Mazatlán is essentially the most populous cruise port visited within the Mexican Riviera. Identified for its historic metropolis heart, beachfront boardwalk, and seascapes, this coastal metropolis provides loads of actions for any finances and curiosity.
Not like different Mexican Riviera cruise ports like Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, it’s possible you’ll not have even heard of Mazatlán earlier than reserving a cruise. Positioned straight throughout from the Sea of Cortez within the state of Sinaloa, Mazatlán can provide a extra genuine expertise than a few of Mexico’s busiest resort cities.
Providing a mixture of nature, metropolis, historical past, and tradition, right here’s our checklist of the highest 10 issues to do in Mazatlán, Mexico on a cruise.
Go to Outdated Mazatlán
Mazatlán’s most historic district, Centro Histórico, is a walkable district with public squares, monuments, and colourful streets.
The structure of Mazatlán’s historic district is various with Spanish, French, British, and German influences. Colourful buildings line the streets with an abundance of cafes, bakeries, bars, eating places, artwork galleries, and museums.
One of many principal squares within the Centro Histórico of Mazatlán is Plaza Machado, which is a hub of exercise throughout any day in Mazatlán as each vacationers and locals alike spend time enjoyable and taking within the tradition round them.
Associated: Mexican Riviera cruise information
Hike El Faro
A number of the finest views of Mazatlán will be discovered from El Faro, a lighthouse on the height of Cerro del Crestón, positioned over 500 toes above sea stage close to downtown Mazatlán.
Mountaineering El Faro is doable for all health ranges, as you’re capable of hike at any tempo, though it may be a bit steep. The hike is free, takes round 15-Half-hour to succeed in the highest, and contains about 350 steps!
It’s really useful to start the hike within the morning to keep away from robust warmth. As soon as on the prime, you may take pleasure in panoramic views of Mazatlán and the Pacific ocean.
Stroll the Malecón
Mazatlán’s malecón (boardwalk) is very large, spanning a number of miles alongside the waterfront. The boardwalk makes a superb place to take pleasure in a peaceable stroll whereas taking in native tradition and surroundings.
Alongside the malecón are eating places, bars, monuments, retailers, and seashores. Guests can simply spend a whole day strolling alongside the boardwalk and stopping to style native delicacies, grabbing drinks, or enjoyable on the seashore.
Go to Angela Peralta Theater
Visiting a theater will not be the primary exercise that involves thoughts when planning a port day in Mexico, however for tradition aficionados, the neo-classical Angela Peralta Theater is to not be missed.
The theater initially opened in 1874 and has been dwelling to quite a lot of performances since, from operas to burlesque reveals, Carnival occasions, comedy reveals, motion pictures, and extra.
Whereas it’s not assured that there might be a efficiency out there on the theater whereas your ship is in port, the theater is open to the general public in the course of the day for round $1 per particular person. Whereas visiting, you’ll be capable to discover the intricate design of the opera home whereas studying extra about Mazatlán’s inventive historical past (and also you’ll get a break from the solar!).
Go to Mazatlán’s cathedral
Positioned in Centro Histórico’s Plaza de la República is La Cathedral Basílica de la Inmaculada, the principle non secular constructing in Mazatlán.
This baroque type cathedral is value a go to when strolling by Mazatlán’s historic neighborhood, as guests can admire the ornate, lovely structure each inside and out of doors the cathedral.
Watch the cliff divers of Mazatlán
One thing distinctive to take a look at in Mazatlán are the native clavadistas (cliff divers) leaping off a forty five ft. platform right into a small, shallow space of water.
Positioned in downtown Mazatlán, these spectacular divers placed on a present for guests as they skillfully leap from the cliffs into the ocean under. It’s customary to tip the divers when watching their spectacular expertise.
Take a ship tour of the coast
Whereas it may appear foolish to disembark a cruise ship and instantly get on one other boat for a shore tour, exploring Mazatlán on the water can really be an incredible option to spend your day.
Boat excursions provide a stress-free, no-planning-needed option to expertise Mazatlán with the added bonus of with the ability to swim, kayak, snorkel, and calm down on the seashore.
Associated: When is the perfect time to cruise the Mexican Riviera?
Chill out at Stone Island
Stone Island is a peninsula positioned off the south coast of Outdated Mazatlán and is a superb getaway from the hustle and bustle of Mazatlán’s metropolis heart.
Stone Island has lengthy stretches of sandy seashores which are a lot quieter than town seashores only a quick distance away. A number of motels and eating places are discovered on the island, however with far fewer folks and facilities, anticipate a extra rustic, relaxed really feel than a busy resort city.
The seashore at Stone Island is comparatively calm, making for a pleasant place to swim, lease water sport tools, or simply calm down below a seashore umbrella. You should definitely take pleasure in lunch at one of many eating places positioned on the seashore, too, the place you may style contemporary seafood and different Mexican specialties.
Swim within the pure pool
One other distinctive exercise to take pleasure in in Mazatlán is La Carpa Olivera, a saltwater swimming pool constructed into Mazatlán’s shoreline. Surrounded by rocks and uneven waters, the swimming pool supplies a secure swimming setting whereas sustaining a sense of swimming within the surrounding ocean.
The pool initially opened in 1915, though it was broken by a hurricane within the mid twentieth century previous to being reconstructed within the 21th century. At this time, identical to within the early 1900s, the pool is a well-liked attraction on the malecón in Mazatlán for each locals and guests.
Eat your manner by Mazatlán
Whereas “tasting native delicacies” is included on most of our Prime 10 lists, it’s at all times among the best actions you are able to do whereas visiting a brand new nation or port on a cruise.
Mazatlán has no scarcity of eating places, road meals, and cafes to select from throughout your day within the metropolis. You should definitely attempt aguachiles, a shrimp cocktail much like ceviche, and chorreadas, that are thick, fried tortillas with meat, onions, and cheese.
Signing up for a meals tour will be one other nice option to expertise Mazatlán’s culinary scene. Each Royal Caribbean and impartial tour operators provide meals and strolling excursions the place you’ll be capable to study extra about Mazatlán whereas tasting meals from quite a lot of native eating places and distributors.
