These northern states showcase the lesser-known side of Mexico, offering unforgettable adventures through stunning natural wonders, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Sonora is a vast northern region of arid beauty, offering a striking contrast between its expansive deserts and coastal area, where travelers can explore everything from massive dunes to stunning, serene beaches.

• Gran Desierto de Altar
• Pinacate Biosphere Reserve
• Sea of Cortez Coastline

Chihuahua is renowned for its vast desert landscapes and rugged mountain ranges, a stunning natural wonder offering adventurous travelers amazing scenic views, hiking trails, and the famous Chepe train journey.

• Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre)
• Sierra Tarahumara
• Paquimé Archaeological Zone

Coahuila is a diverse region known for its vast deserts, unique ecosystems, and historic mining towns such as Parras de la Fuente and Real de Catorce, where visitors can explore vineyards, mystical landscapes, and rich history.

• Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere Reserve
• Real de Catorce
• Parras de la Fuente

Nuevo León is a state renowned for its rugged Sierra Madre Oriental mountains, offering vibrant outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, and exploring natural wonders and the scenic Cola de Caballo waterfall.

• Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
• Cola de Caballo Waterfall
• Chipinque Ecological Park

Tamaulipas invites outdoor enthusiasts to explore its remarkable natural diversity, stunning coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico, lush subtropical forests, and rugged mountain ranges in the Sierra Madre Oriental.

• El Cielo Biosphere Reserve
• Playa Miramar
• Soto la Marina River

Sinaloa offers a captivating blend of coastal beauty and rich cultural heritage, with its stunning beaches along the Pacific Ocean, lush valleys, vibrant cities, delicious cuisine, lively music scene, and deep-rooted traditions.

• Mazatlán
• Las Labradas
• El Fuerte

Durango boasts a striking blend of deserts, majestic mountains, and lush forests that have graced numerous films. This diverse terrain offers hiking, rock climbing, and exploring nowadays abandoned mining towns.

• Zona del Silencio
• Sierra Madre Occidental
• Old West Film Sets

Baja California is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes and breathtaking coastal beauty. This dynamic region offers a unique blend of all kinds of outdoor adventures, rich cultural experiences, and delicious cuisine.

• Valle de Guadalupe
• Ensenada
• Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

Baja California Sur is known for its beaches, marine life, and landscapes where the desert meets the ocean. The region offers snorkeling, whale watching, and hiking, alongside opportunities to relax on its sandy shores.

• Cabo San Lucas
• La Paz
• Loreto

Plan your trip now and explore the hidden gems of Northern Mexico!

Mazatlán

Known as the “Pearl of the Pacific,” Mazatlán is one of the top tourist destinations in Sinaloa. Its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and historic downtown attract visitors from around the world.

The Malecon, a scenic boardwalk, offers breathtaking views of the ocean, while the Historic Center showcases beautiful colonial architecture and the iconic Angela Peralta Theater.

Mazatlán is also famous for its fresh seafood and exciting water sports.

Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island)

Accessible by a short ferry ride from Mazatlán, Isla de la Piedra is a tranquil island retreat with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.

Relax under the shade of a palm tree, swim in the warm ocean, or indulge in water sports such as kayaking and paddleboarding. The island is also home to a small fishing village, offering a glimpse into the local way of life.

Culiacán

As the capital city of Sinaloa, Culiacán is a bustling metropolis that offers a blend of modernity and tradition. Explore the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, visit the Regional History Museum, or stroll through the scenic Las Riberas Park along the banks of the Culiacán River.

Culiacán also hosts the International Film Festival and is a great place to experience the vibrant Sinaloan cuisine.

For nature enthusiasts, a visit to the Culiacán Botanical Garden is a must.

Spanning over 40 hectares, this lush green oasis is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Explore the various themed gardens, walk along the tranquil trails, and marvel at the vibrant colors of the blooming flowers.

The garden also hosts educational programs and exhibitions, making it an ideal destination for families.

El Fuerte

Step back in time and visit El Fuerte, a charming colonial town that preserves its rich history. The Plaza de Armas, with its picturesque gardens and colonial architecture, is the heart of the town.

Explore the El Fuerte Museum, take a boat ride along the El Fuerte River, or hop on the famous Chepe train to experience the Copper Canyon, one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders.

Los Mochis

Situated in the northern part of Sinaloa, Los Mochis is the gateway to the Copper Canyon and an excellent base for exploring the region. Visit Topolobampo Bay, a picturesque port town known for its stunning beaches and seafood.

Take a day trip from Los Mochis to the charming village of El Fuerte or embark on a memorable adventure aboard the Chepe train, which winds its way through breathtaking canyons and mountainous landscapes.

Topolobampo

Located on the Gulf of California, Topolobampo is a paradise for nature lovers. Explore the rugged beauty of the surrounding Sierra Madre Occidental mountains or embark on a boat tour to experience the stunning marine life and pristine beaches.

Don’t miss the chance to savor the fresh seafood delicacies that the region is renowned for.

Mocorito

Known as the “City of Flowers,” Mocorito is a charming colonial town renowned for its beautiful architecture and traditional charm.

Take a leisurely stroll through the cobblestone streets, visit the historic Hidalgo Plaza, and admire the picturesque colonial houses. Mocorito is also famous for its gastronomy, particularly its delicious pork dishes and artisanal sweets.

Navolato

Located just north of Culiacán, Navolato is a coastal town with stunning beaches and a laid-back atmosphere. Relax on the golden sands of Altata Beach, take a boat ride through the picturesque estuaries, or sample the fresh seafood at one of the beachside restaurants.

Navolato is also known for its vibrant carnival celebrations, featuring colorful parades, music, and dancing.

 

El Rosario was founded on August 3, 1655, with its name deriving from Bonifacio Rojas, who discovered melted silver in the morning residue of his previous night’s campfire.

Marked by a rosary, gold and silver mining began at the site of his discovery, and with it the flourishing of this picturesque town.

The area now by the town of El Rosario was once inhabited by three ethnic groups, the Totorames, Xiximes, and Acaxes.

The Totorames inhabited the region including the valley and the coast of Rio Piaxtla (Piaxtla River) to Rio De Las Cañas (Las Cañas River). The favored site, Chiametlan, is today the town of Chametla.

These three ethnic groups are strongly identified with fishing, pottery, and agriculture.

The city was founded on the 3rd of august, 1655.

It is said that on August 3, 1655, a corporal named Bonifacio was looking for missing cattle. He walked along a river in what is now known as Loma de Santiago, from where the cattle were lost. He went for it and captured it.

As it had turned to night he lit a fire. When he woke up he was in for a major surprise, under the ashes of the fire he saw large molten silver adhered to a rock.

He then gave the news to his boss. But before he left to give the news he left a Rosario to mark the place. His boss ran to the location to confirm that it was silver and began to extract the silver.

In the 1700’s El Rosario was the site of the ruling powers of California, Baja California, and Sonora. El Rosario was regarded as a “shelter-city,” which accorded Mazatlán greater importance as a port of entry.

In the 1800s Mazatlán became the port of entry for all minerals produced by El Rosario, Copala, and Pánuco, Rosario was then the most important of these three prominent mineral centers due to the large amounts of silver and gold it produced.

El Rosario is one of the most faithfully preserved mission towns in the region. The town’s crowning structure is its majestic cathedral, whose interior features a uniquely crafted altarpiece bathed in gold.

Among its attractions is the church of Nuestra Señora de El Rosario, a baroque temple with a gold-plated altar design and style dating from the 17th Century, and the Santa Cruz Chapel, which dates from the 19th Century.

El Rosario is famous for the altar in the town church. The altar alone makes a visit to El Rosario somewhat worth the drive.

El Rosario was once the richest town in Northwest Mexico because of its local mining operations.

This small town was the home of the famous Mexican singer, Lola Beltrán. They have built a small museum in her honor although the museum is open only sporadically.

