Mazatlan: The Pearl Of The Pacific

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Mazatlan: The Pearl Of The Pacific

Author: Rosa Carvajal

MAZATLAN

When speaking of beautiful beaches in Mexico, most people think Cancun or Acapulco. Nevertheless, there is one particular place that people are often unaware of. And that is Mazatlan! This beauty created by Mother Nature is incomparable to any other place in the world. Mazatlan is filled with beautiful beaches (some of which are semi virgin), extraordinary cuisine, deep historical value, and rich culture.

Mazatlan, at one point, was inhabited by Indigenous people whose native language was Nahuatl. In fact, the city's name comes from this language. Mazatl means "deer" and Tlan means "place" and "abundance" so in essence, Mazatlan means "Place of Deer" or "Place where Deer are abundant." When the Spaniards first arrived, they encountered the Totorames and the Xiximes (both resident indigenous groups). It was officially founded on May 14, 1531 by 25 Spaniards sent by Don Nuno de Guzman. But, in essence, Mazatlan is said to have been built by visionaries of varying nationalities including German, Spanish, French, North American, Italians, British and Asians. Bearing witness to the audacity of these visionaries are the over 450 monumental buildings that still stand today, which were built between the 19th century and early 20th century. Today, this area has come to be known as, Viejo Mazatlan or Old Mazatlan and is only one of the many must-see attractions.

Speaking of Viejo Mazatlan, you can't go to Mazatlan and not visit this lively piece of history. As mentioned earlier, this part of the city has over 450 buildings that were built in the 1800s and are in proper functioning order today. One of the most outstanding landmarks of Viejo Mazatlan is "El Teatro Angela Peralta" (The Theater Angela Peralta). Interestingly, this theater was inaugurated on what we now know as Valentine's Day, February 14th, 1874. Another interesting fact is how the theater was named. There was a diva set to perform, but unfortunately she got infected with yellow fever and died shortly after. So, the theater is named an artist who never set foot on stage. How ironic! Nevertheless, time took its toll and the theater became a movie theater, then it was deserted for some time, and finally it was remodeled and brought back to life. Today, El Teatro Angela Peralta stand proud and erect for it has become the preferred stage for innumerable artistic and cultural events beginning with art festivals and even people from around the world have come to partake in the school of arts. Due to the vastness of arts and history in Mazatlan, one can't leave without visiting El Museo de Arte and El Museo de Arquelogia.

If you don't want to stay indoors, then I'd recommend visiting Mazatlan between February and March, which is when El Carnaval (The Carnival) happens. But during the summer, the weather is magnificent. Although a bit humid, it is always breezie and sunny. If you get lucky, you might get the opportunity to take a romantic walk under a brisk rain. The average yearly temperature for Mazatlan is 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit, now that's my kind of weather!

And with such great weather, why not dip your toes into the glistening waves? Mazatlan has many beaches to choose from including: Olas Altas (High Waves), Los Pinos (The Pines), Playa Norte (North Beach), Camaron (Shrimp), Gaviotas (Seagulls), Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach), Cerritos (Little Hills), and El Delfin (The Dolphin). What makes Olas Altas special is that fact that it has bore witness to many historical events. This was to loading and unloading point for ships travelling from all over the world. It is part of Viejo Mazatlan but one can do many activities including surfing, sun bathing, and swimming. Los Pinos is one of the smallest beaches in Mazatlan, it is a local favorite, and surfers can't seem to keep away. Don't be fooled by the tranquil-looking waters, for the currents are very powerful. On the other hand, Playa Norte is the longest beach in Mazatlan. This beach is particularly well-known because it has a monument in honor of the local fishermen, which is well-suiting because this beach is where the local fishermen arrive early in the mornings with their fresh catch of the day. The most exotic and "semivirgin" beach in Mazatlan is Cerritos. This beach is located in the northernmost part of the city and the lack of tall and luxurious hotels makes this place quite the peaceful piece of paradise. Due to its location it is no frequently visited by locals, much less tourists. If swimming and romantic walk along the beach is what you enjoy most, then this is definitely the place to go; not to mention that you'll have the most gorgeous sunset as a backdrop. Lastly, Gaviotas and Camaron are considered two of the world's most beautiful and enchanting beaches. The sand here is incredibly smooth and almost pearly-white. Unlike Cerritos, these two beaches are home to Mazatlan's finest hotels. It is not uncommon to see locals and tourists enjoying themselves while practicing some water sports including riding on "bananas," beach volleyball, swimming, and parachuting.

Not only was this marvelous destination uniquely poised with an array of historical buildings and paradise-like beaches, but a boardwalk also stands out. In fact, Mazatlan's boardwalk or harbor, known as El Malecon de Mazatlan, is considered one of the longest in the world! If you were to take on this walk on a single day, you'd walk about 13 miles. So take my word for it, you want to take this boardwalk a bit at a time because not only is 13 miles a long distance but there is just so much to see and do, you can't possibly achieve it in a single day. Along this elongated harbor you'll encounter monuments, antique buildings, hotels, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, stores, and a diversity of people. The harbor is broken into nine sections and interestingly enough, each section depicts a time-period of this marvelous city. Puntilla-Muelle Ferrys, Faro, Centenario, Olas Altas, Avenida del Mar, Camaron-Sabalo, Sabalo-Cerritos, and Cerritos-Nuevo Mazatlan are the names of the nine sections of the boardwalk. El Malecon de Mazatlan provides the stage for some of the most important events in this city including El Carnaval or The Carnival. Puntilla-Muelle Ferrys is one of the nine sections of the harbor and it lies to the south. This is where you'll find "La Virgen de a Puntilla, which is where this section gets its name from. Here, also, is where passenger and cargo boats headed to Baja California South load and unload. "El Faro de Mazatlan" (Mazatlan's Lighthouse) is another of the nine sections. The locals argue that their lighthouse is the biggest in the world and they could be right. This lighthouse is over 515 feet above sea level, has a natural formation and it is estimated to have been around since about 1828. What's more astounding is that it is still in working condition today!

