Whether sailing on a sunset cruise in the Pacific or diving the world-class reefs of the Caribbean, Mexico's nearly 6,000 miles of coastline lure groups into the water with activities that suit every level of adventure. Excursions can be easily organized through local CVBs as well as with a number of DMCs and a plethora of local tour operators that cater to groups. Following are 10 of the top waterborne encounters groups can enjoy throughout Mexico.
1. Los Cabos: Cruising and Snorkeling at Land's End
At the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula is a famous rock formation called El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, or the Arch, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortes. The famed locale, known as Land's End, is the site of numerous group activities, from sailing to snorkeling, which can be arranged by local DMCs.
"What we offer that is very popular are the boat outings like snorkeling trips or sunset cruises at the Arch, the landmark of the destination," says Julia Trejo, associate director of sales for DMC Terramar.
The company can arrange a sunset cruise on an intimate boat, including hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, or something more elaborate like dinner or cocktails with a light supper.
Other combination tours are possible, such as a boat outing for snorkeling and whale watching, with lunch on a beach in front of El Arco. Whale watching is popular January through March, or snorkeling trips can be combined with a sunset cruise.
Terramar offers various boats accommodating groups of 20 to 350 people.
Meanwhile, Cabo Adventures features sunset sails at Land's End on an America's Cup yacht, and a unique team-building exercise is an America's Cup yachting race.
2. Puerto Vallarta: Sea Safari
Known for its Pacific vistas and enticing beaches, Puerto Vallarta is a water adventure haven for groups. Vallarta Adventures, popular for its long-running catamaran tours to Las Caletas for snorkeling, kayaking and its Rhythms of the Night production, also offers a multisport option for groups called Sea Safari.
The tour begins by traversing the Bay of Banderas on customized speedboats and heading to the village of Quimixto, where options include a guided walk of the village, nature hikes and a horseback ride to a nearby waterfall. The next stop is the small fishing village of Pizota.
"Pizota has the most stunning beach in the whole Bay of Banderas and is completely isolated," says Gareth Price, director of sales for Vallarta Adventures. "No other company goes there, so we have the beach entirely to ourselves."
Options on the beach include snorkeling, kayaking, volleyball and an al fresco barbecue lunch. Groups can organize a walk into the village as well.
There is also the flexibility to stop at Los Arcos Marine Reserve for anything from snorkeling to dolphin watching. Boats can hold 30 people, and the company can use two boats for larger groups.
3. Riviera Nayarit: Excursions to Islas Marietas
Situated north of Banderas Bay near Punta Mita, Islas Marietas encompass a protected area recently declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The region shelters numerous species of corals as well as four species of mammals, over 100 species of fish and nearly 100 species of birds.
"Like the Galapagos, we also have the blue-footed booby in the Marietas Islands and other migratory birds," says Richard Zarkin, public relations manager for the Riviera Nayarit CVB. "It's a very pristine, virgin beach where you can swim, and there are also options for diving, snorkeling and kayaking."
There are several ways to access Islas Marietas, including catamaran trips with Vallarta Adventures, replete with biologists onboard.
Groups can also arrange private boat tours through two hotels in the gated community of Punta Mita. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort can organize kayaking, snorkeling or diving adventures at Islas Marietas, and up to 10 guests can charter the 55-foot yacht operated by Four Seasons Punta Mita for excursions to the islands.
From November to April, whales frequent the waters between Punta Mita and the Marietas, and whale-watching excursions are popular.
4. Cancun: Scuba Diving and Snorkeling at MUSA
Snorkeling in Cancun took a cultural turn last year with the debut of MUSA, which stands for Museo Subaquatico de Arte, or the Underwater Museum of Art. The national park, located off the west coast of Isla Mujeres, features more than 400 concrete sculptures, making it the world's largest underwater museum.
According to Roberto Diaz, president of MUSA, part of the impetus for the project was based on ecological conservation of the reef system, which has suffered damage over the years.
"Some areas have been damaged by the hurricanes, and those areas need to be closed," Diaz says. "When you close them or reduce the number of visits, the reef is totally resting, and the possibility of regenerating it is a lot better."
The largest underwater exhibit area is at Manchones, featuring 402 sculptures, part of a piece called The Silent Evolution. The artwork features an array of Mayan and Spanish Colonial-era figures.
There are five sculptures at another exhibit area in Nizuc, including Diaz's own La Tia del Mar, taking the form of a goddess. Another in the region is Man on Fire—a fisherman sporting yellow and red fire coral that gives the impression he is ablaze.
The next sculpture to be installed will be an eight-ton concrete beetle, aptly named Beetle.
The museum is open to snorkelers and divers, with the shallow waters of Nizuc more appropriate for snorkeling and Manchones good for both snorkeling and diving. Local operator Aquaworld offers both options and can take up to 20 certified divers and about 80 snorkelers.
5. Riviera Maya: Cenote Exploring
One of Riviera Maya's unique characteristics is its plethora of cenotes, freshwater sink holes that are created by an underground river system and that the Maya considered to be sacred—an entrance to the underworld. Today, cenotes can be found in many of Riviera Maya's adventure parks, such as Xel-Ha and Hidden Worlds.
Local DMC Alltournative offers several adventures that include visits to cenotes.
"In our Jungle Crossing water expedition, we take people to the most beautiful cenotes and longest underground river in the world," says Nathalie Leno, group manager for Alltournative.
