Special-Interest Vacations

Archaeological Tours

The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Ave. NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM 87108 (tel. 505/266-1540; www.americanarchaeology.com), presents one trip per year led by an expert, usually an archaeologist. The trips change from year to year and space is limited; make reservations early.

ATC Tours and Travel, Av. 16 de Septiembre 16, 29200 San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chis. (tel. 967678-2550 or -2557; fax 967/678-3145; www.atctours.com), a Mexico-based tour operator with an excellent reputation, offers specialist-led trips, primarily in southern Mexico. In addition to trips to the ruins of Palenque and Yaxchilán (extending into Belize and Guatemala by river, plane, and bus if desired), ATC offers horseback tours to Chamula or Zinacantán, and day trips to the ruins of Toniná around San Cristóbal de las Casas; birding in the rainforests of Chiapas and Guatemala (including in the El Triunfo Reserve of Chiapas); hikes to the shops and homes of native textile artists of the Chiapas highlands; and walks from the Lagos de Montebello in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, with camping and canoeing. The company can also prepare custom itineraries.

Art & Culture Tours

Mexican Art Tours, 1233 E. Baker Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282 (tel. 888/783-1331 or 480/730-1764; fax 480/730-1496; www.mexicanarttours.com) offers unique tours focusing on the authentic arts and cultures of Mexico. Groups are accompanied by compelling speakers who are themselves respected scholars and artists. Itineraries include visits to Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Veracruz, and other locales. Special tours include a Day of the Dead tour and architecture and interior-design tours.

Mexico Travel Link Ltd., 300-3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2 Canada (tel. 604/454-9044; fax 604/454-9088; www.mexicotravel.net), offers cultural, sports, and adventure tours to Mexico City and surrounding areas, Baja, Veracruz, the Copper Canyon, the Mayan Route, and other destinations.

Oaxaca Reservations/Zapotec Tours, 4955 N. Claremont Ave., Suite B, Chicago, IL 60625 (tel. 800/446-2922 outside Illinois, or 773/506-2444; fax 773/506-2445; www.oaxacainfo.com), offers a variety of tours to Oaxaca City and the Oaxaca coast (including Puerto Escondido and Huatulco). Its specialty trips include Day of the Dead and the Taste of Oaxaca Festival, both in Oaxaca. The coastal trips emphasize nature, while the Oaxaca City tours focus on the immediate area, with visits to weavers, potters, markets, and archaeological sites. This is also the U.S. contact for several hotels in Oaxaca City that offer a 10% discount for reserving online.

Cooking Tours

Culinary Adventures, 6023 Reid Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 (tel. 253/851-7676; fax 253/851-9532; www.marilyntausend.com), specializes in a short but select list of cooking tours in Mexico. They feature well-known cooks and travel to regions known for excellent cuisine. The owner, Marilyn Tausend, is the co-author of Mexico the Beautiful Cookbook and Cocinas de la Familia (Family Kitchens).

Natural History Tours

Natural Habitat Adventures, 2945 Center Green Court, Suite H, Boulder, CO 80301 (tel. 800/543-8917 or 303/449-3711; www.nathab.com), offers naturalist-led natural history and adventure travel. Expeditions focus on monarch butterfly watching in Michoacán and gray whale-watching in Baja.

NatureQuest, 30872 South Coast Hwy., Suite PMB, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (tel. 800/369-3033 or 949/499-9561; www.naturequesttours.com), specializes in the natural history, culture, and wildlife of the Copper Canyon and the remote lagoons and waterways off Baja California. A 10-day hiking trip ventures into rugged areas of the canyon; a less strenuous trip goes to Creel and Batopilas, in the same area. Baja trips get close to nature, with special permits for venturing by two-person kayak into sanctuaries for whales and birds.

Outdoor Adventure Tours

AMTAVE (Asociación Mexicana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo, A.C.) is an active association of ecotour and adventure tour operators. It publishes an annual catalog of participating firms and their offerings, all of which must meet certain criteria for security, quality, and training of the guides, as well as for sustainability of natural and cultural environments. For more information, contact AMTAVE (tel. 55/5688-3883; www.amtave.org).

