Beaches
The best beaches in terms of gentle slopes and calm waves are those found along the area separating the Zona Dorada from the three islands. Sábalo Beach is ideal for all sorts of aquatic sports and the place from which to take the fun-filled ride over to Venados Island. Another great spot, just next to Sábalo Beach, is Cerritos Beach.

Camping
If you want to camp near the beach, there is a trailer park in the hotel section of the Zona Dorada, opposite the Islas de Pájaros, Venados y Lobos (Bird, Deer and Wolf Islands). The facilities there include bathrooms and electricity. The La Posta Trailer Park is located on Avenida Rafael Buelna.

Cuisine
One of the seafood dishes you will most enjoy in Mazatlán are the shrimp, cooked your favorite way, as the shrimp found here are large and particularly tasty. Fish, lobster, and crab cooked Sinaloa-style can be enjoyed at restaurants in the center, among other places in town. You can also find international specialty dishes all along the sea front, from Olas Altas to the Camarón Sábalo hotel zone.

Festivals
One of the largest and most traditional carnivals in the world, comparable only to that of Río de Janeiro and New Orleans is held annually in Mazatlán. The tradition began in 1898 with a parade of carriages and decorated bicycles. Since then, several other activities have been incorporated and the floats have developed beyond all recognition.

Pagan festivity celebrated a few days before Ash Wednesday, lasting five days in Mazatlán, during which time the fiesta achieves moments of great intensity and joy. All the inhabitants participate in many different ways and every year a great deal of effort is expended on decorating the parade. It is a time of games and masquerades, naval battles with fireworks in the bay, dances, color and music.

Fishing
Mazatlán is one of the best spots on the Mexican Pacific for marlin and sailfish fishing. The excellent services at the docks mean that a very large number of boats can compete in the annual fishing tournaments. Experts in the sport also give courses on the art of deep-sea fishing.

Golf
You may enjoy the pleasure of playing golf in this tourist resort at Avenida Cerrilos de la Zona Dorada and at the Marina Beach El Cid Hotel and Yacht Club. You can also indulge in your favorite pastime at the Estrella del Mar Golf Club that has a 7004-yard, 18-hole course.

Historical Interests
The Ángela Peralta Theater, in the center of town, is the place where the Mexican singer, Ángela Peralta, had her performance stopped by a bout of cholera, a disease she died of in a room next to the theater in 1943. The theater used to be called the “Rubio” Theater but today is still bears the name of the famous artiste.

Horseback Riding
The wide, virgin beaches along the coasts of the Isla de la Piedra are ideal for riding.

Mazatlan Aquarium
The Mazatlan Aquarium is one of the most complete and best of its kind in Latin America, besides being the largest in Mexico. Since its opening on Sept. 13, 1980, the aquarium has wowed guests over and over again. The organization’s primary objective is to teach the public about respecting the marine ecosystem through knowledge of marine species.

The Mazatlan Aquarium is divided into two main areas - the Aquarium and Botanical Garden. Together they contain the following facilities:
Aquarius
Section 1: Marine Fish and Jellyfish
Section 2: Marine Fish and Dive Exhibition
Section 3: Freshwater Fish
Central Fishbowl: Fishbowl Sharks

Maritime Museum: Shows off temporary and permanent exhibitions of shells, snails and materials relating to the Marine Ecosystem.

Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden consists of 75 tree species from around the world and regional species of the State of Sinaloa.
» Sea Lion Pond, one of the best shows of Latin America!
» Frog Pond
» Fishbowl Ocean: A total of 50 species among which Lemon Sharks, The Giant Grouper Fish, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill Turtle, Rays, Snappers, Butterfly Fish and Yellowtail.
» Bird Sanctuary: It exhibits about 13 species of birds that inhabit the state of Sinaloa, peacocks, Collar ducks, White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Quail, Duck Pichchin, Paloma Alablanca, among others. » Cactario and Crocodile.

Hours; Open daily from 9:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.

Pino Suérez Market
The city's oldest, cheapest and most popular shopping center has been serving visitors and locals for more than 100 hundred years. Located in the heart of Mazatlan is one of the largest stores in the city, the place where you can buy fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, groceries, crafts, clothing and much more.

Archaeological Museum
If you like archeology, then you must visit the Archeological Museum of Mazatlán where you can admire samples of relics of the pre Hispanic cultures that inhabited the region. Set in a 19th century building, the museum has a collection of archaeological pieces from the cultures that flourished in the region as well as information on its most important geographical aspects.

Night Life
Many of the hotels in Mazatlán have discotheques where you can dance. A good example is the Sabalos Hotel that also has Joe’s Oyster Bar, situated under a palm hut next to the beach. There are also great places for having fun at Plaza Valentino’s, such as Bora Bora or Mikonos that have live or hi-tech music.

Sailing
Mazatlán has two full harbors that make it one of the best tourist resorts for sailing. All kinds of watercraft from small boats with outboard motors to launches several feet long are available for hire to visit the three islands opposite the Zona Dorada. There are two tourist marinas in Mazatlán: Marina del Cerro del Crestón and Marina del Cid or del Sábalo, where fishing and boating enthusiasts can rent sailboats, yachts, catamarans and trimarans. Marina del Cid is a mega project designed to moor 600 boats and to provide sailing lessons.

Shopping
You can go shopping for handicrafts at different points in Mazatlán. There is modern art as well as handicrafts at the Galería Nidart. Other good shopping places are the Mazatlán Arts and Handicrafts Center and Sea Shell City, a place that specializes in the exhibition and sale of seashells as well as souvenirs made from shells and other materials from the sea.

Snorkel & Scuba
The best place in Mazatlán for diving is the calm, crystalline waters around the three islands opposite Camarón Sabalo Beach: Bird, Deer and Wolf Islands that were declared an ecological reserve in 1991 in an effort to protect the marine fauna and the birds.

Spas
A good way to spend the time at midday when it is not advisable to go out into the sun is to have a nice relaxing massage. The best places for this are the El Cid Mega Resort and Pueblo Bonito hotels.

Surfing
The waves on Bruja beach, north of Mazatlán, are the ideal size and speed for surfing, and an international surfing contest is held there every year. Other good surf spots are Los Pinos and Valentinos beaches.

Water Sports
Mazatlán is ideal for all kinds of water sports. The unusual breadth of its beaches makes Mazatlán a wonderful place for playing volleyball or any other beach sport. Facilities are also available for jet skiing, windsurfing, parachuting and almost any other kind of beach activity.
The Pearl of the Pacific also hosts a number of major international sporting events, including marathons and triathlons.