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From mysterious Mayan temples and ancient cities, to palm-fringed beaches and magical lagoons, Mexico is bursting with beauty. And throughout 2010, there’ll be even more to enjoy as Mexico hosts “una fiesta muy grande” to mark the anniversary of its two revolutions in 1810 and 1910.
There are a variety of cruise itineraries to choose from, but the two most popular ones are the Mexican Riviera and the Gulf of Mexico. The former departs from San Diego and Los Angeles, while the latter sails from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Mobile and New Orleans.  Cruises usually vary in length from two to nine days.
The Mexican Riviera itinerary offers some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the Americas, especially in the Baja Peninsula where cruise ships usually call at Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.
The world’s largest peninsula, Baja is filled with endless hills, turquoise lagoons and several varieties of whales that come each winter to escape their summer home in the Arctic. And the Sea of Cortez (the 1,000-mile ocean trench between Baja and mainland Mexico), has some of the richest undersea life anywhere on the planet.
South of the peninsula, most cruise ships also call at Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, which are resort towns on the mainland coast with beautiful beaches, local artisan shops, and historic town centres.
Nicknamed the Pacific Pearl, Mazatlan sits at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains on a small peninsula facing the tip of Baja. The city is blessed with beautiful beaches and an historic quarter that features 479 buildings that have been designated as national landmarks, as well as open air restaurants, boutiques and public art exhibits. Mazatlán also hosts one of the largest carnival celebrations in the world (next year’s carnival takes place from February 11 to 16).
Located on the beautiful Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags), Puerto Vallarta offers 25 miles of sandy beaches, lots of water activities, and a pretty wooden boardwalk called El Malecon which stretches along the coast and provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.  The boardwalk also runs through the centre of town where you’ll find small shops, restaurants, an open-air market and local landmarks such as the Church of Guadalupe, the sculpture of the boy on the seahorse and the open-air theater of Los Arcos.
On the Gulf coast of Mexico, most itineraries include ports along the Yucatan Peninsula such as Cozumel and Progresso, both of which are near the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Uxmal and Chichen Itza.
The pretty island of Cozumel boasts sun-drenched beaches, beautiful coral reefs and several Mayan ruins including Aguada Grande and San Gervasio. In addition, it’s just across the channel from the larger and better preserved ruins of Tulum.
Built on the coast in honour of the sun, Tulum has some 56 temples, shrines and platforms, many with carvings featuring the solstices, equinoxes and movements of the sun. The principal buildings include The Castle (a tower overlooking the Caribbean Sea used to safely guide Mayan boats through the dangerous reefs surrounding Tulum), the Temple of the Frescoes (an outstanding collection of Toltec wall paintings), and the Temple of the Wind (a small sanctuary overlooking the bay built in honour of Ehecatl, god of the wind).
Further west along the peninsula, the tiny fishing village of Progresso serves as the gateway to the town of Merida and its elegant Spanish-colonial architecture.
Founded in 1542, Merida has some of the oldest colonial buildings in the Americas, including the San Ildenfonso Cathedral, the Casa de Montejo, and the Governor’s Palace. The palace houses a gallery which depicts the history of the Yucatan with a series of beautiful murals.
The best way to see Merida is by strolling through its Main Plaza, then hiring a horse-drawn carriage for a 45-minute tour of the surrounding streets. The carriage travels along El Paseo de Montejo with its grand 19th-century European mansions, and loops around the Monument to the Flag, which depicts the history of Mexico.
So whatever part of Mexico your cruise visits, you’re bound to be amazed. And with Mexican cruises starting as low as $70 per day, there’s never been a better time to discover the spectacular beaches, charming seaside towns, and marvellous Mayan mysteries of Mexico.