Attractions in Mazatlán
Here is a mix of some of the most popular, unique, and interesting Attractions in Mazatlán that you should check out when you are visiting!
Here is the list of existing attractions:
- Casa De Marino/Fuerte 31 de MarzoNew in 2024
- National Whale MuseumNew in 2024
- Sea of Cortez Aquarium
- El Faro(Lighthouse)
- Malecon
- 1873 Observatory
- Plaza Machado
- Beaches
- Sunsets
- Cathedral
- Angela Peralta Theatre
- Cliff Divers
- Central Park
- Seashell City Museum
- Pedro Infante Museum
- Archaelogical Museum
- De Cima Tunnel
- Devil's Cave
Casa De Marino and Fuerte 31 de Marzo New in 2024
The Casa Del Marino and Fuerte 31 de Marzo is a FREE maritime-themed museum that just opened in 2024.
The Casa Del Marino (House of sailors) building was inaugurated in 1946 as a place for mariners to stay when their ships were in town. The building is of California neocolonial style. It had been abandoned for many years before being turned into a museum.
The Fuerte 31 de Marzo (Fort 31st of March) is a old fort with a cannon that protected Mazatlán.
This attraction is located on Paseo Claussen in the Los Pinos area of town.
National Whale Museum(MUNBA) New in 2024
The National Whale Museum(MUNMBA) is a museum about whales with a focus on marine life from the Sea of Cortez.
The museum showcases marine life such as gray whales, dolphins, turtles, and other species.
There are interactive displays and bilingual hosts in most rooms. There are many whale and dolphin skeletons hanging throughout the museum.
There is a fee to enter this attraction. This attraction is family-friendly. We recommend that you allocate at least a few hours to fully enjoy this museum.
This museum is an extension of the 1873 Observatory. You can go to just the Whale Museum or go to both it and the Observatory.
Sea of Cortez Aquarium
The Great Mazatlán Sea of Cortez Aquarium is a new (as of May 2023) aquarium that is the largest in Central America.
This new aquarium is located in Central Park in the location next to the old aquarium.
There is a fee to enter this attraction. This attraction is family-friendly. We recommend that you allocate at least half day to fully enjoy the aquarium.
El Faro Lighthouse
The El Faro Lighthouse is the 2nd highest lighthouse in the world.
You can hike to the top of this attraction for free and get the best view in all of Mazatlán.
At the top there is also a glass-bottom lookout that hangs out over the edge! There is a small fee to go on the lookout.
New in late 2024 is a zip-line(Farolesa) that for a fee you can ride down from the top of El Faro to the 1873 Observatory.
This attraction is only for healthy active visitors now. There are future plans to add a gondola so you don't have to hike up!
Mazatlán Malecon
The Mazatlán Malecon is a 7 kilometer oceanside seawall promenade in Mazatlán.
The Malecon runs along a large portion of Mazatlán's waterfront. It runs from the newer part of Mazatlán to the old historic part of town.
Along the way, there are many monuments, Beaches, monuments, Restaurants, and Hotels. There are also attractions such as Cliff Divers.
Many people walk, run, and bicycle along the Malecon. It is also a popular place to hang out in the evening and watch the sun setting!
Although it is continuous, it has 3 distinct parts: Avenida del Mar, Paseo Claussen, and Olas Altas which have their own characteristics.
Mazatlán 1873 Observatory
The Mazatlán 1873 Observatory is a relatively new attraction in Mazatlán which opened in 2021.
It consists of a bunch of different attractions and activities.
This experience starts with a movie about the origins and history of Mazatlán.
Next is you take a funicular train to the top of the hill enjoying great views!
There is the old observatory building that is filled with period antiques.
Enjoy the aviary with lots of tropical birds such as parrots, tucans, and flamingos.
There is an iguana sanctuary that also has some tortoises.
If you time it right, there is also a mystical ceremony that you can participate in!
At the very top of the observatory building is a bar with fantastic views of El Faro Lighthouse and the ocean!
New in 2024, the Observatory expanded with the National Whale Museum(MUNBA) which you can include as an add-on.
Then, in late 2024, a zip line running from the top of El Faro to the Observatory was put in.
Plaza Machado
The Plaza Machado is a beautiful old square in the Historic Old Town of Mazatlán that is lined with outdoor and indoor Restaurants.
There is mellow music at some of the restaurants on the weekend nights. Additionally, there are a few roving Mariachi bands that you can hire if you want to hear Mariachi songs!
