4 Ways to Have a Mexican Adrenalin Adventure

For many travelers, a vacation to Mexico means lying on a white sand beach and doing next to nothing while wearing next to nothing. But for a select few, heading south of the border is all about adrenalin-pumping adventure and extreme sports. Of course there is no reason you can't do both -- plus the requisite shopping, eating, and cultural activities as well.

Shotover Jet (tel. 800/509-5992; www.shotoverjet.com.mx) is a website that provides an overview of many of the country's adventure sports (starting with the ones Shotover sells), especially those that operate in and around the resort towns of Cancún and Acapulco. Activities include everything from horseback riding to ziplining, and jet-boating to Segway steering. They can also put together packages that include two of more adventures for reduced prices. Prices for their adventures are relatively low compared to similar activities in the U.S., including the following:

• Jet boat $60 ($42 for kids)
• All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) adventure $65 ($2 for children)
• Horseback riding $65 ($45 for kids)
• Ziplining $50 ($38 for kids)
• Paintball $49
• Segway $50 ($35 for kids)
• Combination Zipline and either jet boat, ATV, Horseback ride, or Segway -- $89 ($78 for kids)
• Zipline and two other activities $129

White-Water Rafting

About 40 miles east of Acapulco (or about an hour's drive), Pueblo Bravo Rafting (tel. 800/509-5992; www.shotoverjet.com.mx/Contenido_rafting.html) runs a variety of extreme outdoor adventures in and around the Papagayo River including mountain climbing, river rafting, and kayaking. They offer 15 inflatable rafts with capacity for six people in each. Raft tours taking in magnificent scenery and class I, II, and II plus rapids. Tours run Tuesday to Sunday with departures at 11am on the Papagayo River. Transportation to the river is provided from Pueblo Bravo's Acapulco-based information center located on Avenida Costera Miguel Alemán at 10am. Life jackets and helmets are provided, but waterproof shoes need to be worn and it is recommended that you bring a change of clothes as you will undoubtedly get drenched. You are discouraged from bringing your own photographic equipment, but a professional photographer is on hand to capture images of your adventure, with prints on sale at the end of your journey. Reservations are necessary and the 800 Pesos ($60) per person price includes round-trip transportation, one-and-a-half to two hours on the river, lunch, passenger insurance and local taxes. Due to seasonal water levels, these rafting trips will only operate until January 11, 2010 and then will recommence on June 16, 2010.

For those after more than a couple of hours in the whitewater, Quest Expeditions (tel. 800/277-4537; www.questexpeditions.com/mexico.htm) offers one-week adventure trips out of Veracruz that feature world-class whitewater rafting, relaxing on beaches, exploring ancient ruins and soaking in natural hot springs. The next adventure is scheduled for January 3, 2010 for seven nights at a cost of $1,695 per person, based on double occupancy. This price includes airport transfers; four full days of rafting along the Class II to IV rapids on the Rio Antigua and Rio Actopan; all meals; six nights' camping and hotel accommodations in the towns of Cardel, Jalapa, Carrizal, Boca de Ovejas, La Antigua and Veracruz; and all entrance fees to sites.

Rock Climbing

Total Climbing (tel. 800/836-4008), a Colorado-based mountain school and rock climbing club runs a series of specialized rock-climbing adventures in Mexico each year. Their eight-day Orizaba Express adventure taking on North America's highest Volcanic Summit will run on from November 28 to December 5, 2009 and again from December 26, 2009 to January 2, 2010 with four climbers per guide. Prerequisites for the climb include a Mountaineering Introduction course. Past experience at 14,000 feet is recommended. Standing at almost 19,000 feet, Orizaba is third highest mountain in North America and is one of the world's Volcanic Seven Summits. This beautiful peak will require hiking and climbing on fairly steep terrain, while using crampons, a mountaineering axe, and traveling as a roped team. The trip is priced at $2,000 per person and includes airport transfers from Mexico City; hotel, cabin and host family accommodations for seven nights; all meals; transportation; and sightseeing for day in Mexico City.

