Historic Mexico in Mazatlan

 

 

Rita Cook, International Travel Examiner

January 19, 2012

 

   With south of the border calling and if you hit it before spring break the prices that airlines are offering during the lull will still be affordable.

   Mazatlan is just one of those destinations that has a romantic ring to it and for good reason. Sitting on the Ocean and the Sea of Cortez the port of Mazatlan is still as nostalgic as it ever was offering guests a blend of the cities noble past with the modern world.

   A real draw to Mazatlan is the art and culture and a good place to get a feel for it is in the Machado Plaza. The 19th-century architecture displayed here is just one glimpse of the way the historic homes in that area have given way to the modern bars and sidewalk cafes as well as art galleries and handicraft shops.

  One real find is the Angela Peralta Theater with rumors that it might be haunted. This theater pays tribute to the opera singer who is famed in Mexico and is now a National Historic Heritage Site.

   There are a number of hotels to consider when visiting Mazatlan. If you opt for the Golden Zone district where all the action is taking place the Hotel Playa Mazatlan is a good choice. Considered a Mazatlan landmark, the hotel is older than some, but has charm. It was the first hotel to be built along the beach in this area and many a movie star from the earlier days of Hollywood stayed here since movies were being made nearby in the town of Durango only about two hours away. John Wayne, John Huston, Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson all stayed at Hotel Playa Mazatlan.

   There is now over 400 rooms and the longest beachfront in the area and offering a truly authentic feel of real Mexico set amid the historical past.

   Other Mazatlan stops for those looking for culture include the Cathedral from the 19th century with a pair of steeples adorned with yellow tiles from Europe. The Machado Museum House is inside an estate constructed in 1846. On display are antique furniture, paintings, clothing and books.

   The Archeology Museum boasts relics of the indigenous peoples who lived in the area pre-Hispanic with four galleries in chronological order that explain the customs and traditions of the area’s ancestors.

   Of course with the history come great cuisine, deep sea fishing and nightlife up and down the Golden Zone strip. Get crazy with the other tourists or just have a romantic night alone, anything goes in Mazatlan.