Some winter deals down Mexico way

MEXICO offers sun, sand and hot winter deals that start as low as $386 for round-trip airfare and four-night stays.

Here is a variety of packages available along the Pacific, where the resort towns of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco dot the coast, and in the Yucatan Peninsula, where Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen draw visitors.

* Acapulco: This city, with nearly 20 miles of beaches, has long been a favorite Mexican destination. AeroMexico Vacations is offering round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, with a three-night stay at the beachfront Romano Palace, for $574 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $92), through February. Extra nights from $27. Add $10 if traveling in March. Or stay at the all-inclusive Copacabana Hotel with a private balcony and views of Acapulco Bay. For three nights and round-trip airfare, prices from Los Angeles are $733 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge from $122), through February. Extra nights are $122. Add $55 if traveling in March. For information, (800) 245-8585, www.aeromexicovacations.com.

* Cancun: Mexico’s perennial party town, Cancun is home to more than just spring-breakers. Try Atlas Vacations’ seven-night getaway, with airfare from Los Angeles for $880 and accommodations at Ambiance Villas, an all-suite resort featuring tropical gardens and a tranquil setting. Prices are valid through March, with blackout dates from Feb. 12 to 27. Extra nights $50; singles add $350. For information, call (800) 634-1057, www.atlasvacations.net.

* Cozumel: With visibility of more than 200 feet and more than 200 species of tropical fish, Cozumel’s crystal-clear waters have long been a must-see for snorkelers and divers alike. For $722 per person, double occupancy, Caradonna Caribbean Tours offers a seven-night stay at the Villablanca Garden Beach Hotel, with airfare from Los Angeles, through March 31. The hotel, a little more than a mile from the center of Cozumel, has a quiet atmosphere, tennis courts and great snorkeling right off the beach. Prices are for midweek travel only. Extra nights $33; single supplement $231. For information, call (800) 330-3322, www.caradonna.com.

* Playa del Carmen: Also available from Caradonna is a weeklong trip to Playa del Carmen, where the gentle surf and slow lifestyle have been attracting visitors for years. The $1,122 per person, double occupancy package includes airfare from LAX and an all-inclusive seven-night stay at the Reef Club Playacar Beach Resort. It is valid for midweek travel from Jan. 7 to 31. Add $114 from Feb. 1 to March 31. Single supplement from $263; extra nights from $96.

* Puerto Vallarta: If your idea of a day well-spent is 18 holes of golf, Puerto Vallarta may be your kind of place. Vallarta has seven premier golf courses within 19 miles of the city and two on the south coast. Stay at the San Marino Plaza for seven nights for $429, double occupancy, with round-trip airfare from Oakland. The deal is good until the end of January. For later departures, add $40 in February and $120 in March. Singles add $160. For information, call (800) 786-8747, www.suntrips.com.

* Mazatlan: This bustling Mexican city has a historic Old Town and enough beaches to please visitors. For $386 per person, double occupancy, Pleasant Holidays will fly you from Los Angeles for a four-night stay at the beachfront Hotel Playa Mazatlan. The price is valid through Jan. 26 with add-ons in February and March. Single supplement from $129; extra nights $98. For information, call (800) 448-3333, www.pleasantholidays.com.