People who know go - as often as they can - to coastal Mexico, where awe-inspiring beaches, crystal-clear waters, luxurious accommodations, and legendary service form the perfect elixir for soothing the soul.

Here, life moves at your pace, and virtually anything you need can be found at or near your Mexico vacations resort: winding pools, award-winning cuisine, exclusive shopping, pulsating nightlife, and more.

Settle in for world-class whale watching and sport fishing along the calm waters of Banderas Bay where the charming towns of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are located. Explore the colonial architecture and palm-lined beaches of Mazatlan, an authentic Mexican jewel surrounded by the Sierra Madre. Stroll along one of a collection of made-for-Hollywood beaches in Acapulco, also home to some of Mexico's hottest clubs. Or head east to Riviera Maya, a SCUBA diver's dream and an archeologist's paradise.

In Mexico the options are many, but the end result is always the same: total rejuvenation and a yearning to return for more.

Eat...

El Arrayán (Puerto Vallarta). Spicy regional specialties include goat cheese with smoked peppers, cochinita pibil (marinated pork), and shrimp pozole. Then cool the tongue (and soothe the stomach) with a mango sorbet.

Baikal (Acapulco). A spiral staircase leads to the two-story dining room - and far from ordinary fusion cuisine - at this chic and luxurious restaurant overlooking Acapulco Bay.

Daiquiri Dick's (Puerto Vallarta). The lobster tacos, stuffed with generous helpings of lobster and asparagus, then topped with tangy hollandaise sauce, are heavenly. And at $35 for a lunch for two, they're guilt-free, too.

Labna (Cancun). Among the many flavors of the Yucatan found here are the lime soup and papadzules, and the corn tortillas stuffed with hardboiled eggs and smothered in pumpkin-seed sauce. But if the menu seems a bit overwhelming, simply try the Yucatan Tour sampler plate.

Play...

Swim with the dolphins (Puerto Vallarta). Interact with these highly intelligent and playful animals. Each 90-minute experience begins with a short orientation and ends with swimmers petting, hugging and frolicking with their new friends.

Acapulco Shotover Jet. Experience the thrill of speeding along Puerto Marquez Lagoon in a powerful jet boat. The 25-minute tours are available six days a week.

Explore Mazatlán's beaches. The golden zone harbors the most popular tourist beaches in Mazatlan - as well as a host of fantastic restaurants and a championship golf course. If you don't see a secluded spot to your liking, just keep walking.

Explore...

Acapulco Scuba Center. Explore sunken ships, sea mountains, underwater caves, and small coral formations around Acapulco, sharing the clear waters with mackerel, turtles, whale sharks, and more.

Shop...

Peyote People (Puerto Vallarta). This co-op gallery features extravagant beaded masks, bowls, and animals from the Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madre.

Tlaquepaque. Shoppers (and interior designers) travel vast distances to visit the boutiques of Tlaquepaque near Guadalajara. Some come not for bargains but for some of the rarest and finest goods in Mexico.

This is provided for informational purposes only. Endless Vacation Rentals does not endorse any of the resort activities, guides, vendors or service providers described. It is the individual’s responsibility to investigate the safety and suitability of any activity, and the credentials and fitness of any guide, vendor or service provider. Endless Vacation Rentals expressly denies any liability for engaging in any activity, and for using any guide, vendor or services provider, that may be mentioned or described in any Endless Vacation Rentals advertisement or publication. Additional fees and restrictions may apply to any activity or service.