It’s a lot like Europe, but much closer and much cheaper. This was a headline used in a 1972 National Geographic article on Mazatlan, which still holds true today.
In just a two-hour flight from LAX you can find yourself sipping Margaritas in Plazuela Machado.
Mazatlan’s historic district has been returned to its former glory over the last 10 years and oozes neoclassical charm reminiscent of Italy and Spain. There is a glorious Opera House, an academy of the arts, bars and restaurants galore. And what’s more you are a block from the Pearl of the Pacific’s coastline with its swaying palms and unspoiled, crescent-shaped beaches.
What differentiates Mazatlan from other Mexican resort destinations is that it still very much functions as a city, while fishermen bring their catches in at 6am to sell to locals on the beach.
Coastal tourist bars and restaurants still abound but there is also an authenticity and a sleepiness that makes you feel as if you’ve stumbled into someone else’s life. Yet, tourists are always welcome here, with locals often greeting travelers with enthusiasm for their evolving city.
The surrounding villages are well worth a look. The old colonial mining town of Copala is charming and El Quelite has a fantastic restaurant El Meson de los Laureles where you can sample every type of local food including beef tongue.
The Blue Agave Tequila Factory is a nice respite, a picturesque hacienda set among thousands of Blue Agave plants and plenty of smooth Tequila to sample.
In just a few days you can cram in enough culture, history and beauty to feed off for a long time to come and with such reasonable prices it is the perfect recession getaway.
EXPLORE
Pronatures – your one stop shop for all village visits and tours -guide Ernesto Pina’s knowledge verges on encyclopedic. elcid.com
DANCE
Mambo Café has a great mix of Salsa and pop music in a relaxed environment where young and old alike hit the dance floor.
www.mambocafe.com.mx
ROMANCE
Take a long weekend at the Hotel Melville or Casa Lucila and wander the streets of the historic district.
www.casalucila.com, www.themelville.com
GET AROUND
“Pulmonias†a kind of Mexican golf cart that can be flagged down anywhere are the only way to travel.
DINE
Enjoy delicious food while watching the world go by on the patio at Pedro Y Lola’s restaurant in Plazuela Machada
www.restaurantpedroylola.com
RELAX
Hotel Playa Mazatlan’s sandy beaches, pools and butterfly sanctuary melt away stress.
There is a Temazcal (traditional Mexican Sweat Lodge) on site. You are lead through 20 min shifts of sweating and diving into an ice-cold cenote.
www.hotelplayamazatlan.com
SOUL
Whale watch or swim with wild dolphins with Marine Life Scientist Oscar Guzon – an Indiana Jones of the sea who will take you as close as you’ll ever get to these magnificent creatures.
www.oncaexplorations.com
