Mazatlan remains our favorite vacation city in Mexico. It is one of the Mexican Riviera's premier resort area with captivating scenic beauty complimented by a delightful festive atmosphere. A small town with a plethora of outdoor activities, affordable comfort and laid-back seaside charm. It has wide sandy beaches lined with lavish hotels, first-class vacation resorts, beachfront restaurants, fun open-air bistros and bars, rolling surf, and big-game fishing. Here, the people are very friendly and unhurried; most of them we found working at the resorts, tending to our hearts’ content.
Mazatlan makes for an ideal vacation spot. It is located in a picturesque cove facing the Pacific with three dive
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Mazatlan makes for an ideal vacation spot. It is located in a picturesque cove facing the Pacific with three divergent zones: the southern end is the port, the downtown area, or Old Mazatlan, and to the north is the Zona Dorada, or Golden Zone, home to nearly all of Mazatlan's visitor attractions and beach hotels. Between the two is the 13km "Malecon", an ocean-front promenade that serves as a sort of buffer between the old and the new. Below the Malecon is a long, curved stretch of mostly undeveloped beach.
The Golden Zone is where you will find Playa Las Gaviotas and Playa Sábalo, the city's most popular beaches, where coastal merchants and surfers converge on the beach. It is also home to "Fiesta Land", a very recognizable Moorish-style complex that houses many of the city’s local hot spots. This is PARTY central in Mazatlán. If you have the desire to soak in some culture, the Old Town should not be missed. It is quaint and old- world, some areas with cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes. Visit the renovated, historic Angela Peralta Theater and the somewhat untidy Central Market, which offers a variety of fresh local food. The cathedral is also nearby.
For seafood lovers, Mazatlan is heaven, It is said to be the "shrimp capital of the world," processing nearly 40 tons each year. Shopping is good here, with several fine art galleries and handicraft markets. We love to ply the open market for sterling silver jewelries, where bargaining is fun and expected. For the sports enthusiast, Mazatlan offers the usual assortment of water sports -- water ski, take a banana boat ride, paddle a kayak, or look down on the islands while soaring on a parasail. It also has some of the world’s finest deep-sea fishing.
Quick Tips:
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be inundated with offers of free rides to your hotel by timeshare representatives. It is chaotic and very confusing -- ward them off with a firm NO. Taxi vans are parked just outside, and transportation cost to the Zona Dorada is /person. If you decide to attend one of those timeshare presentations, I was informed that the Mayan Palace actually gives away /couple. They will tell you the presentation only lasts 45 minutes, but we all know they like to hold you at gunpoint until you break down, so attend at your own peril. Best Way To Get Around:
In the Zona Dorada area, everything is a few minutes away on foot. If walking is not your cup of tea, the open-air, golf cart-looking taxis, called "pulmonias", are fun and unique and a cheap way of getting around anywhere. They are virtually everywhere; just flag them down. Cheaper, at 20 pesos per ride, are the green- or red-striped eco-taxis, which are not as fun but will take you anywhere. Cheaper still are the buses marked "Sábalo-Centro", which go the length of the Zona Dorada, all the way to downtown. The newer, air-conditioned ones cost 7 pesos. Bus service is generally between 5am and 10:30pm. Read Less