• JOURNALS
  • THE FOODIE FILES
  • DESTINATIONS
  • TRAVEL NEWS & INTERVIEWS

Logo

Navigation
  • JOURNALS
    • Pay It Forward
    • OVERNIGHT IN STYLE
    • Spa Corner
    • Travel Essentials
  • THE FOODIE FILES
  • DESTINATIONS
    • Asia
    • Canada
    • Central & South America
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Mexico
    • United States
  • TRAVEL NEWS & INTERVIEWS

Where to Find the Magic of Mazatlán

By Ilona Kauremszky |
DESTINATIONS Mexico
Share the love

As the heat sizzles by this beachfront stage, a frenzy of bobbing dancers gyrate to a wave of spectators clamoring to get in on the seaside fun. But the ultimate moment happens when Mazatlán’s night sky crackles into a blaze of fireworks.

Mazatlan sunset

Each year fiestas rumble through the only colonial city on the beach in Mexico. Tourism insiders gather for Fiesta de la Mazatlán which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. While everyone else anticipates the annual Day of the Dead holiday (Dia de los Muertos) when revelers don toothy, grinning skeleton costumes called calacas (a colloquial name for skeletons).

Mazatlan carnival

But no matter when you visit Mazatlán, there are always ways to celebrate this diverse area of Mexico. Whether hanging out among friendly locals or dancing the night away at your resort.

Your home away from home

There are plenty of hotels and resorts to choose from to get your sun and sand fix. These range from small and intimate boutique hotels in the historic centre to larger all-inclusive resorts offering all the bells and whistles.

Malecon

Many beachfront properties stage nightly shows highlighting the region’s music and culture. Many also offer daily activities, from salsa dancing lessons to Spanish classes. When you’re not soaking up the sun by the pool or practicing your salsa moves, fill your days with horseback riding, parasailing and splashing in the waves.

Going local is easy in Mazatlan

Mazatlán residents are a multicultural mix of Indigenous, Spanish, French and most recently German immigrants. They arrived in the mid-19th century bringing their traditions with them. Banda music, a quirky mix of German polka melodies, can be heard echoing in the streets, while the refreshing thirst quencher Pacifico beer was established by German immigrants and is regularly served in restaurants.

Mazatlan music

Be sure to hang out with local Mazatlán residents at La Carpa Olivera. Swimming at the public saltwater pool has been a favourite tradition that goes back to World War One. Friendliness and a simple pace of life take precedence as residents take pleasure in a laissez-faire “live and let live” attitude.

DON’T MISS: Mazatlán: Where Stories Make the Best Souvenirs

Hit the colonial streets

Designed in a grid pattern, Mazatlán’s scenic streets open to palm-fringed parkettes known as plazas. Brightly painted facades in ochre and pink highlight the elegance and wealth of this colonial city as Mazatlán brims with charm and character.

Centro Historico is a must-visit and its heart is Plaza Machado. Here vendors often showcase handicrafts and other locally made items along the bustling street markets.

Mazatlan colonial streets

One of the nicest strolls happens along Mazatlán’s Malecon, the Avenue del Mar. It’s common to find canoodling couples and kids playing by this refurbished seafront walkway. Mexico’s longest Malecon, which is nearly 20 kilometres in length, runs north from Olas Altas (High Waves) Beach to the touristic area of Zona Dorado (Golden Zone).

For a post-tour break, head to the Sky Bar at the Freeman Hotel. The historic property, which is now a Best Western Hotel Posada, is where patrons who love panoramic views hit the rooftop terrace for drinks and a pool dip.

Insta-hits in Mazatlán

The colonial city’s backdrop of cobbled streets and period architecture offers Instagrammers dreamy spots for filling their feeds with envy-inducing photos.

Over at the Mazatlán Museum of Art, snap shots of the eggshell blue exterior. Inside the historic building, amble through corridors and stop by a room covered in graffiti art. Don’t be surprised if you encounter musical acts as the intimate space is often used for live concerts.

Angela Peralta Theater

Angela Peralta Theater

At the revived Angela Peralta Theater, one of the city’s most important cultural treasures, culture buffs attend top notch performances. Then during Art Walk Mazatlán, a seasonal arts exhibition that takes place on the third Thursday between November and April, you can snap a shot with one of the exhibiting artists. The cultural event along Zona Dorada features works by local painters, photographers and ceramicists.

Foodie fix

Thanks to the largest shrimp fishing fleet on Mexico’s west coast, there is no shortage of shrimp in Mazatlán. See the Shrimp Ladies (Las Changueras) selling them street side where they get their supply directly from the boats. Shrimp lovers can enjoy signature shrimp cocktails or a bowl of aguachile, with its zesty taste of shrimp that packs a punch. This local dish is a favourite!

