Should we take excursions to get to the beach?

My friend and I are taking the Holland America Statendam on the Mexican Riviera cruise in mid-January -- Mazatlan, Puerta Vallerta, and Cabo San Lucas.

My last cruise (Jan '03) to the Caribbean -- I regretted taking excursions while everyone was vegetating on the beach.

Do you have to take excursions in those 3 ports to get to the beach? Or can you just walk there from the dock?


Linda in Oakland

[Harry Martin]

It's hard to walk from the dock there ... but a cab ride, knowing which beach you wish to visit, is simple and invaribaly cheaper.

Try doing some beach research online.

Harry

[richard]

Linda,
You can walk to the beach in Puerto Vallarta (Playa De Oro hotel?) , it's just south of the dock but as Harry said, you'll need a cab ride in the other 2 places. To be honest, the water in Cabo was not for swimming-too cold.

richard

If you like horseback rides, check out Randi's website in Mazatlan:
http://mazinfo.com/horsebackride/

We also took the Unimog Adventure excursion in Puerta Vallerta, which was excellent and ended with time at a very nice, secluded beach.

[Chuck Palm]

If you want rustic beaches in P.V., these are my recommendations. Each requires cab rides or water taxi rides but all are well worth the bother.

Yelapa (No cars here, you must arrive by water taxi. Think Gilligan's Island and you have the picture. The only hotel has little grass shacks.)

Sayulita (If you think about little rural villages where beach bums have shanties in which to live, this is the place.)

Piedra Blanca (This beach has great swimming and water sports)

All three have fabulous beachside palapa covered restaurants with very fresh seafood on the beach. They are very well run and quite safe.

There are many pictures of Yelapa on the web if you do a Google search. There are probably pictures of the other beaches as well.

Went to Paradis Village in PV, but you could go to El Cid just as easily. Took the ferry to Stone Island for $1-its the best, go early and avoid the crowds. Took a water taxi to Lovers Beach in Cabo, very good snorkeling there. You don't have to do the excursions unless you want something different like the Canopy Tour. You can always get off the ship and there's lots of vendors to take you places. Just be aware of the ship time vs. the port time.

Wow -- great replies, all, and very specific! Thank you all so much!


Linda in Oakland, but soon on the Mexican Riviera