Cruising the Mexican west coast

When cruising the Mexican west coast, prepare yourself to say hola to the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world. Originally an isolated stretch of sand lined with small fishing villages, the Mexican Riviera embraced tourism in a big way in the 1970s, when resorts spread from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo and the government dubbed the strip the "Costa del Oro" (Gold Coast). The Love Boat and Night of the Iguana helped spread the area's lure even further, and tourists were soon pouring in to enjoy the sugar sand beaches, soaring cliffs, glittering clear waters and rich, accessible culture.

Most cruises to the Mexican Riviera pull into three or four ports of call, with Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan being the most common, and Acapulco, Manzanillo and Ixtapa regularly rounding out the itinerary. Most cruises sail September through May, though the warm weather and active tourist industry have made year-round cruises increasingly popular.

Cabo San Lucas: Thousands of humpback and gray whales dot the shoreline of Cabo San Lucas, and are hard to miss when you're on a catamaran adventure with Crystal Cruises. Keep your camera handy because there will be plenty of photo ops of El Arco, a striking natural rock formation that arches straight out of the sea. For a different perspective of this natural landmark, let Celebrity Cruises drag you 400 feet up for a parasailing adrenaline rush. You'll spy The Arch, the rugged shoreline and the trendy vacation homes that are quickly solidifying Cabo as an A-list destination.

Puerto Vallarta: Puerto Vallarta is full of quaint shops and cobbled streets that come alive with traditional dancing and mouthwatering meals in the evenings. It's also the port that's closest to the verdant jungle of the Mexican Riviera, and landlubbers seeking a heart-thumping hike will be rewarded (need we even mention the jungle's famous waterfalls?). If swimming in natural river pools more than 200 feet above ground sounds enticing, Royal Caribbean's Mexican cruises are a good bet.

Mazatlan: Mexico's largest port on the West Coast, Mazatlan is popular for those craving water sports (scuba diving and surfing in particular) and some of the most unspoiled beaches on the Mexican Riviera. A seaside promenade, filled with seafood cafes and merchants selling local wares, makes it even easier to stick close to shore, though the town boasts a traditional cathedral and central square that are well worth a glimpse. Those with an affinity for bird-watching will be delighted by the sheer number of species co-existing in Mexico's largest estuary system. Silversea Cruises offers a birdwatching expedition that brings you beak to beak with brown pelicans, blue herons, seahawks and exotic waterfowl.