A stroll along the malecon is the best way to explore Mazatlan. You'll notice a gradual shift from the rowdier north end to the more cultural southern side, and art lovers will find plenty of galleries and museums as you continue south. Family-friendly highlights include the Acuario Mazatlan aquarium, as well as the nearby Bosque de la Ciudad park, complete with playgrounds and trails. Architecture and history buffs will be smitten with the Catedral de Mazatlan, while nature lovers should plan to take in the sights from the Cerro del Vigia lookout point.
If you're traveling from the north, Mazatlan is one of the first major resort towns set along Mexico's Pacific coastline. At the north end, in the Zona Dorada, you'll find high-priced hotels, nightclubs, and souvenir shops catering the cruise ship crowd. Further south along the malecon (pro tip: it's a seaside promenade), you'll find Viejo Mazatlan. The old city offers a laid-back vibe, full of pastels and postcolonial architecture, plus hip restaurants, trendy galleries, and boutique shops. All along the malecon you'll find white, sandy beaches, tailor-made for swimming in the Mexican sun.
Mazatlan is best enjoyed in the shoulder seasons—those periods between the big crowds and the slower, off-season months. Look for Mazatlan vacation rentals in the fall, especially October and November, or the spring, from April through May. The summer in this part of Mexico is the rainy season, bringing tropical downpours that make it difficult to enjoy the most of what this Pacific Coast city has to offer. Mazatlan's a dreamy choice for winter sun, but you may find that everyone else has the same thought—December through March are generally busier and more expensive throughout the region.
Mazatlan is situated in the southern part of Mexico's State of Sinaloa, serving as one of the first resort cities on the Pacific Coast as you travel down the coast. It's also directly across the Sea of Cortez from Baja California Sur, another popular Mexican destination. The city's location at the southern tip of the Gulf of California gives Mazatlan prime positioning for whale watching season, which lasts from December through March. Throughout the year, travelers flock to the sandy beaches and stunning marinas to hop aboard sportfishing boats.
Our 2021 property listings offer a large selection of 497 vacation rentals around Mazatlan (and vicinity). From 272 condo and apartment rentals to 180 house rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.