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Mexico.....
Across Mexico, in villages and cities, in mountains, tropical
coasts, and jungle settings, enchanting surprises await
travelers. These might take the form of a fantastic small-town
festival, delightful dining in a memorable restaurant, or even
a stretch of road through heavenly countryside. Below is a
starter list of our favorites in Mexico.
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Accapulco
Acapulco is a vibrant port city
with one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Acapulco still ranks as one of the top honeymoon spots
worldwide. The weather is Acapulco's major draw -- warm
waters, almost constant sunshine, and year-round
temperatures in the 80's. It comes as no surprise, then,
that most people plan their day around laying their
towel on some part of Acapulco's many kilometers of
beach. Both tame and wild water sports are available --
everything from waterskiing to snorkeling, diving, and
parasailing. Less strenuous possibilities are motorboat
rides and fishing trips. Championship golf courses,
tennis courts, and the food and crafts markets also lure
some visitors away from the beach.
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Cancun
Cancún is the reason most people
travel to Mexico. Cancún showcases both the country's
breathtaking natural beauty and the depth of its
thousand-year-old history. English is spoken, dollars
are accepted, roads are well paved, and lawns are
manicured. Malls are the mode for shopping and dining,
and you could swear that some hotels are larger than a
small town. Travelers feel comfortable in Cancún. You do
not need to spend a day getting your bearings, because
you immediately see familiar names for dining, shopping,
nightclubbing, and sleeping.
Cancún's luxury hotels have pools
so spectacular that you may find it tempting to remain
poolside, but don't. Set aside some time to simply gaze
into the ocean and wriggle your toes in the fine,
brilliantly white sand. It is, after all, what put
Cancún on the map.
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Caribbean Coast
As tempting and popular as Cancún
may be, the region surrounding this popular beach resort
is even richer in natural and cultural treasures.
Neighboring Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Tulum, and other
sites along the Yucatán coastline also boast lucid
waters and white-sand beaches, but they add a dash of
color to the equation. Each also holds remnants of
ancient settlements in addition to many modern
attractions.
The area is also defined by Maya
culture -- by the modern Maya who live in the coastal
cities and villages, and by the ruins, such as those at
Tulum, dramatically situated on a bluff overlooking the
Caribbean, that speak of their history. Cobá, a short
distance inland, has towering jungle-shrouded pyramids,
testaments to its importance as a leading center of
commerce in the ancient Maya world. Farther south,
recent digs at Kohunlich have unearthed temples,
palaces, and pyramids in the distinct Río Bec
architectural style. These have been beautifully
restored, but they are still largely unvisited. At the
Belizean border is the capital of Quintana Roo, Chetumal,
whose bright wooden houses and sultry sea air make it
feel more Central American than Mexican.
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Cozumel
The 189-square-mile island of
Cozumel hangs 12 miles off the tip of the Yucatán
Peninsula. Calm waters wash the white sandy beaches on
its leeward side, which is fringed by a spectacular reef
system. On the windward Caribbean side, powerful surf
and rocky strands are broken at intervals by calm bays
and hidden coves. Aside from the 3% of the island that
has been developed, Cozumel is made up of expanses of
sandy or rocky beaches, quiet little coves, palm groves,
scrubby jungle, lagoons and swamps, and a few low hills
(the maximum elevation is 45 ft). A few Maya ruins
provide what limited sightseeing there is aside from the
island's glorious natural attractions.
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Los Cobos
At the southern tip of the Baja
California peninsula, the land ends in a rocky point
called El Arco (The Arch), a place of stark beauty. The
warm waters of the Sea of Cortés, which separates the
peninsula from the Mexican mainland, swirl into the
Pacific Ocean's rugged surf as marlin and sailfish leap
out of the waves
The two towns located at this
farthest reach of Baja California -- Cabo San Lucas and
San José del Cabo -- were distinct until the late 1970s,
when the Mexico government's office of tourism
development targeted the area as a major resort and
dubbed it Los Cabos.
Today, the destination consists of
Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, and the 92-mile
stretch of highway that connects them, called the
Corridor. It has become one of Mexico's most popular and
most expensive coastal getaways, with deluxe hotels,
championship golf courses, and some of the best
sportfishing in the world.
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Mexico City
Mexico's capital, once the center
of Aztec civilization, is the country's cosmopolitan
business, art, and culinary hub. From the Alameda, a
leafy center of activity since Aztec times, to the Zona
Rosa, a chic shopping neighborhood, Mexico City offers
endless options to urban adventurers.
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Puerto Vallarta
The Pacific coast of Mexico is
known for its palm-studded jungles that sweep down to
meet the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. It's a
spectacular backdrop for three modern resort cities and
smaller coastal villages that border this stretch of
coastline, from Mazatlán through Puerto Vallarta and
curving down to Manzanillo. Collectively, it's known as
the Mexican Riviera. Modern hotels, easy air access, and
a growing array of activities and adventure tourism
attractions have transformed this region of Mexico into
one of the country's premier resort areas.
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