Mazatlan

Welcome to the cosmopolitan western-Mexico beach city, which offers great weather, venerable iglesias and an array of beaches to enjoy your swim. Step into one of Mazatlán’s excellent small museums or go treasure hunting in one of the many new small boutiques.To take the pulse of Mazatlán, don’t linger too long in the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone), Mazatlán’s traditional tourist playground. Instead head straight for the city’s cobblestone pueblo viejo (old town), see the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market), catch a performance at the wonderful refurbished Teatro Ángela Peralta and then a late-night bite at the atmospheric Plazuela Machado, abuzz with art galleries, cafes and restaurants. Nearby is the platform from which the clavadistas (cliff divers) wait at the top of a rocky outcrop for the right wave then plummet 45 feet into the sea. West of the center is Playa Olas Altas, a small beach in a cove. The breezy seafront road, Paseo Olas Altas, strongly evokes 1950s-era Mazatlán, with a couple of faded relic hotels. Don't miss a mouthwatering experience: fresh shrimps, al mojo de ajo (with garlic) or in the shell with a tangy squeeze of lime. You can also visit Acuario Mazatlan, with more than 200 sea species, or go up El Faro, the 2nd - after Gibraltar- tallest Lighthouse in the world and enjoy spectacular views of the Pearl of The Pacific!