Among other must-sees in El Rosario and contiguous areas are the mausoleum, the Hacienda of Cocoyotl en Agua Verde, the Octagonal Spanish Cemetery, and the virgin beach at El Caimanero.

The quiet charm of El Rosario’s suspension bridge

El Rosario’s bridge is pretty tiny, close to the water, and sits over a placid pond versus an active river.

You can fully take in the beauty around you: the verdant foliage along the water’s perimeter, the locals taking a midday break, and the calming quiet that envelops you. The view is reminiscent of a Japanese garden.

The bridge ostensibly exists to provide access to a tiny island at one end, but given that there’s basically nothing on it, it’s apparent that this is here primarily for beauty’s sake.

The city was founded in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Ibarra, the first explorer of the lofty Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.

In 1610 a fort was built to ward off the fierce Zuaque and Tehueco Native Americans, who constantly harassed the Spaniards.

For years, El Fuerte served as the gateway to the vast frontiers of the northern territories of Sonora, Arizona and California, all of which were sparsely populated by unyielding tribes of native amerindians.

For nearly three centuries it was the most important commercial and agricultural center of the vast northwestern region of Mexico. El Fuerte was a chief trading post for silver miners and gold seekers from the Urique and Batopilas mines in the nearby mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental and its branches.

In 1824, El Fuerte became the capital city of the newly created Mexican state of Sonora y Sinaloa (reaching up deep into modern-day Arizona). It remained the capital for several years until the split of this state into the states of Sinaloa and Sonora.

Tourism remains a major industry in town, although it has been diminished in recent years by tourists being wary of Mexican drug cartel violence in other parts of Sinaloa; however, violence declined by 2013 from a high in 2011.

El Fuerte has several holidays and local “Fiestas” which are celebrated with pageants, “Ferias” and the like.

Several hotels cater to hunters and fishermen, who hunt (deer, boar, wild hog, wild goat, rabbit, armadillo, a variety of snakes) in the foothills or fish in the nearby Rio Fuerte river which runs on the northwest part of the town’s commercial district.

There are also local petroglyphs a short distance from the downtown.

The city also serves as a gateway to the popular Barranca de Cobre (Copper Canyon) situated in the nearby state of Chihuahua. There are no easily travelled roads to the Copper Canyon from west of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

Visitors usually take the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico railway, whose local station is a few miles south of town. The route is on the Chihuahua-Pacific Railroad, or ChePe, which passes through the scenic Copper Canyon, from Chihuahua, Chihuahua to the northeast, to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, near the Gulf of California, to the southwest.

The town is also served by El Fuerte Airport.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Navolato is most known for its renowned agricultural industry. Because of their versatile location, Navolato produces a large array of agricultural products. Navolato leads in the production of sugar cane, rice, vegetables, wheat, beans, and sea food. The fishing and horticulture is second following Navolato’s natural resources, which are also leading asset to the nation income. “Agriculture and livestock account for about 21% of the economy”. The list of agriculture and livestock is very abundant due to the location. Many of the crops are produced through irrigation near sea level, which is what makes these crops such a high demand. Navolato is so famous for their agriculture, Navolato would be expected to produce and export their product in a timely manner. “Its high productivity allows participation in international markets by exporting fruit and vegetable products which represents more than 60% of the total exports in Sinaloa”. Navolatos agriculture is a highly prized business as well. “On a national level, it is among the first place in vegetables such a tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkins, potatoes, chilies, and eggplant, in fruits there are mangos, cantaloupes, and watermelon, and in grains, there corn, beans, soybeans, safflowers, rice, wheat, and sorgum”. The second largest business would be the livestock and the breeding of livestock. They are also most known for the fishing industry as well. Navolato is known for this because they are located right off the Pacific Ocean. By breeding livestock, Navolato farmers are able to succeed in the business of producing sausage, cheese, and milk among with other products made from livestock. Without the agriculture business, Navolato, Sinaloa would not be the agricultural power on the map today.

Navolato became part of the municipal of Culiacan until the year 1982 when it was constituted as a municipal. A decree was publicized in the official newspaper on August 27, constituting itself in a way as the eighteenth municipal of surrounding the community. There are a couple of historical monuments in Navolato according to the Encyclopedia of the Municipals of Mexico Sinaloa such as, “The Temple of San Francisco de Asis, which was built in 1950 and the Chapel of San Jose, which was built in 1927.”

The music in the municipal of Navolato is developed through bandas or brass bands, trios, cuartetos, or other forms of musical expressions in which they use in order to sing to their land. According to Encyclopedia of the Municipals of Mexico Sinaloa, “They invited diverse artists to use their musical passions to sing to their people, and to all of their natural beauty that surrounds them.” They had local composers and strangers sing beautiful songs for the state of Sinaloa, where Navolato is located in. Severiano Briseño Chávez composed the song “El Sinaloense” (The Sinaloen), which was one of the most greatest composed songs in Sinaloa, Navolato still to this day. Jose Angle Espinoza Ferrusquilla did a homage for his land with the song “En Sinaloa Naci”which means “Born in Sinaloa.” In Navolato, Sinaloa, according to Portal Grupero, “The singer Valente Del Real was born in 1985. He started his musical career at the young age of eleven years. He has since pretained to various groups, where he learned to play various instruments. For instance the drums, the base and the guitar were his most played instruments. His voice is very similar to that of the disappeared Valentin Elizalde. He also usually does his performances with Banda Pueblo Lindo.

In the Altata Bay, there are many different types of marine species. The Encyclopedia of the Municipal of Mexico Sinaloa stated that,” They catch shrimp, tuna,clams, oysters, scallops, and marlin.” Not to mention, they also catch a large variety of sweet water fish. In this community of Navolato they enjoy a variety of different styles of fish based plates. This includes: meatballs made of fish, chile rellenos filled with crab, and their famous Sinaloa style shrimp Cevichi.Their favorite dessert is Jamoncillo which is “Dulce de leche.”This dessert is made with the conserves and piloncillos derivatives of the grindings of sugar canes. However, their most famous dessert is the “tacuarines” which is a cookie made of corn, flour and water in the shape of circles other various forms.

Sinaloa Navolato lies along the coast of the Gulfo de California. It covers an area of 58,091 square Kilometers (22,429 square miles), which is a little smaller than the US state of West Virginia. In Sinaloa Navolato, there are three types of landscape: a coastal plan in the west, mountains (sierras) in the east, and valleys between them. In the eastern part of the state Sierra Madre Occidental is known by different names. Valleys lie between the ranges of mountains and the coastal plan, where the land is flat with few hills. The rivers rise in the Sierra Madre Occidental and cross the state to flow into the Gulfo de California and the Pacific Ocean. Major rivers are the Fuerte and Sinaloa. Sinaloa had a total population of 2,536,844 in 2000; of the total, 1,264,143 were men and 1,272,701 were women, according to the Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Mexican States. It also stated that, “The population density was 44 people per square kilometer (114 people per square mile).” Almost all citizens speak Spanish as their first language. A small number, about 2.2% of the population speaks indigenous (native) languages in Sinaloa Navolato. According to the Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Mexican States, “77% of the population, or about two million people, were Roman Catholic; almost 3%, or 65,346 people, were Protestant.” That year there were also 32,783 Jehovah’s witnesses and over 180,000 people who reported no religion. Sinaloa Navolato is not very well known by most people, but it is a rather unusual place to know and learn about. For example, the name Sinaloa comes from the Chaita language. It is a combination of the words sina, which means pithaya (a plant with thorny stalks), and lobola, which means rounded. The pithaya is a common plant throughout the region, which has great meaning.

