You may choose Mexico for golf, secluded beaches, history and fabulous architecture, or adventure, but whatever you choose, it will come in a wonderful package. Mexico's sounds, textures, colors and flavors are everywhere in vibrant architecture, colorful murals, fascinating markets for food or handicrafts and musical traditions. Add in the style and personality of the Mexican people, whose zest for life comes across in dress, whether haute couture or colorful embroidery and in their public celebrations of art, life and their faith.

Gastronomy (food)

Mexican cuisine is among the finest in the world. You'll find diversity in character from region, and in style from traditional to nouvelle. Native edibles such as corn, tomatoes, chilies, squash, avacado, turkey, cocoa and vanilla were melded with those brought by Spanish, which created the incredible Mexican kitchen of today. Like France, each region has its own special dishes, most gleaned from colonial recipes. The national favorite, mole, a thick sauce with chocolate as a common ingredient, is from Puebla and Oaxaca. Pit-barbecued chicken and pork comes from the Yucatan. One of the specialties in Mexico City is huitlacoche, a black corn fungus that many compare to the best wild mushrooms. Chefs are also turning out ighter contemporary dishes and incorporating cooking techniques of pre-Hispanic Mexico.

Shopping

Just as the colonial cities offer a visual feast to culture and architecture buffs, they provide a cornucopia of handcrafts and design for shoppers. Tourists can often catch artisana at work in their studios or can drop into the delightful markets and bazaars, where gold is sold by weight and handicrafts are beautiful as well as a bargain. Markets in Michoacan overflow with copperware from Santa Clara del Cobre, hand made guitars from Paracho and textiles from Morelia. Oaxaca City is surrounded by villages that produce the famous black clay pottery, exquisite hand-loomed rugs and delightful wooden fantasy animals. Merida is famous for cotten and silk hammocks. Each region has its specialties.

Performing Arts

The performing and visual arts are strongest in big cites lke Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City. World-famous painters, muralists and sculptors such as Sergio Bustamante, Juan Soriano and Sebastian, are native sons. This is where extravagant productions take place, like a performance of the opera Carmen in the Monterrey bullring and the opera Aida at the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Festivals such as the Centro Historico in Mexico City and Cervantino in Guanajauato draw international dance, music and theater groups. Of course, there's Mexico's own spirited Mariachi music and romantic ballads to add to the list of attractions.

Mexico City can well be considered the cultural center of Latin America. From the rubble of the capital of the Aztec empire, Hernan Cortes commanded the building of a new city according to Spanish guidelines. Several centuries later, it was recognized as the greatest metropolis of the western hemisphere; it was home of the first printing press, first mint and first university in the New World, all of which are open to visitors today. During the last few years, millions of dollars have been poured into urban renenewal projects to restore the luster of what's known as the Centro Historico. The heart and soul of the city, the city center is anchored by the Plaza de la Constitucion or Zocala, the second-largest square in the world. It is flanked by the Metropoloitan Cathedral, begun in the 1500s, and ruins of the Templo Mayor, or Great Temple, of the Aztecs. Many of the artifacts are in remarkably good condition, including the eight-ton disk of the moon goddess housed in the on-site museum. The square also holds the stately National Palace, once offices of the viceroys. Former palaces, convents and monasteries have been converted into museums, galleries and cultural centers, adding spark to the city's lively arts scene. Museum lovers have more than 80 to choose from, including the Modern Art, Natural History, Children's Museum and others filled with European art, collections of religious and colonial art plus the outstanding Museum of Anthropology. The newest museum is dedicated to Mexican folk art. It's a city with a flair for the arts, whether it be painters such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Juan O'Gorman, whose works can be seen at their private homes or government buildings, or daring young painters and sculptors who are rocking the contemporary art world. The former monastery of Antigui Colegio de San Ildefonso headlines exhibits of acclaim, for example, the sculptures and paintings of Fernando Botero. The performing arts-opera, theater and ballet draw renowned international talent to the city. The most impressive venue is the Italianate white marble Palace of Fine Arts, decorated with murals and a Tiffany curtain that is lowered during performances of the world-famous Ballet Folklorico. The top concert hall, Sala Nezahualcoyotl, often refeered to as the best in Latin America, offers perfomances by the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Philharmonic Orchestra. Free concerts take place on weekends in smaller auditoriums and Mexico City's outdoor plazas. For other leisure activities, there's nothing better than sampling Mexican cuisine culled from old family recipes or living the era of the grand haciendas by dining in one. Religious festivals honoring Christian saints take place throughout the year and you just might be lucky enough to come upon one, such as the blessing of the animals on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.

