Mazatlan Lodging Option #1 - Beachfront Resorts in the Golden Zone

This is the first post in a series about the different options for lodging in Mazatlan. For the overview of the different types of options, see the page Mazatlan Lodging.

The most well-known lodging options in Mazatlan are the main beach resorts found in the Golden Zone. Though the Golden Zone was not the first tourist area of Mazatlan (tourists first arrived in Mazatlan at the “Olas Altas” beach in the downtown area), it is definitely the area that has attracted the most tourists.

Lodging in Mazatlan - Why the Golden Zone?

The Golden Zone is very popular. Crowds of tourists fill the streets and beaches and hotels throughout the Golden Zone every holiday season. Why? What is it that draws them?

Beautiful Beaches in the Golden Zone

One major reason that the Golden Zone is so popular is because it really has incredibly beautiful beaches. Wide strips of golden sand, the beautiful water of the Pacific Ocean, and the view of the islands in Mazatlan Bay make it an ideal beach location. There are a ton of beach and water activities (boogie boards, parasailing, jet skis, banana boats, beach volleyball, etc.) which make for a lot of fun, and that’s not counting just laying out or splashing in the waves!

Great Shopping and Restaurants

Also, as the tourist center of Mazatlan, the Golden Zone has the greatest concentration of shopping and restaurants. Shopping options include silver and other types of jewelry, handcrafts, clothing and much more. For eating there’s a huge variety, both in style - bars with live music (as well as great food) for the lively crowd, vs. quiet places with an ocean view - and in cuisine - from seafood (especially shrimp), to Mexican, Italian, and Chinese, just to name a few.

So Why Go Anywhere Else?

Considering the advantages of the Golden Zone, why would anybody want to choose lodging anywhere else in Mazatlan?

Crowds + Vendors ? Relaxation

If you were hoping to relax on your vacation, the Golden Zone is not the place to do it. There are lots of people, which can put a damper on everything - you’ll probably have to fight for a palapa on the beach, service in the restaurants might be slow, and just in general you’ll feel “crowded.” The concentration of tourists also draws a huge number of pesky vendors seeking to get money from the “rich gringos” who will very persistently try to sell you everything from fake watches to a vacation timeshare. As I’m sure you can imagine, it can get to be annoying.

So, while the Golden Zone is a great place to visit, it’s not necessarily the best place to stay for your vacation in Mazatlan. Thankfully there are plenty of other options for lodging in Mazatlan, and though they are not as well-known, they have lots of advantages. We’ll let you know more about them in the rest of the series about Mazatlan Lodging!