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San Carlos/Guaymas
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MAZATLAN
LOCATION:
Mazatlan is located 1,078-km (674 MI) northwest of Mexico City and 502 km (314 MI) northwest of Guadalajara.
HISTORY:
In 1531 the Spanish settled in the area and used the native people to build the village and port. Over the next several years the center of the village started to move north. The original site of the village is now Villa Union, 24 km south of the harbor. During the 1600’s the government built a fort and watchtower to control the French and English pirates who used to harbor to attack Spanish galleons. Even though the pirates were gone by the 1800’s there are sill legends of buried treasure in the caves along the coast. During the Mexican War, in 1847, US troops marched through Mexico and shut down the port. In 1864 while the French attacked the city, they managed to control the port for the next several years. For a short time in 1871 the British occupied the port. A group of Southerners tried to turn Mazatlan into a slave city after the Civil War in the US.
WEATHER:
Expect temperatures from June to October to be in the 90’s (degree Fahrenheit) with lows in the high 70’s. The rest of the months see average temperatures in the middle 80’s. July and August are the rainiest months.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
There are three areas where hotels are located. Olas Altas and downtown generally have budget priced rooms. Playa Norte (North Beach) is Mazatlan’s original tourist hotel area. Here you will find moderate priced inns, motels, and hotels. Along the Zona Dorada is where the luxury hotels and resorts can be found. El Cid, the largest resort in Mazatlan, has over 1,320 rooms on four different properties. In total, there are eight pools, seventeen tennis courts, a 27-hole golf course, eleven restaurants, eight bars, a disco, a marina, a children’s program, a dance club, a health club, stores and shops, a business center, and a car rental agency. Rates for accommodations in Mazatlan range from US$28 to US$500. During Easter week, spring break, and Carnaval many rooms are sometimes reserved a year in advance and rates increase 30% to 40%.
RESTAURANTS:
You don’t even have to leave your hotel to dine in a 5-star, gourmet restaurant. Restaurants tend to be casual with moderately priced meals. You don’t have to be a guest to dine in hotel restaurants. La Concha, located in El Cid Hotel, is a favorite seafood restaurant of tourists and locals. El Shrimp Bucket, another popular seafood restaurant, is located in the Hotel La Siesta.
NIGHTLIFE:
Much of Mazatlan’s nightlife is located around Fiesta Land. At several of the hotels there are live dinner shows and entertainment. Many lobby bars are also quite popular. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings at the Playa Mazatlan there is a Mexican Fiesta. The US$20 entrance fee includes an open bar, folk dances, live entertainment, and an impressive Mexican buffet. You won’t lack for any type of nightlife no matter what your preference. There’s everything from sports bars to karaoke bars, beach clubs and piano bars, to discos and dance bars, even midnight romantic strolls along the beaches.
SHOPPING:
The huge Mercado Central, located downtown and open daily, sells handicrafts, produce, fish, and meat at the lowest prices. There is a large selection of crafts stores and shops which sell items like Mexican folk art, mask, handicrafts, gold and silver jewelery, and even a store which sells shells glued together to form everything from lamps to necklaces. La Gran Plaza has specialty shops and store, a large supermarket, and several department stores.
CUISINE:
Because Mazatlan has one of the largest shrimp fleets in the world, seafood and shrimp are the local specialties. Italian, Mexican, international, Chinese, Japanese, sushi, vegetarian, Cantonese, and European, are also several different types of cuisine served in Mazatlan’s restaurants.
SERVICES:
Banks: Banks are open from 9 am to 6 pm. Most banks have currency exchange desks open until noon. ATMs are located in several banks as well as around town.
Internet: There are several places where you can go to access the internet and email. Rates for hourly access vary. The average price is US$3 per hour.
Transportation: Renting a car may not be necessary if you are planning to stay around town. There are car rental agencies are located in several hotels as well as outlets around town. Buses are reliable, fairly inexpensive, and travel most of the city. Some are even air-conditioned. Taxis can be flagged down from anywhere and have fixed rates for certain areas. They can also be rented by hour or by day.
SURROUNDING AREA:
Copala: This colonial mining town is located 73 km (30 MI) at the base of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
El Rosario: This small town, located 50 miles south of Mazatlan, is famous for an altar in the town church that is said to be worth over a million dollars.
Concordia: Known for its furniture makers, an 18th century church, and brown clay pottery. This town is located 48 km (30 MI) east of Mazatlan. |
| WHERE TO GO: |
Cerro de Vigia: At the top of this hill you’ll find a weather
station and a rusted cannon. From this hill you can see the Pacific,
the harbor and both sides of Mazatlan.
Acuario Mazatlan: At this aquarium you will find an aviary, bird
and sea-lion shows, tanks of sharks, lobsters, eels, sea horses, and
fresh and salt water fish.
Instituto Nacional de Antropologia y Historia: This archaeological
museum has a small collection of regional artifacts and displays of
pottery left behind by the Totorames Indians.
Mazatlan Catedral: Built in 1890 this church has murals of angels,
a gilded altar, and blue-and-gold spires.
Museo de Arte de Mazatlan: Work from local, regional, national
artists are on display. Painting classes are also offered.
Parque Acuatico Mazaguas: This water park has wading pools, water
slides, and a pool with man made waves.