Navolato, Sinaloa can be considered one of the most intrigued places in Mexico that has a variety of climate change. However, in Navolato according to the Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Mexican States,” Along the coastal plains of Sinaloa it remains hot even after cold times.” Most valley areas can be hectic simply because of the temperature changes. Temperatures in the daytime can be up to 90 degrees and in winter times like around December, January, and February can be up to 80 degrees. Most of the rain fall occurs in July, August, and September along with cooling temperatures by the coast. This is why this part of Sinaloa is mostly watched by the Environmental Protection Agency due tremendous climate change. In the Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Mexican States it says, “That this part of Mexico has teamed up with U.S. and Alaska to form a group called the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.” The reason why it was named this is because of the Pacific Flyway Shorebirds that breed in Canada, Alaska, and other West Coastal regions of the United States. According to MagnaVerno, “Watering prior to harvest allows the basil to be cut/harvested three times.” Plants here can range from oaks to poplars to cieba and mangroves, which is an evergreen that usually grows along the coast. Fruit like lemons, peaches and pears are also known to be found as well. Animals that can be found in this area are: dears, wildcats, badgers, wild boar, coyotes and tlacuaches. However, fishing is another great part of Navolato, which holds second place national level terms of value of production, and the third place holder of fish and other sea food.

Navolato, Sinaloa judicial system is called the Tribunal of Justice, which is the highest court system in the state of Mexico. The Supreme Tribunal of justice has eleven members that are assigned for fifteen years with no re-electoral provisions. However, there is a required retirement age of seventy years. According to Explorando Mexico,”the state governor of Navolato office is assisted by the departments of director’s of liaisons and events, public relations. The Governor’s hearings are over seen by:administrative and touring coordinators, as well private secretary and other auxiliary secretaries in charge of the Governor’s agenda, among other federal dependencies and autonomous organizations”. Navolato’s government is structured among their economic resources. Resources are formed from a variety of products that are from harvest fields that grow wheat, bean, fruits, potatoes, zucchini and sugar cane. Navolato is the largest industry in the state that produces a large exporting capacity, which has become an integral part of the state. Infrastructure transports its food and vegetables from two important international airports, which are Mazatlan and Topolobampo. Harvest is transported from Navolato to difference parts of Mexico to supply their markets, as while as their income. Navolato also depends on local railroads to transport merchandise and other food produces. Navolato economy is slowly expanding and finding new ways to build their cities. For example, telecommunications and electricity generated throughout their cities. Navolato government and economy is maintaining their judicial system and keeping becoming more proficient.

Climate in Los Mochis is semi-arid wet and dry, bordering on arid.

Summers are extremely hot, reaching 40 °C (104 °F) and overnight lows of 26 °C (79 °F) with very high humidity making the night extremely hot and heat indices may reach 45 °C (113 °F) in the day.

Winters are very warm, reaching 30 °C (86 °F) in the day, even though the lowest temperature recorded was 2.5 °C (36 °F) during January 1971.

Rainfall concentrates in the summer: it is common to see thunderstorms and even occasionally hurricanes in August and September, but winters are dry with almost no rainfall, though on 29 December 1978 133.4 millimetres (5.25 in) fell.

The highest daily rainfall, however, was from a hurricane on 8 October 1985 and totalled 211 millimetres (8.31 in).

Los Mochis (from mochim, plural of mochic, Cahitan for “earth turtle” and used to refer to the flowers of Boerhavia coccinea) was founded in 1893 by a group of American utopian socialists who were adherents of Albert Kimsey Owen, an American civil engineer who built the first irrigation ditches in the valley. The colony, organized under the principles of utopian socialism, survived for 31 years. Albert K. Owen, the American civil engineer who came to do studies for the construction of a railway, was enchanted by Ohuira Bay and imagined the city of the future, where railways and shipping lines converged to ship throughout the entire world. Today, the port city of Topolobampo continues to be developed and may one day reach Owen’s dream.

The city itself was founded by a businessman named Benjamin F. Johnston, who came to make a fortune in the cultivation of sugarcane. The founding of the sugar mill produced a population boom in 1903.

Benjamin F. Johnston arrived at Topolobampo attracted by the city project of Owen. Johnston saw an opportunity to exploit resources such as sugar cane and together with Edward Lycan, who had been linked to Zacarías Ochoa, owner of a Trapiche (raw sugar mill) named “El Águila”, initiated the construction of a sugar mill. Ochoa died suddenly, and Johnston seized businesses that Lycan and Ochoa founded. “El Águila Sugar Refining Company” later became “United Sugar Company.”

In 1898, Johnston laid the first stone of the sugar mill and drove the rapid growth of the city around it. The first harvest was welcomed in the year 1903.

Johnston was a very powerful and influential businessman, so powerful that he was the one that drew the street plans for Los Mochis; a modern city with wide and straight streets. It was not recognized as a city until 1903 along with Topolobampo. On 20 April 1903 a decree is founded by the mayor of Los Mochis, during the state government of Francisco Cañedo. In 1916, establishing the town of Ahome and since 1935 the municipal seat of the latter is located in the city of Los Mochis. It is currently the commercial center of Valle del Fuerte and its radius of influence extends from the southern part of the neighboring state of Sonora and to the municipalities of El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Choix and Guasave in Sinaloa.

The economic development of the city began with the sugar industry, but in recent decades, its progress rests on the high-tech agriculture is practiced throughout the northwestern region of Mexico.

A group of enthusiastic people in la Villa de Ahome, under the name of “separatist” fought to create a municipality outside the hegemony of El Fuerte, achieved its objectives until 5 January 1917 that the mayor came to El Fuerte install new city hall in which he presided Ramon C. López who had been appointed by the state governor Francisco Cañedo.

The municipality of Ahome was created by decree of the Local Legislature dated 20 December 1917, being governor of the state Gral. Ángel Flores, and was appointed head of the municipality of La Villa de Ahome.

In 1918 Florencio A. Valdés, was the first elected mayor.

The City Council Ahome preceded by Modesto G. Castro decided to make the move to the town of Los Mochis, justifying that this population had grown so much that already exceeded several times to La Villa de Ahome.

The City Council Ahome, in a decision dated 1 April 1935, allowed the change to the header, and the State Legislature passed it through another decree issued on May 10 next, which was published in the Official Journal of State the 30th day of the month.

The transfer took place without major problems right away and offices were installed in the house owned by Don Fco. Beltran, located at the corner of Hidalgo and Zaragoza next to the local occupied by the former Sindicatura.

The old town of Ahome, to remain laggard in the process of the region, had also been relegated to second place. Since then the city of Los Mochis, as the town of Ahome whole have had major changes both economic and social policy have remained constant progress to the municipality.

Passenger trains

The interstate rail conglomerate Ferromex, or Ferrocarril de Mexicano, has scheduled service to Chihuahua, Chihuahua in north-central Mexico, and the aforementioned Copper Canyon route.

Historically, the city was on the main north-south route from Nogales to Mexico City. This service ended in the early 2000s.

Airport

The city’s airport is served by seven commercial airlines, including Volaris with Airbus jet aircraft flights.

El Jito RV park

The new RV park, just north of Los Mochis is now open for business.
It is situated just south of the San Miguel toll booth, turn left opposite the Pemex, its a few hundred feet down the side road on your right.
Minimal services right now, but they are going in. Owner can speak English.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The town of Mazatlán is located in the southern part of the State of Sinaloa, 10 m above sea level.

Its land area amounts to 3068.48 square kilometers, i.e. 5.3% of the total area of the State of Sinaloa, therefore it is classified as the ninth-largest municipality.

Bordered on the north by the municipality of San Ignacio and the state of Durango, south by the town of Rosario and the Pacific Ocean, on the east by the town of Concordia, and west by the Pacific Ocean’s coast.

The orography is determined by the ramifications of the Sierra Madre Occidental on the northwestern coastal plain bearing towards the Pacific Ocean, where the hills rise towards Vigia, Punta de Materén, and the Monte chair.

This orography, before entering the municipality of San Ignacio, takes the name of Sierra del Metate, whose characteristic is the formation of Peak Metate.

At the edge of Mazatlán and Concordia runs the Sierra del Metate and Panuco.

In this county, the Sierra Madre Occidental is diverted to penetrate Durango, leaving before some detachments, such as the Sierra de San Juan and the Friars, and constitutes, in its topography, the following hilly areas:

To the north end of town, one can see the Friars extending northwest, with elevations ranging from 150 to 1,900 meters above sea level. In the northwestern portion, El Quelite branches have elevations of 50–700 meters above sea level.

