Airlines Flying to Mazatlan for Sport Fishing:

• Continental from Houston, Texas
• America West from Phoenix, Arizona
• Alaska from California and West Coast, U.S.
• Mexicana, AeroMexico, AeroCalifornia from different parts of U.S. and Mexico

Links to Web Sites with traveling and ticket information:

Visiting Mazatlan, Mexico
Visiting Mazatlan, Mexico
When you visit Mazatlan, you should prepare yourself for an active vacation. Mazatlan has great beaches, many attractions, a variety of historical sites and many interesting monuments throughout the city. Actually, Americans and Canadians have discovered the Colonial El Centro and are restoring some of the grand homes that hide behind old walls along narrow streets.
Mazatlan offers you many different choices for your vacation:

- Kicked back - full relaxation
- Active - adventurous
- Ecological - exploratory

Zona Dorado - The Golden Zone
The Golden Zone is the location of most of the tourist hotels, a lot of the finer restaurants and local night life. For our purposes the Golden Zone is anywhere north of Punta Sábalo, where one of the cities most recognizable attractions is situated . . . Fiesta Land. Fiesta Land is PARTY headquarters in Mazatlan, 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 your thing, Mazatlan offers a unique form of transportation, the Pulmonía. These handy, 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 Mazatlan are also reasonable for a resort area.
 

Old Mazatlan - The Historic Zone
Old Mazatlan, the area around the center of town is a great place to do some exploring. 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 a casual exploratory walk is the really best way to discover the real charm and history of Old Mazatlan. Enjoy the sidewalk cafes and mingle with the friendly locals that are so proud of their lovely city.
 

Beaches
Mazatlan has over 15 miles of pleasant beaches to enjoy. The most popular tourist beaches are located in Golden Zone, which is located north of Fiesta Land, the Moorish style complex that houses a great deal of Mazatlan's hearty nightlife. In the Golden Zone you will find many varieties of water sports, great beachfront restaurants, and many of Mazatlan's most popular hotels. To find your favorite spot on the beach, I suggest that you just start walking. One of the most popular areas seems to be the area around and between the Hotel Playa Mazatlan and Joe's Oyster Bar.

Much of the beach action is really not in the sand or surf, but along the Malecón, which fronts the beaches. Each evening when the sun starts to set the Malecón springs to life. The Malecón in Mazatlan is one of the longest in Latin America and is a great place for some old fashion people watching. Many of the locals come to the Malecón each evening to watch the sunset and perhaps have an evening swim.

For surfers, finding the waves is a pretty easy task in Mazatlan, just drive the length of the Malecón and you should be able to find some decent waves. Mazatlan has quite a few surf breaks within the city and also on the beaches to the south.

One of the longest and best shaped waves in Mexico is located at Matanchén Bay, just outside the village of San Blas. San Blas is a delightful fishing village, nestled between the jungle and the beach. San Blas is also home to a jungle cruise that you will not soon forget. San Blas is located about 150 miles south of Mazatlan, an easy three and a half hour drive. There are more than adequate accommodations in San Blas, for those who do not want to make the trip in one day.
 

Activities
If you do get tired of the sea and sun there is still plenty to do, for everyone, in Mazatlan. Everything from bull fights to Triple A baseball and much, much more.

The aquarium in Mazatlan is Mexico's largest and offers a variety of sea life including a shark tank. Seal shows and many exhibits also are highlighted. The aquarium also has an interesting tropical botanical park.

Horseback riding is notably missing in the golden zone but available on Stone Island and on an irregular basis at Playa Bruja, north of the golden zone.

There are country tours to the nearby foothills that highlight some interesting old mining towns and some very interesting churches.
 

Golf & Tennis
The championship course, Estrella del Mar, is a beautiful course that skirts the ocean and is located to the south of town, on Stone Island, just a short distance from the airport. If you are staying in town the short trip south will be well worth your time. This course is open to the public and even has a shuttle that will take you there from the golden zone.
Tennis players will be content in knowing that there are sufficient courts to keep their game polished. There are many locations within Mazatlan where you can play tennis or get lessons. The Playa Real hotel has two courts, available to the public, which are located on a bluff right above a small cove. An incredible view of the Pacific can accompany your tennis.
 

Shopping
Mazatlan has many fine shops, modern shopping malls and an unending number of open air stores. Many of the local shops feature the crafts that are so famous all over Mexico. Unique art can be found along with custom made leather clothing. There are also some great buys in sporting and resort wear. One of the more unique stores is a "Sea Shell Supermarket" featuring many truly unique shells and items from the sea. You may have to look a little harder to find that great shop, with the perfect item, in Mazatlan. That is what makes shopping such an adventure.

The central market located in the middle of downtown (where else?) is one square block of everything you can imagine, and then some. If you have the time and are in the area, at least take a quick walk through, you will be surprised at the diversity of merchandise. Offering the unsuspecting consumer everything from hanging meat to huarache sandals, this is a true "Mercado Central" in the old Mexican tradition.
Restaurants

The Mazatlan dining scene is fairly diverse. Of course the seafood here is always a good choice. But many of the local restaurants serve up great steaks, prime rib, Italian food, oriental food and other pleasant surprises. Most of the better restaurants are located in the golden zone or along the Malecón. There are restaurants of almost every description and cuisine. Some of the best meals to be eaten in Mazatlan come from the restaurants in the hotels. The historic zone is home to many pleasant sidewalk cafes, a great place to enjoy a casual coffee or a leisurely meal.

The beaches all along the Malecón and the beaches just north of the Golden Zone are lined with numerous restaurants and stands serving fresh seafood, most offering a very high quality menu. When you are choosing a local seafood restaurant, be aware that looks can be deceiving. Some of the Mazatlan's better taste treats come out of some pretty suspicious looking establishments. Take a close look, check out the menu, ask some of the customers, and then decide if you want to try your luck.
Fast food restaurants, of many different varieties, are fairly abundant and many of them will deliver to your hotel or condo. Call first, to inquire about "Servico a domicilio" (home delivery).
 

Nightlife
Nightlife in Mazatlan should live up to your expectations. In Mazatlan it is not only acceptable to party like a pro, it is totally expected. You will have plenty of chances to do your party routine. The nightlife in Mazatlan starts late, many of the nightclubs and discos do not even open until 9 or 10 PM, and winds down early in the morning. Most of the discos in Mazatlan close around 3 or 4 AM. A good starting place (or stopping place), is the nightlife and dining complex known as Fiesta Land. Many of the local restaurants feature live music, Mexican Fiestas and Theme Night Spectaculars. One thing is certain - you won't be bored in Mazatlan after dark!
 

Mazatlan for Kids
There are plenty of activities in Mazatlan to keep the kids happy. There are baseball batting cages and Mazatlan has its own Triple A baseball team. There is a miniature golf course and a water park, complete with giant slides and all of the usual entertainment. Mazatlan's aquarium is the largest in Mexico and has many interesting exhibits and displays as well as seal shows and a tropical botanical park. As in most Mexican cities the mall has electronic game arcades which all children seem to enjoy so much.