Acapulco, Mexico
Whitewashed villas ring magnificent Acapulco Bay, forming an unforgettable spectacle. View Mexico's premier Pacific playground from the scenic highway above the harbor, then stop to enjoy Acapulco's most famous attraction: the daredevil cliff-divers of La Quebrada, who pray at a nearby chapel, then plunge from the 130-foot-high cliffs.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Sail past Los Arcos, the soaring rock archway at the extreme southern tip of Baja California that guards Cabo's perfect harbor. This idyllic bay once sheltered treasure ships from the Orient, and pirate brigs bent on those treasures. Now Cabo caters to an international vacation set, and has a strong artistic tradition famous for its black-coral jewelry.

Mazatlan, Mexico
Mexico's largest Pacific ocean port, Mazatlán has been called the "Pearl of the Pacific" for its splendid beaches and island-strewn harbor. The resorts of the Zona Dorada ("Golden Zone") deserve their fame, as does the sport-fishing which is known the world over, yet somehow the city maintains much of the simplicity and peace of its fishing village past.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Hollywood discovered this little fishing village back in the 1960's, and since then luxury resorts and bougainvillea-covered villas have flourished in the delightful seaside climate. Yet hints of past tranquility remain: cobbled courtyards where the locals hold their markets, and superb sport-fishing just offshore.

Zihuatanejo, Mexico
The lovely, unpretentious fishing village of "Zihuat" curves around a protected bay, lined with golden beaches. When you've had enough sunning and swimming, wander the market stalls laden with Mexican arts and crafts, try a delicious tuba drink in the nearby coconut plantations, or make a quick trip to the superb resorts of neighboring Ixtapa.

Cancun, Mexico
Cancun is the gateway to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the magic land of the Mayas. Tour the world-reowned archeological site of Chichen Itza. Bargain for handicrafts in the local marketplace before sunbathing on some of the Caribbean's best-loved beaches.

Cozumel, Mexico
Sitting just off the gorgeous Yucatan coast, Cozumel revels in its mythic white-sand beaches and world-class coral reefs. Yet Cozumel is also the last stronghold of the Mayas, who settled the island in 300 A.D. Residents still speak Maya, and sometimes wear traditional Mayan clothing. Nearby stand the great pyramids and temples of their ancestors.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
A charming Mexican port town on the Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen is the dropping-off point for excursions to the ancient temples and tombs of Tulum, the only Mayan city over-looking the ocean, and to the exquisite coral lagoon of Xel-ha.