City Tour

This is a good way to get a feel for the area. Since Mazatlan's highlights are spread out, this tour can save time searching for the main points of interest. Stops include the Arts and Crafts Center, old Mazatlan, and the waterfront area. Departures are daily at 10 a.m. and 3 pm. Check with the activities desk at your hotel for information.

Harbor Cruise

Take a morning Fiesta Cruise and see Mazatlan's bustling harbor while sipping a cool drink and listening to Marimba or Mariachi music. Departures are at 11 a.m.

Island Hopping

Three islands dot Mazatlan's horizon (Isla de Los Pajaros, Isla de Los Venados, and Isla de Los Chivos). Each has its own personality. Venado ("deer") and Chivos ("goat") are quiet and undisturbed, perfect for watersports. Pajaros ("birds") is popular for birdwatching. Hundreds of species nest on the island. Regular amphibian service departs throughout the day from the beach area in front of El Cid Resort and from other locations. Round trips cost about $7 U.S. per person.

You can also head to the south to Isla de la Piedra, (actually a peninsula) for its tropical, palm-lined beaches and south seas atmosphere. It's a favorite Sunday hangout for Mexican families. Someday this will be developed into a massive resort area.

The Aquarium and Botanical Gardens

See over 50 fresh and salt water tanks with sharks, eels, seahorses, lobsters, and over 250 exotic species from around the world. Interesting sea museum, a trained seal show and an auditorium with films about sea life make this a perfect family outing. Open daily 9:30am-6:30pm. A tiny zoo and botanical gardens (the "Jardin Botanico") are nearby. Tel. 81-78-15

Explore Downtown and Olas Altas

The old section of the city has many restored 19th century buildings. Start at the Plaza Revolucion, the city's main square, surrounded by palms trees and colonial-style buildings. In the center is one of Mexico's most bizarre gazebos: it looks like a 50's diner on the inside with a wrought iron bandstand on top. Facing the square is Mazatlan's beautiful Cathedral. Begun in 1875 and completed in 1890, this Moorish-style church has twin blue and gold spires and a gilded, ornate triple altar. A few short blocks to the south is the Plaza Machada, the city's historic center and the site of Mazatlan's annual carnival celebration. Several civic buildings and former mansions surrounding the Plaza have been resorted.

The Teatro Angela Peralta is the oldest theater in Mazatlan (built in 1860) and has recently been restored to its European-style grandeur. There is also an Archaeological Museum with hundreds of pre-Columbian relics as well as a great deal of information about Mazatlán's history.

Just west of downtown is Olas Altas, the original home to Mazatlan's visitor industry. Though the resorts left years ago, take a peak at the old Hotel Belmar, once Mazatlan's premier place to stay. Just to the north is an old Spanish fort (Fuerte Carranza) from which Mazatlan defended itself from French invaders in the 1860's. Nearby is "El Mirador, a lookout point where divers plunge into the sea.

Stroll the Malecon

Mazatlan's palm-lined waterfront promenade connects the zona dorada and Old Mazatlan. It is one of Mexico's longest and prettiest walkways. It makes for wonderful morning or evening strolls. Toward downtown the Fisherman's Monument features a fisherman and a seductive mermaid. This monument is a symbol of the port and a tribute to the brave fishermen, past and present.

Mountain Ranges

The geography of the downtown (southern) region of the city is punctuated by three peaks. Each affords visitors wonderful views of Mazatlan and the Pacific. From north to south they are:

El Cerro de la Neveria: "Ice box hill" first served as an observation point for the Spaniards. In the 1800's imported ice from San Francisco was stored in tunnels to protect seafood harvests.

Cerro del Vigia: Another towering peak with fantastic views and an excellent seafood restaurant. The hill is toped by the Centenario Pergola, a look-out tower with cannons used by the Spanish to guard the harbor.

Cerro del Creston: The southernmost hill at land's end offers marvelous views of the harbor, the Pacific, and Old Mazatlan. The light house (El Faro) is the world's second tallest at 505 feet (only Gibraltar is taller). A "MUST SEE".