Reasons for visiting Mazatlan

While other beach resorts in Mexico work hard to dazzle visitors with mega-resort excitement, the equation for a great vacation in Mazatlan is a simple one of fun, plus food, plus lots of world-class fishing. Mexico's largest West Coast port and second-largest coastal city combines affordable accommodations with seaside charm and plenty of ways to have fun in the sun.

Anglers get a special treat, with some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world. Shoppers havea great time downtown, buying everything from piñatas to designer handbags. A palm-lined seaside promenade connects the shopping district to the old section of the city, which is home to restored 19th-century buildings. Mazatlan also has excellent dining, especially for seafood, and great nightlife.

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There are 3 distinct zones: the port and downtown area, known as Old Mazatlan; the Zona Dorada, home to nearly all of Mazatlan's visitor attractions, and a long stretch of mostly undeveloped beach that separates the two. Open-air bistros and bars line the uncrowded but active shore, where water sports break the surf and strolling vendors mix with sunbathers.

Approximate Air Travel Time

• New York City: 6 hrs
• Miami: 5 hrs
• Los Angeles: 3 hrs
• Chicago: 5.5 hrs
• Dallas-Forth Worth: 3.15 hrs
• San Francisco: 4 hrs

Please note that limited nonstop flights are available; all travel times are subject to change.

Areas Within Mazatlan

Zona Dorada

Mazatlan's major tourist area has some of the city's best hotels, shops, and restaurants. This is the best place for everything from sunbathing to shopping to partying.

Old Mazatlan

This is the most charming part of town, with bustling markets and a shady zocalo. The nearly abandoned shore is dotted with nostalgic hotels that were once the pride of the area.

Topography

Mazatlan lies across the Gulf of California from Baja, and is Mexico's largest Pacific port. More than 600,000 acres of farmland surround the city, and there are beautiful beaches with a good surf. Just outside the resort regions are jungle streams and ocean coves. Three islands just offshore have peaceful beaches and much flora and fauna.

Climate

Mazatlan is sunny most of the year, with a coastal location that brings trade winds to make summers cooler than the interior jungles. The summer rainy season sees mostly brief afternoon showers. The very pleasant winters have warm and mild weather. The average year-round temperature is 85° during the day and 75° at night. The heart of hurricane season lasts from early September to late October, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.

What To Do & See in Mazatlan

Fishing

Mazatlan is renowned for its fishing, and more than a dozen sport fishing fleets are in operation. Some of the favorite catches that abound in the waters nearly all year include mahi mahi, black marlin, blue marlin, and swordfish, among many others. Hotels can arrange charters or you can hire them directly.

Sabalo Estuary

Bring your camera for this cruise down mangrove-lined waterways in Mexico's largest estuary/wetland system. Explore the private world of countless bird species like the Mexican brown pelican, blue heron, sea hawk, osprey, and other exotic water fowl in this protected wildlife refuge.

Waterpark

The waterpark at the El Cid has 2 huge pools connected by a maze of shallow "rivers." One palm-studded pool caters to adults, and it much quieter than the other, a "jungle" complete with a huge rock diving platform. There's a waterslide made of simulated boulders, a large waterfall, and some "caves." Rock music plays loudly, and it's very crowded and hectic, so small children should be watched closely.

Beaches

• Playa Isla de la Piedra's 10 miles of spotless beaches give you plenty of elbow room. On weekends, music and games take over, and refreshments are available at nearby thatched-roof huts.
• Playa Sabalo and Playa Las Gaviotas, at either end of the Zona Dorada, are Mazatlan's most popular beaches. Vendors sell everything from blankets to pottery to silver jewelry. The beach is protected from heavy surf and is safe even late at night.
• Playa Olas Atlas was the first tourist beach in Mazatlan, and surfers flock here during the summer when the waves are at their highest.
• Playa Los Cerritos, the northernmost beach, is the cleanest and least populated. The rough waves are ideal for surfing.
• Deer Island ferries leave frequently from the Zona Dorada hotels to take you on a 10-minute ride to the offshore Playa Isla de los Venados, a pretty and uncrowded beach with shell-covered coves.

Day Trip to Concordia

Less then 30 miles northeast of Mazatlan, Concordia is known for its furniture makers. The trip itself includes some beautiful scenery and an enormous wooden chair marks the town's entrance. There's also an 18th-century church and impressive pottery made from the local brown clay.

Day Trip to Copala

This scenic colonial mining town is set at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental, just 15 miles east of Concordia. The town features a delightful zocalo, charming ironwork balconies, and cobblestone streets.

Golf

The Estrella del Mar resort has a championship 18-hole Robert Trent Jones course that's open to the public. The 27-hole course at El Cid, designed by Robert Trent Jones and Lee Trevino, is open to the public in high season.

Acuario Mazatlan

Children and adults alike love this aquarium, with its tanks of sharks, lobsters, eels, seahorses, and colorful fish. There is also an aviary in the adjacent botanical garden.

Shopping

In the Zona Dorada open-air markets, you'll find a fun mix of goods from designer clothing to piñatas. The best place for crafts is the Mazatlan Arts and Crafts Center. There are lots of souvenir-type curios to buy, such as sombreros, sandals, and coconut masks. Madonna has a wide selection of jewelry, and Sea Shell City has 2 floors filled with a huge variety of objects made out of shells. To shop with the locals at the best prices in town, head to the Mercado Central.

Dining in Mazatlan

Mazatlan has one of the largest shrimp fleets in the world, so seafood, especially shrimp, are staples. Regional Mexican cuisine is widely available, of course, as are favorites from Italy, France, and the Americas. Dining atmospheres cover a wide range of styles, from white-tablecloth restaurants to hacienda restaurants to taco stands.

Nightlife in Mazatlan

The nightlife in Mazatlan offers plenty of dancing, live music, and festive bars. For a real Mexican experience, go to at least one fiesta night at a hotel.

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