Mexico's beautiful outdoors holds something special for everyone. Whether you arrive equipped with golf shoes, diving fins or just your camera, you will seldom be disappointed.

The locals' general lack of interest in outdoor activities doesn't stop growing numbers of intrepid gringos (Americans) from trekking off into what Mexicans probably consider absurdly rough country. Trails around the Copper Canyon and Baja California are among the most popular and developed.

Sport fishing is especially popular off the Pacific coast and in theGulf of California. Snorkeling and diving is wonderful in Mexico, particularly at Caribbean coast resorts like Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Punta Allen and Banco Chinchorro. On the Pacific coast, try Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Huatulco.

Inland, there are many balnearios, bathing places with swimming pools, often centered on hot springs in picturesque surroundings.

Surfing is popular on the Pacific coast. Some of the best surf spots are between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, Bahía de Matanchén, Ensenada, Mazatlán, Manzanillo and the 'Mexican Pipeline' at Puerto Escondido. Los Barriles is Baja California's windsurfing capital, and further south Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo can be good too.

Veracruz state is the epicenter of the country's white-water rafting industry.

Sport fishing in Mexico can be an experience you won't soon forget because of the great abundance of different fish and the generous limits and long seasons set by the Mexican government. For saltwater fishing, practically all popular vacation spots, such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Guaymas, Loreto, La Paz, Cancun, Cozumel, Tampico, Veracruz, and Los Cabos have much improved their facilities in recent years.

A number of Mexico City-based organisations conduct hiking and mountain-climbing trips on Mexico's volcanoes, including Iztaccíhuatl, Pico de Orizaba, Nevado de Toluca and La Malinche.

Mexico boasts more than 120 golf courses, and more are being built each year. Los Cabos, Acapulco, Ixtapa, Cancun and Mazatlan are all popular coastal resorts that have recently inaugurated new courses, laid out in most cases by top-name designers.