Mazatlán is the kind of place that makes you put the camera down long enough to order lunch, then pick it straight back up again. Sandy beaches, a working waterfront, music drifting across the sand and a historic downtown with plenty of character: there is a lot here beyond the resort strip.
Mazatlán in 60 seconds
Take a quick trip through Bill Bell’s photographs, from the Pacific shoreline and the city’s familiar pulmonía taxis to the José María Pino Suárez Market. This reel uses music and on-screen text, so you can enjoy the story with or without sound.
More than a beach town
Mazatlán’s name means “Place of the Deer.” Just south of the Tropic of Cancer, this Sinaloa port brings together beach holidays and the everyday life of a coastal city. Leave time for the historic centre, a seafood meal and a stroll along the waterfront.
There is history behind the holiday atmosphere. Indigenous communities lived in the region before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s. German brewers founded Pacífico in 1900, and banda music is part of the sound of Sinaloa. The city’s Carnaval tradition adds another reason to return.
Make it part of the journey
Mazatlán makes a memorable stop on a west-coast Mexico road trip. Beaches and hotels are only part of the appeal; give yourself time to explore downtown and enjoy the food. If your journey continues across the water, check Baja Ferries for current routes and vehicle arrangements before planning your crossing.
Drive Mexico – Extraordinary Road Travel
Photography by Bill Bell.
Music: “Mexico – Mexican Mariachi Music” by IKOLIKS, via Pixabay.
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