Take a Memorable Weekend Trip to Mexico from LA
Explore Mexico When You Cruise From LA
By Melissa Alvarado Sierra | Published: August 16, 2023 | Updated: February 23, 2016
Looking to get away for just a few days? Mexico weekend getaways are an action-packed, port-hopping experience like no other. Whether you're looking for excitement, relaxation or a romantic sojourn, a weekend trip to Mexico from Los Angeles on a cruise offers the chance to have many different trips in just one weekend. When I took this same journey, I wanted to discover as many destinations as possible without having to concoct a complex itinerary on my own. I simply boarded the ship and everything else was planned out for me.
Here's everything you need to know to make a weekend trip to Mexico from Los Angeles the vacation of a lifetime.
Key Takeaways: Cruise to the Best Getaways in Mexico
You can take a weekend trip to Mexico on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Itineraries range from two to seven nights, and longer trips include sea days where you can enjoy the onboard waterpark as well as local cooking or language lessons.
Destinations include:
- ● Catalina Island: Explore inviting waters, exotic dive sites and interesting wildlife in this Los Angeles County island.
- ● Ensenada: White sand beaches, cacti-lined roads and a well-known marine blowhole along the coast make the perfect backdrop for frame-worthy photos.
- ● Cabo San Lucas: Cabo's laid-back attitude and postcard-worthy beaches, including Medano, Chileno and Playa del Amor are ideal for romantic getaways in Mexico.
- ● Start planning your weekend cruise to Mexico and explore coastal and cultural treasures Baja California has to offer.
Setting Sail From LA
Los Angeles is known as many things: The City of Angels, La-La-Land and Tinseltown, to name a few. Los Angeles is famous for so many reasons. That said, did you know it's a popular destination port to >cruises to the Caribbean and beyond? Cruising from Los Angeles couldn't be easier, or more fun.
To really get to know Los Angeles, I planned to explore it before and after my cruise trip, once on my own and once on a shore excursion. My plan was to enjoy Los Angeles for a day or two before the cruise's departure to Mexico, explore the many cruise amenities while at sea and then immerse myself in Mexican life and culture, exploring as much as I could at the ports of call in Mexico.
My main goal was to explore Los Angeles by way of its strongest traits: the entertainment industry, the postcard-worthy beaches, the bountiful nature and of course, the theme parks. My main takeaways? Don't underestimate how long it takes to go from point A to point B (traffic changes within minutes) and don't be intimidated by the size and population of Los Angeles (it's the second largest in the United States). I divided my visit by areas and themes and was able to dig deep and get acquainted with this glimmering city in a short amount of time.
Arriving in Los Angeles a few days before my Mexican Riviera cruise, I started my getaway in the heart of Hollywood. I immersed myself in the creative pulse of this city by catching a show at the Hollywood Bowl. This open-air theater is iconic and the perfect way to kick off my LA trip. The next day I lived out another California dream with a stroll down Venice Beach, stopping to check out street performers and local art.
For a change of pace, I bookended my long weekend in Mexico with visits to California's best fantasy attractions — Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Families with kids or those who are kids at heart will love soaking up the magic of these theme parks which are luckily just a hop, skip and a jump from Los Angeles.
Finally, when my cruise arrived back to Los Angeles after my weekend getaway to Mexico, I took advantage of all of the natural beauty Southern California has to offer — think mile-high waves, lush hiking trails and rugged mountains hugging the coast. I headed to picturesque Malibu for a romantic sunset picnic by the water with my other half, then to the Griffith Observatory to explore the beautiful hiking grounds and to El Porto for soft white sand, a volleyball game and to try to catch a wave or two as the locals do. It was the perfect way to cap off my short, but busy stint in LA.
What To Expect During Adventurous Sea Days
After all the excitement on land, it was time for my weekend trip to Mexico from Los Angeles. Joining my cruise ship for my journey to Mexico meant enjoying incredible activities and amenities on board. There are so many opportunities available during these all-inclusive Mexico trips that I went ahead and created an itinerary with the help of one of the cruise-planning features. I divided my seagoing trip into three sections: the adventure portion, the educational portion and the water fun portion. In a matter of minutes, I had a customized plan and was ready to enjoy the thrills, relaxation and learning opportunities on my days at sea.