On the south-east and north sides, Arroyo de La Noria and some tributaries of the River El Quelite rise. The town of La Noria is located in this same part of the mountain, extending in a northwesterly direction at 300 and 500 meters above sea level.

On its western side, the Zapote Brook begins. The Sierra de San Marcos is located in the north at 50 to 700 meters above sea level. Forming the southeastern and northwestern slopes are Brook Copala and some tributaries of the Presidio River.

Hydrology

El Quelite River, and the Zapote, La Noria, and Los Cocos streams form part of the water resources of the municipality in the southwestern and southeastern slopes; these streams increase their volume considerably during the rainy season.

The current of the El Quelite River recorded a catchment of 835 square kilometers, where it drained annually for an average of 107 million cubic meters with variations ranging from 78 to 163 million cubic meters.

This hydrological current passing through the town of Mazatlán touches the towns of El Castillo, Las Juntas, Amapa, Los Naranjos, Milkweed, Modesto Station, and El Recreo.

After traveling a distance of 100 kilometers from its source, it discharges into the Pacific Ocean. The El Zapote and Los Cocos streams drain in a southeasterly direction to end at the Presidio River, up to the villages from which they take their names.

On the southeast slope of the Sierra del Quelite is the De La Noria stream, and on the north side of it are some tributaries from the El Quelite River.

The La Noria stream drains in a southeasterly direction of the town of the same name and finally ends in the Presidio River.

El Zapote stream is formed on the western slope of the Sierra de La Noria and moves in a southwesterly direction. In passing, it touches the towns of Zapote and El Recreo and empties into the Pacific Ocean.

On the northern slopes of the Sierra del Salto, near the village of the same name in the state of Durango, the Presidio River moves southeastward and makes a journey of 167 km.

Its catchment area is 5,614 sq km, with an average annual expenditure of 900 million cubic meters, a maximum of 2,225, and a minimum of 550 million cubic meters.

Coast

The coasts of the municipality extend over 80 kilometers, and sandy beach sediments are formed in the northwestern flank of the head of the municipality. There is a substance classified as berms, which is a soft sediment formation.

The coast consists of gravel and conglomerates that form alluvial fans and slope deposits.

In the southwestern corner, Huizache Lagoon occupies an area of 4,000 hectares 40.0 square miles). It receives the maritime influence through the Ostial estuary and freshwater diversion channel and receives water from the Presidio River.

The coastline of the municipality is lined with shrimp and small-scale flake fishing vessels.

Cooperatives are distributed in the estuaries of the Escopama, Salinitas, El Veintinueve, and Estero Uriah Huizache lagoon.

Most of the islands of the municipality are formed by ignimbrites, rhyolitic stuff, and tuffaceous sandstones of altered and deformed light color.

Bird Island is located between the extreme equatorial coordinates of 106 ° 28’34 ” west longitude and 23 ° 15’25” north latitude; its area is about 0.4 square kilometers, 1.1 kilometers long, and maximum and minimum range of 800–650 meters respectively.

Deer Island is located between 106 ° 27’60 ” west longitude and 23 ° 14’03” north latitude; its approximate length is 1.850 meters, and its width varies between 250 and 700 meters.

Creston Island is located on the western edge of the outer bay of Mazatlán, and it has a length of 700 meters and a maximum width of 800 meters.

To the northwest, about 3 miles away, small islands like “Southern Brother” and “Northern Brother” (the first with 46.3 meters in elevation) and Turtle Rock rise 1.5 meters above sea level at its highest ridge.

Goats Island is similar to Creston’s appearance; it has a height above sea level of a little over 50 meters.

Stone Island is the most important part of the municipal coastline; its size is the largest of all because it has 30 square kilometers, and is approximately 14.5 miles long by 2.5 wide. Despite its name, Stone Island is a peninsula that connects to the continent near the Mazatlán International Airport.

Climate

The climate in the municipality of Mazatlán is dry-wet and tropical, with a marked dry season and an average annual temperature of 26 °C.

Note that during the summer months, with the humidity factor, temperatures usually feel well above what the thermometer shows.

During the period 1940-1980, the municipality experienced an average annual 748 mm of precipitation, with a maximum of 215.4 mm in 24 hours, and 90.4 mm was observed in one hour.

During the same period, the average evaporation rate per year was 2146.80 mm; the prevailing winds are in a northwesterly direction at an average speed of 5.0 meters. The thermal sensation in summer is quite marked.

Mazatlán etymologically comes from the Nahuatl language and means “Land of Deer” (mazatl “deer” and tlan: “earth” or “place”).

Originally, the name Presidio of Mazatlán was used for what is now called Villa Unión. The port of Mazatlán served as a reference to arrive at Presidio by sea and was called the Islands of Mazatlán.

By decree of the Estado de Occidente, on September 11, 1828, Presidio of Mazatlán was renamed Villa of the Union. This freed the name Mazatlán (land of deer), and since the port was known as Islas de Mazatlán, the name was adopted.

Mazatlán early settlers

According to historians, Indigenous groups were in the region of Mazatlán prior to the arrival of the Spanish. These groups included the Totorames, who lived from the south bank of the River Piaxtla, to the Río de las Cañas, as well as the Xiximes, who lived in the mountains in the bordering state of Durango.

Until the early 19th century, Mazatlán was a collection of huts inhabited by indigenous people whose major occupation was fishing, according to Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars, a French explorer.

In 1829, a Filipino banker named Juan Nepomuceno Machado arrived and established commercial relations with vessels coming to Mazatlán from far-off places such as Chile, Peru, the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

By 1836, the city had a population of between 4,000 and 5,000.

Foundation of the city, colonial period

During the early years of the Spanish conquest in Sinaloa, the region currently occupied by the municipality of Mazatlán remained uninhabited. The nearest town was Chametla, which was occupied by the Spanish in 1531, and lent its name to the province, despite being abandoned shortly afterward.

In 1534, the Valley of Mazatlán was divided into 25 Castellanos by an unknown person who did not stay for long.

In 1576, Don Hernando de Bazán, Governor and Captain General of Nueva Vizcaya, sent Captain Martin Hernandez with his father, brothers, and soldiers to occupy the site of Mazatlán, granting them land and titles in return.

The Captain’s claims were ratified in the City of Durango in 1639 and endorsed in the same city in 1650.

Nuño de Guzman’s entry to Sinaloa in 1531, and the appointment of the conquered lands as provinces, prompted the internal territorial division of the State.

Chametla was occupied by the Spanish and listed as the province extending from the Rio Cañas Elota to the boundary with the province of Culiacan. Both provinces belonged to the kingdom of New Galicia.

In 1565, the town of Chametla was gradually diminished by ongoing Indian raids. That year, Captain Francisco de Ibarra recovered the territory south of the state, rebuilt Chametla, founded the Villa de San Sebastián (known today as Concordia), and awarded the region to New Vizcaya. The provinces under his jurisdiction included the villages of San Sebastián, Mazatlán and its port, Charcas Copala Royals, and Finance Panuco.

During the last years of the seventeenth century and early eighteenth century, the territory within Sinaloa remained unchanged, until 1732, when the provinces of Sonora and Ostimuri were united, as were the provinces of Sinaloa, Culiacan, and Rosario, with San Felipe and Santiago being the principal cities.

In 1749, Sinaloa was divided into five provinces with their mayors and lieutenancy: Maloya, with jurisdiction over Chametla, Rosario, and San Jose; Copala, with jurisdiction over San Ignacio, Piaxtla, and Mazatlán; Culiacán, with jurisdiction over Badiraguato, and Sinaloa, which bordered the Mayor River.

In 1786, the intendant system was implemented due to the need to establish a provincial government. Arizpe Municipality was formed out of the territories of Sonora and Sinaloa.

That year, the first mayor, Garrido Durán, established eleven subdelegations, eight of them in Sinaloa, with Mazatlán being within the subdelegation of Copala, which was later called San Sebastián.

