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MEXICO'S
MAZATLAN
"PEARL OF THE PACIFIC"
By Ron Stern
If you have ever
dreamed about a sun-drenched affordable vacation where
you can just relax and forget about your cares, then
Mazatlan is the place for you.
Known as "The
Pearl of the Pacific" for its friendly people, island
strewn harbors, and unspoiled beaches, Mazatlan is home
to one the largest West Coast ports between Los Angeles
and the Panama Canal. Situated within the Mexican state
of Sinaloa, Mazatlan offers the intrepid traveler all
the pleasures of a beach resort as well as a taste of
historic old-world Mexico.
Situated at about the
same latitude as Hawaii, Mazatlan enjoys a temperate
climate most of the year with water temperatures rarely
going below 68 degrees. As a popular cruise ship port,
this resort area attracts many who love to shop for
bargains in gold and silver jewelry, hang out at Seņor
Frog's dancing the night away, or just lounge by the
pool in one of Mazatlan's top hotels.
Here you
can mingle with the locals and enjoy fresh coconuts with
lime juice and hot sauce, eat jumbo-sized shrimp in what
has been called "the shrimp capital of the world," or
stop by the popular Panama Bakery for one of their many
delectable pastries such as Copacabana Cake made with
fresh pineapple and coconut.
One of my favorite
things was eating fresh grilled red snapper with beans
and hot tortillas right on the ocean at La Puntilla's
restaurant. Mazatlan even has its own brand of vanilla
coke called Toni Col and on a hot day, it is just the
thing to go with the spicy life of Mazatlan.
Where to Stay:
Mazatlan has a
variety of hotels to choose from with prices running the
gamut between downright cheap to expensive. We chose to
stay at five-star Pueblo Bonito Hotels: Pueblo Bonito
Mazatlan and the new Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay. These
upscale properties were developed by the visionary
entrepreneur Ernesto Coppel Kelly who, in his own way,
is rivaling many of the top hotel chains. Mr. Coppel
also has three other properties located in Cabo San
Lucas.
Pueblo Bonito:
Located in
the popular Zona Dorado (Golden Zone), the Pueblo Bonito
Mazatlan reflects the beauty and charm of early Mexico.
The decor is reminiscent of a Mexican pueblo with
wrought iron chandeliers, arched wooden walkways, tile
floors, and paintings of historic Mexican scenes. Each
of the rooms affords a breathtaking view of the Pacific
Ocean and one of two pools.
Three restaurants
offer a variety of foods to suit every palate at. Las
Alas De Las Palomes serves Mexican cuisine either
indoors or on the lovely terrace. Each morning, my wife
and I had breakfast on the terrace, taking in the fresh
sea air. On Sundays, a large buffet is served including
traditional Mexican dishes such as machaca and tamales
as well as eggs, bacon, mangos, papayas, and of course,
mouth-watering cakes and pastries. Among our indulgences
were Angelo's Gourmet Restaurant and Cilantros ... each
serving delights!
Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan offers
many water activities including sea kayaking, jet
skiing, and parasailing, and they can also arrange a
variety of different tours. The resort offers affordable
suites from junior all the way up to their executive
presidential suite.
Pueblo Bonito Emerald
Bay:
The Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay is one of
the newest resorts in Mazatlan and also one of the most
beautiful. Located on 20 acres in an area called Nuevo
Mazatlan (New Mazatlan), it is only a 12-minute ride
from Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan but worlds apart. This
tranquil property is far from the crowds of the Golden
Zone and is perfect for anyone looking for tranquility,
open space, and total relaxation.
Like the city
of Mazatlan itself, which is a mixture of old and new,
Emerald Bay incorporates both styles in its elegant
architecture. The front entrance is lined with palm
trees and tropical foliage, and you can immediately tell
that you are in for a special experience. A concrete
fountain is located in the middle of a circular lobby
underneath a white dome. This property shows off a
strong neo-classical styling that is quite pleasant.
Currently there are 78 fully-equipped suites
with more on the way phases. A total of 258 are planned,
all with breathtaking views of the Pacific. The colors
chosen for this resort also added to its soothing
allure. Pale pastel yellows, white, and various shades
of blue and turquoise made me feel that I was in the
middle of a Thomas McKnight painting.
The
grounds are impeccably landscaped with tropical plants,
fountains, waterfalls, and a pool with a swim-up bar.
They have also brought in rare black swans, white swans,
and two types of flamingos.
Even though Emerald
Bay is somewhat isolated, they have everything you will
need, including a couple of small stores, a spa fitness
center. The staff make you feel that you are one of the
family and each person seems genuinely willing to
provide for your every need.
