The Mexican Riviera is the Pacific coast of Mexico, from the tip of the Baja California peninsula down to Puerto Vallarta and beyond. For West Coast travelers it fills the role the Caribbean plays for the East: warm, close and easy, with cruises leaving from Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego without a flight.
The classic 7-night itinerary visits Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, sometimes swapping in La Paz or another Gulf of California port. Shore days mix beaches and boat trips with real Mexican towns: Mazatlan's historic center and seaside Malecon, Puerto Vallarta's old town and the arch at Land's End in Cabo. From December through March, humpback whales winter along this coast, and whale watching is one of the best excursions anywhere in cruising.
Shorter 3 to 5 night trips from Southern California usually visit Ensenada, and sometimes Catalina Island, with more time onboard. Mexican Riviera cruises are typically more relaxed and less crowded than peak Caribbean sailings, and the long Pacific sea days on the way south are part of the rhythm.
- January: Best time, average high 80 degrees F
- February: Best time, average high 80 degrees F
- March: Best time, average high 81 degrees F
- April: Best time, average high 82 degrees F
- May: Shoulder season, average high 85 degrees F
- June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F
- July: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F
- August: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F
- September: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F
- October: Shoulder season, average high 89 degrees F
- November: Best time, average high 86 degrees F
- December: Best time, average high 82 degrees F
- Best time
- Shoulder season
- Cruises run
- Few or none
Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.
Short Baja cruises run year-round from Southern California, and the main 7-night Mexican Riviera season runs from about October through April, when the coast is dry and warm. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms, and the Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30. Humpback whales are in the area from about December through March.
Weather to plan around: The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30 according to NOAA. Storms affecting Cabo San Lucas and the Baja coast are most likely in August, September and October. Cabo is usually a tender port, and swells can cancel the stop even in good weather. The sea days off Southern California can be cool and windy in winter and spring.
Ports you'll likely visit
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The arch at Land's End, glass-bottom boat trips, Medano Beach and winter whale watching. Usually a tender port. - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A walkable old town and Malecon, Banderas Bay beaches, and tours into the Sierra Madre foothills. - Mazatlan, Mexico
A restored colonial historic center, one of Mexico's longest seaside boardwalks and good food at local prices. - Ensenada, Mexico
The usual stop on short cruises, with La Bufadora blowhole and the Valle de Guadalupe wine region nearby. - La Paz, Mexico
Calm Gulf of California waters, sea lion snorkeling and seasonal whale shark tours. - Catalina Island (Avalon), United States
A California island town with clear-water snorkeling and golf-cart exploring, common on short cruises.
Highlights
Whale season
Humpback whales winter along the coast from about December to March.
No flight needed
Ships leave from Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego.
Real Mexican towns
Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta have historic centers to explore beyond the beach.
Land's End in Cabo
The famous rock arch and sea lion colony are a short boat ride from the anchorage.
How long, and what documents
7 nights is standard from Los Angeles, Long Beach or San Diego. 3-5 night trips to Ensenada (and sometimes Catalina) are also common, and 10-11 night itineraries add more Mexican ports.
Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail. Mexico requires a tourist card (FMM) for visitors, which cruise lines normally handle for passengers staying aboard between port calls.
Specialist tips
- Bring a sweater for sea days; the first and last days off California can be cool even when Mexico is hot.
- Book whale watching from December to March, when sightings are most reliable.
- In Cabo, the tender line can be long; book an early tour or wait until the morning rush passes.
- Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta are easy to explore on your own by taxi or walking from the pier.
