Mazatlan

The camera stands on the small concrete platform out on the rocks, the one the divers work from, and the first thing the panorama tells you is how small it is - a curved parapet scrawled over with names and dates, a step or two of concrete, and then black volcanic rock going straight down into the surf on three sides. Look out and the Pacific fills better than half the view with the sun low over it and two islands on the horizon. Look back and the seafront is right there: a stone seawall, the promenade above it, a road curving round the base of a rock headland with buildings on top, palms, and stalls with umbrellas set up along the pavement. The gap between the two is a few metres. That is the whole appeal of the place - the drop is genuinely a drop, and it is in the middle of town.

Found on the Pacific coast approximately 670 miles northwest of Mexico City in the state of Sinaloa, Mazatlan used to have an image as a spring break party haven. That image has largely been shed in recent years. Today, Mazatlan Mexico caters more to families and retirees. This resort city also attracts plenty of package tourists who are interested in the overall affordability of Mazatlan travel. Sure, you can find world-class golf in Mazatlan, as well as a luxury-yacht harbor, but even these things are highly accessible to visitors who don't have a huge travel budget. No introduction to Mazatlan would be complete without also mentioning the cliff divers. Near the lighthouse shore, the famous divers of Mazatlan leap off high rocks into the ocean below, earning tips from onlooking tourists. Pictured in the interactive photo above is a famous Mazatlan cliff divers' platform.

Mazatlan Beaches Tourism is one of the main industries in Mazatlan Mexico. This is largely due to the resort city's ample gold sand beaches. Arguably the best of the bunch is Playa Sabalo, or Playa Camaron Sabalo, as it is also known. You can find this beach just north of another renowned Mazatlan beach - Playa las Gaviotas. Both of these beaches are in the hotel zone and feature water sports concessions. The main difference is that Playa Sabalo is larger than Playa las Gaviotas and has more room to stretch out. If surfing is your thing, you can often find good waves at Playa Sabalo and Playa las Gaviotas. Los Pinos Beach, known to surfers as "the Cannon," is also a Mazatlan surfing hot spot and can be found north of the old Spanish fort. The surfing swells in Mazatlan are most consistent from May to September, and there are local operations that rent surfing equipment and offer surf camps and lessons. When Mazatlan visitors aren't relaxing or enjoying water sports activities on the mainland beaches, they can venture out to the nearby islands for an enticing day on the sand. One such island is Stone Island.

Stone Island Known in Spanish as Isla de la Piedra, Stone Island isn't actually an island. Instead, it is a peninsula. Due to its island feel, however, it is commonly referred to as a separate entity from the mainland. Either way, this is the most popular "island" to visit among Mazatlan tourists. Awaiting visitors on Stone Island are a rustic little village and pale sand beaches that are bordered by coconut groves. These beaches stretch for miles and feature palapa restaurants. On Sunday afternoons, the palapa restaurants offer music and dancing and have little trouble attracting Mexicans and foreigners alike. It's just a short ferry ride from Mazatlan to Stone Island, and a day excursion is very much encouraged during a Mazatlan vacation.

Old Mazatlan Machado Square Sure, the beaches are the main attraction in Mazatlan Mexico. That being said, visitors shouldn't spend all of their time on the sand. In the city, a wonderful assortment of attractions and cultural events help to make Mazatlan a multi-layered travel destination. The Old Town district in particular is especially interesting, due to its beautiful old buildings and colorful town houses. Wrought iron and carved stone lend to the beauty of the Old Mazatlan structures. Old Town Mazatlan is also where you will find Plaza Machado, or Machado Square. On weekends, the streets that surround this small square are closed to cars. This allows musicians, vendors, artists, and street performers to move in and set up shop.