"Mazatlán" Mazatlán by seagoingJLW

We enjoyed Mazatlán very much. In fact we went to a magnificent folkloric show there as part of the tour of Mazatlán.

History

Native Americans lived here prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in 1531. The Nahua tribes called the area "Land of the Deer."

This is one of the oldest ports in the Americas. It grew rapidly due to the nearby gold and silver mines of Rosario, Copala, and Panuco. There were frequent raids by pirates until 1800.

By the end of the 19th century, Mazatlán was a thriving new world seaport.

Hollywood discovered Mazatlán in the 1940's. Since then, the city became known as a Mexican Riviera Resort with its tourist area moving from South to North and acquiring the name of Zona Dorada (the Golden Zone.)

Miscellaneous Information

Tambora is the traditional band music of Sonora. There is a traditional Mardi Gras celebration with parades, coronations, fireworks, street parties and fairs....and lots of Tambora.

Mazatlán hosts a yearly cultural festival in November and December.

Mazatlán is located on Mexico's north Pacific Coast in the state of Sinaloa. It is Mexico's largest Pacific port and the closest to the US.

The temperature fluctuates from the mid 60s F to the mid 90s F depending on the time of year.

Mazatlán is the shrimp capital of the world. Nearly 40 tons of shrimp are processed yearly.

• Pros:Old City is fascinating and the Golden Zone is great
• Cons:Crowded. It is a large city.
• In a nutshell:The beaches are glorious. there is a buffer zone between the Old Town and the Golden Zone