How to Shore Excursions in Mexican Riviera?
Nov 10th, 2004, 04:29 PM
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How to Shore Excursions in Mexican Riviera?
Hi,
I'm going on an 8 day cruise on Carnival over Thanksgiving w/ stops at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, and Manzanillo. First time to this area.
What are the most unique things to see at each of these places? We like outdoor and cultural activities.
Is the snorkeling good in those places and in Nov? Any ancient ruins? Marketplace?
Is it easy to do shore excursion on your own w/o going w/ the cruise package? Any cautions? We have a big group of people.
Thanks much for your help!
JC
I'm going on an 8 day cruise on Carnival over Thanksgiving w/ stops at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, and Manzanillo. First time to this area.
What are the most unique things to see at each of these places? We like outdoor and cultural activities.
Is the snorkeling good in those places and in Nov? Any ancient ruins? Marketplace?
Is it easy to do shore excursion on your own w/o going w/ the cruise package? Any cautions? We have a big group of people.
Thanks much for your help!
JC
Nov 16th, 2004, 09:20 AM
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We're going over New Year's. I checked out the shore excursions on the Carnival website....I may also get a book on Mexico for the areas. I'll be watching this message--I'm interested, too. Let me know if you took any excursions, which ones, what you thought of them. Have a good time!!
Dec 14th, 2004, 11:20 AM
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24krose,
Not sure if you're still interested, but we just came back from the cruise.
We did all the shore excursions on our own. We mainly took the public bus and one time a cab. It was pretty convenient but you have to walk a bit from the cruise terminal and ask the locals to know which bus to get on and off. It was fun to do that, and we felt very safe. The Mexicans there are very friendly and helpful!
let me know if you need more details.
Not sure if you're still interested, but we just came back from the cruise.
We did all the shore excursions on our own. We mainly took the public bus and one time a cab. It was pretty convenient but you have to walk a bit from the cruise terminal and ask the locals to know which bus to get on and off. It was fun to do that, and we felt very safe. The Mexicans there are very friendly and helpful!
let me know if you need more details.
Dec 21st, 2004, 02:05 PM
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My husband and I didn't take any packaged tour excursions from the cruise ship. We did everything on our own.
=======Acapulco========
In Acapulco, we walked to the bazaar, but there was not much there--junky souvenirs, clothes, and some meat stalls--unrefrigerated slaughtered chickens!
We then walked to the zocalo--a shady town square w/ a cathedral and a gazebo. Hung out a bit and ordered a cappucino from a cafe, and checked emails at an internet cafe-- $1USD for 1 hour!
We then went to La Quebrada to see the 7:30 p.m. cliff diver show. We took the cab there from the cruise ship terminal -- only $2 USD! It's actually not too far but you have to go up a hill. We walked on the way back and it was interesting to see shops and vendors along the way.
We watched the cliff diver at the $3 platform, not at the hotel. It's a must-see, and make sure you tip the divers afterwards. It's quite a health hazard for them.
The rest of my family (12 people) took hired a van w/ a tour guide right outside the terminal. It cost them only $15 per person. The guide drove them all over acapulco, showing them celebrity homes and a famous hotel, as well as the zocalo and the cliff diver show at the end (admissions not included). The tour lasted like 6 hours, and it was such a bargain for them. They tipped the driver well afterwards.
=========Zhihuatanejo/Ixtapa========
We spent almost the whole day on Isla Ixtapa and snorkeled there. We walked from the pier in Zhihuatanejo into town -- 15 minutes walk--and took the local bus (75 cents) to the Ixtapa side -- Playa Linda. And from there took a small boat ($3 round trip) to Isla Ixtapa.
It's all foreign tourists there and very safe. The restaurant gave us a table w/ an umbrella for free and later we bought beer and snack from them. The water was warm like bath water and you could see a lot of marine life.
We then went back to Zhihuatanejo the same route. And checked out the shops and the beach before getting tendered back to the boat. It's our favorite stop--very scenic and laid back. And the people were very friendly.
==========Manzanillo============
Very industrial port, so we wanted to go to La Audencia (a beach on the resort side of town).
Again, we took the local bus. We had to walk from the cruise terminal into town--dusty walk--and asked for directions to find the bus stop.
This time my whole family of 14 joined us. A young Mexican dude that we asked directions from walked us to the bus stop, stopping traffic so all of us could safely cross the street. He then came on the bus w/ us! Good thing he did because we were required to transfer to a different bus. And he came w/ us until we got to the beach and he took the bus back! We gave him some money to thank him, but he was cool enough to give it all the bus driver!
In La Audencia, we rented a boat for $100 for 2 hours and they took us out snorkeling among the elephant rocks and a ship wreck. The snorkeling out here was really clear and nice--lots of sea creatures.
Hope this helps.
=======Acapulco========
In Acapulco, we walked to the bazaar, but there was not much there--junky souvenirs, clothes, and some meat stalls--unrefrigerated slaughtered chickens!
We then walked to the zocalo--a shady town square w/ a cathedral and a gazebo. Hung out a bit and ordered a cappucino from a cafe, and checked emails at an internet cafe-- $1USD for 1 hour!
We then went to La Quebrada to see the 7:30 p.m. cliff diver show. We took the cab there from the cruise ship terminal -- only $2 USD! It's actually not too far but you have to go up a hill. We walked on the way back and it was interesting to see shops and vendors along the way.
We watched the cliff diver at the $3 platform, not at the hotel. It's a must-see, and make sure you tip the divers afterwards. It's quite a health hazard for them.
The rest of my family (12 people) took hired a van w/ a tour guide right outside the terminal. It cost them only $15 per person. The guide drove them all over acapulco, showing them celebrity homes and a famous hotel, as well as the zocalo and the cliff diver show at the end (admissions not included). The tour lasted like 6 hours, and it was such a bargain for them. They tipped the driver well afterwards.
=========Zhihuatanejo/Ixtapa========
We spent almost the whole day on Isla Ixtapa and snorkeled there. We walked from the pier in Zhihuatanejo into town -- 15 minutes walk--and took the local bus (75 cents) to the Ixtapa side -- Playa Linda. And from there took a small boat ($3 round trip) to Isla Ixtapa.
It's all foreign tourists there and very safe. The restaurant gave us a table w/ an umbrella for free and later we bought beer and snack from them. The water was warm like bath water and you could see a lot of marine life.
We then went back to Zhihuatanejo the same route. And checked out the shops and the beach before getting tendered back to the boat. It's our favorite stop--very scenic and laid back. And the people were very friendly.
==========Manzanillo============
Very industrial port, so we wanted to go to La Audencia (a beach on the resort side of town).
Again, we took the local bus. We had to walk from the cruise terminal into town--dusty walk--and asked for directions to find the bus stop.
This time my whole family of 14 joined us. A young Mexican dude that we asked directions from walked us to the bus stop, stopping traffic so all of us could safely cross the street. He then came on the bus w/ us! Good thing he did because we were required to transfer to a different bus. And he came w/ us until we got to the beach and he took the bus back! We gave him some money to thank him, but he was cool enough to give it all the bus driver!
In La Audencia, we rented a boat for $100 for 2 hours and they took us out snorkeling among the elephant rocks and a ship wreck. The snorkeling out here was really clear and nice--lots of sea creatures.
Hope this helps.
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