Far Flung Adventures, P.O. Box 377, Terlingua, TX 79852 (tel. 800/359-2627; www.farflung.com), organizes specialist-led river trips to the Antigua, Actopan, and Filobobos rivers, in Veracruz.

Tour Baja, P.O. Box 827, Calistoga, CA 94515 (tel. 800/398-6200 or 707/942-4550; fax 707/942-8017; www.tourbaja.com), offers sea-kayaking tours in the Loreto area. Owner Trudi Angell has guided these trips for more than 20 years. She and her guides offer firsthand knowledge of the area. Kayaking, mountain biking, and pack trips as well as sailing charters combine these elements with outdoor adventures.

Sea Kayak Adventures, P.O. Box 3862, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 (tel. 800/616-1943 or 208/765-3116; fax 208/765-5254; www.seakayakadventures.com), features kayak trips in both the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay, with a focus on whale-watching. This company has the exclusive permit to paddle Magdalena Bay's remote northern waters, and they guarantee gray whale sightings. Trips combine paddling of 4 to 5 hours per day, with hiking across dunes and beaches, while nights are spent camping.

Sea Trek Ocean Kayaking Center, P.O. Box 1987, Sausalito, CA 94966 (tel. 415/488-1000; fax 415/332-8790; www.seatrekkayak.com), has been alternating sea-kayaking trips between Alaska and Baja for 20 years, which has provided them an intimate knowledge of the peninsula's coastline. Eight-day trips depart from and return to Loreto, and a 12-day expedition travels from Loreto to La Paz. An optional day excursion to Bahía Magdalena for gray whale-watching is available. Full boat support is provided, and no previous paddling experience is necessary.

Trek America, P.O. Box 189, Rockaway, NJ 07866 (tel. 800/221-0596 or 973/983-1144; fax 973/983-8551; www.trekamerica.com), organizes lengthy, active trips that combine trekking, hiking, van transportation, and camping in the Yucatán, Chiapas, Oaxaca, the Copper Canyon, and Mexico's Pacific coast, and a trip that covers Mexico City, Teotihuacán, Taxco, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco.

Veraventuras, Santos Degollado 81-8, 91000 Xalapa, Ver. (tel. 228/818-9579, or 01-800/712-6572 in Mexico; fax 228/818-9680; www.veraventuras.xalapa.net), uses specially trained leaders on well-organized and -outfitted adventures into the state of Veracruz, including hiking, mountain climbing, repelling, extreme sports, and rafting the rapids of the Antigua, Actopan, Barranca, and Filobobos rivers.

Baja Expeditions, 2625 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA 92109 (tel. 800/843-6967 or 858/581-3311; fax 858/581-6542; www.bajaex.com), offers natural-history cruises, whale-watching, sea kayaking, camping, scuba diving, and resort and day trips out of Loreto or La Paz, Baja California, and San Diego, California. Small groups and special itineraries are Baja Expeditions' specialty.

The California Native, 6701 W. 87th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (tel. 800/926-1140 or 310/642-1140; www.calnative.com), offers small-group deluxe 7-, 8-, 9-, and 11-day escorted tours through the Copper Canyon. Many trips visit the towns of Batopilas, Urique, and Tejeban as well as the customary destinations of Creel, El Fuerte, Divisadero, Chihuahua, and Cerocahui. The guides are known throughout the area for their work with the Tarahumara Indians. In addition to escorted trips, the company offers a full range of custom itineraries.

Canyon Travel, 900 Rich Creek Lane, Bulverde, TX 78163-2872 (tel. 800/843-1060 in the U.S. and Canada, or 830/885-2000; fax 830/885-2010; www.canyontravel.com), specializes in the Copper Canyon and has a variety of adventures, ranging from easy to challenging. It designs trips for special-interest groups of agriculturists, geologists, rock hounds, and birders, and custom trips to the Copper Canyon. The owner works with the Tarahumara Indians.

Mountain Travel Sobek, 6420 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530 (tel. 888/687-6235 or 510/594-6000; www.mtsobek.com), takes groups kayaking in the Sea of Cortez, whale-watching in Baja, and river rafting, hiking, and camping in Veracruz. Sobek is one of the world's leading ecotour outfitters.