|
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
By Sinaloa’s Ministry of Tourism
C ome and pamper yourself in Mazatlan, one of the leading beach resorts in the Mexican Riviera. Some of the city’s marvels include one of the most beautiful historical centers in Mexico and a major international cruise ship terminal. The port also holds one of the world’s top carnivals where residents and visitors celebrate life listening to the rhythms of the “Tambora Sinaloense” - the lively regional music band. |
 |
|---|
History
The city was founded on May 14, 1531 by Nuno Guzman under the name of Mazatlan, also known as La Tierra de Benados (The Land of the Deer). It is the most important tourist destination in the state, offering unparalleled beauty and attractions, along with solid infrastructure for residents; it is renowned for having the longest malecon, or beachfront promenade, in Mexico.
Weather
The port has ideal weather; temperature ranges from 80 F to 90 F in the summer and from 67 F to 75 F in the winter.
Bay of Mazatlan
If you’re visiting this scenic place for the first time, you’ll be surprised by the marvelous malecon since it is the largest - in terms of dimensions - on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The port offers an infinite variety of natural resources for diverse beach resort activities, from salt-water pools to low- and high-wave beaches for water sports. A feature that is considered a hallmark of Mazatlan is its three islands: Wolf, Deer and Bird. They are not only ecological reserves but also icons of the state where the sun hides, creating Mazatlan’s stunning sunsets.
The Mazatlan Aquarium
A visit to the aquarium is an unforgettable experience where you can admire the typical flora and fauna of the region and watch performances by sea lions and trained birds.
Shopping |
 |
|---|
Sports
There are golf courses with excellent services and various tennis facilities. If your favorite sport is baseball, you can enjoy the live games between teams in the Mexican Pacific League (the season runs from October to January).
Sport fishing
Mazatlan is classified as one of the best places in the world for this sport, especially when it comes to fishing blue marlin, swordfish, Dorado, and sailfish.
Nightlife
There is a wide range of after-dark entertainment -from the simple to the sophisticated- both in the Golden Zone and in the Historic Center. There are discotheques, bars and restaurants where you can spend unforgettable moments surrounded by Mexican and internationally popular music.
Events
The outgoing nature of the Mazatlecos comes out during the mammoth celebrations of its famous, citywide pre-Lenten Carnival. Other annual events include Easter Week, Motorcycle Week, the International Pacific Marathon, the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, the Bicycle Tour, and tournaments for golf, tennis and sport fishing. In addition, there are important cultural events such as the Day of Music, the Sinaloa Festival of the People, the Sinaloa Arts Fair, and the Mazatlan Cultural Festival.
Gastronomic Variety
Mazatlan offers you an enormous array of restaurants specializing in regional, national or international cuisine, with many dishes comprised of freshly caught fish and shellfish.
Towns Near Mazatlan
The State of Sinaloa has many natural features; it is rich in the beauty of its jungles, rivers, mountains, valleys, beaches, lagoons, estuaries, flora and fauna.
El Rosario, a picturesque town where the homes and mansions of yesteryear stand as a testimony to its economic boom during its centuries of mining glory. This region also embraces the small towns of Cacalotan, Hacienda El Tamarindo and Chametla, the oldest settlement in the entire state of Sinaloa.
Concordia is another colonial town with one of the state’s three 18th-century baroque churches can be found as its centerpiece. The major industry here is the creation of colonial-style furniture. Some 20 km. to the east lies Copala, a town with cobblestone streets and colonial facades that reminds visitors of Old Mexico. |
 |
|---|
La Noria, known for its saddle-making leather work, lies some 31 km. to the east of Mazatlan. On the outskirts of the town is La Vinata, a boutique distillery where mescal -a fiery liquid that can’t be called tequila (because of copyright laws) - is produced. On the same road, Hacienda Las Moras offers another look at the charm and serenity of an old-time rancho, where visitors can swim, ride horses, and enjoy a quiet meal.
El Quelite is a quintessential example of the program Mexico has designated National Rural Tourism. The main attraction here, besides the charming countrified surroundings, is enjoying a meal at one of the restaurants serving a rich variety of regional dishes. The village also harbors the largest hatchery for fighting cocks in Northwest Mexico.
Las Labradas, an archaeological zone some 50 km. north of Mazatlan, consists of views of hundreds of boulder-sized volcanic rocks right on the beach.
San Ignacio is a charming rural town with cobblestone streets and traditional architecture topped by red-tile roofs.
El Salto in Elota is a well-known dam in Northwest Mexico known for its freshwater fishing. At Playa Ceuta, you can visit one of the camps where marine biologists work to protect the endangered marine turtles.
Cosala is probably the most beautiful colonial town in the state. Every narrow street is an invitation to stop, look and dream of the past.
Teacapan is a natural paradise reminiscent of Tahiti. Its terrain is crowded with stands of palm trees reflected in the waters of lagoons and estuaries, with an abundance of fish and birds that also are attracted to this glorious paradise.
Mazatlan has become one of the most pleasant and attractive tropical destinations on the Mexican Riviera, with more and more visitors arriving aboard the great cruise ships that ply these northern Mexican waters.
How to Get Here
Since Mazatlan is one of the major beach resorts in Mexico, its visitors have access by land, sea, and air.
BY ROAD
Highway No.15 Mexico-Nogales:
This route allows motorists to interconnect with many other highways from the south, central, west and north of the country. The scenery and contrasts present a pleasant panorama for the journey, which can be made on the free road or on the faster toll road.
Panamerican Highway No. 40:
This is the route that connects Mazatlan with the north and northeast of Mexico. It is an option filled with contrasts, the stretch from Mazatlan to Matamoros opening up all types of scenery from arid deserts to mountains (the Sierra Madre Occidental) to the coastal plains in the south of Sinaloa. Like Hwy 15, it offers a choice of either a free road or toll road.
BY AIR
The state of Sinaloa has airports in the cities of Culiacan, Los Mochis, and Mazatlan connecting them with the major cities of Mexico, the United States and Canada. National and international airlines connect Mazatlan to major cities in Mexico and the rest of the world.
BY SEA
Visitors can also arrive by sea by using the ferry system that crosses the Sea of Cortez, connecting ports in Baja California Sur with Mazatlan and Los Mochis. There are also cruise lines that call at the Port of Mazatlan every week, with passengers disembarking for a day or two before continuing on to other Mexican ports.
RAILROADS
One of the most intriguing possibilities is the link between our city and Chihuahua via the Chihuahua al Pacífico Railroad. The train travels eastward from the coast to the city of Chihuahua passing by the Copper Canyon, a natural wonder similar to the Grand Canyon of Arizona, with the exception that the Copper Canyon is three times wider and 285 feet deeper.
The train travels through many small villages, climbing via numerous switchbacks from sea level to 6,000 feet of altitude. If you take the Chihuahua al Pacífico train, you will enjoy a scenic trip unlike any other. To take advantage of this scenic rail experience, you can travel from Mazatlan to Los Mochis or El Fuerte. The train begins at the former and picks up passengers at the latter, which is yet another colonial city to savor.