Family Travel

Mexico has always been regarded as a family-oriented country where children are treated as little treasures. Attractions for children as well as hotels that have added kid's programs to their agendas, are widespread. Parents have more options than before for including their offspring in a vacation. Not only does travel to Mexico provide family bonding, it's quality time and a learning experience for all.
Mexico's great diversity offers activities that are both educational and fun for people of all ages. There are lots of choices. Besides the warm climate, beautiful beaches and cultural activities, children and their parents and grandparents can visit children's museums, zoos, water parks, theme parks, archaeological sites and even swim with dolphins. Nature and Mexican tradition and authenticity can be explored first-hand, providing an unforgettable experience. Hotels are responding to the growing demand of this segement by adding more facilities and services. For example, most all-inclusives have children's programs where tots and kids to age 12 can take part in supervised programs that provide games, arts, crafts, lunch and even parent-child activities on the beach. Properties also have children's pools, cribs and babysitters who speak English. In addition, special packages are available for parents sharing a room with two children, a value-added perk. Museums all across Mexico are expanding their children's programs. Some, such as Mexico City's renowned Museo del Nino, were created specifically for kids. Adults are not allowed in without a minor!

The Beach & Cruise Scene in Mexico

For that fantastic beach getaway, think Mexico. With 6,000 miles of coast on four very different seas, the country can satisfy your every whim, whether it's for a glamorous resort complex or a quiet ecological hideaway. And the increased number of international visitors has spurred more tourism investment that guarantees an even wider array of vacation options in the future.

The Sea of Cortes (Gulf of California)

Magical Los Cabos with its dramatic Land's End location has superb sportfishing and golf, a lively town life and miles of beautiful beaches filled with coves and inlets. La Paz, the capital of Baja California where the seafood can't be beat, draws scuba divers and fishing buffs. Small, relatively isolated Loreto is now surging as a major destination, an excellent place for fishing and enjoying the underwater wonders of the Sea of Cortes.

The Pacific Side

The Pacific holds such fabled haunts of Hollywood celebrities as Acapulco, legendary for its beautiful crescent-shaped bay, nonstop nightlife and cosmopolitan air. Mazatlan is well-known for billfish tournaments and its jolly Mardi Gras celebration, just as Manzanillo's attraction is a charming town with excellent sailfish fishing. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has pretty beaches, a quaint village, two golf courses and some of the best restaurants in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta charms visitors with its red-tiled roofs, Cathedral, bougainvillea draped buildings and new championship golf courses. Huatulco, a new ecological beach resort, offers sun worshippers nine bays with golden sand beaches. It's also close to Puerto Escondido, which has excellent surfing.

The Caribbean Side

The Caribbean side has become one of Mexico's most sought-after destinations in the short period of 20 years. In addition to its soft platinum sand and its turquoise sea, it's consistently rated among the world's best beaches. Besides its luxury hotels and resorts, it's a jumping off point for excursions to snorkel at Isla Mujeres, to dive the world famous reefs of Cozumel and explore the pristine coastline of the Riviera Maya. South of the Riviera Maya is the Costa Maya and nature preserve Sian Ka'an (Mexico's Largest). Mexico's Caribbean ends at the city of Chetumal. Visits to newly opened ruins and ecotravel are becoming popular in this undiscovered coast.

Mexico as a Cruise Destination

With star-studded tropical nights, inviting beaches, first-rate tourist attractions, colorful handcrafts, indigenous cultures and a unique experience in every port are just a few reasons to book a cruise to Mexico. With more than two dozen ports of embarkation, new terminals and constant upgrades, Mexico is satisfying the growing demand of the industry. And because of Mexico's popularity, cruise lines are bringing in newer and bigger ships, adding itineraries and introducing year-round service to the region. In 2005 Mexico received 6.5 million visitors and more than 3,100 cruise ships, a phenomenal history of growth in the past 10 years. The most popular port of Call is Cozumel, the dive capital of the world, which is enjoying a healthy comeback after hurricane Wilma. Projected tourist figures for 2006 top 2005's, which tallied 2.5 million passengers. Puerto Costa Maya at Mahahual and Calica are the newest Mexican Caribbean ports. Along the Baja, Ensenada is poised to increase and create new itineraries on the Seattle-Ensenada route, and Los Cabos is the most popular cruise destiantion on the west coast. The list also includes Mazatlan, Manzanillo and Acapulco, all part of the Mexican Riviera circuit. Puerto Vallarta, with its "Night of the Iguana" mystique, is expanding its docks to accomodate more ships. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, north-west of Acapulco, offers two distinct towns to visit. Colonial Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico coast is a port with fun loving people and Afro-Cuban roots. Progresso lies at the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and not far from the Pre-Hispanic temples of Uxmal and Chichen Itza. Chiapas Port at Puerto Madero in Chiapas is the newest addition to the Mexico market. Campeche City on the Gulf of Mexico is also planning its first cruiseline dock.

New Resort areas and Developments

In the state Nayarit north of Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita, once a sleepy fishing community, has emerged as a luxurious gated development that promises to become a top-notch tourist destination in the future. North of Puerto Vallarta, plans call for low-density growth with a St. Regis hotel, second championship golf course and complex for vacation homes already under construction.
Fonatur, the tourism development arm of the government, has earmarked the western coast of the state of Nayarit (North of Puerto vallarta) for a premium resort area named Litibu. Boutique hotels, residences and tiny towns with Mexican traditions are part of the project, which is expected to attract over 1 million tourists by 2025. The Loreto Bay project is targeted at transforming the seaside village of Loreto on the Sea of Cortes into a major touirist destination with an estimated 1, 000 hotel rooms and 4,000 residential villas.