TravelAge West
Search Sponsored by

Explore TravelAge West

Destinations

Back
  • Africa & Middle East
  • Asia & South Pacific
  • Caribbean
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • USA & Canada

Travel Types

Back
  • Family
  • Adventure
  • Cruise
  • River Cruise
  • Tour Operators
  • Luxury
  • Hotels
  • Culinary
  • Romance
  • Wellness
  • Sustainability

Directories

Back
  • Hotels
  • Cruise
  • Job Seeker Center

Interactive

Back
  • Click & Win
  • Geo Quiz
  • Slideshows & Video

Professional Development

Back

Industry Insight

  • Business Features
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • Coronavirus and Travel
  • Need to Know Research

Education

  • Certifications
  • Digital Guides
  • Fams
  • Thought Leadership
  • Advertiser Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Immersive Family Experiences

Events

  • Global Travel Marketplace
  • GTM West
  • WAVE Awards
  • Future Leaders in Travel Retreat

Sign Up for Our Monthly Mexico Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Search TravelAge West

Clear Field
Markchesnut7492
Mark ChesnutContributing Writer

Share

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Mexico

8 Top Outdoor Activities in Mazatlan

Feb 28, 2020
MazatlanOutdoorActivities
There is no shortage of outdoor activities in Mazatlan.
Credit: 2020 Mexico Tourism Board

With its dazzling coastline and year-round warm weather, Mazatlan is a naturally ideal destination for travelers who like to spend lots of time outdoors. And while there is certainly plenty of justification for staying put and relaxing on the beach or at the hotel pool, there are equally good reasons to venture out and enjoy some outdoor excitement.

Here are eight noteworthy options, and the tour operators that help make the experiences happen.

Spend a Day on Deer Island
An uninhabited island that lies just off the coast of Mazatlan, Isla de Venados (Deer Island) is a popular destination for day trippers looking for a beautiful, uncrowded beach with plenty of activities and room to relax. 
Tour operators including Best Day and Aries Fleet offer scheduled public trips to the island, with plenty of time for sunbathing, beach volleyball and watersports that range from snorkeling to banana boat rides and sea kayaking. Lunch on the beach is usually included in the price. In addition, Aries Fleet offers private catamaran charters for up to 29 passengers, for those looking to customize their visit. 

www.bestday.com
www.elcidmarinas.com

Sign Up for Our Monthly Mexico Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Get Lucky While Deep-Sea Fishing
The Pacific waters just off Mazatlan’s coast are a rewarding place for sport fishing enthusiasts, with catches that include blue marlin, mackerel, snapper and tuna. Anglers should check the calendar for the best time to go after their favorite fish. 

Aries Fleet offers deep-sea fishing charters with prices starting at $325 for a six-hour excursion; a variety of ship types are available for rent.

Spot Some Feathered Friends
The region surrounding Mazatlan is filled with diverse flora and fauna, and birdwatching is one of the most pleasurable activities for nature lovers looking to explore some lesser-known areas. 
A tour operator called King David offers a birdwatching excursion that includes a 1.5-hour boat ride through a protected wildlife refuge, where passengers can see species that include marine falcons, pelicans and various types of herons. The trip encompasses a leisurely stop at Stone Island, where participants can spend time on the beach and have lunch at Molokay, a casual beachfront restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood and Mexican dishes.

www.kingdavid.com.mx

Hop on an ATV
Vacationers looking for fast-paced, land-based excitement will do well with an all-terrain vehicle excursion with King David, which includes ground and boat transfers and a nearly two-hour ATV ride through the lush landscape of Stone Island, where riders can explore vast coconut plantations, mangroves and — of course — the wide and picturesque beach. 

