If you're looking for a great (and inexpensive) way to say goodbye to summer, consider an all-inclusive seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera. You'll leave from San Diego and make stops in Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Cab San Lucas. Inside staterooms start at $800 on Holland America and these fares are good until December 12.

Puerto Vallarta is wonderful this time of year. Seasoned travelers know that the rains there wash out most of the month of July, but by August the sun returns to Banderas Bay. If you'd like to spend some extra time in Puerto Vallarta, skip the cruise and fly into the city's new international airport terminal. You'll find excellent deals on flights into the city, and hotel rates are low. You can find excellent hotel accommodations in the heart of Puerto Vallarta for less than USD$100 per night, and all-inclusive resorts can be had for as little as $120 per night.

If you want to see authentic Mexico, plan to spend a few days in Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta's neighbor state to the north. Visit the sea turtle sanctuaries in San Pancho to learn about Nayarit's sea turtle habitats. Watch young sea turtles make their way to the ocean and enjoy the gorgeous Nayarit scenery. The turtle-nesting season runs through mid-November. Make reservations to stay at the Costa Azul Hotel. Single night packages are available for beachfront villas starting at just $199 through December 15.

Plan to spend at least a day in Sayulita, Nayarit. Rancho Mi Chaparrita offers exceptional, affordable tours and activities you won't want to miss! Visit the Marietas Islands nature preserve. These gorgeous volcanic islands are home to some of Banderas Bay's most interesting wildlife. Dolphins, humpback whales, turtles and sea birds winter over in the Marietas Islands. Take a 45-minute tour and then spend the day playing and swimming with the natural inhabitants of the islands.

If you prefer, spend the morning fishing for sailfish, snapper, swordfish and tuna or take surfing lessons in the morning and learn t surf Sayulita's famous waves from the experienced local surfing professionals. In the afternoon, lay back on Sayulita's most inviting beaches and watch your instructors put on a show! On land, rise above the dense vegetation canopy for a horseback tour of the Nayarit jungle. Ride a Zip Line through the trees or spend the afternoon riding ATVs. Sayulita also offers wonderful shopping venues for authentic Mexican jewelry and crafts.

On your way back to Puerto Vallarta, stop in Nuevo Vallarta and swim with the dolphins. Nuevo Vallarta Adventures offers an outstanding array of daylong adventures ranging from swimming with dolphins and sea lions, to whale watching and jungle expeditions. Get close to the "authentic Mexico" while visiting remote villages in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Enjoy the hospitality that Mexico is famous for. Watch local residents prepare a meal before your eyes and taste the authentic Mexican dishes prepared as they have been in this region for hundreds of years!

Most hotels and local tour companies offer discounts through mid-December, so whether you go by ship or plane, plan to have an unforgettable adventure in Puerto Vallarta.

Marsha Ford has been a professional writer for more than 10 years and a travel lover all her life. Through a partnership with My Trip Journal, Marsha and Maureen Collins are able to spread the word on great travel and adventures around the world. For comments or more information, contact Marsha Ford at mford@mytripjournal.com or Maureen today at mcollins@mytripjournal.com.