Travellers looking for a warm escape from "Raincouver" often look to Mexico's sun-soaked shores. But some of the country's top cities offer much more than breathtaking ocean vistas.
Mazatlán is a colonial city on the Pacific Coast, with 12 miles of shoreline, making it ideal for travellers interested in a relaxing beach holiday packed with rich history.
I recently visited the hot spot on a trip from Vancouver and was delighted to find a range of unique attractions, vibrant nightlife, decadent cuisine, comfort eats, and rich culture.
My last couple of visits to Mexico have included stays at luxurious resorts and short stints into nearby towns but Mazatlán felt unique in many ways.
From the architectural charms of the historic city centre to the modern elegance of its towering new resorts, the breathtaking Malecon to the warmth of locals, the ocean-side city will forever hold a place in my heart.
I also got to experience the city's historic centre lit up for the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) activities. Arches were decorated with marigolds and strings of lights hung over entrances to bars and restaurants. Massive sugar skulls and vibrant artwork were placed by entrances and central locations. Vendors sold handicrafts and other items as people prepared for the upcoming event when they paid tribute to departed loved ones through various offerings and rituals (one is making a sweet milk bread called pan dulce covered with a sugary orange glaze).
Mazatlán's carnival is also considered the third-largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. The annual celebration consists of several events, parades, concerts, fireworks, and street parties.
The city's iconic Malecon (boardwalk) transforms with floods of revellers, all dressed to the nines for the celebration ahead of the Christian holiday of Lent.
Why is Mazatlan a great destination for travellers on a budget?
Travellers looking to save money on their vacation will find prices in the port city are significantly lower than other top beach destinations. Even stays in high-end resorts cost less than in places such as Cancún or Los Cabos.
In part, many Canadians have chosen Mazatlán as their go-to Mexican destination for decades because of how far their dollar stretches.
"They get good food, beautiful beaches, and a very [quintessential] Mexican atmosphere at a great value for the Canadian dollar in Mazatlán," Julio Birrueta, a member of Mazatlan Tourism Board's marketing committee, told V.I.A.
A night out in some Mexican cities can set travellers back almost as much as in some U.S. or Canadian cities. Restaurants flooded with influxes of tourists charge steep prices for traditional dishes and drinks.
Dinners in Mazatlán, on the other hand, can offer more value for Canadians. Our group of seven dined in some great restaurants with multiple appetizers, entrees, and alcoholic beverages and spent under $100 for a single meal.
Travellers can also find bargains on gifts, clothing, decorations, and other items in the marketplace.
Birrueta and other locals also told me that Mazatlán is a top travel destination for Mexicans, meaning visitors can mingle with more locals than they would be heading to other hot spots. This means prices may be higher than in small towns and some other cities, but it isn't seeing pricing commensurate with the soaring American dollar.
Maztalán's low-cost and exciting attractions
Many of Maztalán's best attractions also cost very little money or are free to enjoy.
The city was developed in 1531 and its centre has a beautiful church you can visit for free. Journey inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, take photos of the interior and write a message to departed loved ones on a note to send to heaven. I did this a couple of days before the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) celebrations and had a profound sensation standing by the pew as the sun softly poured through the stained glass windows.
The Catholic church is located behind the city square and was built from 1856 to 1899.
There's also a recently restored, historic opera house, the Angela Peralta Theatre, in the downtown area near the church you can visit for free. The city centre is also home to a sprawling market and several galleries.
The Grand Aquarium of the Sea of Cortés, or Gran Acuario Mazatlán "Mar de Cortés," features 25 habitats offering everything from sharks to sea lions, penguins to rays, and much more.
Visitors take a funicular ride up the steep hillside to reach the 1873 Observatory. The cable railway system offers scenic ocean views that are breathtaking day and night. Once you reach the top, a whopping 75 meters above sea level, you can explore Cerro del Vigía, which was built as a military observation post for spotting incoming enemy vessels and pirate ships. The interior of the Observatory has been reimagined and decorated for tourists. It also serves as a museum showcasing the region's history through artifacts and pictures. A "rooftop" bar called Skybar 360 has panoramic views of the jaw-dropping area and serves fancy cocktails and sophisticated bites.
