Mazatlan

Top things to do & see in Mazatlan

Beaches

There's no shortage of beaches in Mazatlan, especially in the so-called “Zona Dorada,” or Golden Zone hotel district north of downtown. Two of the prettiest strands: Playa Sábalos, notable for its silky sand, and Playa Cerritos, a quiet strand with palm trees and palapa restaurants. Also popular with day trippers is Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island), actually a peninsula reached via a short boat ride. The surf is gentle, umbrella restaurants serve excellent seafood and many diversions — boat tours, horseback riding, ATV excursions — are available on the spot to round out your day.

Sightseeing

The historic district (Centro Historico) at the heart of Old Mazatlán dates to the 1500s and has blossomed in recent years into an engaging restaurant, shopping, arts and entertainment area. Its nucleus is the Plazuela Machado, a colorful, leafy square lined with patio restaurants and other inviting venues. Download a self-guided walking-tour map here or pick one up at the tourist office.

Matzatlán’s waterfront walkway, the Malecon, stretches an impressive 13 miles. Let serendipity be your guide as you stroll all or part of this scrupulously clean promenade, preferably in early morning or late afternoon, when the light is golden. Stunning views, authentic mom-and-pop eateries, posh resorts and great people-watching can easily consume hours of your day.

If your ship happens to be in port the first Friday of the month between November and May, don't miss the Mazatlan Artwalk, which runs from 4 to 8 pm and includes dozens of artists, galleries and studios.

Boat tours & water sports

Sailing and motor-craft tours can be booked as shore excursions or on your own. Most visit or pass by a trio of off-shore islands, Chivos, Venados and Pájaros, as well as the peninsula known as Isla de la Piedra. Each has its own set of attractions, from kayaking to surfing, scuba-diving, parasailing and banana-boat rides.

Shopping

You’ll find all manner of boutiques selling clothing, souvenirs, jewelry and more in the vicinity of Plazuela Machado and the Olas Altas tourist area. For a taste of authenticity, head to the Mercado Pino Suárez, or Central Market, to ogle mountains of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, spices and baked goods, all packed into a block-square iron building dating to 1899 and inspired by the Eiffel Tower.

Golf

Top courses in Mazatlan include the Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed Estrella del Mar; the two courses at El Cid Country Club (including the new Marina Nine designed by Lee Trevino); the David Fleming-designed Marina Mazatlan and the nine-hole Club de Golf Campestre.

Family-friendly options

• Acuario Mazatlán: The Mazatlan Aquarium, one of the largest in Latin America, showcases sea life from near and far, as well as colorful botanical gardens and wildlife shows guaranteed to enthrall youngsters.
• Zip-line madness: Zip-line canopy tours have become a fixture at Mexican ports-of-call, and in Mazatlán, leading operators include Veraneado Adventures and Huana Coa Canopy Adventure. The former’s facility, 35 miles from town, features a dozen zips with heights up to 300 feet and stomach-churning distances of more than 700 feet. Huana Coa, a bit farther out, bills itself as an “eco-park” and offers similar family fun.

YOLO (You only live once!)

Sport fishing: Reserve in advance to join a sportfishing charter to prime angling areas just off the coast, where sailfish, marlin, swordfish, snapper, tripper, snook and tuna abound. Freshwater bass fishing in nearby Lago El Salto and Lago Mateos is another possibility. The billfishing season runs October to May.

Don’t miss

Scrumptious seafood: Fishing fleets go out daily and come back loaded with flopping bounty that goes directly to restaurants without ever seeing a freezer. Whether you enjoy simple fish tacos at a palapa restaurant on the beach or a gourmet meal in a white-tablecloth restaurant, don’t miss out. A specialty is zarandeado, a stuffed and grilled whole-fish preparation.

Best bets for dining

An important tip for travelers: Avoid eating street food and drinking tap water — choose bottled water instead.

• For raucous fun: If you’re in an animated mood, seek out El Shrimp Bucket, Senor Frog’s or Barracuda’s, where the food is solidly decent and it’s always party time.
• Toes in sand: For lunch on the beach, try La Concha (at El Cid Moro Beach; very upscale), La Costa Marinera, Lety’s (on Stone Island), Locos Locos, Pancho’s, Roy’s or any of dozens of other places you’ll stumble across in the course of a day’s explorations.
• Fine dining: Treat yourself to meals or an appetizer in Old Mazatlan and bask in the romantic atmosphere. Mariscos Bahia, Topolo and Pedro y Lola offer some of the most sophisticated preparations in town.

Best time to go

High season: November–April

Shoulder season: May–June

Rainy season (also hurricane season): July–September

The climate is temperate, with July through early October the most hot and humid time of year.

Fun facts

• Mazatlán is often called the “Pearl of the Pacific.”
• Pulmonias are a form of transportation unique to Mazatlán. Though often described as “oversized golf carts,” the open-air taxis originated in the 1960s as converted Volkswagen Things. The chassis today are locally manufactured. The vehicles are metered, as are Mazatlán’s regular taxis.

When you arrive

Docking information

Cruise ships dock at the commercial port, which is walking distance (about 20 minutes) to the Historic District. A blue line painted down the middle of the route leads straight to the Plazuela Machado, but you’ll have to elbow your way through a phalanx of taxi drivers and time-share salesmen who will try to convince you to ride, rather than walk. The Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) is about four miles away.

Getting around

Traditional taxis, “eco-taxis,” pulmonias (see above) or public buses will get you where you need to go.

Need to know

Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport.

Language: Spanish, although English is spoken and understood in establishments that cater to tourists.

Currency: Dollars are welcome almost everywhere, but it’s more polite to pay in pesos (you’ll get a better rate, too.)

Safety: The U.S. Department of State issues travel warnings for many areas of Mexico, mostly where crime and violence related to drug cartels have increased. Mazatlan itself is not typically one of those places and, like most tourist areas in Mexico, is generally considered safe. That said, it's wise to leave jewelry, most cash and most credit cards on the ship, limiting what you take with you into port. Use ATMs only during the day and when accompanied by friends or family. In restaurants, remain aware of your belongings and don't hang purses over chairs. To learn more about safety in specific areas, log onto the State Department's web page on Mexico travel warnings.

Your take

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