For relaxing, one
can have a drink or watch television at Kelly's Piano
Bar, which is located in the main lobby. Kelly's is
designed to look like a hunting lodge with rich dark
woods, hunting trophies, and handcrafted furniture.
Some of the finest dining in the entire city can
be found at La Cordeliere. Serving fresh seafood and
international cuisine, La Cordeliere offers a gourmet
touch to all of their dishes. Even the desserts were
served with special touches that are hallmarks of a
truly great chef.
We saw a stunning sunset at
dinner with the clouds evolve from bright orange to hues
of soft lavender, and then with a final statement in
crimson red. This was nature's colorful exclamation
point to a perfect dining experience in a most wonderful
location ... ah Mazatlan!
Seeing the
Sights:
At first glance, Mazatlan may seem
like it is little more than hotels and tourist shops.
There is, however, much more to be seen and experienced
in this city of 750,000.
The area to the south
of the Golden Zone includes a five-mile beach boardwalk
called the Malecon. Here you can find locals basking in
the sun, surfing, and eating at one of the many sidewalk
vendors. There are many monuments along the way,
including one dedicated to the "Continuity of Life."
This bronze sculpture depicts people and dolphins
together, showing the interconnectedness of all things.
Closer to the downtown area you can find one of
the best aquariums (Acuario Mazatlan) in Latin America.
They have over 50 tanks featuring colorful local marine
life as well as several nice outdoor exhibits. There are
regular sea lion shows and bird shows that are well
worth the visit.
Just a little further south is
a 20-block area known as the historic district. The
Museo Casa Machado was a colonial era mansion turned
museum and gives you a glimpse of what early life in
this part of Mexico.
A couple of blocks down the
twin-peaked Catholic cathedral looms above the local
square and serves as a gathering point for families on
Sunday. This magnificent structure was recently
rehabilitated as are many of the other colorful
buildings in this area. Much like a festive bazaar, you
will see local vendors selling their wares, kids eating
flavorful helado (ice cream) and tourists snapping
photographs of all the activity.
Getting around
Mazatlan is a very easy. Taxis are plentiful as are
buses and the ever-popular pulmonias. These are open-air
converted VW's that look like golf-carts. They are named
after the American word for pneumonia because this is
what you could get after riding around in one in the
wintertime during a rainstorm.
Another way to
explore Mazatlan is to take a tour. There are many tour
operators but Vista Tours is one of the largest and has
a good fleet of vehicles. There are tours for the city,
country, and specialized expeditions such as the Tequila
Tour. This six-hour event will take you to the hills
close to the Sierra Madre Mountains where you can see
how life still exists in a small closely-knit community.
The town of El Noria is a self-sufficient
throwback into time. Working with only primitive tools,
families work to provide food and services for each
other as well as some items for export. We saw one group
making sandals out of leather straps and old tires while
another family made beautiful saddles out of mango trees
and other materials that are prized all over Mexico.
The tequila farm is another enterprise that
takes immature agave plants and turns them into this
popular national drink. This isn't as easy as it might
seem. It takes growers about eight years to grow the
agave plant and another two years to properly store and
ferment the beverage. The result is a smooth-tasting
drink that surpasses all expectations. This is the only
plant that produces this kind of tequila as most of the
products on the market contain a bitter tasting plant
known as mescal. Of course you can sample the product at
the end of your tour and take home a bottle or two as
gifts.
Shopping is also high on the list of most
tourists. You can find almost anything you can imagine
from the cheesy purses made from bullfrogs to the more
popular gold and silver jewelry. Of particular note, is
Pardo Jewelers who has one of the largest selections of
Mexican fire opals anywhere in the world.
These
opals are so named for their ability to reflect many
different colors including blue, green, purple, orange,
and red. Incredibly difficult to mine, these stones can
be turned into a ring, necklace, or earrings in as
little as seven hours by Pardo's master jewelers.
Pardo's is a recommended stop on Carnival Cruise Lines
who has an entire video that they show on-board
dedicated to the Mexican fire opal.
Many
Americans now call Mazatlan their home. There are
several large enclaves around town, including the El Cid
Mega Resort, with leisure activities such as golf, and a
chance to live near the ocean. The city has enough 20th
Century influences to attract people from other
countries (both Sam's Club and Office Depot are here)
but it still retains its historic roots.
The
people of Mazatlan are friendly and quite proud of their
city and its culture. If you do come for a visit, spend
some time getting to know the people and their heritage.
You will come away with a renewed sense of why Mazatlan
is called "The Pearl of the Pacific."
IF YOU GO:
Pueblo Bonito
Hotels
www.pueblobonito.com
U.S. Sales office
800-990-8250
Vista
Tours
www.vistatours.com.mx
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