Another section of El Malecon is "El Paseo del Centenario" which translates to The Path of the Century. If you really want to appreciate and admire the true vastness of the ocean, this is the perfect spot. This is the perfect spot to really appreciate the magnificence of the Pacific Ocean particularly during sunset; it's the equivalent to front row tickets to your favorite sporting event. Coincidently, it also provides an awesome view of "El Faro de Mazatlan." However, traveling up this path is somewhat perilous due to its sharp-curving road that resembles a snake. "Paseo Olas Altas" is another section of the boardwalk and as the name says, it has tall waves. It is these particular tall waves that make this a hot-spot for surfers and daredevil swimmers. This particular beach area is said to be surrounded by an incomprehensible, yet admirable mystery. That is, the sand changes direction twice a year: it moves from north to south, and then from south to north. Once you see this in person, it is difficult to believe that this place used to be a tiny narrow street that could barely fit two cars. Of course, now it is much spacious and is one of the main stages of the carnival. This is like the center of the party scene, so much that it has been nicknamed "The World's Greatest Dancing Floor." Among the things to see in this particular area are "El Monumento al Venadito" (The Monument to the Deer), "El Escudo de Sinaloa" (Sinaloa's Shield), The Shrimp Bucket (a famous restaurant), among many other restaurants, hotels, bars, and so on. "Paseo Claussen" is another one of the nine sections and named after a German man who headed the construction of various city streets. Many monuments and natural beauties are there to be admired such as the enormous Mexican flag, a monument to Benito Juarez (one of Mexico's greatest presidents), El Clavadista (a stone shaped like a diver), and there's also a mysterious and spine-chilling cave aptly named, "Cueva del Diablo" (Devil's Cave).

Like most tourist destinations, Mazatlan is not without proper accommodations. Hotel la Siesta is located right in front of the bay and is one of Mazatlan's most recognized hotels. If you're looking to stay at a more tranquil sort of place then I'd recommend staying at Old Mazatlan Inn, which is located in the historic part of Mazatlan and surrounded by all those building from the 19th century. This particular hotel allows you to view Mazatlan's cultural, art, and traditions from a closer point of view. If you're looking for something unique then stay at Casa Lucila Hotel Boutique; no two rooms in this hotel are alike. The elegance and the view of the Pacific Ocean provided by your balcony are unlike any other. There's one particular hotel that prides itself on having its private beach with "virgin-like sands" and that is Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay. If you're looking for something familiar, why not stay at the Hotel Ramada Resort, which is located in the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone), or Howard Johnson Don Pelayo, which was recently remodeled and makes for a pleasant stay.

After you've settled in you'll want to begin exploring the wonders of the city. One suggestion is El Bosque de la Ciudad, or The Forest of the City. This place is considered a "protected natural area" and it is home to about 25 species of birds, 6 species of mammals, and an innumerable amount of plants. Some of the animals and plants you'll see here are in the endangered species list. Another place you'd definitely enjoy and which happens to form part of El Bosque de la Ciudad is Aquario Mazatlan, which is an aquarium equivalent to that of Sea World or perhaps even better. Here, you can admire the different aquatic life forms from salt and sweet water.

Now, the nightlife is a whole other story especially during the carnival. One place to visit is Tertulla, which is like a restaurant bar. Tertulla offers free "botanas" (or snacks), cheap beer, and delightful music. Here you can enjoy the carnival but from a much tranquil point. Dionisios is much more appealing for the younger crowd whose musical taste is dance music and the atmosphere is much more modern. Pedro y Lola is a family-friendly establishment that places you in the center of the carnival. If you like to listen to typical Mexican music then have a drink or two at Plazuela Machado. But if you want something more "traditional" there's a Senor Frogg's and even an Applebee's.

So without further ado, don't wait. Remember that Mazatlan is the perfect destination all year long, so go check it out right now at www.patawalk.com!

REFERENCES:

www.mazatlan.gob.mx

http://es.wikipedia.org

www.mazatlaninteractive.com.mx

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/mazatlan-the-pearl-of-the-pacific-1928658.html

About the Author

I'm an English instructor. I love my career because it allows me to work with students of all ages (from children in kindergarten to mature adults in college) and walks of life. I have a B.A. in English from San Diego State University and have recently obtained my M.A., also in English, from National University. During my free time I travel and write short articles for the Patawalk Virtual Tours website (www.patawalk.com). This site takes visitors into fully mapped virtual tours in 360 formats of amazing places such as Cancun, Mexico. It's like being there

I hope you enjoyed Mazatlan: The Pearl Of The Pacific by Rosa Carvajal
Much Happiness and Happy Travels; Tamila

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach offers all-suite accommodations overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the western side of the Baja peninsula, just 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas.