Mazatlán
To talk about Mazatlán is not only to talk about its beaches, but also the sunny disposition and happiness of its people, as seen in the city’s famous Carnival celebration. Its cultural and natural attractions are multiple. The Historic Center is made up of a group of the most elegant and best-preserved 19th-century buildings in the country, and ecological ranches, outings to industrial complexes, and pre-Hispanic traditions also await in this tourist destination.
Highlights
Things to do
Festivities
Services in Mazatlán
This port on the Pacific Ocean opened to international trade in the second decade of the 19th century, and since then it has attained great splendor and attracts thousands of visitors every year. These days, travelers can enjoy pleasant Plaza Machado, see brewery facilities in Cervecería del Pacífico—a symbol of Mazatlán—, walk the Avenida del Mar waterfront promenade, take it easy on its strip of quiet islands, and explore its lofty natural lighthouse. In addition, you will find a wide variety of hotels and restaurants offering traditional regional dishes centered around fish and seafood.
The best time of the year to visit Mazatlán is, without a doubt, February, when it hosts its joyful, century-old Carnival celebration. For a little over a week, the destination becomes a never-ending party with attractions for the whole family. You can’t miss the massive parades and presentations by world-renowned artists.
Moreover, two lovely picturesque towns are nearby: El Quelite and La Noria. In El Quelite, you can admire the vernacular architecture and watch charrería and ulama performances—the first is a similar to rodeo and the latter a pre-Hispanic ball game. In La Noria, a colonial-era town that still retains some of its grand mansions, the big attraction is the saddlery workshops.
Mazatlán is connected to the northwest with the city of Culiacán, the state of Sinaloa’s capital city, by highway 15. The same road runs southeast from Mazatlán to Tepic, in the state of Nayarit. You can also take highway 40, linking the Mazatlán with northeastern Mexico.