Independent Mexico

Among the first decrees that the legislature enacted was that the addition of each of the eleven districts, and this union, corresponding to the Union Villa Mariano Balleza, be given the name of one of the leading insurgents, parish priest Dolores Hidalgo, on the night of September 15, 1810.

In 1813, the Cadiz constitution came into effect. Article 310 of that constitution provided for the installation of local councils in towns that had more than 1,000 inhabitants. In 1814, Fernando VII repealed that constitution but it was later reinstated in 1820, and the first municipalities in Sinaloa were founded.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, Mazatlán was a native fishing village located north of Cerro de la Aduana. In 1821, it was declared the first port of Mazatlán on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Jurisdictionally, Mazatlán remained dependent on the sub-delegation of San Sebastian, unaffected by the divisions between the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. In 1824, they got together to form the Western State.

After the imposition of new internal divisions of five departments and municipalities divided into parties, Mazatlán was in the department of San Sebastian, which was formed with the parties of its name, San Ignacio and the Rosary, and it extended to the River of Reeds.

In 1830, the Western State was divided into two states.

The first constitution of the state of Sinaloa, promulgated on December 12, 1831, divided the territory into eleven districts with their respective parties, leaving the district town of La Union separated from Concord and San Ignacio.

According to the French navigator Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars, a Spanish banker named Machado, through his commercial activities, gave impetus to the village of Mazatlán in 1836, then a village of four to five thousand people. It subsequently became the largest port on the Mexican Pacific coast.

Between 1847 and 1848, Mazatlán was invaded and occupied by the U.S. military.

Ten years later, in 1859, the port was blockaded by the British warship Amethyst. On November 13, 1864, the French Army and the Imperialist forces took possession of Mazatlán, until they were deported on November 13, 1866, by General Ramón Corona’s forces.

After customs officials seized twenty-three ounces of gold from the British warship Chanticleer on June 18, 1868, which at the time was blockading the port, its captain, William H. Bridge, threatened to bomb the city on November 22.

During the California Gold Rush, fortune hunters from the United States East Coast sailed from New York Harbor and other Atlantic ports to Mexican ports in the Gulf of Mexico. After landing, the aspiring miners traveled over land for weeks to Mazatlán, where they would embark from the port to arrive in San Francisco in another four to five weeks.

When Félix Zuloaga Tacubaya proclaimed the Plan of Ignoring the Constitution of 1857, the garrison of the Plaza de Mazatlán did not remain outside this proclamation, and on the first of January, 1858, the Plan of Mazatlán was proclaimed, which followed Zuloaga’s Plan.

The capital of Sinaloa, until the year 1853, had been Culiacán. However that year, the capital was transferred to Mazatlán. On July 22, 1867, the federal government passed a law that forbade state capitals to also act as ports.

As a result of this law, on September 20, 1873, the State Legislature decreed that Culiacán would be the state capital again.

The Siglo XIX constitution of 1852 decreed a new internal division in Sinaloa, which reduced it to nine districts by removing San Ignacio, which had been annexed to the Cosalá, and Choix, which had been annexed to El Fuerte.

It also amended the name of the district from Villa de la Union to the port of Mazatlán. That same constitution also decreed the headquarters and council facility policies in each district.

In 1861, the political headquarters were removed and turned into prefectures, and the same year the State Legislature adopted the Act on Municipalities. In 1868, the district had five municipalities in Mazatlán; one in the center and the other four in Villa Union, Siqueiros, La Noria, and The Milkweed.

On the morning of November 13, 1864, French Navy ships fired twelve cannon shots into the city, causing minor damage to several homes, but not causing any deaths. The attack stopped when the prefect of the city made known to the invaders that the Mexican Army had left the square and the city was formally ceded to the French.

The Mazatlán Times was a weekly published by the American A. D. Jones. The first issue appeared on May 12, 1863. The publisher boasted that he was the only weekly English-language newspaper, not only in Mazatlán and Sinaloa but throughout Mexico.

In 1873, according to the census of the State, the District of Mazatlán was reduced to three municipalities: Mazatlán, Villa Union, and La Noria. Siqueiros had been annexed in 1870 to the central municipality, and The Milkweed to La Noria.

Porfiriato

Mazatlán’s lighthouse (El Faro) began operating in mid-1879. The maritime signals were manufactured in Paris, France, containing a large oil lamp with mirrors, and a Fresnel lens to focus the light. Since the light was static, from a distance it was often mistaken for a star.

By 1905, this lamp was converted to a revolving lamp. During that period, the Mazatlán lighthouse was considered to be the natural highest in the world. Today, the 1000-watt bulb can be seen for 30 nautical miles (60 km).

Near the lighthouse shore, famous “divers” (called this even by the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Mazatlán) perform daring jumps off high rocks into the Pacific Ocean, for tips from onlooking tourists.

On June 26, 1880, Jesus Ramirez, a former general in command of 400 men, stormed the garrison of the square and appropriated Mazatlán. The city was subsequently bombed again by the Mexican warship the Democratic, which, during its attack, killed and wounded a large number of women and children.

Of the 24 cannon shots fired, only three hit the army headquarters, and the rest landed on neighboring houses.

Angela Peralta (1845–1883), a Mexican opera diva famed throughout the world, died of yellow fever in Mazatlán shortly after her arrival in the port. Legend has it that she sang one last aria from her hotel balcony overlooking the Plazuela Machado.

Her memory is held dear by Mazatlécos to this day, and the restored Angela Peralta Theater by the Plazuela keeps her memory alive.

The Cerveceria del Pacífico was founded in the city in 1900 by German immigrants.

Mexican Revolution

In 1912, the municipalities enacted law No.21 as a form of internal division of the State. However, it wasn’t until 1915 that the law was abolished by the political directorate when it erected the first free communes.

With the publication of the decree creating the municipality of Mazatlán in the official newspaper on April 8, 1915, independent life began in the region. The Constitution of 1917, culminating in the first constitutional governor, General Ramón F. Iturbe, born in Mazatlán, confirmed the sixteen municipalities into which the state was divided, which would then be subdivided into receiverships and police precincts.

The City of Mazatlán has the dubious distinction of being the second city in the world after Tripoli, Libya, to suffer aerial bombardment (although the local historical display at the plazuela claims that Mazatlán was the first).

During the Mexican Revolution, General Venustiano Carranza (later president), intent on taking the city of Mazatlán, ordered a biplane to drop a crude bomb of nails and dynamite wrapped in leather on the target of Neveria Hill adjacent to the downtown area of Mazatlán.

The crude bomb landed off-target on the city streets of Mazatlán, killing two citizens and wounding several others.

Modern

Mazatlán is also the hometown of Pedro Infante, one of the most popular actors and singers of the Cinema of Mexico’s golden years.

Mazatlán was well regarded by film stars such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, John Huston, and others of their generation as a sportfishing mecca. The hotels along Olas Altas flourished during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, supporting this vibrant trade.

In the 1970s, tourism in Old Mazatlán declined as newer venues catering to Western tourists opened on the expanses of beach to the north of the city (“Zona Dorada”).

As an example of Mazatlán’s tourism expansion, one of the largest timeshare providers in Mexico, Grupo Vidanta, was founded in 1975 with the inauguration of Paraíso Mazatlán (Mazatlán Paradise).

This time also saw the expansion of the Hotel Playa Mazatlán, and the construction of many others, a trend that continues to this day.

Next to Infante, Lorena Herrera, one of the most famous actresses and singers in Mexico and Latin America during the final decades of the 20th Century and the first decades of the 21st century, is Mazatlán’s most famous native.

German-born telenovela star Sabine Moussier, a stablemate of Herrera’s—both have been under Televisa contract since the 1990s—also grew up in Mazatlán. Hollywood and Broadway actress Sara Ramirez is also a Mazatlán native.

