bobnsofi

PV: walk out of the cruise terminal and catch a cab to the Malacon ($6)

Walk south, stop at the cheeky monkey or Oceana (upper level malacon ocean front) for a cool drink

Walk south, stop in the church area and square, take the free walking tour.

Walk South, at the bridge that crosses the river turn left for a short walk into the riverbed jungle with flea market ambiance

Walk south, walk out on the new Los Muertos beach pier, then pick a spot for a cool drink (perhaps beach play banana ride or parasail - $40).

Walk inland from the Los Muertos pier, explore some of the fantastic artsy shopping, perhaps stop at a crowded taco stand, or a 1 hour full body massage ($40)

At 3:45pm ships time (4:45pm local time) catch a cab ($4) up to Casa Isabel for the happy hour sunset (you have to see it to believe it). Tour Casa Isabel

Catch a cab back to the cruise pier ($8).

If you have time, have the cab drop you off at Walmart and tour Walmart Mexicano style. Walk back to ship

Cheeky Monkey

Casa Isabel

Los Muertos Pier

Acapulco is home to millions of nice locals that live long violence free lives (and it seems you see everyone of them as you approach the pier, in this extremely busy and beautiful bay front city)

Cruise ships port and leave early. The few bad guys mostly sleep in and enjoy the cool of the night (Acapulco is always EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID)

If it were us, we would charter a VW Bug taxi for $10-$15 per hour and visit our favorite spots

They may take you to the Marina El Cid resort, where you will take a short water taxi ride over to the beach (upper left), a peaceful oceanfront spot with very few vendors.

More than likely your tour buses will drive directly around the marina and over to the beach (more likely, almost no walking).

If it were our group, we would charter and van an go to El Cid Morro (lots more to see and do at the beach), but if you want peace and quiet, the below picture is better

have the water taxi drop you off at Tobasco, start walking left towards the activity. Choose a place to Beach Chair it as you get closer to the crowded area.

No Snorkel, very little swim (water is not swim friendly... Cabo is in the middle of a deep Deep DEEP sea abyss... even close to shore is not swim friendly... some folks wade in a bit... most all swimming and snorkel is done by boat tour... and is not great for your age girls).

Better econo beach day for young kids would be stone island at Mazatlan ($), or El Cid Mazatlan ($$)

By far the most popular is the El Cid

3 options to enjoy El Cid

1) step off tram at cruise pier, approach line of time share sales folks, tell them you want to go to the El Cid, enjoy their hustle of your time wasting, pay nothing, except nerve wracking time wasted

2) step off tram at cruise pier, avoid time share sales folks, take taxi to El Cid, cut a deal at El Cid for all inclusive

2) step off tram at cruise pier, avoid time share sales folks, take taxi to El Cid, pay as you go

Which ever you choose, you will see many of your fellow cruise passengers there

That Q comes up lots at the LA/Long Beach Departure Port Forum

Here=> http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=413

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PV has many fantastic restaurants. We always try to stop at the Casa Isabel for the sunset view and ambiance (ya just can't cook that up). Perhaps stop in for an hour at sunset (port time is 1 hour forward of ship time, so Ships usually leave a few hours after dark)

Below is a short video we did at Casa Isabella in PV ($8 taxi ride to cruise pier each way)

Metamorphosis =>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150793-d1222182-Reviews-Metamorphosis_Day_Spa-Puerto_Vallarta.html

The Good News:

you will be taken by boat and then Mexican shuttle to a beach camp where you will join many of your fellow smiling cruise passengers for a beach day of eat, drink, and be merry within 1/2 mile of the ship. A great easy beach day!

The Bad News: $33pp (for that price, with a large group, you could likely do it yourself... food, drink, and have enough left over to think about a banana boat, horse ride, wave runners, quad, or para sail for a few thrill seekers in your large group)

Mazatlan is on ships time.

PV is 1 hr forward

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We bring a wad of single $1 bills into port, some $5, a few $10, and a few $20

We are generous and never wait for change... (In Mexico, everything is slow, getting change from a purchase... can be slowest)

Sure you loose some $, but save TIME

TIME IN PORT OFF A CRUISE SHIP IS PRECIOUS

btw... we change large bills into $1's and $5's at the guest services desk. Great stop to make while walk'n about on the ship, sometimes they have limits, so multiple stops at the guest services desk.

We use credit card for many purchases in port = best exchange rate, very little wait

!!! AND YES... TAXI'S TAKE DOLLAR CASH... NEGOTIATE FARES IN ADVANCE IN DOLLARS !!!

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That said...

The day you port in Cabo, 100's of cruisers will go on safe and fun snorkel tours with the beautiful bay views and lands end tour, see amazing sea birds and sea life from their comfort of their boat tour, get wet and snorkel, and then the all you can drink post snorkel fiesta... with the whistle, music and tequilla shots... and have the time of their lives

snorkeling is not a suggested activity in the Mex Riv, as conditions, ease and sea life are far less than spectacular.

