12-night Mexico Cruise

From Costa Rica's central coastal city of Puerto Caldera visitors can explore the mountainous countryside and travel inland to the cosmopolitan capital of San Jose.

"Nine Bays of Perfection". Discover secret coves and hidden lagoons in and around the nine sparkling bays of Huatulco. As the hemisphere's first eco-tourism resort, Huatulco remains pleasingly primitive. Explore 22 miles of nearly virgin Pacific coastline, exotic wildlife and fantastic hiking, or enjoy a variety of traditional land and water sports. In Huatulco you'll find that unique combination of deluxe accommodations and modern amenities in an unspoiled, natural setting.

Miles of white and black sand beaches, glistening bays, spectacular resorts waiting to pamper the senses. This hidden retreat on Mexico's Pacific coast is a charming port town filled with over 600 years of history and boundless beauty. With excellent climate all year, Manzanillo is perfect for a variety of watersports including world-class sportfishing. Soak up the sun, then watch the tide roll away after a delicious dinner under the stars. Manzanillo attracts those searching for a serene setting. A few miles up the coastline is Manzanillo's luxurious and pleasantly understated Resort Zone. Two large bays of golden sand and surf are connected by a coastal highway lined with mini malls, souvenir shops, restaurants and nightspots. Located directly across from the waterfront, the main square becomes quite lively in the evening. The remodeled Malecon provides visitors with a relaxed, peaceful setting for leisurely walks. Visit Museum of Archeology & History - which displays the region's history and a changing exposition of important Mexican painters.

La Paz is one of the most beautiful towns of northwestern Mexico, and tourism now plays a major role in the city's economy. The Gulf of California is home to over 800 species of fish, including giant manta rays, whales, dolphins, and sea lions. In the mountains behind the city the Sierra De La Laguna Biosphere Reserve is home to an incredible abundance and diversity of flora and fauna, including species unique to the area. The city has an aquarium, two marinas, museums, theaters, and an art institute. The Las Californias Library is located within the former Government Palace, and holds the most important manuscript collection on the region's history.

Once sought after by pirates for its safe harbors, the Los Cabos region of the Southern Baja Peninsula is now home to bustling towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Each offers travelers an exciting, fun-filled destination. Cabo San Lucas, with a population of 25,000, is the faster-growing of the two. In the past few years, swanky new hotels and sleek condos have been added to round out this vacation destination. Superb sportfishing put Cabo San Lucas on the map, but non-fishermen will enjoy the thriving beach community as well. Snorkeling gear, boats, waverunners, kayaks, paddleboats and windsurf boards are all available for the active vacationer.

The great Bahía Magdalena is the gate entrance to the Pacific. It is a unique place and, as a natural reserve of gray whales that arrive to its waters to fulfill their biological cycle during the months of January to March, a great location for whale watching. The islands of Magdalena and Margarita contribute with the counter coastline that protects it from the strong waves which characterize the Pacific Ocean. The elongated form and low altitude of the islands, shaped almost totally by white sand dunes, permits visitors to simultaneously enjoy the inside and outside ocean view from some of its points. A very beautiful coastline offers plenty of beaches, inlets, marshes and mangrove swamps that are the sanctuary of resident and migratory sea birds and its waters are rich in species for commercial and sports fishing.

Much of Los Angeles lies in a fairly flat basin, surrounded by mountains and ocean. Although the Santa Monica Mountains, one of the most unheralded of the city’s remaining natural treasures, splits LA between the familiar sights of La-La Land to the south and the charmless suburbs to the north, the metropolis is easily traversed. Places for visitors to explore include Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, the central strip of Wilshire Boulevard with faded Art Deco "Miracle Mile" zone and good museums, and the beach towns of Santa Monica and Venice, where visitors can stroll along the former’s remodeled pier and Third Street Promenade outdoor mall, or visit the latter’s famed Muscle Beach and oceanside Boardwalk. Lengthier trips to LA may include the old-fashioned charm of Old Pasadena, home of ever-popular Rose Parade and Bowl, Downtown, site of much city heritage and setting for what skyscrapers the area does have, the South Bay, the place to find the region’s second biggest city of Long Beach, and Malibu, where visitors can try to get a glimpse of movie stars and assorted celebrities.