After two days at sea and a beautiful day in Cabo San Lucas, our ship was headed to Mazatlan to see a whole place on our journey. Before we arrived in Mazatlan, we had the joy of witnessing a large gray whale off in the distance while cruising the Pacific! It was such a cool and magical experience to see the whale's migration for winter. As we arrived in Mazatlan with zero expectations of how this town would be, we got off the ship to explore, shop at local vendors, grab an authentic meal and see what Mazatlan was all about.
We quickly noticed how bright and colorful all the buildings and surrounding areas were. With splashes of blues here, walls of pink there and orange tiles covering the streets it was certainly a photographers dream (I could've spent hours capturing the colors!) While we had no exact plan for the day, it was a very interesting time spent in Mazatlan. First things first, we headed into the downtown area.
After taking an open air taxi from the port to the downtown area, we arrived in a not so touristy area. We had to walk many streets through poor neighborhoods to find the Historic Plaza to see the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. This city landmark, built in 1890 is located in the center of the plaza with murals, candles and statues all around. After vising several churches throughout Europe, I found this particular cathedral to be much different, as the Mexican culture definitely influenced all elements of both the inside and the outside area. After visiting the small square, we were ready for an authentic lunch and shopping closer to the port.
The jewelry here was so beautiful and bright. These rings caught my eye and I was so very tempted to purchase one. My large ring collection back home was telling me that I already have enough, although looking back I wish I had picked one up. This is something I learned on this trip and I now know to just go for it if I am drawn to a certain piece of jewelery or memento. I did although pick up a beautiful pink handmade blanket that I know will be essential for picnics and beach trips in the spring months once it gets warmer!
After browsing the alleys and shops of Mazatlan, we decided it was time for some lunch. We both opted for tacos and coronas, which happened to be a perfect combination for the afternoon. Greeted by the sounds of mariachi bands, it was a great ending to our day spent in Mazatlan. The guacamole was delicious, the pico de gallo was ever so flavorful and don't get me started on the corn tortillas!
We hopped back on the ship just in time for a beautiful sunset overlooking the town and skyline. The sun created an orange glow around the surrounding area and the warm air made it quite enjoyable to sit back, soak in the beauty and relax. Overall, I personally don't think I would choose Mazatlan for a vacation. Although we had a good day here, I do believe there are better places in Mexico to visit. Check back in a few days as I show you my new favorite Mexico destination and where I found a little slice of paradise!
Have you ever traveled to Mazatlan before? What was your experience like there? I'd love to hear if you have ever been on a cruise before and what you thought of this form of travel! Share your thoughts below in the comment section, chat with me on Twitter, follow on Instagram for daily inspiration and connect on Facebook.