As the 21st century began, the Centro Histórico was rediscovered by newcomers and locals alike, spurring a renaissance of restoration and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Once-fine homes that had fallen into literal ruin were restored to their former glory as family homes and boutique businesses. The city has assisted by upgrading infrastructure such as better water, sewer, and electrical services.

The town of Mazatlán is organized territorially into nine syndicates:

Mazatlán: Municipal capital, largest and most important tourist destination.

Villa Union: Located 25 km from Mazatlán, the second most important town of the municipality.

It is said that the first settlers belonged to a Spanish family who arrived there in 1576. Among its economic activities are fishing, agriculture, livestock, fruit growing, aquaculture, and brickmaking.

El Recodo: So-called for the square shape of the Rio Presidio at this point. It is the cradle of Don Cruz Lizarraga, founder of the international Banda El Recodo. Its economic activities are livestock, agriculture, fruit growing, tanning, and saddlery.

El Quelite: A picturesque and attractive tourist town located 38 km northwest of Mazatlán.

The El Quelite River passes through it. Its houses contain the Spanish classical influence predominant in the eighteenth century. Charrería is practiced here, as is the Prehispanic game called Ulama.

The main economic activities are livestock, agriculture, farming, and fruit growing.

Mármol de Salcido: This town is 32 km from Mazatlán. It was an important cement and line production center. Its current economic activity is the production of chilies, fodder, and tomatoes; its coast has a large number of pristine beaches.

El Roble: Founded in 1867, it is 32 km from Mazatlán. It became the largest sugar mill in the south of the state. Its main economic activities are agriculture and the production of cheese and honey.

Siqueiros: Originally called Penitas, it then adopted the name of San José de Siqueiros, in honor of the patron saint of the town, and the name of its founder. Founded in 1749, it is located 29 km from Mazatlán on the Presidio River.

Among its economic activities are agriculture, livestock, and vegetables.

La Noria: Located 35 km northwest of Mazatlán, its first settlers date from the late sixteenth century. Among its economic activities are livestock, agriculture, and saddlery. It is close to Presa Picachos.

A few miles away is the famous Vinata de Los Osuna, a major producer of blue agave, belonging to the family of the same name.

El Habal: A village located 10 km north of Mazatlán. Its inhabitants are engaged in animal husbandry, farming, and fruit growing.

Historic Center

The Historic Center of Mazatlán, among whose former inhabitants are French, German, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and Americans (many contemporary inhabitants of Mazatlán are descended from these), was named Heritage of the Nation on March 12, 2001.

A civil association composed of a group of Mazatlán locals has managed to revive this area, along with the support of various organizations, companies, and government authorities.

Among the buildings and areas of high cultural value are the Plazuela Machado, the Angela Peralta Theater, the old Hotel Iturbide (today the Municipal Arts Centre), the Mansion of Redo, Melchers House, House of Retes, Corvera Building, Bank of London and Mexico Building, Haas House, Temple of San José, and various others.

The Malecón of Mazatlán

The Malecón (boardwalk) of Mazatlán is to be considered one of the longest in the world. Its length is about 21 km along the Pacific coast. Along the Malecón are high cliffs, monuments, gazebos, old buildings, hotels, etc.

The Malecón of Mazatlán is composed of a series of scenic roads with pedestrian space, whose name varies along the route by stage or time of construction; from south to north are the streets:

Calz. Joel Montes Camarena: a small road that connects the lighthouse, which used to be an island, to the rest of the city.

Paseo del Centenario: starting in the previous street and bordering the west at the lookout hill where cliffs are seen, it was built to commemorate the centennial of the Independence of Mexico.

Paseo Olas Altas: the oldest section of the boardwalk, it was originally a dike to prevent flooding problems in the 1830s, then it became an embankment that was used as urban space, and eventually it became a recreational space.

It was the first part of the city with street lighting and included various ice cream shops and Lookout Hill.

Paseo Claussen: It was built for the centennial in 1910. It borders the hill with ice cream parlors and ends at the bay of Puerto Viejo. It was named in honor of George Claussen, who was in command of the Mazatlán Works Agency and promoted the centennial project.

Avenida del Mar: This is the most representative and longest section of the boardwalk; it extends along the bay of Puerto Viejo and comprises just over half of the boardwalk.

The panoramic tour ends at the tip, which initiates the hotel zone, and the avenue changes names twice and continues for several kilometers parallel to the coastline, yet maintains some distance from the coastal hotels.

Mazatlán Aquarium

Since its opening on September 13, 1980, Mazatlán Aquarium has been one of the most complete and best of its kind in Latin America, besides being the largest in Mexico.

According to the institution, “The primary objective is for the public to learn to respect the marine ecosystem that which we depend on, and we foster this through knowledge of marine species.”

It is divided into two main areas, the Aquarium and Botanical Garden; together, they contain the following facilities:

• Section 1: Marine Fish and Jellyfish.
• Section 2: Marine Fish and Dive Exhibition.
• Section 3: Freshwater Fish and Central
• Fishbowl: Fishbowl Sharks

• Diving -Exhibition Activity
• Museum of the Sea
• Botanical Garden
• Pond Sea Lions
• Frog Pond
• Oceanic Fishbowl
• Aviary
• Cactus section
• Crocodiles

Mazatlán Lighthouse

The Mazatlán lighthouse, called El Faro Lighthouse, is located at the peak of Cerro del Creston, at the southern end of the peninsular city of Mazatlán. The lighthouse has the distinction of being settled on what was formerly an island, and has a length of 641 meters by 321 meters and a height of 157 m, making it the highest natural lighthouse in the Americas, and one of the highest operating lighthouses in the world.

In 1821, the Cortes of Cadiz issued a decree certifying the City of Mazatlán as the first port of height of the Mexican Pacific. This introduced Mazatlán as a viable destination for international trade.

The decree, along with the rapid growth of large mining and commercial consortia, led to an intensified level of ship traffic. In those days, it was not uncommon for over 60 ships from Europe and the Far East, loaded with different types of merchandise, to reach the port each year. After several days of travel and trading of supplies, these boats would depart Mazatlán loaded with bars of gold and silver from the rich mines of the region.

While the exponential amount of growth in boat traffic into and out of the port undoubtedly benefitted the region, it also presented a problem at night. At that time there was no way to indicate to boats in the dark where the marina was located, or how to enter and dock, making it hard for ships to be accurate, which often led to sailors endangering their boats.

The first use of the Isla de Creston as a lighted marine signal was in 1828. The light facilities, located on top of an imposing hill, were very modest, consisting of only a small stone structure on which fires, fueled by whale oil and wood, or coconut chips, were lit.

The fires were fed wood and coal, allowing them to produce a dim light that could only be seen within walking distance, making it of little help to seafarers, especially in bad weather.

El Faro became the answer to the problem. First lit over the Pacific Ocean in 1879, the lighthouse’s original lamp was constructed in Paris.

It was made of an oil lamp surrounded by mirrors, and a Fresnel lens to focus the light. This allowed El Faro’s light to be seen from a much further distance, and thus gave better navigation services, leading to approaches made with greater precision.

In 1905, the lamp was converted to hydrogen gas and was made to be able to revolve in a full circle. The final update of the light source came in 1933 when it was converted to electricity, which is what is still there today.

In order to emit its powerful light, El Faro uses a 1,000-watt bulb, which is focused by a Fresnel lens. It is now one of the top tourist attractions in the city of Mazatlan, and people can hike up to see it up close.

The view from the lighthouse is also a big draw for visitors.

Devil’s Cave

One of the most visited tourist attractions in Mazatlan due to its mystery and antiquity is the Cueva del Diablo (“Devil’s Cave”), a place that is sheltered by the slopes of the Cerro de la Nevería and which is located on Paseo Claussen.

It is a place that for more than 200 years has been surrounded by tales and legends that the Mazatlecos continue to share from generation to generation.

In the holiday season, the Devil’s Cave is very visited, because, at first sight, it catches the attention of tourists by the image of the “devil” that holds the red gate that was installed in the entrance to avoid the passage inside the cave, which is very short.

