Mazatlán Miscellany
While Hanna and I fly into and out of Mazatlán several times a year, we prefer to spend our time in Mexico at Anglers Inn Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos rather than lounging on the beach. Most of our friends and acquaintances who fish down there agree, but some like to spend time in the city getting some pre- or post-fishing R&R. Other people we know are there on vacation and make the occasional day trips out to the lake. Accordingly, it behooves us to know what’s going on in and around the region. Here are some nuggets of semi-relevant info we’ve encountered lately, in no particular order:
New Mazatlán Aquarium: how to build a new world-class facility — It’s a super-fishy region (fresh and saltwater) so why not have a facility to celebrate that fact? Apparently that’s the thinking behind this update to the city’s existing aquarium facility, which will become the largest in Latin America. Since I’m a big fan of facilities like the Baltimore Aquarium and of course Wonders of Wildlife, this might actually draw me into town on the way to or from home.
Mexico's Most Feared Prison Will Now Welcome Tourists — If an aquarium isn’t your idea of a tourist attraction, or if it is but you want more, how about a different kind of ecotourism site – one that used to be populated by jailbirds instead of our avian friends? You will be able to get to Isla Marías via ferry from Mazatlán – their version of Alcatraz.
Chefs assemble over 600-pound hamburger in Mexico — Not only was I unaware that an International Hamburger Festival existed, but I was particular surprised to learn that it occurred in Mazatlán. The 629.4 pound beast that set the festival record, but they’ll have to substantially up their game if they want entry into the Guinness book (2,566 pound, 9 ounces).
6 Best Unique Dining Experiences In The Shrimp Capital Of The World — As noted above, while we like the Anglers Inn burgers, we’re not down there for “American Tacos.” We’d rather have the local mariscos and camarones. If you’re in the same boat, so to speak, here are some restaurant recommendations that you should check out.
Hyatt to expand presence in Latin America and the Caribbean — Most of the Gringos we know who stay at or near the beach choose the El Cid or the Pueblo Bonito, but those aren’t the only choices. Next year Hyatt will open a private gated golf and residential community known as the Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlan Golf and Spa Resort. If you golf rather than fish, it may be a great option. We’ve stayed at Dreams properties in the Mayan Riviera and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and found them to be good values.
Right now, we’re still in go-go-go mode, which means that we want to zip in, fish as much as we can, and get home to build up more vacation time. As we approach and then enter retirement, however, we’re going to take our own advice and slow down and smell the roses (or the giant burger, or the sea life, as the case may be).