Of the 3 ports, Cabo

Boat tours are easy to book, nearby, plentiful and affordable, try Pez Gato on line (if you must)

or haggle on the pier (it is easy and very affordable if you are an experienced Mex haggler), and also you can decide on the sea conditions when you get there,

lots of wind and high seas... PASS... Calm... go for it

Looks like the #3 rated activity on the sister site ta => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g152515-d1572188-r65033446-Cabo_Outfitters-Cabo_San_Lucas_Los_Cabos_Baja_California.html

Past San Jose, at least an hour away, and Cabo port stops can be short

!!! YES !!!

You will see many of your fellow cruise passengers at El Cid. All you can eat & drink with transportation from the cruise pier is about $50pp. Drop by their desk in the time share office and negotiate your day pass experience at El Cid (you can't miss it, right as you get off the tram).

We prefer to drop by for an hour or 2 and pay as we go (The El Cid ALWAYS greets cruise passengers with open arms).

It is very easy to find a mile or 2 PAST the Golden Zone.

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Typically when the cruise lines do a resort tour, The Resort (Estero Beach) is obligated to not allow day users in. In this case, I would bet that Estero Beach Resort would turn you away on that day, if your ship is doing a tour there. If not, head for it, great spot if it is sunny and warm. You could always try to book a room there cheap, show up as a hotel guest, pay for the room. check out early, back to the ship

Here is a recent post on Estero Beach =>http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2063019&highlight=estero

How up to date is this Deer Island info? Prices, places to meet,etc? I like the idea of renting a hobiecat, especially for ~ $30.

Been to Mazatlan many times and had owned a Hobie Cat for many years. DITTO... great idea. If it were me... I would show up at El Cid and check out the conditions (wind and sea). Then, if it was a nice strong breeze with calm seas, I would find a nice 16-18' Cat with big sails and a large jib... and !!! GO FOR IT !!! and fly a hull all the way over there (wind is prevailing on shore, so you rip over there) and luff back with the swells, boom wide open

Deer Island is only about a mile off shore

unlikely, as no news in a google search, and it is a major tourist attraction in an area... of little current alternative uses

we suggest, rent a car from Fiesta car rental ($50 - walking distance to Hotel Corona and the Fiesta car rental desk- ask anyone), and see it all for $20 gas

directions from the cruise pier => https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=The+Blowhole,+Baja+California,+M%C3%A9xico&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=31.853648,-116.62616&sspn=0.010662,0.021136&geocode=FfAL5gEdv3QM-Q%3BFRQS5AEdqfIK-SkLExwmX5fYgDGw05LZlEDSZw&t=h&mra=ls&z=12

Our cruise has changed a port and we will now go to Mazatlan. When we were there before, they told us that there is no way to walk from the port to anyplace in town. Is this true? We really prefer to walk and see sights. Any suggestions is appreciated.

It is a distant walk to see the great (and nearest) downtown area. Some do it. Most don't. If you walk out of the port, you can charter an open air dune buggy style taxi for $15/hr. That is what we usually do.

Are there any computer labs/station where you can for a small fee check e-mail,use the internet, if you don't have your own device?

The Ships Crew are experts at using nearby inexpensive internet without their own device. Ask your cabin stewart and/or other crew members you cross paths with

La Paz, folks do the nice beach a few miles east (away from town, the cruise ship ports a mile+ east of town) or take a boat tour to see the whale sharks. There are also other popular boat tours. Land tours are not so popular, as La Paz is a sandy desert area with a limited historical past. The cruisers that walk the La Paz downtown area find a hot and dull adventure. The last time we ported in La Paz, we rented a car and toured around the region.

I would also highly recommend the Cheeky Monkey

The Cheeky Monkey and the Oceano are next door to each other on the Malacon in PV. $1 Beers and great prices. We prefer the Oceano. $6 taxi ride each way from the cruise pier

Here is a video we did from the Oceano. You can see Cheeky Monkey sign next door, near the end of the short video.

Below is a short video we did at happy hour at Casa Isabella in PV, a bit classier ambiance ($8 taxi ride to cruise pier each way)

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walk outside the cruise terminal for the yellow Nissan taxi's. The white taxi's inside the cruise terminal charge $$$

Should ad again, Guacamole is not a typical Mexican Dish, it is made for us gringos, in small servings for $5, kind of a rip off. They do not serve it like we are used to, in a large bowl with bottomless chips. They serve a small scoop with a few chips

Better to dip chips in salsa, and have some garlic shrimp and rice, or look at the menu, and ask what is good, and look around at what others are eating. Mexican beer is the !!! BEST !!!. Bloody Mary's are a Gringo Drink. BEER & MARG's are your best bet

Mazatlan - your best bet for a nice spot CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE to the cruise pier is the small waterfront Cafe south of the pier, and right next to the Stone Island Ferry (ferry is in lower left of map below)

You asked for CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE. Guac is not a Mexican Staple and will cost about $5. It is all the same, nice, fresh, and a small serving with just a few chips

It is still a 1/4 mile walk out of the pier, plenty of taxis to take you there

WiFi is everywhere now, ya just gotta sniff it out. There is a $2 pp tram off the pier to find free wifi (ask anyone- might have to buy coffee), and there is likely cheap wifi on the pier

rent a car from Fiesta car rental ($50 - walking distance to Hotel Corona and the Fiesta car rental desk- ask anyone), and see it all for $20 gas