Mazatlán

Open-air taxis known as pulmonías roll along one of the longest malecóns in the world while cliff divers plunge into the surf: Mazatlán is Sinaloa's beach destination with a real historic center. A vacation here offers beach time, Carnival, seafood and a port city with real character.

History of a Port City

Mazatlán means roughly "place of the deer" in Nahuatl. The city grew in the 19th century as a port from which silver from the mines of the Sierra was shipped. German immigrants founded trading houses and a brewery; Pacífico beer, which has been brewed here since 1900, comes from that tradition. Banda music also has its roots in this encounter, as brass bands modeled on German ones blended with local rhythms. Tourism developed from the 1950s on, with hotels in the Zona Dorada.

Sights in Mazatlán

The Centro Histórico, with its restored 19th-century buildings, is the heart of the city. On Plaza Machado stands the Teatro Ángela Peralta, named after a famous opera singer who died here of yellow fever in 1883. The cathedral with its yellow towers is just a few steps away. The Malecón stretches for many miles from downtown to the Zona Dorada, with monuments and viewpoints. At the Mirador you can watch the clavadistas, the cliff divers. A climb up Cerro del Crestón leads to El Faro, one of the highest natural lighthouses in the world, with panoramic views over the city, the offshore islands and the open Pacific. At the end of the Malecón, the Monumento a la Mujer Mazatleca honors the women of the city.

Carnival and Nightlife

Mazatlán's Carnival is considered one of the oldest and largest in Mexico and has been celebrated since the 19th century. Parades, concerts and fireworks turn the Malecón into a stage for days. All year round, restaurants with outdoor tables line Plaza Machado in the evening. Bars and clubs are concentrated in the Zona Dorada. Banda music is everywhere, and on weekends bands play on the beach for paying customers.

Eating in Mazatlán

Mazatlán is a stronghold for shrimp, which are caught here in huge quantities. Aguachile, ceviche and camarones zarandeados are classics. At the Mercado Pino Suárez you'll find fish, fruit and food stalls. Pescado zarandeado and callo de hacha are on many menus. A local specialty is tacos de marlín, made with smoked marlin. Wash it down with a Pacífico, of course. On the Malecón, vendors sell shrimp straight out of buckets in the morning, fresh off the boats, and at Playa Norte fishermen stand beside their pangas. If you have a sweet tooth, try coconut cocadas or marlin empanadas from a street stand.

Getting Around, When to Go and Excursions

General Rafael Buelna Airport (MZT) lies to the south and has connections to Mexico City, Monterrey and North America. Pulmonías and taxis run along the Malecón, and buses connect the neighborhoods. A ferry crosses to La Paz in Baja California Sur. The best time to visit is between November and May. Excursions take you to Isla de la Piedra with its long beaches, to the colonial villages of El Quelite and Concordia, and to Copala in the Sierra. Mazatlán is considered relatively safe, but Sinaloa is affected by cartel violence; travel overland only during the day.