Mexico's West Pacific Coast

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West Coast of Mexico The Golden Coast or Mexico's Riviera these are two of the names bestowed on the western side of the Mexican mainland. Mexico's west coast offers the nearest tropical destination for travelers from the western United States. It is also the closest by sea, and regularly visited by cruise ships mainly from Los Angeles but also from San Francisco and occasionally from San Diego. By air, cost of the trip is comparable to or slightly less than the other nearest tropical destination Hawaii. Ferry service to and from Baja make it an increasingly popular "leg" on a triangle trip from California or Arizona.

West Coast of Mexico Natural attractions include great mountain ranges and grand canyons, or lush jungles and sparse deserts. Its bay indented coasts are ringed with superb swimming beaches, and the many rocky points are favored by anglers. Mixed emotions greet the increased accessibility of formerly remote spots now easily reached via the "sunshine route" (Highways 15 and 200), lacking only a few miles of a coastal connection between the U.S. and Guatemala borders.

Luxurious hotels cover spaces where fishing huts used to stand. Today's bare feet on once secret ribbons of sand belong to the tourists.

West Coast of Mexico Weather is better during winter and early spring; the "in" season is from November to May. Hotel prices drop sharply during the rest of the year and many a canny traveler braves the warmer temperatures and summer rains to sun at half the price. One interesting exception is Guaymas. You pay more in the summer for rooms there because of the necessary additional air conditioning.