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''Mazatlán'' is a Nahuatl word for "place of deer". The area was colonized by the Spanish in 1531. During the mid-19th century, a large group of immigrants arrived from Germany. Over time, Mazatlán developed into a commercial seaport, importing equipment for the nearby gold and silver mines, and it served as the capital of Sinaloa from 1859 to 1873. The German settlers influenced the local music, banda, with some genres being an alteration of Bavarian folk music. The settlers established the Pacifico Brewery in 1900.
In the latter half of the 20th century, Mazatlán became a tourist destination. The hotels along Olas Altas flourished during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and Mazatlán was well regarded by
Today, Mazatlán is a socially and economically diverse city, with more than 500,000 people (2017) of all races. It has several distinct inner city districts, as well as outlying suburbs that are mainly inhabited by working-class Mexicans. There are two primary areas of interest to visitors: the Golden Zone (''Zona Dorada'') where the resort-seeking tourists go and the historical center (''Centro Historico'') with several lovely plazas and many renovated 18th-century commercial buildings and private residences. The city is more affordable than many of Mexico's other Pacific resorts and still maintains an authentic character. Many Americans and Canadians retire in Mazatlan.
Mazatlán has a tropical savanna climate bordering a hot semi-arid climate, with a marked and rather long dry season from November to June and an average annual temperature of {{Convert|25|C}}. During the summer months, with the humidity factor, temperatures usually feel well above what the thermometer shows. Winter can be a little cool and may not make for the best beach days, particularly during a cold snap.
==Get in==
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| hours= | price=
| wikidata=Q1432022
| content=It receives international travelers from: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Houston, Dallas, South Shore Harbor, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. You can reach Mazatlán from many other international origins via Mexico City. It is served by all major Mexican domestic airlines and by regional airline Señor Air.
}}
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{{main|Baja ferries}}
[https://www.bajaferries.com.mx/ Baja Ferries] runs a ferry between Mazatlan and Pichilinque, La Paz in Baja California Sur. The trip takes 12 hours or more and leaves Mazatlan almost daily (check for weekend departures). Also, Mazatlán has a busy port which accommodates a number of cruise ships that sail up and down the western coast of the Americas. From the port, it's a five-minute taxi ride to the southernmost hotels or fifteen minutes to the more modern (and more expensive) places to the north.
The Mexican Navy operates an every-other-Friday ferry between Mazatlan and [[Islas Marias]], a former offshore penal colony that has been turned into a tourist destination with a [[Pueblos Magicos|Pueblo Magico]], a UNESCO Biosphere Reservation, nature watching and sky watching opportunities and an eerie prison tour. If you're looking an off-beat weekend adventure, Islas Marias is one-of-a-kind. Reservations and details are on the [https://visitaislasmarias.com official Islas Marias website].
* {{go
| name=Terminal Marítima Mazatlán | alt=Embarcadero | url= | email=
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==Get around==
{{mapframe}}
In-town transportation is mainly motorized, except for the Centro Histórico, which is a very nice walking district.
===By taxi===
Uber is in Mazatlán and is about half the price of a pulmonía.
===By bus===
There are two different types of public transport buses that run in Mazatlán. The larger green ones run along the main tourist strip right along the water and either turn off at Rafael Buelna Anvenue or continue on along the ''Malecon'' to downtown. These are the equivalent of coach buses, they are very well air-conditioned and in great shape. They cost around M$9 ([[Mexico#Currency|pesos]]) per trip. The city is also served by regular local buses which are cheaper and only cost M$5-6. Be sure to check the windshield of the bus as the bus route is typically written on it. These buses serve the entire city well but can be confusing without a thorough knowledge of the system. The buses that go along the ''Malecon'' between downtown and the tourist district are the "Sabalo-Centro" buses.
===By car===▼
==See==
[[File:Mazatlan cathedral.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception]]
[[File:Building on Plaza Machado (26367096413).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Beautiful architecture lines the Plaza Machado]]
* {{see
| name=Lighthouse of Mazatlan | alt=El Faro de Mazatlán | url= | email=
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==Do==
===Aquatics===
[[File:Paseo en Yate Mazatlan.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Boat tour in Mazatlán]]
[[File:Carnaval de Mazatlán, 25 de febrero de 2020 02.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A float in the Mazatlán Carnaval]]
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| content =Not a phenomenal beach but a nice break from the bustle of Mazatlán proper. To get to the island there are two docks from which you can catch a ferry: {{Marker |type=go |name=Embarcadero Isla de Piedra |lat=23.2057 |long=-106.41085}} and {{Marker |type=go |name=Embarcadero Playa Sur |lat=23.18734 |long=-106.41878 }}.
}}
*'''Surfing'''. Mazatlán has several prime locations where you can try out your surfing skills. The most popular spot is a beach called {{marker |type=do |name=Playa Bruja |alt=Playa Las Brujas |lat=23.30218 |long=-106.48939}} to the north of the city. The waves easily reach heights of 2.5-3 m (8-10 ft) and there is almost always a vendor from whom you can rent surfboards. This is a remote beach that is usually fairly empty. Not only is the surf great, but the lack of annoying vendors makes it even better. Another surfing location is right next to Valentino's (this is the largest landmark in the city). There are several places to rent surfboards right on the beach, but the waves are not nearly as good as Playa Bruja.▼
*Take a '''boat cruise'''. Visit the islands, go whale watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or simply get obliterated drunk on a party cruise. There should be something that strikes your fancy. Cruises can be booked almost almost anywhere: online, at your hotel, bumping into random touts in the tourist zone, etc.▼
*'''Sport fishing'''. Mazatlán is a far more affordable game fishing destination than world-renown [[Los Cabos]], despite being quite close geographically. Popular year-round species include marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark.▼
===Festivals===
*Attend a '''festival''':
** {{do
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}}
** During the week of '''Semana Santa''' (Easter week), Mazatlán is flooded with Mexican tourists from all around the country who are escaping the heat to come to the beach. The miles of beach are literally jam-packed for the entire week. The atmosphere is wild, and you can have a lot of fun, but be ''very'' careful.