Groups enter the Sac-Actun cenote system and can snorkel in the Nohoch Nah Chiich cavern, surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. There is also an opportunity to swim in Yaxmuul, a unique natural pool.
"The water is crystal clear like a swimming pool, with natural light," Leno says.
Other stops include biking through the jungle to discover a mystic cenote where guests participate in a traditional Maya purification ceremony.
Expeditions have a capacity of over 90, with groups divided up for the various activities.
Alltournative also offers a team-building Nature Rally. Participants are divided into groups for a variety of challenges, some focusing on communication and others on intelligence. Activities include swimming in cenotes, rappelling into cenotes, flying over the canopy along zip lines and finding copal inside a cenote, which is then offered to a shaman who will perform a Maya ritual.
There is a capacity of up to 140 people for the Nature Rally.
6. Cozumel: Scuba Diving
With its variety of marine life and colorful coral reef, along with visibility of up to 250 feet, Cozumel is renowned as one of the greatest diving destinations in the world.
The DMC Maritur offers trips for up to 10 participants to the second-largest reef in the world. Its Three Reef Snorkeling adventure can be configured for diving as well, according to Adriana Aburto, a Maritur representative based in Cancun. Depending on weather conditions, the reef visits can change, ranging from Palancar to Colombia reefs. Popular dive spots at those reefs include Palancar Gardens and Colombia Pinnacles. The Chankanaab reef system can be visited as well.
In addition, Scuba Club Cozumel, which was built in 1976 as Cozumel's first dedicated diver's resort, is still a popular spot and can work with groups. The resort runs scuba trips from the hotel's private pier and also offers scuba courses. Trips can be made to the wreck of the Felipe Xicotencatl, which is located close to the resort on Tormentos Reef.
7. Acapulco: Observing the La Quebrada Cliff Divers
Acapulco is home to the famed La Quebrada Cliff Divers, professional high divers who perform daily shows that involve plunging 125 feet from the cliffs of La Quebrada into the Pacific.
There are two places where groups can watch the divers, according to Daniel Martinez, meetings and incentives director for the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office.
El Mirador features a restaurant for up to 200, which offers views of the divers from close range. Outside the restaurant, an average of 400 to 800 people can watch the show.
"Sometimes groups can talk to the restaurant owners and they can create a special dish for the groups, and maybe after the show they can have a photo with all the cliff divers," Martinez says.
He also suggests watching the cliff divers by boat with the company ACA Rey, which can accommodate about 250.
"If they are looking for something more exclusive, the La Marina Yacht Club rents private yachts for VIP groups," Martinez says.
8. Mazatlan: Learning to Surf
Mazatlan is a surfer's paradise, with about 13 prime locations in the region. Groups can experience the activity in a number of ways.
"We can do surfing instruction as a group or an individual," says Julio Birrueta, director of marketing for the Mazatlan Tourism Trust. "We have groups rated on skill. If they don't know how to surf, here in town they can take lessons with instructors. If it's a group that surfs, we rate their skill and recommend surfing areas according to that."
Another option is to organize a surf camp for small groups staying in rustic accommodations about 45 minutes to an hour outside of town.
The Mazatlan AquaSports & Scuba Dive Center is a family-owned company located at El Cid Castilla Beach Resort that specializes in surfing tours, among other activities.
The center offers surf lessons, surfboard rentals and tours for groups or individuals of all experience levels. Lessons include personal instruction and surfboard rental. Paddle surfing is also popular.
9. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: Setting Sail
Water sports abound in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, which offers everything from water tricycle riding to sailboarding. The location is also a prime spot for sailing.
Picante Cruises runs several types of sailing trips.
"The most successful is our Magical Sunset Cruise," says Tony Piazza, who runs Picante Cruises.
Another option is the 4.5-hour Sail and Snorkel day trip in a catamaran for up to 80 people from Zihuatanejo Bay to Playa Manzanillo, with time for snorkeling, swimming and shell collecting.
"We spend an hour snorkeling and we head back and set sail," Piazza says. "We sail in and come into the bay with a big spinnaker. We drop anchor, rig a harness in our sail and give people rides—spinnaker flying. They can get up to 40 to 50 feet high."
Groups looking for an eco adventure can take Picante's Pacific Discovery tour. Along the way, passengers may spot California grey and humpback whales from mid-December to mid-March. Other sea critters include dolphins, loggerhead turtles and manta rays. The cruise circumnavigates the "Morros," frequented by boobies, frigates and the white tropicbird.
"It's a spectacular place," Piazza says.
10. Veracruz: White-Water Rafting
The state of Veracruz boasts more than 40 rivers within its rugged boundaries, making it a haven for white-water rafting. The combination of the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains to the west and the large amounts of rainfall help feed numerous fast-flowing rivers.
IVI Destination Management organizes rafting trips for groups in the region, namely along Rio Pescados.
"We have three levels of rafting, for beginners and also up to level III," says Lilia Penaloza, IVI's regional vice president for Central and Southern Mexico. "The beginning of Rio Pescados is level I to II; those are easy for everybody."
There are two stops along the way, first at El Cuajilote, a small archeological site of the Totonac culture.
"We stop and visit with an archaeologist," Penaloza says. "We have another stop a little farther where there is a cascade in a canyon. It is very small but it's beautiful."
The journey ends with lunch, usually consisting of fish from the river. The same river offers class III rapids for the more adventurous, though more time is spent on the river rather than stopping at the sites.
The white-water rafting trips are usually full-day excursions with lunch, and IVI can accommodate up to 100 people using a number of boats.