There are many legends around this space, ranging from that was used by pirates to keep their treasures to the story that says that in that place the devil was released when work was done at the foot of the hill of the Nevería to make longer the boardwalk where the workers claimed that the devil was heard inside.

The rumor also runs between the grandparents who dare to enter it are prisoners until the next day, and they always leave very frightened smelling of sulfur.

Another legend is that on a carnival night two people, not finding a bathroom to relieve themselves, entered the cave and that they saw them leave it.

They also say that some curious people decided to go to that cave and never saw them again. However, the only truth that has been documented is that it served as a dynamite deposit when the Cerro de la Nevería was used to extract the material with which the Olas Altas jetty was built, it was the smell of sulfur that came out of that tunnel what led to his baptism as la Cueva del Diablo.

Many stories will be told, some fantasies others true but without a doubt that is what makes it a place that nobody should miss during his visit to Mazatlan.

Banda Sinaloense or Tambora is a type of musical ensemble, as well as a traditional and popular musical genre, which was established in the early twenties in the state of Sinaloa, in the northwestern region of Mexico.

It originates in the European Fanfare style, however, like many other traditional Mexican ensembles, Banda Sinaloense groups perform a variety of musical forms, and their repertoire covers various traditional styles such as rancheras, corridos, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas, and chotis, all tailored to the sensitivity of the inhabitants of this Mexican region: music as well as popular romantic ballads such as Cumbia.

The unique sound of the Sinaloa band is very similar to German and French wind instrument bands, though there are differences in styles between the north-central and southern parts of the state.

In the north-central area, the musical phrasing is lighter and nuanced, more similar to Western European styles, and in the south, the style has a very strong phrasing and a little less nuanced performance, more influenced by the Bavarian German style.

Several researchers have located the origin of these styles in these regions, especially considering foreign interventions in the state and in Mazatlán early in the century, which was inhabited mostly by German immigrants.

However, the Swiss ethnomusicologist Helena Simonett explains that the first Sinaloense bands were formed by people who deserted the military and municipal bands and went to live in mountain villages, adding credence to the Sinaloa founders with the rhythmic influence of Mayo-Yoreme, which have contributed to its essence.

Nevertheless, there is a historic agreement that dates the musical influence before the Mazatlán German trade boom (1870-1890), as it would lead not only to the distribution of instruments through marketing, but also required a cultural disclosure that could only happen in a close relationship between the carriers of such traditions and the people of the region, and this circumstance only occurred in Mazatlán.

That is why the theory of French and Spanish influence on the German influence in other regions of Sinaloa is reinforced as the development of the music of the Sinaloan drum has records and previous history in distant places in the mountains of Sinaloa where there was no German influence. However, post-war French influence intervention and Spanish cultural remnants are present.

• Olas Altas
• Norte Beach
• Sábalo Beach
• Cerritos Beach
• El Delfin Beach
• Isla de la Piedra Beach

Mazatlán hosts several events annually, the most important being the International Carnival of Mazatlán, which was 114 years old in 2012. Other important events are the Mazatlán Cultural Festival and the José Limón International Dance Festival, celebrated every year in the winter and spring, respectively.

There is also the Book Fair and Arts of Mazatlán (Feliart) and Mazatlán Book Fair (FELIMAZ).

Another important event is International Motorcycle Week, which attracts thousands of motorcyclists from around the country as well as from abroad and is held each year during Easter week.

In sports, Mazatlán is home to the Pacific International Triathlon held in April, and the Pacific International Marathon, which is held every year in late November and early December and is attended by athletes from around the world.

In 2012, Mazatlán was chosen as the host city for the tenth installment of Premios Oye!, prizes awarded by the National Academy of Music in Mexico, and the Volleyball Olympic qualifiers for the Olympic Games in London 2012.

Mazatlán Carnival

This is currently one of the most important carnivals in Mexico since the first parade on Sunday brings together more than 600,000 people for over three hours in the coastal area of the city on the “Avenida del Mar.”

A novelty that allows tourists to come from all over the world to witness this festival is called “Burning of humor” where tradition says to burn a character (Monigote) representing someone who people think has done a misdeed, which usually means politicians, presidents, or as in 2013, “influenza” was burned.

Both of these have negatively affected the country’s image in recent years. This is followed by the famous “Naval Combat,” depicting the battle that took place against French vessels seeking to land at the port.

A very representative element of this carnival is the great “Monigotes” that are placed in important areas of the city as decorations. These are giant figures made of paper mache and are supported by large structures.

The central event of the carnival is the crowning of the queen of the carnival, and this is a massive event held with a selection of world-class artists. Two parades are scheduled, one on Sunday and another on Mardi Gras (to close the celebration).

Superbly decorated and colorful floats line a good part of the coastal walk, with an estimated several hundred thousand spectators in attendance. These include royal courts, ambassadors from around the country and abroad, special guests such as athletes, TV entertainers, and various showbusiness personalities, not to mention hundreds of Mazatlecos of all ages and social conditions.

The Mazatlán Carnival is distinguished from other carnivals for its distinctive accompaniment by Banda Sinaloa music that has transcended the world through what is today called “la onda grupera.”

Events include cultural activities (poetry contests, literature prizes, and shows of enormous artistic quality), with which the party extends to all sectors of the population and covers a range of local and tourist tastes.

In Mazatlán, one can enjoy a variety of fresh seafood, especially ceviches, cocktails, zarandeado fish, and aguachile. It is traditional to find smoked marlin and tuna, and chilorio and chicken, roasted Sinaloa style have transcended borders.

Some other regional dishes that have become famous are the bearded tamales (made with shrimp), the Governor tacos, and fish crackers.

The local cuisine offers a variety of tastes. It’s easy to find places to enjoy international cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese, fast food, vegetarian, snacks, meats, and a variety of taquerias with their own specialty foods.

Drinks in the city are as varied as the tastes of visitors, as you can find a huge variety of fresh drinks such as horchata, barley, coconut, coconut horchata, and Tejuino; good wines, and of course, an excellent range of beers, of which the best known is the local beer called Pacífico, which has its factory in the harbor. Another well-known drink in the region is a vanilla-flavored beverage called “tonicol.”

Typical sweets include coconut candies, jamoncillos, and other candies made with coconut marshmallows from the region.

The General Rafael Buelna International Airport (IATA Code: MZT) has daily domestic flights and international flights to the United States and Canada.

By land, Mazatlán is connected to the north (Culiacan) and south (Tepic) and to Guadalajara via Highway 15 and the corresponding Federal Highway 15D. To the east, it is connected to Durango by Highway 40 and the corresponding Federal Highway 40D.

Ferries make the daily journey to La Paz, Baja California Sur, while a varied number of cruise ships visit the port every week from the United States.

Culiacán experiences a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Summers are very hot and humid, shade temperatures can reach 45 °C, and high humidity can produce heat indices of 50 to 55 °C, with the risk of heavy rainfall from decaying tropical cyclones also present.

The rainy season typically falls between June and September, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in August.

Winters are milder, with average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C.

The best time to visit Culiacán

The best time to visit Culiacán is during the dry season, which spans from October to May.

During this period, the weather is more comfortable for outdoor activities and exploration. The spring months, particularly March and April, offer pleasant temperatures and blooming vegetation.

The name “Culiacán” is believed to have indigenous origins.

The most accepted translation would be Colhuacan “place of those who adore the crooked god Coltzin”. This name likely refers to the native inhabitants and their religious practices.

Another translation may be from the word “coahuacan”, which can mean “palace of snakes”.

Precolonial period

Before the Spaniards arrived, this site had been a small Indian settlement since 628 when Amerindians had first founded it.

Foundation

The city existing today was founded in 1531 by the Spanish captain Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán and named San Miguel de Culiacán. In the same decade, it was the terminus of the long journey of Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and company among natives.

Explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado set out from Culiacán to explore what is now the southwestern United States. Settlers from Europe came to Culiacán, and in the following centuries, Culiacán continued to be a quiet town.

