Beach Activities in Mazatlán
With miles of golden sands and warm Pacific waters, Mazatlán is the ultimate playground for beach lovers.
Whether you are looking for a relaxed afternoon stroll or high-adrenaline water sports, the local beaches offer an activity for everyone. Popular pastimes include scenic walks, ocean swimming, boogie-boarding, kayaking, hobie-cat sailing, surfing, and sunset horseback riding.
Walking the Shorelines
Walking along the beaches in Mazatlán is one of the most popular and peaceful activities you can enjoy completely for free. Mazatlán features tens of kilometers of continuous, wide sandy coastlines that are perfect for early morning shell hunting or romantic sunset strolls.
Swimming
Swimming is a fantastic way to cool off in the warm Pacific waters. While you can swim along most beach stretches in Mazatlán, we highly recommend the incredibly calm, wave-protected waters of Stone Island (Isla de la Piedra) or the gentle shores of the Golden Zone.
Boogie-Boarding
Riding the shore breaks on a boogie board is incredibly fun for both kids and adults. You can easily rent boogie boards directly from beachfront vendors set up in front of the major Golden Zone resorts. Rental rates are highly affordable, typically costing around MX$100 per hour.
Parasailing
You will see parasailing operators active on the beaches in front of most large beachfront resorts in the Golden Zone.
Jet Skiing
For a thrilling ride over the ocean waves, jet skis are widely available for rent in front of major resorts. Rates average approximately $50 USD for a half-hour, or can be booked by the full hour.
Kayaking
If you prefer a self-paced ocean workout, you can rent single or double plastic sit-on-top ocean kayaks along the resort beach stretches. It is a wonderful way to explore the calm waters surrounding the three offshore islands.
Hobie Cat Sailing
Small Hobie Cat catamarans are available for hire on the main tourist beaches. You can rent them with an experienced local captain sailing for you, or rent them independently if you are an experienced sailor yourself. For larger sailboat charters or deep-sea excursions, you will want to head to the Marina.
Surfing
Mazatlán has a fantastic surf culture with excellent swells. There are two primary local surf breaks within the main zones:
- Cerritos Point: Located at the far northern end of the hotel zone, ideal for intermediate and advanced riders.
- Fiestaland Point: Located right near the rocky castle outcrop at the southern tip of the Golden Zone.
There are several local surf shops in town offering board rentals and private lessons for beginners.
Horseback Riding
Riding a horse down the shoreline as the sun dips below the horizon is a truly unforgettable experience. Beachfront horse handlers typically walk the beaches in the late afternoon. You can rent a horse for a guided trek directly on the sand, with Stone Island and the northern beaches of Cerritos offering the most expansive, unobstructed riding trails.