Mazatlán's National Whale Museum (Munba) is a remarkable testament to conservation and education efforts spearheaded by director Óscar Guzón. Visitors will learn about at-risk species and discover rare skeletal remains and new technologies. The facility is located in the area of the 1873 Observatory tourist park, making it an ideal stop after soaking in the views from above. A visit to the whale museum is also included in the ticket to visit the observatory.
The new Shekinah Beach Club offers a rare blend of sophisticated glamour and bohemian charm. Beach club guests can enjoy relaxing poolside or gazing at the mesmerizing Pacific from lounge chairs.
The Venados de Mazatlán are a professional baseball team in the Mexican Pacific League. Other popular tourist destinations, such as Los Cabos, don't offer the chance to see pro sports up-close-and-personal in the city centre. The team plays out of the Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, a beautiful outdoor stadium visible from many of the city's towering resorts and other top destinations, including the soaring 1873 Observatory.
Mazatlán cuisine
Mazatlán offers a wide range of cuisine to suit every taste and budget but the destination is best known as a seafood lover's paradise and considered the "shrimp capital of the world."
"[Shrimp] is the food we have in the most quantity," says Birrueta, adding many local restaurants focus on shrimp as their main dish, including tamales filled with shrimp as big as the tamale itself.
Travellers staying in hotels will enjoy high-end food of all varieties but should venture into the city's historic centre or surrounding areas to try some of the excellent restaurants and food stalls.
I enjoyed a fresh coconut from a cart on the Malecon and it was the ideal refreshing treat on a hot day. Best of all, once you finish drinking the milk they cut up the coconut meat for you and you can mix it with hot sauce and tamarind and eat it out of a bag, offered at no extra charge.
Our group also split some ice cream from a shop selling a variety of flavours and unique combinations, like the addition of sweet and spicy Mexican candy on top of ice cream.
We also spent an evening at the awe-inspiring Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort and enjoyed a range of traditional Mexican dishes and inspired takes on other cuisines. The fish tacos were a hit among my group, but my personal favourite was the tuna sashimi.
El Presidio is a popular restaurant located in a 19th-century mansion in the historic city centre. We sat outside for a meal in the colonial building, among trees with the dappled sunlight streaming through. Songbirds chirped overhead and we enjoyed several appetizers, including seafood dishes, fresh guacamole, ceviché, and mouth-watering bone marrow.
Mazatlán breweries and nightlife
Our group attended a spectacular molecular mixology and cocktail-making class at Dreams that explored innovative ways to blend our favourite spirits into one truly mind-bending concoction. The mixologist expertly crafted a drink that combined everything from top-shelf tequila to gin to lime to several other ingredients used to make cocktails such as mojitos, negronis, and margaritas. It was astonishing to watch him juggle these items, mashing mint and dashing other ingredients in with splashes of liquor before pulling out a bottle of Prosecco - my favourite - to finish his unique blend. The process also included burning something and plenty of dry ice, which mesmerized the table.
While the first sip featured some lofty hesitation on my behalf, the flavours were dramatically softer than I expected. A massive lime ice cube slowly melted as I enjoyed the drink. The flavours transformed. with every sip; each one was unique. It was one of the best cocktails I've ever had and several people in my group agreed.
Visitors who stay at Dreams need to pay extra for the experience, with the per-person cost for groups of four starting around $70, though pricing is subject to change.
I also had an incredible time tasting craft beer at Tres Islas Brewery. The award-winning microbrewery was the first of its kind to open in the city and produces pale ale, schwarzbier, blonde ale, IPA, porter, Scottish ale, pilsner, and rose sour. Its porter and Scottish beers won the gold and silver in the national prize for craft beers.
On our first brewery visit, we sampled beers before heading to a baseball game. On the second, we enjoyed live music and mingled with locals and tourists from across Mexico and around the world. It has a warm, casual environment perfect for spending time with friends or making new ones.
Where to stay in Mazatlán
The beach destination offers numerous all-inclusive options for those looking for a "one-stop shop" to stay, play, dine, and unwind.
I stayed at the oceanfront Hotel Viaggio Resort Mazatlán for my five-night holiday and was delighted by the resort's proximity to the beach and the warm, attentive service from the staff. I were greeted at the front desk with warm smiles and felt like I was laughing with old friends. I generally ate in the city centre with friends but enjoyed a couple of poolside beverages. Despite being there just a short while, the staff could make me favourite drinks and share jokes with me.
