Here’s the beauty of vacationing or living in Mazatlán: You can find so much to do and explore to enrich your stay! Various special day trips are worth every minute of the short drive to get there. Whether you take a tour with one of the local tour operators or rent a car, you’ll be happy to discover the following special villages, each one full of extraordinary history and character:
- El Quelite. This has become my new favorite day trip from Mazatlan. It’s so close, only 30 minutes north of Mazatlán. Plus, it sounds so cool when you tell someone you crossed the Tropic of Cancer to get there. I love the food and the entire experience of eating at El Meson de los Laureanos. The last time I ate there, one of the travel writers accompanying me left to take photos, and a rooster took over her seat to eat the crumbs from her plate. Let’s face it; where else can you enjoy brunch with a rooster? Cap off brunch with a coffee; with its secret Mexican orange syrup recipe, the coffee at El Meson is to die for! El Quelite is known throughout the state of Sinaloa for its regional cuisine. I like to arrive for brunch at El Meson followed by a stroll around this clean 19th century village, filled with one photo opportunity after another. Visit the historic church on a hill, the cheese factory and the ornamental fish tanks. If you time it right, you can watch a ball game of Ulama, a sport played here since ancient times. El Quelite also played an important role in the Mexican Revolution. Learn more about this fascinating historic village by taking walking tours or by touring on horse and donkey.
- Teacapan. Paul Beckman, the guru of Adventure Travel in Mazatlán, first turned me on to Teacapan. My family and I were fortunate enough to travel to Teacapan with Paul and his family. My memories of kayaking through the mangrove zone to Bird Island remain as fresh as though the trip happened yesterday. Along the way, we saw dolphins and sea turtles swimming nearby and thousands of birds, including herons, ducks and pelicans. If you’re eco-conscious or a family with young children, a trip to Teacapan is well worth a day visit from Mazatlan. Extraordinary natural beauty, beaches, archeological sites, great fishing, a volcano, turtles, dolphins and birds galore…what’s not to love about Teacapan?
- La Noria. When I think of La Noria, I think of mezcal and the remarkable riches of this hidden gem of a day trip from Mazatlán. You want to cross the Tropic of Cancer? You can do that in La Noria. You want to experience 16th century history? You can do that here, too. Want to taste some awesome mezcal? You can do that at La Vinata de Los Osuna, famous for its 100% blue agave liquor. But if you really want to get in the belly of the beast, take a tour of La Noria from Danny Romero of Blue Foot Tours. His family has deep roots here and they own Los Osuna, so you’ll visit captivating places and learn about their history from a local who knows La Noria better than anyone else. You can see an underground distillery, petroglyphs, mammoth and other pre-historic animal bones. (I never thought I would write a list of those things in the same sentence!) If that’s not enough, their traditionally tanned saddles are sought after by riding enthusiasts. I’m sure my daughter, who has been riding since the age of four, will drive me crazy until I buy her a new saddle here the next time we visit. Their distinctive leather sandals are also widely known. La Noria is tucked away in the Sierra Madre Mountains, only slightly more than 20 miles from Mazatlan.
4. Concordia. Another absolutely mandatory day trip from Mazatlán is Concordia. It’s definitely worth the trek to see colonial architecture, lush tropical vegetation, handcrafted furniture from wood indigenous to this region and the 17th century San Sebastian Church. You must also try Concordia’s famous Raspados de Leche Quemada (caramel milk snow cones)! Concordia is only 30 miles from town, so invest the time for a visit. You can’t find history like this just anywhere. One photo opportunity after another!
5. Cosala. I first got hooked on Cosala because of its hot springs, which are considered sacred due to their healing powers. But when you combine Cosala’s hot springs with other attractions like its Historic Center, Vado Hondo, the Ecological Reserve, Grutas (Mexican caves) and San Jose de las Rocas thermal waters, now we’re talking magical! It’s no surprise why SECTUR (Secretary of Tourism) declared Cosala a Pueblo Magico or Magical Town. Cosala has maintained its authenticity by preserving colonial architecture, charm and traditions that go back in time to the 16th century. You can try zip lines with incredible views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, horseback riding and freshwater fishing, or you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Historic Center. Visit petroglyphs, a bird reserve and spectacular waterfalls. Dine at excellent restaurants featuring rural Sinaloan cuisine. There’s so much to do in and around this mining town, dating back to 1550! Cosala is 99 miles from Mazatlán, so plan on a full day. If you want more time to take it all in, plan a stay in one of the many first-rate hotels in the area.
