Ever since the days when the Pacific Princess sailed the seas on “The Love Boat” back in the 1970s, the Mexican Riviera port of Mazatlan has been a favorite stop for North American cruisers. The city features miles of pleasant seaside promenades, gorgeous beaches, a thriving community of creatives, and—of course—plenty of vibrant Latin culture and cuisine.
The cultural heart of the city is Old Mazatlan. Located about a mile from the cruise port, this beautiful district offers cruisers countless places to explore, including shops, museums, restaurants, galleries, and historical sites. The town’s Moorish-style cathedral overlooks Plaza Republica, a picturesque town square perfect for people- and pigeon-watching. A few blocks away is Mercado Pino Suarez, the bustling central market where visitors can buy almost anything imaginable. Another favorite Old Mazatlan sight is the elegant Italian-style theater, Teatro Angela Peralta, which has been painstakingly restored to its original architectural beauty.
This historic district sits at one end of Mazatlan’s famous “malecon,” or beach promenade. One of the longest such walkways in the world, the malecon winds along the shore for about eight miles. Adorning the seawalk are numerous metal sculptures depicting a huge variety of subjects, from the fantastical to the historic. At the southern end of the promenade is Divers Point, where tourists can watch fearless cliff-jumpers leap into the waves far below.
The Golden Zone, or Zona Dorado, also lies along the malecon. With its resort hotels, non-stop beach life, and high-end boutiques, the Golden Zone is Mazatlan’s touristy hub of glitz and fun. The beaches here offer water-sports equipment, boat trips, and even high-adrenalin activities such as parasailing.
For more outdoor options, many visitors to Mazatlan wander away from the malecon. Hikers can head to Cerro del Creston, where a rigorous hour-long walk ends at the second-highest lighthouse in the world, El Faro. There are also eco-tour shore excursions available on several of the nearby islands, including Deer Island, Wolf Island, and Bird Island. Farther inland, tourists can explore quaint old mining villages nestled among the foothills of the fabled Sierra Madre mountains.
With so much on offer, it’s little wonder that Mazatlan has been attracting cruisers for so long!