Total also runs the seven-day Portrero Chico Rock Camp near Monterrey with two climbers per guide. They recommend that participants complete a rock climbing introduction seminar or have indoor climbing experience at or above 5.9, as the trip is designed for experienced rock climbers and those familiar with multi-pitch systems and able to consistently climb sport or gym routes of 5.8 or harder. All of the established routes at Potrero are sport climbs, and require minimal gear. This adventure runs in November and December 2009 and again in March 2010. Climbers will be based out of Hidalgo, staying in a quiet hostel with private rooms with adjoining baths and camping facilities. Guides will prepare breakfasts with while most of the dinners are in nearby restaurants. The cost is $2,000 per person.

For something less intense with considerably less cost, perhaps a one-day climbing trip in the Chiapas region may be more your thing. GloCal Travel (tel. +44/207-193-7252; www.glocaltravel.net), a UK-based operation, has a one-day rock climbing excursion to the Meseta de Copoya in the southern Chiapas region. This excursion will suit those who would like to try rock climbing for the first time, as well as for advanced climbers. The area is famous for its high quality limestone cliffs with over 50 climbing routes of all levels, for beginner to advanced level climbers (Climbing Grades: 5.6-5.12). After a 20-minute hike along trails shaded by the dense canopy of the forest you will reach the main climbing areas. The excursion is mainly organized on weekends, although extra trips can be arranged with departures from either San Cristobal de Las Casas at 8am or from Tuxtla Gutiérrez at 9:30am. Climbing activities will last five to six hours with a minimum of four participants and a maximum of nine (three climbers per guide). The $50 per person cost includes round-trip transportation from San Cristobal or Tuxtla Gutiérrez; specialized guides; personal and general group technical equipment: helmets, harnesses, etc.; a light lunch and water; plus insurance.

Canopying or Ziplining

Canopy Adventure Park lays 45-minutes from Puerto Vallarta in the forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains. This privately owned eco reserve offers ziplining adventures for both adults and children. Whoosh from platform to platform some 90 feet above the forest floor or try their Tarzan Swing. Vallarta Adventures (tel. 888/303-2653; www.vallarta-adventures.com/tours/canopy-adventure-park) offers day trips to the Canopy Park including transportation, three hours of ziplining, bottles water, and light snacks for $79 for adults (up to 250 pounds in weight) and $55 for children eight years of age or older. Tours depart daily from two central locations in Puerto Vallarta.

The same company (operating under a different name) operates the Canyon Canopy Adventure out of Cabo San Lucas. Cabo Adventures (tel. 888/303-2653; www.cabo-adventures.com) runs zipline tours overlooking the UNESCO protected Boca de Sierra National Park. Fly across a series of ziplines through wide open canyons and make your way along the Commando and Burma Bridges before arriving at the Tarzan Swing and unique ascending ziplines. You can also try their climbing walls and double cross ziplines and experience the 90 foot rappel. The five-hour Canyon Canopy Adventure includes transportation, bottled water, and light snacks. Age and weight requirements are the same as the Puerto Vallarta experience and visitors must be able to walk uphill for 15 minutes and walk up steps. The cost is $88 per person.

Skydiving

It may be something you've always wondered about but never followed through on. Suddenly you are on vacation and you're thinking "What the heck, let's do it." If the resort town of Acapulco is on your destination list, then you can drop into Skydive Acapulco (tel. +52/744-484-6672) at the Romano Palace Hotel and with 20 minutes of training, you can enjoy the thrill of skydiving attached to a certified Tandem instructor from an altitude of 10,000 feet and freefall for 45 seconds. No previous experience is required.

From Mexico City, you can also indulge your need for altitude and speed with Skydive Cuautla (www.skydivecuautla.com/cuautla/ingles/inicioeng.html). You'll be up at 13,000 feet and the drop zone is located one hour south Mexico City in Cuautla. A tandem jump costs $2,200 Mexican Pesos (or roughly $165) and that includes pre-flight instruction and a CD with digital still photographs of your experience. If you'd like a DVD with your entire adventure, that will be an extra $1,200 Mexican Pesos ($90). Transportation back to Mexico City is also provided. Cuautla also operates in several other locations including beach sites in Puerto Escondido and Puerto Vallarta.

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