TOURIST SITES

Acapulco, bordered by turquoise waters, edged by golden sands and shielded by emerald hills rising to the east is a world class resort amidst spectacular terrain. Acapulco has premiere resorts that cater to the many conventioneers who attend functions at its state-of-the-art convention center. The Acapulco Cultural and Convention Center features over 250,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space, 35 meeting rooms, a 7,000-seat theater and a business center. It hosts hundreds of conventions on a yearly basis on both an international and domestic level. The Acapulco International Airport is located approximately 14 miles from the convention center in the heart of the hotel zone.

The hotel zone is comprised of many properties - both foreign and domestic - with their own meeting facilities for small groups up to several thousand. Serviced by multilingual staffs, fully equipped business centers and all the amenities, these hotels provide an exceptional meeting place in a tropical paradise. Many properties have spas, salons, tennis and access to golf. There are also properties located away from the main hotel zone that are excellent venues for quieter meetings without sacrificing quality or service.

Huatulco, one of Mexico's most recent resort projects, is quickly on its way to rivaling the country's better known recreation zones. With each new development, planners experiment with and perfect their designs, and Huatulco has benefited from its predecessors. Scattered across 20 miles of ideal Pacific coastline in the state of Oaxaca, the resorts are set in bays that break up the sprawl. The principal bays are Bahia de Santa Cruz, Bahia Chahue, and Bahia Tangolunda. There are golf courses, horse stables, tennis courts, marinas, trendy restaurants - pretty much everything you'd expect out of a tropical beach vacation. Near the city center there is also an ecological park, Rufino Tamayo.

Not far from Huatulco are two other resort towns worth a day trip: Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, both to the west. The quiet towns have excellent beaches and are well-known in the surfing world; each year Puerto Escondido hosts a major international competition.

The Yucatan Peninsula sticks into the Caribbean Sea, like a thumb dipping into the ocean. Within driving distance of some of Mexico's most spectacular archaeological treasures such as Uxmal and Chichen-Itza, and natural wonders of protected reserves, coral reefs and lagoons, the Yucatan Peninsula is also one of Mexico's most intriguing meeting and conventions destinations.The capital city of the state of Yucatan, Merida, also known as the "White City," is a prime example of the region's colonial heritage. The city, once known as the Paris of West, offers a winning combination of a picturesque setting and modern infrastructure.Located on the western third of the peninsula, the state of Campeche is rich in colonial history. Its capital city, Campeche, is an excellent venue for smaller meetings and offers a special historical setting by the sea where planners can both conduct business and get away from it all.The Yucatan Peninsula also consists of the Mexican Caribbean, in the state of Quintana Roo, the coastal region that includes Cancun and Cozumel.

Only 50km (31mi) northeast of the city center lie the ruins of Mexico's biggest ancient city, Teotihuacán, which probably boasted 200,000 inhabitants at its peak in the 6th century. Teotihuacán was the capital of Mexico's first great civilization, and the remains testify to its pre-eminence. Travelers who can avoid the touts will be in awe of the Avenue of the Dead, the 70m (230ft) high Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly.

Tula, the probable capital of the Toltec civilization, is 65km (40mi) north of Mexico City. The site is best known for its fearsome 4m (13ft) high stone warriors.

Some 85km (53mi) south of the capital is Cuernavaca, a city whose mild climate has attracted the wealthy and fashionable seeking relief from Mexico City since colonial times. Much of the city's elegance is hidden behind high walls and courtyards, but a number of residences have been turned into galleries, hotels and restaurants. The city is not for those on a tight budget but its luxuries make it a favorite place for visitors keen to enroll in Spanish-language courses.

The old silver-mining town of Taxco, 180km (112mi) southwest of Mexico City, is a gorgeous colonial antique, and one of the most picturesque and pleasant places in Mexico. It clings to a steep hillside, has labyrinthine narrow cobbled streets, engagingly well-worn buildings and delightful plazas. The entire town has been declared a national historic monument.

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