Mazatlan, Mexico

What to do in Mazatlan, Mexico

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 lots of film 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 it is safe even late at night.

Playa Olas Atlas was the first tourist beach in Mazatlan, and surfers flock here during the summer when they 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 of 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.

Water Sports

Wind surfers, hobie cats, and jet skis are available for rent at most hotels. Parasailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling are also popular.

Acuario Mazatlan

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

Mazatlan Cathedral

Built in 1890 and made a basilica in 1935, it has a gilded and ornate triple altar, with murals of angels and small altars along the sides.

Bullfights

Toreadors face-off with bulls on Sunday afternoons between December and Easter.

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.