Mazatlan's famous castle sits on a point of land between the golden hotel zone and the beach fronting the Malecón (ocean walkway). It looks serene, but the Moorish-inspired castle houses thousands of square feet of dance floor and bars, most notably Bora Bora Beach Club and Valentino's.  

Mazatlan's Malecón curves from the hotel zone all the way to Old Town. There are hotels and restaurants, discos and nightclubs, places to grab a cerveza, and miles of sand to stroll. But the best use of this inviting walkway is simply sitting and watching the sun drop into the Pacific.  

Mexico has no lack of magnificent golf courses, but Estrella del Mar, just outside of Mazatlan, is a real beauty. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the course has six holes that play out along the ocean.  

The hotel zone has plenty of lively activity, but its beach can be a little more serene than the beach fronting the Malecón. You can find spots to sit quietly or take a pleasant stroll along the sand.  

The Mexican culture embraces festivities and pageantry with ease and flair. Performers dress in colorful masks and costumes and music beats with a joyful rhythm. In Mexico, there always seems to be something to celebrate and a vivid cultural performance to go with it.  

Doorways in Mexico often have a beauty to them that inspire photographers and artists, like this one in Mazatlan's Old Town. When you see a charming door, you may find yourself seeing it again in a local gallery.  

Mazatlan's Old Town is home to dozens of galleries and artist studios. On the First Fridays Artwalk (November through May) visitors can meet artists and see the crafts, glass, pottery, or paintings they produce. Does this door look familiar?  

If you don't want to swim in the surf, there's always a cool blue pool to lounge around and soak up the Mexican sun.  

Many travelers to Mazatlan spend the better part of their day sitting under a palapa on a long stretch of beach.  

Thousands of turtle eggs are recovered each summer from nests on Mazatlan's beaches and put in sanctuaries to incubate safely away from predators. When the babies hatch, they're released into the sea, often with the help of Mazatlan hotel guests.