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.

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.

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.

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

Celebrate like a local at the Mexican fair held daily at El Tenampa, a restaurant in a country-like setting. You will first visit the 19th-century Mazatlan Cathedral for an understanding of how religious traditions influence Mexican fairs and the annual Carnival that is held in the spring. To prepare for those festive events, many locals shop at a nearby market, where you will see a variety of colorful merchandise. After a short walk through the historical district, you will drop by a store that sells jewelry much like that worn during Carnival. By the time you arrive at the restaurant, you will be well versed in the traditions of Mexican fairs. After dining on an array of dishes that may include gorditas and tacos filled with ingredients such as Jamaican flowers – which are dried red hibiscus buds – you can join in a host of games typically played at fairs. Tastings will also be offered.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Play traditional Mexican games at a restaurant that celebrates every day with a lively fair.
• Dine on a hearty lunch of classic dishes usually served at Mexican fairs.
• Visit a market and jewelry store where locals buy merchandise in preparation for fairs.
• See how religious tradition influences fairs by visiting Mazatlan Cathedral.

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 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. The group will learn to cook traditional seasonal dishes from the Sinaloa Cuisine. Learn about the secrets and origins of each dish and the Mexican culinary techniques during your hands-on class. 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

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.

OVERVIEW

See Cabo’s iconic seaside natural landmarks while cruising in a boat that is completely transparent, which will allow you to observe the wonders underwater as well. Unlike boats with only see-through bottoms, this innovative vessel offers unobstructed views, so there is nothing to block your view of life beneath the sea or above. Even the seating is transparent. You will pass over coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and maybe see other marine life. The natural attractions along the shore are just as plentiful and include the large arch that the sea and wind have carved out of the granite at Land’s End. You will also cruise past Lovers and Divorce beaches. It’s a scenic and immersive adventure where every angle is a photo-worthy moment—above the water and below.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the amazing sea in a boat with a hull that is 100% transparent.
• Enjoy an uninterrupted view of the bountiful marine life below the surface.
• Look for schools of colorful maritime life.
• See the natural wonders along the shore, including the iconic arch at Land’s End.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Shoes will be removed and kept in a storage for the tour.

OVERVIEW

Explore the observatory atop Watchman’s Hill and the surprising number of attractions surrounding it. The views from the summit are spectacular, which is why the military initially chose the site as a lookout for pirate ships. It didn’t become an observatory until 1873, as you will learn while watching a short film on the history of Mazatlan. To reach the top, you will ride a railed funicular up the steep slope. The higher you go, the better the view. While you will be free to browse the observatory, there is plenty more to do at the summit. Birders will enjoy the El Nido aviary – home to dozens of indigenous birds – while plant lovers may gravitate toward the xeriscape garden of agaves and cacti. Both tequila and mezcal are made from agaves as you will discover in the distillery exhibit. As its name implies, the observatory’s SkyBar 360 is the place for a drink while taking in the panorama, before your Mexican snack at the garden terrace with a lighthouse view.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a railed funicular to the observatory atop Watchman’s Hill.
• Enjoy the 360° views of Mazatlan and beyond from the summit.
• Browse the observatory, the aviary and the xeriscape garden.
• Relax over a drink at SkyBar 360, a setting that also offers sweeping views.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the surrounding waters in a spacious double-deck catamaran and snorkel at two prime locations. The scenery will be absolutely spectacular the entire way, but especially at El Arco, the natural arch that the tides and wind have cut out of the sheer granite over thousands of years. Few spots are so photogenic, especially if sea lions are present. In time, the captain will select an ideal spot to snorkel depending on the conditions. You can expect to observe an ever-changing parade of tropical fish in the Sea of Cortez, whose waters famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau nicknamed the “Aquarium of the World.” The second snorkeling site will be teeming with marine life as well. Colorful parrotfish, vertical-striped Moorish idols and bright-blue damselfish are just a few of species frequently spotted. When you are not snorkeling, you can partake of an array of snacks, a boxed lunch and the open bar.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to the tip of the Baja California peninsula aboard a spacious catamaran.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters at two locations teeming with marine life.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch, various snacks and drinks from the open bar throughout the cruise.
• Look for sea lions on the rocky shoreline at El Arco at the peninsula’s tip.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.