Mazatlan

Mazatlán calls itself the Pearl of the Pacific. A free tram runs from the docks to the terminal, and Old Mazatlán is about a mile away, with cobbled streets, pastel buildings, and a 19th-century cathedral. El Faro, one of the tallest lighthouses in the world, stands above it all. The pulmonía, an open-air golf-cart taxi, is the local way to get around. A short ride reaches the Golden Zone, where beaches stretch for miles. Stone Island has horseback riding and snorkelling, and whale-watching tours run in season. The Teatro Angela Peralta is a restored 1874 theatre. At Divers Point, cliff divers jump into the sea below. Seafood stands along the water sell grilled shrimp and ceviche, and machaca with eggs makes a good breakfast. Copala and Concordia, colonial towns a short drive inland, have old churches, pottery workshops, and excellent mangos.