• 1824: Culiacán became the capital of Sinaloa.
• Late 19th Century: The city experienced growth due to mining and agriculture.
• 1915: Culiacán was captured during the Mexican Revolution by the forces of Pancho Villa.

FORUM Culiacán Mall is the largest mall in Culiacán.

It offers Liverpool, Sears, Steve Madden, Pull and Bear, Zara, C&A, Lacoste, Nine West, Victoria’s Secret, MacStore, Starbucks, Sanborn, and Tous stores, a Cinemex movie theater, MixUp, boutiques, kiosks, a food area, and an HSBC.

Plaza Galerias San Miguel is the second-largest mall. It offers Sears, Citi Cinemas movie theater, and mainly shoe stores.

Plaza Cinépolis is a modern plaza/little mall in the western part of the city, and it is the only place in Culiacán where one can find the Cinépolis movie theater. It offers many boutiques and some famous restaurants in the city.

Plaza Fiesta is a plaza located in the city center. It offers Coppel, a Ley Plaza (supermarket), restaurants, little boutiques, and shoe stores.

Plaza La Campiña is a plaza mall in the eastern section of the city, near the Culiacán River. It offers Pavi, Coppel, a Mega Plaza/Comercial Mexicana (Super Market), many boutiques, jewelers, and seasonally a go-kart track.

Ernesto Millán Escalante Park (previously known as Culiacán ’87) has many pools, attractions, an artificial lake, gardens, sports courts, the longest water slide in northern Mexico, and an open-air Hellenic theatre.

Revolución Park

Culiacán’s civic center is located in the eastern city at the Malecón Viejo, facing the Tamazula River. It has the Culiacán Library, the Culiacán Zoo, the second Dancing Fountains in the city where people go when it is hot, sports courts, a big run track, and a Hellenic theater.

Las Riveras Park is located around the Tamazula River, between Forum Culiacán Complex, the Isla de Orabá Park, the Malecón Viejo, and the Malecón Nuevo. It has only pedal boats and a tyrolean across the river, a bike path, and recreational games.

Splash Club! is one of the largest water parks in the state of Sinaloa.

Nearby towns and villages:

La Primavera is a small and private urbanized zone in the south of the city.

La Primavera contains many houses, two schools, a little mall next to the channel, a sports club, and a group of channels connected to the biggest lake in Culiacán, where anyone can fish and go camping.

El Conchal and other small villages with a population of 500 or less where people live on fishing and tourism.

Imala’s hot springs are about a 30-minute ride from the city and close to several dams and reservoirs, where one can fish largemouth bass all year round.

Altata Beach, located 30 minutes from Culiacán, has had extensive development over the last few years. It has a “sister” beach called Isla Cortés or Nuevo Altata, where this project of travel destination, has begun with some restaurants and private areas.

It is famous for its blue sea, white sand, modern restaurants and bars, nightclubs, and high sea waves.

The Cathedral, a 19th-century church, began construction in the 1830s.

Plazuela Alvaro Obregón was the place for social gatherings in the 1800s.

La Lomita or Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the tallest church in Culiacán, situated on a hill with a view of the entire city.

The Centro Cultural Genaro Estrada, known by the locals as “Difocur”, encompasses a theater, movie theater, a café, and a group of museums specialized in local culture. DIFOCUR is also the home of the Orquesta Sinfonica Sinaloa de las Artes.

The OSSLA performs a 42-week season (September to June) of symphony, pops, opera, ballet, and chamber music, and features musicians from more than 15 different countries, including Mexico, the United States, England, Scotland, Canada, Romania, Argentina, and others. Working under the auspices of the government of Sinaloa, the OSSLA also performs many outreach and educational programs around the state of Sinaloa, as well as throughout Mexico.

The Regional History Museum in the “Parque Constitución”, a large art museum downtown and a number of small art galleries, is owned by several of the local universities.

The Botanical Garden and Centro de Ciencias de Sinaloa, a science museum, holds the fifth-largest meteorite on earth.

A baseball stadium, the Estadio Angel Flores, is the home of Los Tomateros de Culiacan; a bigger football arena, called Estadio Banorte (formerly Estadio Carlos González), is the home of Los Dorados de Sinaloa, a Mexican football team. Several university stadiums are also available.

In Downtown, the best preserved old street is the Calle Rosales, between Rosales Square and the Cathedral.

Urban transport: At present, Culiacán has just over 68 urban transport routes, which serve about 1 million users. The Culiacán urban transport is operated by RedPlus.

Rail: The city has a train station, operated by Ferromex, and it is used only to transport freight. It is connected to the south with Mazatlán and north with Guaymas.

Bus station: Culiacán uses the Central Internacional de Autobuses “Millennium” (“Millennium” International Buses Station) to travel across all of Mexico (north, central, and south) and to the United States (Arizona and California).

This replaced the old bus terminal in the southern city.

Roads and expressways: Though several high-speed roads have been built, most of the city’s streets are rather narrow and traffic jams are common at rush hours. Now, 300,000 cars are in Culiacan, making the per capita number of cars one of the highest in the country considering the 745,000 inhabitants.

Bridges and tunnels

The city has a total of 13 bridges: six across the Tamazula River, two spanning the Humaya River, and the longest one with four crossing the Culiacán River. Efforts to solve traffic problems have been made, but most of the city streets and bridges are now crowded and insufficient to handle regular and rush-hour traffic; a 40-km/h speed limit in most parts of the city worsens the situation.

• Musalá Bridge (Tamazula River)
• Musalá-Universitaria Bridge (Tamazula River)
• Benito Juárez Bridge (Tamazula River)
• Morelos Bridge (Tamazula River)
• Miguel Hidalgo Bridge (Tamazula River)
• Juan de Dios Bátiz-Tres Ríos Brige (Tamazula River)
• Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez Bridge (Humaya River)
• Rafael Buelna Bridge (Humaya River)
• Jorge Almada Bridge (Culiacán River)
• Black Rail Brige (Culiacán River)
• Rolando Arjona Amabilis-UDO (Culiacán River)
• USE-Valle Alto (Culiacán River)
• Libramiento Recursos (Rosales Channel)
• Eje Federalismo Bridges (Rosales Channel)
• Chavez Castro Bridge (Rosales Channel)
• Emiliano Zapata Pass Bridge (Rosales Channel)

On Feb. 17, 2014, investigators from Mexico and the United States learned Joaquín Guzmán Loera, or El Chapo, was using underground sewage tunnels in Culiacán by constructing hatches connecting to the drainage network in the bathtubs of his city “stash houses”.

On at least one occasion, authorities chased Guzman into the tunnels but lost him. An AP reporter said some of the tunnels were well-lit, had wood paneling, and were air-conditioned.

Highways and freeways

Culiacán is a rail junction and is located on the Panamerican Highway that runs north to the United States and south to Guadalajara and Mexico City, and the Benito Juárez Highway or Maxipista, which is a toll road that runs parallel to the toll-free federal highway. It is connected to the north with Los Mochis and to the south with Mazatlán, Tepic, and Guadalajara with the Federal Highway 15.

• Mexican Federal Highway 15 (north: Los Mochis, south: Mazatlán)
• Sanalona Free Highway (southeast: Sanalona (exit)/Cosalá)

Culiacán is linked to the satellite city of Navolato by an excellent freeway that now reaches Altata, in the Pacific Ocean coast. Culiacán is also linked to Tamazula de Victoria in Durango state.

• Freeway 280-30 (west: Navolato-Altata)
• Freeway 3-225 (north: Melchor Ocampo-Guamuchil)
• Freeway 5-325 (south: Costa Rica-El Dorado)
• Tamazula Interstate Freeway (northeast: Sanalona-Tamazula de Victoria)

Airport

Culiacán is served by Federal de Bachigualato International Airport (IATA: CUL, ICAO: MMCL), the most important domestic gateway in the state of Sinaloa, and the second in international operations after Mazatlán International Airport.

It is located south of downtown; it is also the 10th Mexican Air Force base.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700