The city known as the Pearl of the Pacific gratifies the senses with a vibrant international art scene, innovative culinary offerings, eclectic nightlife, and one of the world’s grandest carnival celebrations.
View of hillside buildings overlooking the waterfront, beach, and promenade in Mazatlan at the twilight hour. Photo: Benedek/iStock
Overview
A colorful past, a spectacular setting, and a vibrant culture. Mazatlan offers this and more. Boasting one of the finest natural harbors on North America’s western coast, it is a thriving seaport that has hosted treasure fleets, pirates, fishermen, global merchants, and yachtsmen. Its waters are heralded as the shrimp capital of the world, and these tasty crustaceans add delicious accents to local cuisines.
The city by the sea offers miles of pristine, surf-washed beaches, a lively five-mile waterfront promenade, bustling street markets, and a picturesque historic district. The narrow cobblestone streets of Old Town date back to an era when gold and silver flowing from mines built grand Gothic and Baroque cathedrals and elegant townhomes. In recent years, a renewed interest in this iconic district has brought new life to old buildings that, once ignored or abandoned, are now transformed into art galleries, restaurants, shops, boutique hotels, cafes, and museums.
