblestone streets and wonderful
restaurants of every kind. For shopping, you can find everything
from home made Mexican goods to designer clothing.
As PV has grown, other areas have become a destination on their
own. North of Puerto
Vallarta is Nuevo Vallarta, which has some
of the best beaches in the area. Marina
Vallarta is filled with restaurants, nightclubs, world-class golf and
the Marina where many
sea
excursions depart from. There's also a replica of a 15th century
ship, just like the one
used by Christopher Columbus. Families
love the Marina's Water Park with giant
waterfalls, pools and a
"lazy river" to drift the afternoon away.
South of town, with the road winding along the coastline, past secluded
coves and soft
sand beaches you'll enter the Costa Alegre area,
which is growing in popularity among
the rich and famous for secluded
and upscale resorts. Further south is Puerto de La
Navidad
with quiet beaches, yacht marina and exclusive golf courses.
Ixtapa Not as explored
as many Mexican towns, Ixtapa still retains
a quaint charm while offering great shops, tennis, nightclubs and
golf
are available. Just minutes a way, its neighbor, Zihuatanejo is the
quintessential Mexican village with seaside
cafes and markets. Very
laid back and much quieter than Ixtapa.
Cancun Possibly the only
computer generated resort - businessmen
compiled all the factors of
what makes a great resort into a computer
and came up with
Cancun! There are many high-rise hotels and a Hard Rock
Cafe, but
there's still the possiblity to stay out
of town for a more secluded vacation. Fabulous
beaches and crystal
clear water make this entire area an outstanding
destination. South of
the hustle & bustle of Cancan is the
Riveria Maya which features many all-inclusive resorts
and lots of off-the-beaten path exploring opportunities. There
are
remote coves and
deserted stretches of beaches plus a number of
archaeological sites -- some have been
excavated and some, such as
Copan, are still in the process -- you can see a temple that's
been
restored, and then a huge mound of dirt where another lies, still
buried. A
wonderful eco-archaeological park in the area is
Xcaret (ISH - KA - RET) with an
underground river that flows through passages,
a lagoon, cenotes and a beautiful cove.
You can swim with
dolphins, explore the aquarium, or Mayan museum, and in the evening
there's
a torchlit celebration.
.
Cozumel
Thirty years ago, the only people that knew about Cozumel were divers;
that was kept secret until Jacques Cousteau did a special on the area.
It's still a haven for divers, boasting the largest reef outside of
Australia.