Plaza Republica: This city square, located in the center of down-
town, has a gazebo that looks like a 50’s diner on the bottom and a
wrought-iron bandstand on top. Locals and tourists can enjoy burgers,
shakes, and hotdogs from the diner, while listening to musicians play
from the bandstand.
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WHERE TO EAT: |
With Mazatlan having one of the largest shrimping fleets, it is no
surprise that seafood is the most common type of food served in the
majority of restaurants. You can also find Mexican specialties,
Italian, Chinese, and international foods served. There is a cuisine
and restaurant for everyone here. Angelo’s, said to be the best
Italian hotel restaurant in the city, draws tourists with its decor,
service, and delectable dishes. For an authentic meal, head to Pedro
& Lola’s which is located in a 19th century historic building. This
restaurant, named after Mexican singers Pedro Infarte and Lola Beltran,
serves up delicious Mexican and several seafood dishes. La Concha, a
three-level enclosed palm thatched restaurant, is located on the waters
edge. Dishes such as filet mignon, stingray with a black butter sauce
and even calamari in stingray ink are some of what you can sample. There
is also a dance floor and live music during the winter. For dishes such
as oysters, smoked marlin, and octopus head to El Paraiso Tres Islas
located on the waters edge with a view of the three islands. Senor
Peppers, an elegant restaurant, serves the best steak and seafood dishes
in Mazatlan. A dance floor, live music, candlelit tables, and lush
potted plants give an air of romance to this popular restaurant. There
are also many restaurants located in hotels, El Cid Mega Resort has 11
of them, that serve delicious meals. |
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| WHAT TO DO: |
Sportfishing: Local fishermen practice "catch and release" so
expect to do the same. Fishing charters tend to be a little less expensive
then anywhere else in Mexico. Rates can range from US$30 per hour for a
panga to US$400 per day for a 36-ft cruiser with a maximum of four
passengers. Prices may or may not include drinks, tackle and gear, and
licenses. From October to January it’s recommended that you make
reservations a month in advance.
Golf: The 27-hole course at El Cid, designed by Lee Trevino, is
reserved for hotel patrons and their guests, and for members of the club.
A John Jacobs golf school, the only one in Mexico, is also located at this
course. A championship 18-hole course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, is
open to the public. The newest course in Mazatlan is located at the Estrella
del Mar Golf Club. This 18-hole course was also designed by Robert Trent
Jones and includes a pro PGA on staff. There is also a bar, restaurant,
and a club here.
Beaches: Each of Mazatlan's half a dozen beaches offers its own
activity. Playa los Cerritos is the cleanest and least crowded. Because
the waves are quite rough surfing is the popular activity. Playa Isla de
la Piedra has miles of sand and coconut trees. Horses are available for rent.
On weekends vendors sell smoked marlin and sugarcane sticks amidst
music, sunbathers, and families. Playa North is popular with dawn and
dusk runners and with guests staying at hotels with no beach access.
Vendors sell tacos, drinks, and fresh fish. The first tourist beach
in Mazatlan is the Playa Olas Altas. This beach, whose name means
"high waves", is where surfers come during summer when waves are the
largest. The most popular beaches are the Playa Sabalo and Playa las
Gaviotas. They are located at opposite ends of the Zona Dorada. Here,
vendors sell pottery, blankets, jewelery, and tablecloths. Most water
activities such as boating, parasailing, and windsurfing take place here.
Eco Tours: Kayaking, bird watching, mountain biking, sailing
tours, equipment rental, and snorkeling are offered by the Mazatlan
Sports Center.
Bullfights: From December to April there are bullfights held every
Sunday at 4:00pm. Rodeos take place all year. Tickets are $8 to $25 and
can be bought through most hotels and travel agencies.
Tennis: There are over 100 tennis courts. Some are reserved for
hotel guests only but there are several public courts.
Festivals: During ‘Carnaval', usually held in February, thousands
of tourists flock to Mazatlan to enjoy music, parades, dancing, fireworks,
and sampling food. The week before Easter is the Semana Santa. This is a
smaller festival that draws Mexicans for its music, parades, and
religious reenactments.
Horseback Riding: You can rent a horse, with a guide included, for
about US$3 per hour.
Studying Spanish: The Centro de Idiomas offers weekly classes as
well as individual instruction. There is also a home-stay program. Every
Friday there are free Spanish and English conversation groups for locals,
tourists, visitors, and students.
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| WHERE TO SHOP: |
You can buy just about everything from clothing and jewelry, to pinatas
and leather along the Zona Dorada. The Mazatlan Arts and Crafts Center
has an eclectic variety of what you can expect to find in the way of
tourist items, such as leather goods, sandals, onyx chess sets, sombreros,
masks and pinatas. For quality silver and gold jewelry go to Rubio
Jewelers where you can also find ceramics. La Gran Plaza, Mazatlan’s
largest shopping mall, includes specialty shops, several department stores
as well as a supermarket. The one store that is not to be missed is Sea
Shell City. Here you can find everyday items, such as lamps, necklaces
and even a fountain, made from various types of shells. At the Mercado
Central you can find many handicrafts and souvenirs sold at much lower
prices than anywhere else. Hunting for the worthwhile ones is said to be
part of the fun in bargain hunting. |
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| Weekly Feature |
Hyatt Regency Merida
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