Mazatlán…The pearl of the Pacific

The nickname which has been given to Mazatlán... "Pearl of the Pacific", has nothing to do with pearls, it is a gracious compliment to this very friendly Pacific resort city. Mazatlán is a very interesting city and embraces tourism with a zest, but Mazatlán is more than just a resort. Mazatlán could survive just fine without tourism. The tourism industry in Mazatlán is not the most important item on this city's agenda. This translates to a more kicked back attitude toward tourism and this can be a big plus to tourists. Much of the hype and constant pressure from hotels, timeshare companies and the tourist sector in general for the tourism dollar is more sedate here. This equates to a more relaxed vacation to the average tourist.

Mazatlán is home to the Pacifico brewery, which makes one of Mexico's most popular beers. The local shrimp fleet is the largest in Mexico, there is a large commercial fishing fleet as well and Mazatlán is also home to numerous other industries. If you stay where most tourists stay, Zona Dorada, you would never know Mazatlán was such an industrious city. So Mazatlán is a little different than most resorts. Mazatlán is also a city with an incredible history.

When you visit Mazatlán, you should prepare yourself for an active vacation. Mazatlán has great beaches, many attractions, a variety of interesting historical sites and many interesting monuments spread out all over the city. Just visiting the monuments and statues could take up an entire day. Of course, if all you want to do is enjoy the surf and sun, this is OK too. The beach and the water activities associated with resort vacations is what vacations are all about for many travelers. Mazatlán offers you many different choices for your vacation, kicked back - full relaxation, active - adventurous, ecological - exploratory. You may come to Mazatlán to relax but the lure of exploration is a constant possibility if you happen to venture very far away from your hotel.

Mazatlán has been known for years to big game fisherman worldwide for the excellent sport fishing here, as evidenced by the number of sportfishing fleets. Mazatlán is also a base for nearby freshwater bass fishing tours. Excellent Dove, Duck and Quail hunting is readily available in the outlying areas.

Mazatlán is home to one of the worlds greatest parties, Carnival. Mazatlán during Carnival is an unforgettable experience. Carnival, usually the last week in February or the first part of March, is a 100 year old Mazatlán tradition. The expertise that goes into the planning of this event is evident everywhere during Carnival. This is truly one of the great celebrations in the world. If you wish to visit Mazatlán during Carnival you should make your reservations well in advance as this giant party is no secret among the Mexicans and savvy travelers.

Mazatlán is a city with an interesting past and a very bright future.

Z o n a D o r a d a - T h e G o l d e n Z o n e

The golden zone is the location of most of the tourist hotels, a lot of the finer restaurants and most of the local night life. For our purposes the golden zone is anywhere north of Punta Sábalo, where one of the cities most recognizable city attractions is situated, Fiesta Land. Fiesta Land is PARTY headquarters in Mazatlán, a great place to start or end your search for the local hot spot. Most of the nightlife, hotels and attractions in the golden zone are within walking distance of each other. If walking is not you thing, Mazatlán offers a unique form of transportation, the Pulmonía. These handy, open air cabs, are unique to this area and are seemingly everywhere. They will take you wherever you want to go in the city very reasonably. As a general rule the taxis in Mazatlán are reasonable for a resort area.

O l d M a z a t l á n - T h e H i s t o r i c Z o n e

Old Mazatlán, the area around the center of town is a great area to do some exploring. Many of the oldest buildings have been restored, or are in the process. There are walking tours and city tours that will point out the highlights of The Historic Zone. Take a tour if you are so inclined but a casual exploratory walk is the really best way to discover the real charm and history of old Mazatlán. Enjoy the sidewalk cafes and mingle with the friendly locals that are so proud of their lovely city.

M a z a t l á n f o r K i d s

There are plenty of activities in Mazatlán to keep the kids happy. There are baseball batting cages and Mazatlán has it's own Triple A baseball team. There is a miniature golf course and a water park, complete with giant slides and all of the usual entertainment. Mazatlan's aquarium is the largest in Mexico and has many interesting exhibits and displays as well as seal shows and a tropical botanical park. As in most Mexican cities the mall has, very noisy, electronic game arcades which all children seem to enjoy so much.

B e a c h e s

Mazatlán has over 15 miles of pleasant beaches to enjoy. The most popular tourist beaches are located in golden zone, which is located north of Fiesta Land, the Moorish style complex that houses a great deal of Mazatlan's hearty nightlife. In the golden zone you will find many varieties of water sports, great beachfront restaurants, and many of Mazatláns most popular hotels. To find your favorite spot on the beach, I suggest that you just start walking. One of the most popular areas seems to be the area around and between the Hotel Playa Mazatlán and Joe's Oyster Bar.

Beach vendors work on all of the beaches and will offer you everything from fresh fruit to temporary tattoos. You can have your hair braided – Bo Derek style - on every beach in Mazatlán.

Much of the beach action is really not in the sand or surf, but along the Malecón, which fronts the beaches. Each evening when the sun starts to set the Malecón springs to life. The Malecón in Mazatlán is one of the longest in Latin America and is a great place for some old fashion people watching. Many of the locals come to the Malecón each evening to watch the sunset and perhaps have an evening swim.

For surfers, finding the waves is a pretty easy task in Mazatlán, just drive the length of the Malecón and you should be able to find some decent waves. Mazatlán has quite a few surf breaks within the city and also on the beaches to the south.

One of the longest and best shaped waves in Mexico is located at Matanchén Bay, just outside the village of San Blas. San Blas is a delightful fishing village, nestled between the jungle and the beach. San Blas is also home to a jungle cruise that you will not soon forget. San Blas is located about 150 miles south of Mazatlán, an easy three and a half hour drive. There are more than adequate accommodations in San Blas, for those who do not want to make the trip in one day.