Mazatlan, Mexico
Key facts and things to do in Mazatlan
Although Mazatlan is currently Northwestern Mexico’s largest tourist destination, it was not established as a tourist town until the 1960s. Prior to that, the area was inhabited by the native Totorames people long before Spanish forced their way into the region beginning in 1531. After the Spanish plundered the region’s rich gold mines, Germans developed the port of Mazatlan in the 1800s, and occupations by the Americans, French, and British followed. The Mexican revolution of 1910-1917 consumed the area, followed by times of prosperity and depression.
Mazatlan today has a population of over 350,000 within the city borders and just over 400,000 including surrounding areas. It is the second largest city in the state of Sinaloa (following Culiacán). It currently serves as Mexico’s largest commercial port. The municipality of Mazatlan covers nearly 1,200 square miles (just over 3,000 square kilometers), which includes some smaller outlying communities and villages.
The city offers an abundance of things to see and do. The Golden Zone, the central tourist area, offers plenty of shopping, fine dining, and lodging options. The Malecon, the lengthy waterfront street stretching from the Golden Zone southward to the end of Cerritos Beach, is the place to people-watch and take in views of the sea.
Stone Island offers coconut-tree lined beaches, horseback riding, snorkeling, sport fishing, and other water activities. Mazatlan Tours (http://www.mazatlantours.org/stone-island-tour.htm) offers a tour of the area with activities all-included. The Mazatlan Aquarium (http://www.acuariomazatlan.gob.mx) is a great activity for families, containing over 250 varieties of fish, and offering live marine-life shows.
Mazatlan offers many fine dining options. Given that the city has a large fishing and shrimp industry, it is no surprise that there are many great seafood choices in town to try. El Shrimp Bucket is one of the original establishments, founded in 1963, and still in its original downtown location. In the Golden Zone, Gus y Gus (http://www.gusygus.com) is one of the livelier spots, featuring live music along with traditional Mexican, steak, and seafood fare. Also in the Golden Zone inside the Pueblo Bonito Hotel, Angelo’s (http://www.pueblobonito-mazatlan.com) is the local favorite for Italian cuisine. It enforces a dress code, so beachwear, jeans, and other very casual attire are not allowed. For the rowdier crowd, no visit to Mazatlan would be complete without going to Senor Frog’s, located along the Malecon. Senor Frog’s (http://www.senorfrogs.com/mazatlan/index.htm) features loud music, casual dining, wacky decor, and a younger crowd always in a party mood. The Mazatlan location was the first in what became a chain of more than a dozen locations spanning Mexico, the Caribbean, and the USA.