The view from my balcony afforded some of the most jaw-dropping vistas I've ever experienced. After a day of exploring I'd open my curtain to a fiery red sunset so vibrant I felt my knees go a bit weak. Mazatán's iconic sunsets are an attraction in their own right; I could have sipped an Americano misto and watched them from my balcony without doing anything else. The Viaggio has a cafe for folks who prefer espresso beverages to drip coffee and you can also grab a little treat.
While many Mexican and Caribbean resorts are located near the beach, balconies at the Viaggo truly feel like steps away from the crashing waves. This was one of my favourite parts of sitting out on the balcony since I didn't feel like I was gazing out across a long stretch of pools and walkways. They have a lovely pool but the resort showcases the ocean. The beach is located a few steps down from the pool area and there's a station to wash your sandy feet at the top. Best of all, all-inclusive rates start at a jaw-dropping C$124 for the five-star property. In Cancun or Los Cabos, travellers can expect to pay at least double that for similar accommodation if not much more.
Mazatlan's resorts are also predominantly Mexican-owned rather than American.
The Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort offers upscale accommodation with incredible cuisine and cocktails, however, the resort also affords a more serene location for travellers looking to get outside of the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone).
Dreams is located about 45 minutes away from the busy tourist strip and offers a secluded oasis with sublime, panoramic vistas from multiple areas. If you're looking for a spa destination, Dreams offers utter relaxation and restoration through several indulgent treatments. I got to enjoy an unforgettable light therapy experience that involved gazing at a light and then closing my eyes and witnessing vibrant colours and shapes in my mind's eye. After that, I was given a gentle hand and arm massage and nearly fell asleep because I was so relaxed.
I didn't get to try Dreams' other offerings but the property has a full-service spa with hydrotherapy, full-body massages, facials, saunas, and several other options.
El Cid offers several top resorts in Mazatlan, including the El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel, the El Cid El Moro Beach Hotel, the El Cid Granada Hotel, and the El Cid Marina Beach Hotel. While I didn't get to stay at the properties I viewed their stunning suites and rooms and got to enjoy a buffet and an a lá breakfast in two of their resorts. I also got to enjoy some time at the beach and pool. Guests who stay at one of the resorts have access to the other three, making this option an ideal choice for travellers looking for a variety of beaches, pools, restaurants, and new experiences.
How to get around in Mazatlán
Travellers staying in the Zona Dorada can reach the city's centre by walking down the Malecon or using one of several available transportation methods. Uber is available in the city, but you'll need an eSim or roaming to access the network. You can also hail a taxi or get one at your hotel if you don't want to use Uber.
Pulmonias are the city's iconic open-air taxis, perfect for trips from hotels in the Zona Dorada to the historic city centre or up to the Observatory. We took one up to the Observatory on my final night in Mazatlán and enjoyed the sea breeze blowing in as we drove down the Malecon (the drive down the seawall never failed to melt me). The drivers generally pump upbeat music on the stereo, making it a perfect way to start a night out or keep things cool on a hot day.
The word pulmonia means pneumonia in Spanish, which may seem like an unusual title for a form of transportation. However, when they were first introduced, some locals believed the open-air taxis could give passengers colds. They were created in 1965 with automobile tires, using a design with three wheels instead of four.
Passengers should negotiate a fare for their pulmonia trip with the driver before they head off.
Mazatlan also has extremely affordable passenger buses, with trip prices never exceeding 7.50 pesos (just over 50 cents Canadian). These green buses run along the city's Golden Zone for tourists planning to visit various attractions.
Flights from Vancouver to Mazatlán
WestJet offers direct flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Mazatlán International Airport (MZT) thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from November through early March.
Sunwing also offers direct service from Vancouver on Saturdays from November through March.
Prices for one-way, nonstop flights start at $245 and round-trip, direct options start at $417.
Travellers can also get year-round service from YVR through Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and the United States by connecting through Canadian cities like Calgary or Edmonton or U.S. cities like Los Angeles and Denver. Connections are also available through Mexico City.
Disclaimer: Thanks to the Maztalán Tourism Board for facilitating portions of the trip. All opinions and inclusions are those of the author and were based solely on personal experience. None of the businesses or entities featured were granted any previews of the story before publication or paid to be mentioned.
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