Mazatlan shrimp

Mercado Pino Suarez, a lively market that first opened in 1900, tickles the taste buds with its wide array of tempting local goods. See rows upon rows of fresh fruit stalls, citrus stacked in whimsical pyramid designs and vegetable farmers proudly standing by their fresh produce. The market is also home to artisanal cheese stalls and butchers selling fresh cuts of meat of all kinds. And if you find yourself getting hungry after shopping, stop by one of the market’s small restaurants for an inexpensive local meal.

Around Mazatlán there’s no shortage of unique restaurants. For diners who have a penchant for colonial city views, Casa 46 has a view of Plaza Machado. At El Presidio, chef Diego Becerra has turned a 19th-century mansion into a fantasy dining experience. Guests dine on fresh, innovative dishes in a courtyard rife with century-old trees and roots hugging the ancient walls.

Day trips

Leave behind the cobbled streets and ribbon of sand to set aside a day for off-the-beaten-path exploration. Island hop to quiet spots like Stone Island (Isla de la Piedra) for horseback riding along the beach or trekking into the jungle. Mazatlán is rife with Mexican heritage and magical adventures.

In El Quelite, jungle life leaps out at you and friendly villagers go about their day as you dine at a family-run restaurant. The next stop is Los Osuna, a tequila distillery and a landmark fixture founded in 1876. Enjoy a guided tour of the facility and knock back a tequila tasting.

Mazatlan cliff divers

Once you explore El Quelite and Los Osuna it’s time to witness one of Mazatlán’s oldest traditions: cliff diving. To watch the Malecon cliff divers is something out of this world. Just before the sun kisses the horizon, crowds face the rocky cliff. You instinctively hold your breath, watching a single diver leap from his rocky podium into the wild, salty sea. In this moment, the magic of Mazatlán continues to cast its spell.

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
Ilona Kauremszky
My Twitter profileMy YouTube channel

Ilona Kauremszky

Ilona has worked with numerous tourism offices around the world. An award-winning journalist, she is a travel columnist and has penned pieces for inflight magazines and major tour operators. She also makes appearances on TV and radio. Co-producer of mycompass.ca, Ilona is forever finding great stories in the strangest places.
Ilona Kauremszky
My Twitter profileMy YouTube channel

Latest posts by Ilona Kauremszky (see all)

  • Where to Find the Magic of Mazatlán - October 16, 2019

Share the love

Tags: Mazatlán

Recent Posts

  • Discover the World of Sumo, One of Humanity’s Oldest Sports and a Uniquely Japanese Tradition

    January 21, 2021 - 0 Comment
  • Escape to the Secluded Beauty of Baja California Sur

    January 13, 2021 - 0 Comment
  • Find Peace of Mind in Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit

    January 13, 2021 - 0 Comment

Related Posts

  • Discover the Magic of Mazatlán Safely Again

    September 15, 2020 - 0 Comment
  • Mazatlán: Where Stories Make the Best Souvenirs

    January 11, 2019 - 0 Comment

No Responses to “Where to Find the Magic of Mazatlán”

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


*
*

Travel Life Magazine Subscription

Check out your complimentary copy, or request a digital subscription of Travel Life today!

SUBSCRIBE

 

travel recipes

Can’t get out to see the world? Why not bring the world to you?

Click here to check out our travel recipe of the week:

Scottsdale Crispy Pork Shank

 

More World Recipes:

New Zealand Mainland Southland Cheese Rolls
Tahiti poisson cru
Hawaii Mai Tai
Hawaii Mai Tai
Montelucia Sangria Omni Resorts
Tampa Columbia Restaurant Cuban Sandwich
Pensacola Grits a Ya Ya from The Fish House
North Carolina sticky fried rice
Two Bros BBQ Market baby back ribs
Lisa Dahl Mashed Potatoes
Lisa Dahl Gnocchi Con Funghi E Tartufi
Colombia Ground Beef Caramanola
Ireland Cheese and Scallion Bread Bakehouse
Doubletree Blue Colada
Real Maryland Crab Cakes Faidley Seafood
Tuolumne County California Apple Cider Waffles
Maryland Smith Island Cake
Scottsdale Crispy Pork Shank
Norman Love Mini Chocolate Raspberry Verrine
Miami Little Havana Cuban Coffee
Mexico Grand Velas Resorts Jicama Taquitos
Haines City Grapefruit Pie, Lang's Taste of Florida Cafe
France Tarte aux Pommes
France Farçous
France Asparagus Risotto
Florida Keys Key Lime Pie
Bermuda Fish Sandwich
Belize Fry Jacks
Barbados Rum Punch
Arizona Lisa Dahl Crostini
previous arrow
next arrow
previous arrownext arrow
Slider


MOST POPULAR VIDEOS


Click here to check out more
Stylish Staycations.

Follow Travel Life

Follow Travel Life

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2012 travellife.ca. All Rights Reserved.