Mazatlan

Translated, Mazatlan means "place of deer" from the ancient Nahuati tongue. Great herds of deer were said to have roamed this area, located at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Resplendent with rich tradition and folklore, Mazatlan is said to have been frequented by pirates who left behind their buried treasure. Noted for its sparkling sand beaches and warm Pacfic waters, Mazatlan is an ideal spot to get in a swim.

Attractions

Take in the charming and historic sights on a tour of the city. Stop to do some shopping at Mazatlan's Golden Zone, home to Mexican and Indian handicrafts. It's a great way to celebrate the colors, songs and dances of ancient and colonial Mexico.

Activities

• Take a fascinating tour of the legendary Sierra Madre mountain range. Visit once-thriving colonial towns, which hosted missionaries and gold prospectors alike.


• Spend the afternoon exploring Mazatlan's long white-sand beaches, lined with open-air bistros and fun-loving bars.

Adventures

Tee up at the Estrella del Mar Golf Club, designed by world-renowned Robert Trent Jones, Jr. This course is recognized as one of Mexico's premier golf courses for its superior beauty and playability.

Shopping

The Mexican Riviera is the ideal place to shop for beautiful jewelry. All of the colored stones in the world can be found here, as well as the rare Mexican fire opal and Mexico's renowned sterling silver. Mazatlan has fabulous bargains on diamonds, precious & semi-precious stones, 14K & 18K gold, handmade jewelry, seashell handicrafts, Huilchol Indian beadwork, D'Argenta silver sculptures and sterling silver jewelry.

Currency

Mexico's currency is the peso (MXN). The $ sign is used to refer to pesos, so don't be shocked at the price tags. Any prices in U.S. dollars are listed as US$ or USD. Many hotels, restaurants and shops also accept major credit cards, which usually offer you a good exchange rate.

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