Travel Safe - Travelocity
 

Travel Safe - Travelocity

Alphabetical City List

The quality and the sheer number of activities available to travelers visiting México is almost as diverse as the landscape of the country.  You should be able to find enough interesting activities to keep any member of your family or group entertained, regardless of your destination.   Your destination, of course, will determine the type of activities that are locally available.  Beach resorts offer entirely different options than a city in the mountains.  We will try to give you a partial breakdown of what a particular areas activities might include. 

The activities listed below do not take into account what many travelers consider to be activities.  Enjoying the wonders to be found in México's incredible museums, cultural performances of all types, attending language schools and local celebrations are considered activities by many travelers.  Likewise the simple enjoyment of a cold cerveza or an frosty margarita, in an exotic setting, is considered to be a cultural activity by some travelers.  

Be assured that wherever you choose to visit there are a number of options that we cannot begin to list.  If you are interested in a particular activity that is not listed here contact the local tourism department when you arrive.  A quick search of the Internet can also lead to many different options.  First try searching by destination, if that doesn't work try adding the exact words that relate to the activity, within the destination results, on your favorite search site.
 

Water Sports in General: Jet skis, boogie boards, catamarans, parasailing, water skiing and banana rides are available at most beach resorts in México.

Booze Cruises:  Party boats are available for shoreline cruises in most resorts.  Usually billed as a "Booze Cruise"  the music is usually loud and the alcohol is plentiful.  This is a good way to meet fellow travelers with similar interests.

Diving and Snorkeling:  Tours and rental equipment are generally available at most beach resorts. (Check for local conditions, summertime can mean showers and even storms, in some resort areas, which can cause visibility problems).  Best areas include Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Los Cabos, Mulegé (Baja California Sur), Isla Ixtapa (Zihuatanejo).  The entire Caribbean coast and many places along the Baja Peninsula (both sides) offer endless possibilities for diving and snorkeling.

Horseback Riding: Riding along the beach at sunset can be quite an invigorating experience.  Horses are available for rent in most beach resorts.  Group tours are great way to keep a lot of people occupied for a few hours.

Sea Kayaking:  Especially popular along the tranquil shores of the Sea of Cortez.  Sea Kayaks are able to be enjoyed anywhere there is some sort of a protected bay.  Rentals available at many beach resorts.

Sport Fishing:  Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, East Cape (Baja California Sur), Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco all have great off shore big game fishing.  The entire Sea of Cortez and especially the waters near Loreto, Mulegé, Puerto Peñasco and San Felipe are also very productive fishing areas.  Fresh water fishing is also popular and productive in the lakes and reservoirs near Los Mochis and El Fuerte, north of Mazatlán.

Sunset Cruises:  The beautiful sunsets in México's beach resorts make sunset cruises very popular with tourists.  Specially built yachts, including some that serve elegant dinners, drinks and provide on-board entertainment, join the fleet of pirate ships, catamarans and sail boats in most of México's beach resorts.

Surfing:  The entire Pacific side of the Baja peninsula, Barra Navidad, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Escondido, San Blas, Troncones Beach, just north of Zihuatanejo, are just a few of the better known surf spots.

Swimming with Dolphins:  Swimming with Dolphins and shows featuring these incredible mammals can be enjoyed in Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Ixtapa, Puerto Aventuras and Puerto Vallarta.

Whale Watching:  Magdalena Bay, Scammon's Lagoon, also known as Ojo de Liebre (Spanish) and Laguna San Ignacio, all located on the Baja peninsula, are the favorite popular birthing spots of the California Grey Whale.  Whales can also be observed in Ensenada, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and the entire length of the Sea of Cortez. 

Whale watching is pretty much limited to the months of December through March.  Many organized tours are readily available.  Whales may be observed close to shore all along the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula and from many locations near Ensenada and Los Cabos, during the season. 

Windsurfing:  Los Barriles, and the winter winds that blow into Bahía Las Palmas (East Cape area, near Los Cabos) are known to produce the best conditions for windsurfing in México.  Other popular areas include the many remote beaches on the both sides of the Baja peninsula, Mazatlán, Laguna de Nichupté in Cancun and many of the beaches fronting the Pacific near popular resorts.

