2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE - (Page 40)

MEXICO Acapulco This seaside resort destination started picking up steam in the 1950s and 60s with the likes of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra singing its praises. Their vacation hotspot by Acapulco Bay is still a favorite, with a spate of beaches—Condesa, Icacos, El Secreto and many others—where boogie boards and sun worshippers are a daily sight. Acapulco’s classic attractions are one of its main draws, in fact. These include a sizzling club scene in hotspots like BabyO and Coco Wash; the clavadistas of La Quebrada, who for generations have braved diving more than 100 ft. into shallow rocky waters; and a penchant for fun and spectacle with events such as the music-ﬁlled Acafest. For the city’s most beautiful bay views, head to the cliff-side mansions and seafood restaurants along Costera Miguel Aleman, and at least stop by for drinks at the iconic Las Brisas for an eyeful of the view and a peek into the pink-and-white hotel. Visitors will want to stop by the Acapulco Botanic Garden, with more than 15 acres of indigenous and imported ﬂora; take a motorboat ride along the mangroves of Tres Palos Lagoon, and spend some time at the San Diego Fort, which offers exhibit halls that reveal the history of the city. The protected island of La Roqueta—about 30 minutes off the mainland—is ideal for snorkeling and diving. Guests can take a glass-bottomed boat there from the beach known as Caleta. Golfers, meanwhile, will want to take advantage of the 18-hole course at the Fairmont Pierre Marques. Outside of the city is the Tehualcalco Archaeological Zone, which dates back to the Olmec civilization and forms part of the state of Guerrero’s “Jaguar Route” that includes the town of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtemoc, where the last Aztec emperor was laid to rest, and the rock formations of Cacahuamilpa’s Caves. Facts • Best time to go: Year-round; it might get chillier during the winter months, especially in Mexico City and Monterrey, but it’s nothing a jacket won’t ﬁx • Fun Fact: Mariachi music and traditional Mexican cuisine now form part of UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity • getting there: Cancun With year-round beach weather and some of the most picture-perfect beaches in Mexico, Cancun also serves as gateway to the Mayan world. The city itself is a modern hub of posh hotels and family-friendly resorts—most, like ME Cancun, with direct access to the ocean—plus dining and nightlife options that rival its outdoor attractions. Cancun’s turquoise waters are known for their crystalline quality, making them ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The Cancun Underwater Museum, near Isla Mujeres, now offers added incentive for submarine exploration thanks to hundreds of life-size sculptures gracing the ocean ﬂoor. The Nichupte Lagoon and its mangroves are another option, with calmer waters that are excellent for kayaking. Also nearby are Isla Contoy and Isla Holbox, both naturalists’ havens, with a great number of birds, whale sharks and sea turtles making stops throughout the year. Then there’s shopping, a sport in itself in Cancun, with venues such as Plaza Caracol, La Isla Shopping Village and Luxury Avenue offering a wide range of retail thrills. Cancun is part of the Mexican Caribbean, which stretches south along Puerto Morelos and the vast underground system of caves and rivers, and into the Riviera Maya. The generous offering of resorts and championship golf courses continue here, along with some of the region’s most renowned Mayan legacies. These include Coba, hidden away in the jungle but easily accessible to visitors, and beachfront Tulum. The Riviera Maya is also home to Playa del Carmen, where restaurants, funky shops and bars abound and where the annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival takes place. Visitors will also want to spend a day or two exploring the massive outdoor parks of Xel-Ha and Xcaret, each of which provide plenty of fun in the form of SNUBA, swimming with dolphins, jungle trails and more. Delta ﬂies from Atlanta to Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos; Delta ﬂies from New York (JFK) to Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta; Delta ﬂies from Minneapolis to Cancun, Cozumel, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta; Delta ﬂies from Detroit to Cancun, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Monterrey and Puerto Vallarta; Delta ﬂies from Los Angeles to Cancun, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta; Delta ﬂies from Salt Lake City to Cancun, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta; Delta ﬂies from 12 additional gateways to Cancun • entry documents: Valid passport • currency: Mexican peso • must-try local Food: A few of the hundreds of varieties of thick moles; on the Paciﬁc side, pescado zarandeado (grilled ﬁsh in a tangy tomato sauce); in Monterrey, try the cabrito a las brasas, barbecued kid goat • Best Buys: Silver, indigenous original artwork, tequila—some of the best brands are not sold in the U.S. • inFormation please: Mexico Tourism Board’s website— visitmexico.com D40 january 2012 recommend.com http://www.visitmexico.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE

Antigua; Aruba
Nassau
Freeport; Exuma
Bermuda; Bonaire
George Town
Punta Cana; Santiago
Santo Domingo; Grenada
Port-au-Prince; Montego Bay
San Juan
St. Kitts; Saint Lucia
St. Maarten
Providenciales
St. Thomas; St. Croix
Acapulco
Cancun
Cozumel
Guadalajara
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
Los Cabos
Mazatlan
Mexico City
Monterrey
Puerto Vallarta
Belize City
San Jose
Liberia
San Salvador
Guatemala City
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Tegucigalpa
Managua
Panama City
Buenos Aires
Brasilia
Rio de Janeiro
Sao Paulo
Santiago
Bogota
Quito
Georgetown
Lima
Caracas

2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE