With 20 miles of sandy white beaches along the Pacific Coast of México and three distinct, championship golf courses Mazatlán is the ideal spot to enjoy authentic Mexican hospitality, world-class cuisine and stunning seaside golf.
The each course among the trio provides golfers with a distinctly different flair, but there’s one thing they have in common: They’ll leave wanting to play them again and again,
Estrella del Mar Golf Course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design located 25 minutes from the historic district. This par-72 stretches to 7,015 yards and is a fan favorite in Mazatlán. It’s the only one with oceanfront views, accented by six greens that are perched directly on the ocean and 11 lakes to contend with.
This course hosted the Canadian PGA Championship in 2011, as well as three PGA Tour Latin-America Mazatlán Opens. It also offers the best practice facility in the area that is home to the John Jacobs Golf School & Academy.
El Cid Golf & Country Club is a 27-hole layout located in the heart of Mazatlán and is attached to the enormous El Cid multi-complex resort.
The Marina Course, a Lee Trevino design, is the newest and the most forgiving of the 27-holes – although there’s plenty of water and thatch grass rough to contend with. El Moro, the eighth hole, is the toughest of the grouping. It stretches 600 yards over a pond to a narrow fairway. Adrian Salum, Director of Golf, proclaims that Lee Trevino made a 14 on this hole before the course’s grand opening.
Castilla, a much shorter more strategic nine, consists of smaller greens and less bunkering to contend. It’s a friendly and enjoyable stroll for both your seasoned golfers and beginners.
The final nine, the Moro Course, offers a challenging and scenic layout. Tree lined fairways recall demanding tee shots and the eight hole, know as “The Monster,” is a 611 yard par-5 that requires precision from tee to green in order to make par.
The third course in the area is Marina Mazatlán, a David Fleming designed links-style layout built on a relatively flat, lush piece of property with slight mounding on the perimeter to help define holes. The greens are oversized and irregular in shape with mounding surrounding most of them. The fairways are wide and forgiving and the sand bunkers are big, deep and soft. Overall the course is in fabulous condition, relying the first generation of eco-friendly salt tolerant Paspalum turf developed.
If you pride yourself on being the first among your friends to discover unique and new vacation escapes, this is for you. Lying across from the tip of the Baja Peninsula on the Sea of Cortez, Mazatlán offers basking in the sun and sea with spectacular sunsets, tempting you to explore its miles of beaches and offshore islands.
Numerous sea and land adventures are waiting to be discovered in this natural wonderland. Dive into a bevy of watersports or trek to the top of the world’s tallest natural working lighthouse, run or bike along one of the longest boardwalks in Latin America, try your luck at catching the big one at this sport fishing capital or simply catch up on your sleep under a breezy palapa.
However, it’s more than just a pretty beach town. A stroll through Mazatlán’s Centro Histórico, or Historic District, reveals a colonial city proudly steeped in culture and history. As you wander down the cobblestone lanes or take a rest in the gardens of the Plazuela Machado, you may lose yourself to another place in time, recalling the Spanish galleons and invading conquistadors or the French and English pirates greedily lurking offshore. And certainly you will be grateful for the German immigrants who sought their fortunes in the gold and silver mines of Mazatlán while introducing “cerveza,” or beer, to the region. This gave birth to Pacifico beer, and the sharing of German polka tunes that morphed into Mazatlan’s trademark “banda” music.
Mazatlán is also the shrimp capital of the world and the only Mexican colonial city literally sitting on the beach. Its culinary arts are reputed to be among the best in Mexico with gastronomic delights ranging from classic European to a delectable array of regional cuisines that tantalize the most discerning palate. Seafood dishes are a specialty with fresh catch just hours away.
The 5-mile long Malecón Boardwalk offers spectacular ocean views with multicolored sunsets. You can either take a transportation cart called a “Pulmonia” or one of the public bikes to ride along the bicycle path and admire the many attractions Malecón has to offer. Enjoying any one of the sidewalk cafes and lively bars on the Plazuela Machado will have you feeling like a local in no time. Be sure to set aside time to visit the jewel of Plazuela Machado – the Angela Peralta Theater offering ballets, operas, symphonies and other cultural performances.
Days can also be spent exploring the many art galleries, boutiques and arts and crafts stores, or catching the latest exhibits at the Mazatlán Art Museum and the Archaeological Museum.
The city market, Mercado Pino Suárez, with its French ironwork modeled after the Eiffel Tower, offers an array of fresh food and local trinkets. Nearby the Cathedral Basilica of Immaculate Conception is a melding of Gothic, Baroque and Moorish architecture and well worth a visit.
For literary buffs, tracing the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac as they took inspiration from the raw natural beauty and high adventure that makes Mazatlán a great setting is a must do. Create your own novelette as you navigate your way to nearby Pueblos Magicos and picturesque traditional colonial towns to explore villages revered by the locals and visitors alike for their historic treasures and tales. Make your own history by being one of the first passengers on the newly introduced luxe Chepe Express through the Copper Canyon and secure your bragging rights on social media.
Wealthy in history and culture, Mazatlán has recently invested significant financial resources to renovate and preserve itself for future generations, at the same time investing in guests and welcoming their warmth and curiosity in the traditions of Mazatlán.
You won’t want to wait to book your trip as word continues to quickly spread about the great value a Mazatlán vacation has to offer. U.S. News & World Report voted it among the “The 10 Best Places to Retire Overseas in 2018,”
To book accommodations, check out Apple Vacation’s excellent selection of properties. From Southern California, the journey may start with a non-stop flight from LAX to Mazatlán, or a non-stop flight from Tijuana’s International Airport, crossing through the hassle-free Cross Border Xpress in San Diego. Tijuana is a less expensive airport option with lower airline fares and lower taxes. Car parking is available on the U.S. side of the border.
The weather in Mazatlán is perfect most of the year with sunny days and temperature’s averaging from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s from July to October.
Si Mexico Golf specializes in golf vacations to Mazatlán and other Mexico Destinations. Contact them at (323)618-0030 for more information.
