What is there to do in Mazatlan for kids?
Great Ideas for Family Vacations in Mazatlan
Want a recipe for disaster? Pack up your bags and fly away for a family vacation without thinking about activities for your kids. Can you imagine? Whining! Frustration! Trying to find activities at the last minute, only to find that what you want to do is only available on certain days, but not on the day you have available! It's enough to give you nightmares!
Thankfully, for a family vacation in Mazatlan that never needs to happen! Mazatlan is a wonderfully family-oriented tourist destination, and there's a great variety of activities that the whole family can enjoy.
The Mazatlan Aquarium
First of all, let me suggest the Mazatlan Aquarium. It's always been a nice place for the family to visit, but in October of 2008 they opened a new "Ocean Tank" which made it stupendous! (Here's an article we wrote about the new Ocean Tank at the Mazatlan Aquarium - with pictures!.) The new tank is the biggest in LatinAmerica, and allows you to see a large variety of species of ocean wildlife interacting in their "natural" environment. It's really very impressive - it's much more than just fish, there are sharks and sting rays and giant sea turtles and much more. You really don't want to miss it! 
The Mazatlan Aquarium is really an all-day activity, because it not only has several tanks, each for a different eco-system from a different part of the world, it also has a shark tank, a sea-lion show, a mini-zoo, a parrot show, botanical gardens (with crocodiles!), and a program about the conservation of sea turtles! That ought to entertain the family for a while, don't you think! For some pictures (and descriptions in Spanish) you can see the official website: Mazatlan Aquarium. We've also written up a more complete description of all the fun your family can have at the Aquarium.
Mazagua, Mazatlan's Water Park
Another great activity for kids is to visit the Mazagua Water Park. It offers everything you expect to keep your family wet and entertained - slides of different types, a river to move around, a wave pool, a play area, and much more. It's closed during January and February (the only time when Mazatlan gets cold enough that playing in the water isn't fun), but available for your family's enjoyment all the rest of the year. For some photos, you can see their website: Mazagua Water Park
Huana Coa Canopy Adventure
If you have older kids, the zip line adventure can be a real blast. With facilities outside of Mazatlan at the start of the Sierra Madre mountains, the adventure includes multiple zip lines over the trees. It's a great adventure with beautiful views. More info and some fantastic photos at the website: http://www.huanacoa.com/
And much more...
There are many more activities available in Mazatlan that are wonderful for families, depending on the age and inclinations of your kids. Of course there are tons of water sports (jet skis, boogie boards, banana boat rides, and much more). There's also surfing, horseback riding, whale watching, and I know I'm forgetting a lot! Oh, and just playing on the beach - making sand castles, for example! Explore some of the sites about Mazatlan and you're sure to find even more wonderful ideas!
Good luck on your family vacation in Mazatlan! As long as you do come prepared, you're bound to have a great time!
-----------------------
This information is provided by Villas El Rancho Beach Resort, located on Cerritos Beach in the New Mazatlan area, just past the marina. With a very family-friendly atmosphere, and villas where families can stay together comfortably, El Rancho is a wonderful place for family vacations. You can also see our ideas about what makes for a REAL family vacation.