Thrills and Onboard Fun
The adventures offered on board meant I could tailor this portion to my specific interests. I love to do daring things and found plenty to satisfy my adrenaline-seeking nature. My first stop was Ripcord® by iFly®, the gravity-defying attraction had me flying in the air, freefalling without leaving the deck. Next up was zip lining above the Boardwalk, suspended on the line ten decks above everyone. I was again flying, but this time across the ship while under the sail. Then I decided to try my luck at the FlowRider® Surf Simulator, surfing the 40-foot-long simulator that featured 30,000 gallons of water. I opted for a boogie board and had a blast, but next time I'll try to stand up on a longboard.
I spent a sunny sea day hopping from one waterslide to the next, starting with Typhoon℠ and Cyclone. The double challenge was the perfect way to race with my friend down a waterslide, loving every twist and turn and the perfect sea views. Then, like the thrillseeker I am, I ran to the next waterslide on my list, Supercell. As part of what is known as The Perfect Storm℠ — easily the most daring waterslides at sea — Supercell℠ shoots you into a giant bowl that looped me down to a pool. I had never experienced anything as scary and exhilarating. Lastly, I found The Blaster® for a hair-raising adventure on the longest waterslide at sea. I hopped on a tandem tube to journey along 800 feet of drops and turns.
Exploring Cultural Activities
After taking advantage of the onboard fun, I dove right into the educational portion I had planned for my trip. I enrolled in three amazing classes that would help me enjoy the different Mexico vacation destinations, while also getting to know my fellow cruise companions — Latin dance, cooking class and a Spanish-language class.
After perfecting some classic Latin moves and learning how to cook up some traditional Mexican fare, I joined a Spanish class with my friend who didn't know any Spanish and wanted to prepare for this and other Mexico getaways in the future. My main language is Spanish and she was able to practice with me during the crash course. She learned the basics, but also some more advanced phrases she could use when we got to Mexico. With these new skills under our belts, we were ready to move on to the main attraction of our getaway weekend: Mexico!
Wandering Mexican Wonders: Itineraries and Destinations
Short cruises from Los Angeles to Mexico take you to ports of call, including:
- ● Catalina Island.
- ● Ensenada.
- ● Cabo San Lucas.
From Los Angeles, Royal Caribbean offers two-night Mexico weekend getaways to Ensenada, and you can stretch it out to a four-night long weekend trip to Mexico, which includes the inviting waters and stunning dive sites of Catalina Island. Cruising from San Diego, you can also depart on two to four-night cruises to Catalina and Ensenada.
I extended my weekend to five days so that I could hit Ensenada and Cabo on one trip. These destinations are bursting with ocean adventures, world-class cuisine and so much history. There is much to discover and cherish in this part of the world. With a destination-hopping schedule, amazing amenities on board and custom onshore tours, a cruise is the best way to soak up the magic of Mexico.
Mexico Getaways to Cabo San Lucas
My first stop, Cabo San Lucas, was a visit to a sun-drenched paradise by the beach and colorful art walks. I embraced Cabo's laid-back attitude and romantic air and spent a lot of time on the postcard-worthy beaches. Down on the coast, there's a beach for everyone, especially those searching for romantic getaways in Mexico.
In Cabo San Lucas, my favorite beaches are Medano, Chileno and Playa del Amor. Playa del Amor is especially wonderful because of the views of Land's End, the impressive rock formations rising from the water. Also called Lover's Beach, this slice of paradise is ideal for sunbathing and enjoying a little quiet time with a loved one, although it's not fit for swimming as the tide is strong. After I had enough of Cabo's beautiful nature, I hopped from restaurants Los Tres Gallos to El Peregrino and savored chile en nogadas, chocolate tacos and cold drinks.
Mexico Getaways to Ensenada
From there, we cruised to Ensenada. With stunning scenery, white sand beaches, cacti-lined roads and endless Mahi Mahi, the Baja California coast boasts all the elements necessary for the good life to ensue, and I was front and center when my cruise ship arrived. With just one day here, I wasted no time and headed straight for one of the most popular attractions in Ensenada, called La Bufadora. The marine geyser or blowhole has water shooting 100 feet above sea level. The views are so impressive, with rock formations along the coast that make the perfect backdrop for frame-worthy photos.
Before setting sail back to LA, I strolled down Ensenada's gorgeous malecón. Nothing beats having the ocean on full display while lively vendors sell everything from elotes to sombreros to the tune of the beautiful local music. I knew I had to return to Mexico soon.
Sail the Mexican Coastlines from LA