Head to the Ranch
Vista Tours offers a multifaceted tour to Playa Norte, which allows for a variety of activities including birdwatching and even feeding giant frigate birds. Participants can learn about one of Mazatlan’s biggest industries during an informative visit to a large shrimping fleet (it’s advertised as Mexico’s largest), and also learn about traditional life on the ranch during a stop in the village of Puerta de Canoas, where “dancing” horses provide engaging open-air entertainment. 

www.vistatours.com.mx

Admire the Sunset
Sunsets are legendary in Mazatlan, and a cruise is one of the best ways to fully appreciate (and document) their photo-friendly grandeur. Pronatours offers a year-round, 3.5-hour excursion aboard a trimaran (a multihull boat), complete with an open bar, roundtrip hotel transportation and food onboard. 

www.pronatours.com.mx

Help the Turtles
Worldwide efforts to protect endangered turtle species have gained fame around the globe, and Mazatlan is no exception. Pronatours offers a guided trip to El Verde Camacho, located just north of Mazatlan, a sea turtle sanctuary that releases thousands of Olive Ridley baby turtles every year. It’s an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn how biologists study and collect data on sea turtle nesting, and how volunteers and experts alike can take part in protecting these beautiful creatures. The tour is offered from July through November.  

Stroll the Malecon
One of Mazatlan’s most iconic attractions, the malecon is a waterfront promenade that stretches an impressive 13 miles along the city’s waterfront. You may not see every inch of this expansive attraction, but it’s a good idea to at check out the much-photographed sculptures that rise from the pavement in the Olas Altas neighborhood, near the Acapulco-style cliff divers, who provide yet another photo-worthy, open-air form of entertainment. In Mazatlan, there isn’t much excuse for staying indoors.

Tell Us What You Think! forum

Related Content

mazatlan2020hero

How Mazatlan Is Changing for the Better

  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations?
  2. Dominica Is Not the Dominican Republic: Here's How the Caribbean Destination Plans to Attract Wellness Travelers
  3. 6 Delicious Hawaiian Desserts and Where on the Islands to Find Them
  4. 5 of the Best Swimmable Los Cabos Beaches
  5. I Tested Positive for COVID-19 and Got Stuck Traveling Abroad — Here’s the Problem with Testing for Re-Entry
  1. Dominica Is Not the Dominican Republic: Here's How the Caribbean Destination Plans to Attract Wellness Travelers
  2. Is Insurance Coverage From Travel Credit Cards Enough?
  3. The U.S. Has Lifted its COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Air Travelers
  4. Why Are So Many Flights Being Canceled?
  5. A Guide to the Programs That Help Expedite Travel

From Our Partners

More Stories Like This

Mexico's Strong Tourism Rebound Continues

Mexico's Strong Tourism Rebound Continues

LosCabosbeaches

5 of the Best Swimmable Los Cabos Beaches

Ritz Carlton Mexico City_HERO

Hotel Review: The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City

A Luxury Stay at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

A Luxury Stay at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

7 Unusual Foods to Eat in Mexico City

7 Unusual Foods to Eat in Mexico City

Corazon Cabo Hotel_HERO

Hotel Review: Corazon Cabo Resort & Spa in Los Cabos

Wyndham Launches New All-Inclusive Alltra Brand

Wyndham Launches New All-Inclusive Alltra Brand

LGBTQ Friendly Hotels_HERO

How to Find LGBTQ-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico

Cinco de mayo in mexico_HERO

Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Mexican visa_HERO

The New Change to Mexico’s Tourist Visa That You Probably Don't Know About

TravelAge West

About TravelAge West

  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Sales Team
  • Contact Us
  • My Profile

Advertise

  • Advertise With Us
  • Media Kit
  • Upload Ad Material
  • Digital Ad Specifications
  • Reprints
  • Subscribe to Print

Stay Connected to TravelAge West

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.


Northstar Travel Group

Northstar Travel Group

  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Weekly Asia
  • Travel Weekly China
  • TravelPulse
  • TravelPulse Canada
  • TravelPulse Quebec
  • Meetings & Incentives
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • AGENTatHOME
Copyright © 2022 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
Load Carousel Here
Load Video Here