Mazatlan (II) - Centro, Mexico (December 2023)

After we left the Pacifika Marina earlier than the original schedule, we moved to a house in the Centro area on a hill overlooking the Olas Atlas Beach. The street name was Paseo Vista Hermosa, meaning Beautiful View Street. It was indeed, except for the climbing up and down the stairs on the still hill.

The Centro area was the original Mazatlan and from here the city has grown into the Golden Zone (Hotel Zone) and further north to the Marina area.

As soon as we arrived, we went to the Mercado de Ciudad or City Market market to buy the cooking materials we would need while staying there for four nights. Kristin is so good and effective in buying these food items. We took a taxi to return to our lodging.

Down at the Olas Atlas Beach were a few sculptures and signs, which signified the beach and the starting point of the City of Mazatlan.

As you walk along the Malecon, you could buy fresh fish or clams from the fishermen. Their prices are a lot cheaper than in the market.

In the Centro area, we visited Machado, a small square with many beautiful shops and restaurants. The Mazatlan Cathedral was located nearby. Also, we stopped by the Art Museum, but there was nothing much. 

From the Centro to the Golden Zone lies the Mazatlan Malecon. This Malecon is 4.3 miles or 7 km long. It is the longest in Mexico and one of the longest in the world. 

The Malecon starts from here...

 and ends here after 4.3 miles of boardwalk. 

In between are many statues and structures that are of interest to the locals as well as the visitors alike. You also find beaches and hatched-roof restaurants. Mazatlan means the "Land of Deers." So you could find a lot of deer statues, big and small. 

These ladies were exercising every time I passed...

Fisherman's Statue

Life Continuity Statue

One of the most popular attractions in Mazatlan is Mazatlan Lighthouse or Faro Mazatlan. It is further south of Mazatlan Centro in Mazatlan Sur. You have to walk up for about 1 km to the beginning point of the steps and you need to climb up 336 stairs to the top where the lighthouse is located. The climb is doable and the reward is wonderful with a panoramic view. 

At the top was a Mirador de Cristal or Crystal Lookout where people pay to walk on a lookout point that has a transparent floor. No, thank you!

 

On a hill across the Faro Mazatlan was a restaurant called La Marea. Kristin and I had a dinner there and it was fabulous to eat delicious food with a fantastic view.

Although our stay in the Centro area was short, we enjoyed it fully. - Jeffrey