Neither the Indians nor the Spanish can take credit for developing Mazatlán, as it was a group of enterprising German immigrants who developed the port facilities in order to import agricultural equipment. This led to heavy international trading and turned Mazatlán into one of the busiest harbors for this region, with many cargo tankers and passenger cruise ships using the port facilities.

In the heart of Old Mazatlán is the large 19^th century cathedral, with its high rising towers, facing Plaza de Revolucion where time seemingly stands still and the word stress has no meaning among locals and tourists. The best place to the catch a bus is only 2 blocks north of the cathedral, right by the marketplace. Here you can find everything from trinkets to every day items. Several restaurants are located on the second floor, offering a great variety of traditional Mexican cuisine. As an alternative, kitchens can be rented for a few dollars only.

Plaza Machado - Teatro Angela Peralta - Play Video
Only a short walk from the cathedral heading south, is the most beautiful area of Mazatlán – Plaza Machado, which is surrounded by attractive sidewalk cafes and historic buildings such as the Teatro Angela Peralta. Built in the late 1860’s the theatre first opened in 1874 as Teatro Rubio. In 1883 the famous opera singer Angela Peralta, also known as “The Nightingale of Mexico” arrived in Mazatlán to perform the premier of “Lucia”. Traveling by ship, Ms. Peralta contracted yellow fever, and died before she ever perform at the theater. After this tragic incident, the theater was renamed after the diva. The revolutionary decades brought about an inevitable lowering of artistic standards.

Beaches - Stone Island
On the other side of the harbor, Stone Island or Isla de la Piedra as the locals call it, can be accessed by land or by sea. The water taxis operate every day and the crossing takes only five minutes. Stone Island is a popular getaway from Mazatlan’s city life and offers many great activities. Besides a variety of water and recreational sports, horseback riding is probably the most popular thing to do along this 6 mile stretch of unspoiled sandy beach. Several local waterfront restaurants serve what the ocean offers in tantalizing fresh seafood dishes prepared from daily catches. Make sure to walk all the way down the beach and look for "Victor's". Once you've tried his seafood platter, you'll know why.
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Olas Altas, Malecon
Tourism began in the 1950s here at Olas Altas, the main beach of Old Mazatlán. Movie stars like John Wayne, Gregory Peck and Yul Bryner paid regular visits to Mazatlan. People from all over the world gather here every year to celebrate Carnival one week before lent. It is said to be the third largest celebration after New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. For seven miles, all along the beach front Malecón, the festivities have been attracting celebrants for over 100 years.

Deer Island
For those who prefer a quieter environment, Deer Island is a perfect get away just across from the active Golden Zone. The only way to get there is by renting a boat, kayak or by joining one of the island cruises.

Mexican Fire Opal
The value of jewelry exported from Mexico is estimated at more than 150 million dollars each year. The fire opal is Mexico’s number one export and its use in valuable ornaments dates back to Aztec times. Opals were formed millions of years ago in volcanic rocks, when silica, carried by water, deposited in rock fractures. The silica did not crystallize, and the gel solidified. During this process water was trapped in these spheres so light passing through the water is broken into the spectrum of colors similar to light passing through the water drops in the sky that form a rainbow.

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Here in Mazatlán, cliff diving has been a tradition since 1961, and whenever the ocean conditions seem to make it impossible to dive, the young divers step back and give the limelight to the veteran divers, who made this place famous for what it is today. Mario Gonzales Agilar was the diver who started the tradition in Mazatlán, and his (more than) 65 years of age don’t hinder him from still diving, especially in extreme conditions. This tourist attraction started many years ago as a risky adventure and bet with his friend Roberto Jauregui Villegas who clearly remembers that day.
Knowing the risks and the necessity to practice every day, the shallow waters proofed to be an immense challenge for Mario and Roberto. No matter how rough and perilous the conditions are, the cliff divers pay homage to their tradition and to their audience by being ready to dive every day.

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