“When you have beach on the brain, who wants to bother with a layover? Budget Travel has prepared the ultimate insider’s guide to seven resort towns south of the border that are just one quick flight away.
MAZATLÁN As resort towns go, Mazatlán is one of Mexico’s prettiest, with an assortment of 19th-century neoclassical, republican, and French baroque buildings in pastel colors. The best place for wandering is Old Mazatlán, particularly the tree-lined streets around Plazuela Machado, where guitarists and singers roam from one sidewalk café to the next.
IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO The twin cities of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are separated by just three miles, but despite that proximity, they don’t have a lot in common. Zihuatanejo, which dates back to precolonial times, is a relaxed fishing town set on an enclosed bay with not a single high-rise hotel.
ACAPULCO Acapulco got its glamorous start in the 1950s and ’60s, when celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Judy Garland turned the exclusive hotels on the rugged cliffs over the bay into their playground.
PUERTO VALLARTA Puerto Vallarta’s art scene doesn’t yet rival that of San Miguel de Allende, but it’s well on its way: Painters, sculptors, and other artisans have moved to the Pacific-coast resort town in recent years, drawn by the natural beauty of the mountainous coast and the well-preserved colonial architecture in Old Vallarta.
LOS CABOS Wedged between granite peaks and the water on the tip of Baja California, Los Cabos has one of Mexico’s most dramatic settings. But a less-than-thrilling 20-mile-long tourist corridor connects the towns of San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, making it all the more appealing to choose a town and stick with it.
CANCÚN Cancún may never shake its reputation as a rowdy college-party destination, but outside of spring-break season, the city is a surprisingly subdued place. The peninsula is where most of the major resorts are located, so if you’re looking for character, it’s best to head downtown on the mainland.
COZUMEL Surrounded by vibrantly colored coral reefs, the island of Cozumel, 11 miles off the Yucatán coast, has been attracting divers since Jacques Cousteau popularized it in the 1960s. The most central place to be situated for day trips around the island is the town of San Miguel, which has a number of reasonably priced guesthouses.” ( via www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL) by By Zora O’Neill and Jane Onstott/Budget Travel
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