The Americas & Caribbean from San Diego

This magical city is festive and friendly, from its legendary zoo to Balboa Park everyone here seems to be living that quintessential California lifestyle – sun, sand and surf. Between ocean and desert, the near perfect weather here is ideal for exploring charming neighborhoods, gorgeous parks, and of course, the beach.

Topolobampo is a port on the Gulf of California in northwestern Sinaloa, Mexico. It is the fourth-largest town in the municipality of Ahome.

Sitting on the east coast of Baja, Loreto provides all the diversions of a small, seafront town, including diving, kayaking and fishing. There is also a chance to play a game of tennis at the Tennis Center or a round of golf on the greens carpeting a special spot by the Sea of Cortez. Then there is the tempting excursion of boating five miles from shore to the Islas Coronado, where you can spot sea lions basking in the sun. All these features are certainly enough to make Loreto an appealing destination on this maiden call for Crystal Cruises. But what makes the town even more interesting is its mission history. Loreto was founded in 1697 as the head of the Jesuit missions to California and for 130 years, served as the territorys capital. Stop in the original mission church, which appears much as it has for centuries. Then wander through the small museum next door and learn more about Bajas missionary history.

Cradled between the stark sands of Baja and the fertile waters of the Sea of Cortez, La Paz offers a host of challenging opportunities. Dubbed “the Worlds largest fish trap,” the area is home to over 800 species of fish and 2,000 species of invertebrates. Giant manta rays and whales navigate the depths while dolphins and sea lions frolic on the surface. Deep sea fishing, diving and sightseeing boats are available for charters.

This magical city is festive and friendly, from its legendary zoo to Balboa Park everyone here seems to be living that quintessential California lifestyle – sun, sand and surf. Between ocean and desert, the near perfect weather here is ideal for exploring charming neighborhoods, gorgeous parks, and of course, the beach.

Despite being Mexico’s biggest and busiest seaport, this sunny destination is known for its miles of golden sand beaches – by some counts there are twenty – and water sports including swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing, snorkeling and diving. Manzanillo hosts the annual International Sailfish Tournament (be sure to see the 82-foot turquoise sailfish statue in town!), so not surprisingly, the deep-sea fishing here is excellent, too.

Embraced by rugged tropical mountains on one side and the beautiful Banderas Bay on the other, Puerto Vallarta is second only to Acapulco when it comes to the Mexican Rivieras leading resort cities. White stucco houses are capped with red-tile roofs and surrounded by bougainvillea-lined cobblestone streets. Native women who beat their laundry along riverbanks as busy fishing boats return to port illustrate a lifestyle that has been maintained for decades. Nearby, sophisticated restaurants, luxury hotels, smart boutiques and lively nightclubs bear testament to the changes wrought on this quiet seaside city since the 1960s. Life here has never been quite the same since the filming of the movie “Night of the Iguana” and the worldwide publicity accorded the romance of its stars, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Puerto Vallarta brims with life. Shop for leather goods, shell and silver jewelry, hand-embroidered blouses or painted figures from Oaxaca. Explore cobblestone streets and picturesque alleyways filled with the scents and bustling energy of Mexico.

The massive lighthouse of El Faro welcomes you to this thriving seaport located on a peninsula just south of the Tropic of Cancer, a fishing and sportspersons paradise.

Nestled into the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is surrounded by a translucent sea and timeless rock formations that seem otherworldly. There are miles of golden beaches and an undersea world that’s just as fascinating as what’s on shore.

Nestled into the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is surrounded by a translucent sea and timeless rock formations that seem otherworldly. There are miles of golden beaches and an undersea world that’s just as fascinating as what’s on shore.

This magical city is festive and friendly, from its legendary zoo to Balboa Park everyone here seems to be living that quintessential California lifestyle – sun, sand and surf. Between ocean and desert, the near perfect weather here is ideal for exploring charming neighborhoods, gorgeous parks, and of course, the beach.