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Our page below provides a brief overviews of the northern section of the
Mexican Riviera, including Ensenada,
Cabo San Lucas,
and
Mazatlan.
A second page covers
the southern section of the Mexican Riviera, including
Puerto Vallarta,
Ixtapa and
Acapulco.
Ensenada, which was discovered by Cabrillo in 1542, is located in Baja,
Mexico, approximately 70 miles south of the border with the United States.
Ensenada, which is Baja's third largest city, is located on the Bahía
(bay)
de Todos Santos and is a leading seaport for both commercial shipping and cruise
lines.
Ensenada is known for its great beaches and is a popular location with
surfers. Its Todos Santos Island is known for large waves and has
hosted several
international surfing championships.
The area around Ensenada is regarded by many as
the premier viticulture area of Mexico and several award winning
vineyards are
located here. Gray whales migrate through the area between November and May
and whale watching cruises are a popular activity during this period.
Ensenada's role as major shipping port and industrial center detracts
somewhat from its role as a tourist
haven. While many cruise ships stop here and surfers arrive by the carload,
it is unlikely that you would choose to vacation in Ensenada rather than Los Cabo.
However, it is a pleasant place to visit. You can find more detail on Ensenada at the
official website
of its tourist board.
Cabo San Lucas is located at the very edge of Baja,
California in an area called Los Cabos (the Capes). It is here that the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez (Cortes) in a stunning
contrast of desert landscapes and ocean currents. Although the area is a true desert, it has a unique beauty
that is magnified the azure-blue water that surrounds it. Cabo is an
area that has grown in popularity and we cover it in more detail in our
Guide to Cabo San Lucas.
See Travel Caution at the end of this article.
Mazatlan is located east of Baja, across the Sea of Cortez, on the
mainland of Mexico. It is known for its long stretch of flat beach
than runs thirteen miles down the coast. Mazatlan offers fine
sunbathing, swimming, parasailing and a wide variety of water sports. Most
of the top resorts in Mazatlan are clustered around an area known as Gaviotas Beach.
Mazatlan's Old Town is a modest sized historic center with narrow streets and
many interesting buildings from the city's past. Be sure to take in the
area around the
enchanting Machada Plaza.
Mazatlan is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.
In these mountains you will find the town of
Concordia, which dates from the 15th century. It attracts many visitors to its
colonial church and other architectural attractions.
In addition, Copala, a gold mining town in the same area, dates from the 15th century
and may be of
interest.
Mazatlan is known for its famous Carnival held each year in February. (See
this site on the
Carnival for more information). The site is in Spanish, but you can use
Google Translator to get a rough idea of what you need to know.) In
addition, if you visit, you might want to catch the show by the Papantla
Flyers who perform acrobatics reenacting an ancient ritual while on 75-foot
tall poles.
Finally, the local islands, especially the Three Islands area ( the
Bird, Deer and Wolf islands), are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Island and
Protected Areas of the Gulf of California and well worth seeing.
Consider visiting this area if you have
time for a cruise or some kayaking. If you visit, you will find
great sunbathing and opportunities to watch an abundance of local bird and marine life.
You can arrange a cruise from the
Marina Mazatlan.
Travel Caution
In 2011 Disney Cruise Line, Princess
Cruise Lines, Carnival and Holland America dropped Mazatlan from their Mexican
Riviera cruise itineraries due to reported attacks on passengers and crew while in port.
While some may accuse cruise lines of being too cautious, they respond that they act with the
safety of their passengers in mind. We regard their avoiding a specific
location as a sign of local difficulties that should be of interest and concern to all
travelers.
Next- Puerto
Vallarta, Ixtapa and Acapulco
Or -
Guide to Cabo San
Lucas
Return to Best Places to Visit in Mexico
If you need information about another travel destination, try
our
Destination Guide Index
or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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