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Mazatlan
Mazatlan is one of Mexico’s
oldest tourist resorts and home to one of the world’s
three major carnivals, comparable only to those in New Orleans
and Rio de Janeiro. The city also hosts a number of major
international sporting events, including marathons and triathlons.
Mazatlan’s beaches are
perfect for water sports. A variety of facilities offer jet
skiing, windsurfing, parachuting, sailing, sport fishing and
almost any other kind of beach activity imaginable. The best
beaches in Mazatlan are those located between Zona Dorada
and the three islands which can be visited. Sabalo Beach is
ideal for all types of aquatic sports, while Cerritos Beach,
next to Sabalo Beach, is perfect for sunbathing. Camping near
the beach is another popular activity. Travelers can head
to La Posta Trailer Park located on Rafael Buelna Avenue for
a quiet night near the ocean.
The Plazuela Machado (Machado
Square) is the heart of Mazatlan. On the north side of the
plaza is a strip of delightful restaurants, many serving up
the seafood the city is famous for. One of the most famous
is Pedro & Lola's, named after two famous musicians from
Mazatlan, Pedro Infante Cruz and Lola Beltran. On the south
side of the plaza is the newly-restored Angela Peralta Theater,
a beautiful, neoclassic-style building erected in the 19th
century and named after the beloved 19th-century opera diva
who died after her only performance in Mazatlan, struck down
by yellow fever. Today, the impressive building hosts Sinaloa
State´s cultural festivals.
Mazatlan also offers several
places for shopping, including Galeria Nidart, which carries
both modern art and handicrafts; the Mazatlan Arts and Handicrafts
Center; and Sea Shell City, a place that specializes in the
exhibition and sale of seashells and other materials from
the sea.
Day trips to the colonial
mining towns of Concordia and Copala offer a glimpse back
in time to the era when gold and silver were found in the
foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Nature-lovers
also take pleasure in climbing the hills of El Faro and El
Cerro de la Neveria.
Mazatlán always
has surprises in store. Its multiple, complex nature make
boredom impossible. Wandering through the city and its historic
center, sunbathing on its magnificent beaches, traveling to
the islands using every imaginable form of transport, and
gazing at the horizon from hills such as El Faro and El Cerro
de la Nevería, enjoying one of the most elaborate regional
seafood cuisines, participating in the carnival, sailing or
sport fishing are some of the things that have made Mazatlán
famous the world over
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