The plaza is decorated at various times of the year such as Carnival, Day of the Dead, and Christmas!
The Plaza Machado is a popular spot for strolling and dining in the evening!
Mazatlán Beaches
One of the main reason people come to Mazatlán is for it's fabulous Beaches ('playas' in spanish). Mazatlán has about 20 miles of beaches!
It is safe to swim at most of the beaches as many stay shallow for a long way out.
Many people love that you can walk for miles on the relatively flat beaches.
Mazatlán Sunsets
Sunsets in Mazatlán are just amazing!
You can view the sunset from most any beach in Mazatlán. Also the bars at the top of the Hotel Posada Freeman-Olas Altas and Holiday Inn Resort Hotel and Observatory 1873 are great places to catch the sunset.
If you are lucky you may even be able to see the "Green Ray"!
Mazatlán Cathedral
The main Cathedral in Mazatlán is beautiful baroque style catholic church right in the center of downtown Mazatlán.
The church is a real working church so you can attend services if you wish. It is well worth a visit even if you are not religious.
Angela Peralta Theatre
The Angela Peralta Theatre is a fabulous old theatre in the old part of mazatlan that hosts many concerts and dances. If you are looking for some Mexican culture be sure to take in a show.
Mazatlán Cliff Divers
Mazatlán has divers that dive off of a platform into the ocean.
Everyday, starting in the early afternoon until sunset, divers will dive off of the platform into the ocean for donations by spectators.
The place where the cliff divers dive from is called 'El Clavadista' which is on the Paseo Claussen portion of the Malecon.
Central Park
New, as of late 2021, is Mazatlán's Central Park (Parque Central).
Located near the Malecon, Central Park is a large treed park with a large lagoon.
Entry to Central Park is free, but there is a fee for some of the attractions.
There are paths to walk and cycle on. There is a miniature train ride and boat/kayak rentals for a fee.
New for 2022 are the Animal Kingdom which exhibits reptiles and birds. Also new, are the Dancing Fountains which are computer syncronized lighted fountains that shoot water 10 meters in the air!
Additionally, there are some restaurants and food trucks that are starting to open up at the park.
Seashell City Museum
The Seashell City Museum has many shells and bones on display.
Located in the heart of the Golden Zone, it is a business that sells seashells and souvenirs, but also has a large free museum upstairs!
This is a good place to spend an hour on a cloudy day or when shopping in the area.
Pedro Infante Museum
Pedro Infante Museum (Museo El Rincon de Pedro Infante) is a museum to the famous Mexican movie star and singer that was born in Mazatlán.
Pedro Infante had a super interesting life which included being in 64 films and recording 458 songs!
This museum has hundreds of photos and memorabilia of Pedro Infante.
To get the most of your visit you need to get a tour in English by Daniel, whose family owns the house. Daniel is an expert on Pedro Infante. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour when we went recently!
The museum is located near downtown in Mazatlán.
There is a small fee to enter the museum.
Mazatlán Archaelogical Museum
The Mazatlán Archaelogical Museum (Museo Arqueologico Mazatlán) is a small museum that showcases pre-Hispanic culture of the region.
It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. There is a MX$75 fee to enter the museum.
The museum is located at Calle Sixto Osuma 76 which is 1 block from Avenida Olas Altas.
This is an inexpensive attraction for an hour or two for those who like to learn about history and ancient culture.
De Cima Tunnel
A little known free attraction that is unique to Mazatlán is the De Cima Tunnel.
This is a tunnel that goes under the Malecon that goes between the Hotel De Cima and it's beach restaurant El Corriente.
It has fabulous tile mosaics of sea life.
To visit this attraction doesn't take a lot of time and is for those looking for something unique to Mazatlán that you won't see on any tour!
Devil's Cave
The Devil's Cave (La Cueva Del Diablo) is a cave where the Devil may reside!
The cave is gated so the Devil cannot get out, but you can look in to see if you can see the Devil!
The Devil's Cave is located on Paseo Claussen across from where the Cliff Divers dive.
This attraction just takes minutes to see, but is kind of fun to see if you are nearby.
2023-08-14 Update: Due to falling rocks a fence has been put up so you can't go up to the Cave at this time. There was supposed to be some reconstruction work done on the area, but has stopped because someone has produced documents saying that they own the land. The city is investigating this claim.