Away from the Beach:

Archeological Sites:  México is home to an extraordinary number of outstanding archeological sites that give a glimpse into this country's colorful history.  Most of México's major sites are easily accessed and well taken care of.  Some of these sites are famous, many others are relatively unknown.  New discoveries are sure to come.  Many ruins lie beneath the Centro Histórico section of México City, and are being found regularly when they are digging to repair water pipes or laying foundations for new buildings.  See our Archeological Sites section.

ATV's:  ATV's, or quads, are available for rent in many areas of México, mostly on a guided tour basis. Arrangements can sometimes be made to ride alone, if you seem responsible.  The general area of Ensenada and Rosarito Beach in northern Baja are very popular places to rent ATV's.  Also available in many beach resorts, including Los Cabos.

Bird Watching:  Enjoyed throughout the mountains, rain forests, deserts, costal lagoons and the jungles of México.  Pelicans, eagles, humming birds, parrots, vultures, pink flamingos, frigates and hundreds of other species call México home or spend the winter (vacationing) in the many peaceful settings this country has to offer.

Bull Fights:  In México bullfighting is considered a form of art and is very popular in many Mexican cities. Most of the larger cities have bull rings, some have two or three, which should give you an idea about how important the bull fights are to the Mexican people.  Bull fight season varies from city to city, but the show almost always takes place on a Sunday afternoon.  Check locally for schedules.

Cave Paintings:  Tours to see cave paintings are available from San Ignacio, Mulegé and Loreto, all located in the central part of the Baja peninsula.  There are many caves in the of Sierra de la Giganta mountain range of southern Baja.  There are some paintings of lesser quality near Los Barriles, in the East Cape region, near Los Cabos and La Paz.

Caving:  México has a large number of caves, including some of the deepest caves in the western hemisphere.  Caving has become more and more popular and there are many individuals and clubs, from all over the world, beginning to explore the caves of México.  Locations: The states of Chiapas, Coahuila, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos and Nuevo León. 

There are many underwater caves on the Yucatán peninsula, known locally as Cenotes.  Some of these are very complex systems while others simply consist of one cave, all are fed by the underground rivers that wind around, below ground level, beneath most of the Yucatán peninsula.

Cycling:  Cycling is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the country.  There are some incredible mountain bike trails in the Oaxaca Valley, Copper Canyon and the mountain country near Chihuahua.  Tours are readily available in many areas of the country.  Inquire locally.

Golf:  México is a haven for golfers with some of the world's most beautiful courses located within it's borders.  You can golf in almost all areas of the country with México City and Monterrey offering limited access to mostly private golf clubs.  Most of México's beach resorts have beautiful golf courses that more than one course, several have many, that are open to the public.  The Guadalajara area also has a nice variety of courses and a mild climate that allows for year round play.

Hang Gliding:  Valle de Bravo, near México City, is said to be the most perfect location in the country for Hang Gliding.  The Oaxaca Valley, Monterrey and  Troncones Beach, just north of Zihuatanejo, are other areas where the sport is enjoyed.

Hiking/Climbing:  The places to hike in México are too numerous to list here.  The Copper Canyon and Valle de Bravo are two of the most popular destinations for hikers, both with marked trails.   Mountain climbers are drawn to the area around México City.  Near Tlaxcala there is an extinct volcano, La Malinche, which is México's fifth highest mountain and considered one of the best intermediate hiking areas in central México.  Advanced climbers will seek out the higher mountains of Iztaccíhuatl and Pico de Orizaba, in the state of Vera Cruz, which is México's highest peak.  Inquire locally.

Hot Air Balloons:  Enjoy the beautiful scenery from the ultimate view point, high in the air.  Puerto Vallarta, the Oaxaca Valley and Valle de Bravo, in the mountains near México, are few of the places to enjoy hot air balloon rides.  Some operators offer hors d'oeuvres and champagne for a romantic touch.

Off Road Tours:  The rugged and legendary Baja peninsula is the perfect place to live a dream.  Real off-road racing cars are used for tours of some seldom seen areas of the peninsula.  The chance to drive on part the actual Baja 1000 race course is only a dream to many.  You can live the dream  with tours from Ensenada, Mulegé or Cabo San Lucas.

White Water Rafting:  The state of Veracruz is the main focus of most rafting tours because of the constant availability of world class rapids.  All six categories of rapids can be found on the rivers of Veracruz and there are great trips available for everyone, from beginners to experts.