Must-see attractions in Central Pacific Coast

On Bahía Tenacatita, Manzanilla's calm water is ideal for swimming. You can spot good-sized crocs in the mangroved estuary; the beach itself provides a…

True to its name (Big Waves Beach), this attractive stretch of sand has lovely surfable breakers and is backed by a handful of simple beach restaurants.

This beach, just beyond Las Ánimas, has a waterfall accessible by a half-hour hike or by hiring a horse (M$300) on the beach to take you up.

Sinfonía del Mar is an outdoor stepped plaza that occasionally hosts concerts, but mainly serves as an amazing place to view sunsets.

Playa Escolleras, at the western end of Playa El Palmar near the entrance to the marina, has a decent break and attracts surfers.

One of Mazatlán's better beaches, Playa Sábalo extends north of the Zona Dorada and is backed by several luxury hotels.

At the eastern end of the Acapulco strip, this lively beach is a good spot for summer sunsets.

On Bahía Tenacatita, the shore break here can be steep and fast, perfect for bodyboarding.

North of town, this appealing beach has a cluster of seafood restaurants and decent surf.

The little-visited ruins at Los Toriles, on the outskirts of Ixtlán del Río, give a rare glimpse into the lives of Nayarit's pre-Hispanic inhabitants. The…

Playas Caleta and Caletilla are two small, protected beaches blending into each other in a cove on the south side of the Península de las Playas. They’re…

One of Mexico’s largest aquariums has tanks with hundreds of species of freshwater, pelagic and reef fish, a display of skeletons, and birds and frogs in…

South of the Plaza Principal is the Palacio de Gobierno. Look inside to see some impressive and colorful murals. Painted by José Luis Soto and finished in…

This large shaded children’s park, between Morín and El Cano near Playa Hornitos, is popular with Mexican families. Attractions include a lake with…

Playa Linda has a small cocodrilario (crocodile reserve) that is also home to fat iguanas and several bird species. You can watch the hulking crocs from…

This is a small museum in a sprawling colonial courtyard complex, which makes a convincing case for the vitality and innovation of contemporary Mexican…

One of the beaches closest to Old Acapulco is Playa Tlacopanocha, directly across from the zócalo, noteworthy more as a departure point for bay cruises…

Playa La Audiencia, lining a gorgeous cove on the west side of Península de Santiago, has tranquil water and is popular for waterskiing and other noisy…

In front of downtown, this is Zihua's least appealing beach for bathing, since the water could be cleaner. But the water is calm and without strong…

The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, built in 1930, dominates the square and is unusual for its blue-domed, neo-Byzantine architecture.