About Mazatlán

To many Mazatlán is known also known as ‘The Pearl of the Pacific’, a nickname given for the beauty and friendly nature of this growing resort city. It is a gracious compliment that envelops all that Mazatlan is and has to offer. Mazatlán is a very interesting city and embraces tourism with great passion, but Mazatlán is so much more than just a resort. Mazatlán could survive just fine without tourism. The tourism industry in Mazatlán is not the most important item on this city's agenda. This translates to a more relaxed attitude toward tourism and this can be a big plus to tourists. “Much of the hype and constant pressure from hotels, timeshare companies and the tourist sector in general for the tourism dollar is more sedate here. This equates to a more relaxed vacation to the average tourist.”

Mazatlan has so many interesting aspects to it that it is never a dull or boring place. Mazatlan is home to the Pacifico brewery, which offers tours of the plant throughout the entire tourist season. A very interesting and enjoyable experience! The local shrimp fleet is the largest in all of Mexico, something the people of Mazatlan are very proud of. There is also a very large commercial fishing fleet. Apart from the tourist area, Mazatlan has so many other important and flourishing industries, which is what makes Mazatlan a true gem. This town is still part of Mexico, they embrace and love their culture and have found a successful way to combine the tourist culture with their own without loosing who they are. Something not many tourist cities have been able to do. When visiting Mazatlan, you should prepare yourself for a very active vacation, as there are so many activities planed or spontaneous to fill your beautiful and sunny days!

A Closer Look at Mazatlan

Mazatlan has become over the past several years one of the most important tourist beach destinations of the country. Not only do we have some of the most beautiful beaches that run straight for miles and miles, but Mazatlan is number one in the production of shrimp and other sea species, thus becoming one of the most prosperous and successful places in Mexico.

“Currently, Marina El Cid and Marina Mazatlan are under construction, and both of them constitute what will be the biggest marina of the country, contributing to the creation of jobs and the attraction of foreign currencies, getting great interest from the tourists in Mazatlan, not only for vacationing, but also for living in it.”

Why buy?

Mazatlan has become a modern city and more importantly it has not lost the magic of its interesting sites from past centuries, and is able to offer five star hotel accommodations, restaurants with gastronomy of assorted flavors, exciting night clubs, first rate hospitals, shopping malls, sports and amusement activities. Imagine all this added to the outgoing and friendly personality of its inhabitants and you have Mazatlan at its best! This is at its best during the Carnival celebration, held with great enthusiasm and happiness.

The foundations of the Mazatlan Lifestyle are warmth, nearness and affordability. “Whether you are young and single and love the party scene or a more mature, family-oriented person, Mazatlan's warm weather and equally warm people will light up your soul while you experience quality living at prices well below major U.S. and Canadian cities . . . and certainly at a fraction of the cost of Hawaii or the beaches of California, Florida or the Caribbean.

Getting here is a piece of cake; you can drive to Nogales (or vice-versa) in 12 hours. By air, it's a quick 2 hours to Phoenix or Houston, 2 1/2 hours to Los Angeles, less than 3 to Denver or Salt Lake City. All those are hubs for further travel on Mexicana, America West, Continental, AeroMexico, Alaska, Delta, and Frontier -- the airlines that serve Mazatlan.”

Being a beach resort, the local tourist industry -- hotels, restaurants, cocktail lounges, nightclubs, golf and deep sea fishing facilities and other visitor services -- is set up to deal with English-speaking customers. Also, among the 3,500 American and Canadian retirees already living here, various social groups have formed to network and to do voluntary community work. Which is truly a great plus when buying a home, these communities’ help you connect with the city and others who have come to live here just like you!

Health Care is available and reasonably priced and outstanding. The Sharp Hospital, modeled after the one in San Diego, is up to big-city standards in the U.S. “Sharp is where the cruise lines sailing the Mexican Riviera send their ailing employees and local dentists take care of their teeth. No wonder: prices in the city hospitals are much lower than north of the border for high quality treatment. Some doctors even make house calls!”

Areas of Mazatlan

The golden zone is the location of most of the tourist hotels, a lot of the finer restaurants and most of the local night life. Basically the golden zone begins where Valentino’s or Fiesta Land is and runs north until you reach the Marina. Fiesta Land is PARTY headquarters in Mazatlán, a great place to start or end your search for the local hot spot. Most of the nightlife, hotels and attractions in the golden zone are within walking distance of each other. If walking is not you thing, Mazatlán offers a unique form of transportation, the Pulmonía. These fun, open air cabs are unique to this area and are seemingly everywhere. They will take you wherever you want to go in the city very reasonably. As a general rule the taxis in Mazatlán are reasonable for a resort area.

Old Mazatlán, the area around the center of town is a great area to do some exploring. It is beautiful and gives you a true feeling of the culture of this great city. Many of the oldest buildings have been restored, or are in the process. There are walking tours and city tours that will point out the highlights of The Historic Zone. Take a tour if you are so inclined but we recommend exploring on your own time, it is really the best way to discover the real charm and history of old Mazatlán. Enjoy the sidewalk cafes, restaurants and bars and mingle with the friendly locals that are so proud of their lovely city. This place is perfect for anytime of the day, they always offer something different and special. In this area is the well known theater: Angela Peralta, which has performances year round of all types. This is a beautiful and unforgettable area.

This is an old seaport city where many people trace their ancestry back 4 and 5 generations. Mazatlecos grow up seeing and welcoming strangers with a smile and a friendly "hola." We fiercely hold onto such traditions as our street parades and our Carnaval, said to be the third largest in the world. The Angela Peralta Theater, faithfully restored to its 1860’s glory in 1992, brought about a renaissance in the surrounding neighborhood, a historic quarter full of Neoclassical buildings. Mazatlan is the only beach resort in Mexico with an opera house suitable for symphony, chamber music, grand opera, jazz and rock concerts, ballet -- all the performing arts. And over the course of the year, they all appear here.

The beaches here are incomparable to others along the sandy coasts of Mexico. Mazatlan offers over 15 miles of beach, many areas go for what seems like forever of uninterrupted golden sand that are friendly and safe for use year round! There is a wide variety of water and beach sports offered up and down the beach along the hotel areas. There are countless beach side restaurants with great menus. Beach vendors work the beaches and will offer you everything from fresh fruit to hair braids and Mexican crafts. There is a beach for everyone whether it’s a breathtaking sunset you like or a surfer looking for waves.