17. IT’S TIME TO EAT SHRIMP!
Known as the Shrimp Capital of the World, Mazatlan has no shortages of restaurants serving up their delectable shrimp dishes. Obviously there are too many restaurants to list here so we’ll give you our top four dishes and spots. Enjoy the mouthwatering Shrimp Pate at La Puntilla; devour the Shrimp Zarandeado at La Bahia; stop by our own Lucila’s Restaurant and order the out-of-this-world Ceviche, voted “Best in Town” by our guests; and, take in the ocean view while chowing down on some Shrimp Tacos at La Corriente.
There are no shortages of art galleries and boutiques in Mazatlan’s Historic Center. Start at Casa Etnika located on Sixto Osuna 50 and work your way to Nidart located on Libertad 45 stopping along the way at Mazatlan’s Farmers Market located at Plaza Zaragoza, and Mexicolors Gallery located on 59 Sixto Osuna. You’ll find awesome unique home decors and accents to take back home with you!
Depending on your mood and what sort of Dancing Queen you are, Mazatlan has a spot just for you. For those of you who enjoy dancing barefoot on the beach to the tune of Top 40’s Hits, head on over to Joe’s Oyster Bar. If meringue or salsa are more your thing, salsa the night away at Zymbao Live Music. Want to wait behind the velvet rope and dress up to the nines? Wait in line at Valentino’s for the Studio 54 experience. Finally fist-pump your way to the eclectic mix of EDM and 80’s hits at Bora Bora.
New York City has Macy’s in Herald Square, London has Harrods in Knightsbridge, Mazatlan has Liverpool in the Marina District. From books, to shoes, to baby clothes, whatever it is you’re looking for, you can find at the mall. Here you can do some damage to your wallet and satisfy your shopping addiction at Mazatlan’s largest department store.
If you want to see whales and dolphins on your trip to Mazatlan, make sure to check out Onca Explorations, the first research based whale watching operator in coastal waters off of Sinaloa. They offer daily expeditions that fill up fast so make sure to book in advance for your adventure! Plan to commit a whole day for this.
If horseback riding on a remote beach near Mazatlan is something that peaks your interest than look no further than Stone Island, only a short boat ride from Mazatlan. While horseback riding on Stone Island you’ll enjoy riding through mangroves, coconut plantations all the while riding parallel to the ocean.
Start your morning with a breezy bike ride rental from Casa Lucila Hotel Boutique or a short walk from there, you can check out Baikas Rental Bike Rental shop where you can rent a bike or an EzyRoller by the day, half day or full day. Ride all along the malecon for an intense workout or just a casual afternoon.
If Golf is on your To Do list while on vacation in Mazatlan, head on over to one of the four courses located in various parts of the city.
Swing on over - pun intended - to the 30 year old nine hole course Club de Golf Campestre if you just want to hang with locals on a laid back course.
El Cid Country Club 18-hole course is a hidden oasis in the middle of the Golden Zone and offers a pro shop, caddies, carts and more.
The Marina Mazatlan Golf Course is another 18-hole course designed by golf course designer David Fleming and is located in the Nuevo Mazatlan Marina district.
Finally, if you don’t mind splurging and driving a bit to the outskirts of Mazatlan, head on over to the Estrella del Mar which is located right on the beach and has earned its star rating graciously.
If watersports get your adrenaline pumping, head on down to the hotel beach areas Playa Cerritos and Gaviotas and you’ll find a number of vendors working independently or affiliated with some of the hotel resorts. You can go parasailing, rent jet skis, and ride a banana boat.
Baseball is a favorite sport in Mazatlan. From October through December, Mazatlan’s championship Pacific League team has a passionate and dedicated fan base. Los Venados often features a few American AAA players and has made the playoffs 10 years running and has even won the Mexican championship. The differences you’ll find at a Los Venados game that differs from that of an American stadium is the interesting addition of cheerleaders and dancers.
For those who seek adventures high up above the trees, ziplining is becoming increasingly popular in Mazatlan with a few companies offering packages. You’ll find yourself flying over the treetops of rural Sinaloa with many zip lines to choose from at each location. Afterwards you can always enjoy a nice stop for lunch and tequila tasting to end the day.
Las Labradas, a Zone of Archaeological Monuments, includes over 600 rock carvings – petroglyphs – that can be traced back to 3000 BC. The groups of rocks that still exist are located throughout the beach area of Las Labradas and have remained untouched for thousands of years. You can see it all perfectly preserved, and if you’re lucky enough, you may find archaeologists on-site researching the significance of the geometric shapes that were carved into the rocks.
Los Osuna Agave Azul has been making Blue Agave since 1876 and has since been awarded numerous awards throughout Mexico and Internationally. A proud Sinaloan product, Los Osuna is a delicious mescal that is to be sipped and savored. Located about an hour outside of Mazatlan, there are tours and tastings offered daily at the distillery. Our suggestion? Serve yourself equal parts of Los Osuna Vainilla with Evaporated milk…trust us, it’s delicious! Did You Know? Tequila, which is a mescal, can only be called “Tequila” if it was produced in the state of Jalisco.
Stone Island is only 1 kilometer away from Casa Lucila Hotel Boutique. However, you need a boat to get there! It’s a small coconut-farming cooperative owned by a handful of families that live in simple palapas. Named Stone Islands because the beach area, while still containing sand, washes up on shore and fills up the entire beach area with little pebbles and rocks.
Concordia is known as the birthplace of the Raspado, the snow cone flavored with syrup made from real fruit. It is a quiet Sinaloan village that has many artisan workshops featuring handcrafted pottery, furniture, jewelry and much more. Check out their rocking chairs that line the streets as the locals pay tribute to the city’s century-old furniture making industry.
El Quelite is a short 40 minute drive outside of Mazatlan and is a picturesque town that is big on farming and gardening. You’ll find plenty of lush vegetation and bright flowers throughout the entire town. It is also one of the last villages that still plays the pre-colonial ball game called Ulama. The game originates back to 2nd millennium B.C. and is a game that seems like a fusion basketball & soccer. Players need to use their bodies (no hands) to get the balls into a hoop. The games can be found played mostly on the weekends so plan accordingly.
Last, but not least, we think this one is an absolute must. Enjoy the Mazatlan-produced Pacifico beer (or sip on an ice cold Mexican white wine) and catch a breathtaking sunset along the malecon or from the Casa Lucila Hotel Boutique rooftop. You’ll thank us later.