* {{do |name= Dinner Theater or Comedy Club |address= Las Flores Beach Hotel, Av. Gaviotas 212 |lat= 23.242436 |long= -106.452929 |telephone = +52 669 180 2038 |content= The newest evening time passers are the murder mystery dinner theater put on by Murder in Mexico, at Las Flores Beach Hotel on Tuesday nights. }} Or visit the {{do |name= Mazatlan Comedy Club |phone= +52 800 716 9567 |address= Av. Gaviotas 202 |lat= 23.241351 |long= -106.450585 |content= at Hotel Playa Mazatlan, which is on monthly between November and March. Approach the concierge at the hotel there to book. }}▼
▲*'''Surfing'''. Mazatlán has several prime locations where you can try out your surfing skills. The most popular spot is a beach called {{marker |type=do |name=Playa Bruja |alt=Playa Las Brujas |lat=23.30218 |long=-106.48939}} to the north of the city. The waves easily reach heights of 2.5-3 m (8-10 ft) and there is almost always a vendor from whom you can rent surfboards. This is a remote beach that is usually fairly empty. Not only is the surf great, but the lack of annoying vendors makes it even better. Another surfing location is right next to Valentino's (this is the largest landmark in the city). There are several places to rent surfboards right on the beach, but the waves are not nearly as good as Playa Bruja.
▲*Take a '''boat cruise'''. Visit the islands, go whale watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or simply get obliterated drunk on a party cruise. There should be something that strikes your fancy. Cruises can be booked almost almost anywhere: online, at your hotel, bumping into random touts in the tourist zone, etc.
▲*'''Sport fishing'''. Mazatlán is a far more affordable game fishing destination than world-renown [[Los Cabos]], despite being quite close geographically. Popular year-round species include marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark.
* {{do |name= Estrella Del Mar Golf Course |address= Av Camarón Sábalo 1005 |phone= +52 669 915 8320 |lat= 23.110159 |long= -106.304106 | url= http://www.estrelladelmar.com/ |content= Rated one of the best courses in Mexico, Estrella Del Mar is a challenging 18-hole championship Mazatlan golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. It is 10 minutes from Mazatlan airport. The course is laid out alongside the ocean, fronts 5.5 km (3.5 mi) of beach and offers tropical landscaping, beautiful lakes and truly spectacular scenery. }}
* {{do
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| lastedit=2024-02-11
| content =The largest privately funded sea turtle preservation and adopt a sea turtle program in Mexico. Established in 1998, the sanctuary was created with the goal of protecting and conserving olive ridley sea turtles.
}}
===Nightlife===
* {{do |name= Mazatlan Comedy Club |phone= +52 800 716 9567 |address= Av. Gaviotas 202 |lat= 23.241351 |long= -106.450585 |content= at Hotel Playa Mazatlan, which is on monthly between November and March. Approach the concierge at the hotel there to book. }}
▲* {{do |name= Dinner Theater or Comedy Club |address= Las Flores Beach Hotel, Av. Gaviotas 212 |lat= 23.242436 |long= -106.452929 |
===Spectator sports===
* {{do
| name=Estadio El Encanto | url=http://www.mazatlanfc.com/
| address=Av. Munich, Fraccionamiento Pradera Dorada | lat=23.278651699702706 | long=-106.38256875298805
| content=Catch a professional soccer game at this stadium, home field for the ''Mazatlán Futbol Club'', a top-tier pro team playing in the Liga MX. They play two seasons so a game could take place at almost any time of the year. The stadium is a modern, state-of-the-art facility built in 2020 to seat 25,000 rabid soccer fans.
}}
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* '''Coconuts''' - Try it with lime, salt, chili powder, various hot sauces.
There's a restaurant to suit everyone's taste and budget. Mazatlecos
===Budget===
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===Splurge===
* {{eat
}}
* {{eat
| name
| address = | lat =23.26817 | long =-106.46344 | directions =in the Marina Hotel at the El Cid Resort
| phone
| hours
| lastedit=2024-02-13
| content = Buffet and à la carte service. Reservations required.
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== Connect ==
Mazatlan has mobile coverage from AT&T/Unefon, Telcel, and Movistar. Telcel provides 5G coverage although it's surprisingly spotty given the enormous telecommunications towers perched
==Cope==
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==Go next==
* [[La Paz (Mexico)|La Paz]] via [[Baja ferries|ferry]] or airplane – a tranquil yet hip city
* [[Copper Canyon]] – a stunning system of canyons through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range
* [[Durango (Durango)|Durango]] – the drive there on highway 40D is one of the most spectacular in Mexico, and the highway itself is an engineering marvel through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain mountains that traverses 68 tunnels and 115 bridges (including the famous Baluarte Bridge). Not much to see in the city.
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{{
{{isPartOf|Sinaloa}}
{{Geo|23.1833|-106.4167}}
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