Our Week Sailing the Mexican Riviera on Norwegian Cruise
A week of sunshine, wildlife, cliff divers, and hidden beaches was exactly what we needed. In 2014, we sailed round-trip from Los Angeles with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta—each offering something totally different. Here's how our week played out.
Cabo San Lucas: Whales + That Famous Arch
Our first stop was Cabo, where we did the All-Inclusive Catamaran Whale-Watching Experience. The double-deck catamaran was spacious, relaxed.
Fair warning, though: The ride out to see the whales was extremely bumpy. The Sea of Cortez can get choppy, and the catamaran hits those waves hard. If you're prone to motion sickness, you might want to skip this excursion.
The highlight? Watching humpback whales breach right in front of us. These giants look unbelievably graceful when they launch out of the water. We also spotted blue whales, and when they surface, the blowhole spray shoots up like 30 feet. Seeing them in person is something else.
We cruised by El Arco, the iconic rock formation at the tip of the peninsula, and passed groups of sea lions lounging on the rocks. If you're in Cabo during whale season (roughly December to March), this excursion is a must.
After the catamaran tour, we grabbed lunch in Cabo and had the best tacos ever.
Mazatlán: Old-Town Charm & Cliff Divers
Cliff Diving
In Mazatlán, we chose The Best of Mazatlán tour offered by the cruise line, which turned out to be the perfect overview. We drove along the oceanfront, saw the lighthouse and offshore islands, then headed into the historic downtown. The cathedral is stunning—you can't help but stop and admire it.
But the unforgettable moment was watching the cliff divers. These guys jump from a rocky point into shallow water with perfect timing and zero fear. After sightseeing, we had free time in the Golden Zone to shop and grab food. Yes, it's touristy—but sometimes that's exactly the vibe you want.
Puerto Vallarta: Beach Bliss at Las Caletas
Our final port was Puerto Vallarta, where we spent the day at the beautiful Las Caletas Beach Hideaway. Since it's only accessible by boat, it feels like a private island tucked between jungle-covered mountains.
We zipped through the jungle, kayaked along the cove, rode horses through tropical trails, and even joined a cooking class to make authentic Mexican salsa from scratch.
The animal encounters were amazing—macaws, monkeys, lemurs, flamingos, hawks, and even a friendly boa constrictor we got to hold. It felt like a real-life jungle adventure.
The beach is gorgeous, the water is crystal clear, and the buffet lunch had plenty of great options. There are even more activities available, like snorkeling, scuba lessons, or sea lion encounters, but we already packed our day full.
Final Thoughts
The Mexican Riviera cruise is perfect if you're looking for warm weather, beautiful beaches, wildlife, and a mix of relaxation and adventure.
What we loved most about this trip was how different each port felt. Cabo gave us that incredible wildlife experience with the whales, Mazatlán brought history and culture, and Puerto Vallarta let us dive into every activity we could squeeze into one day. You really do get the best of everything on this route.
