Stone Island
The Stone Island Tour takes off in the morning from the hotel zone via taxi to Water taxis (small speedboats) that take you across the channel to Stone Island. Once you arrive, you load up on hayrides to the beach area, where you'll find rustic thatch hut restaurants & bars.
We recommend buying the "all inclusive" option which includes an awesome little fish taco lunch, and of course open bar the entire 4 hours you are out there. The trip includes the option to select 2 of 3 "event options" which include: beach horseback riding, snorkeling, or riding the banana boats. Boogie boards are free of charge. Book the trip towards the end of your stay since it will guarantee you the best tan possible. The cost is about $40/person, but it of course is an optional event on our VIP Red Carpet Party package in lieu of the Party Yacht Cruise.
City & Market Tour
Many of our travelers do in fact want to participate in a day of shopping while in Mexico, particularly at an authentic open air market where they can dust off their Spanish skills, and get ready to negotiate. The tour includes the market area, all transportation, and is guided & safe if it is a concern for you. You can get a fresh shrimp lunch for $6 USD as well. Look for great deals on Mexican wool blankets (about $5 each), and silver jewelry. Make sure the silver is marked with a stamp that indicates .875, .925, and so forth, otherwise it just plated. A nice, pure silver ring is about $15 USD. Cost is about $35/person, and you can reserve at your tour desk in your hotel's lobby area. Everyone who goes really likes this tour.
Lighthouse Club
This is an adventure that costs you virtually nothing beyond a cab ride. Simply ask any cab for a ride to "El Faro" (Spanish for Lighthouse) and they will bring you there for about 50 pesos, or $5 USD each way. Once you arrive, we recommend telling the cabbie that you'd like a pickup in about 1.5 hours, and you'll pay him the same rate (it's very secluded out there, and getting a cab back when you are worn out from the climb can be a challenge).
The climb is about a 6 out of 10 in difficulty as far as hiking goes (this is more of a "hike" than a climb). Bring water! Once you get to the top, an excellent photo opportunity exists since this one of the highest lighthouses in North America.
Deer Island by El Cid Catamarans
For a truly first-class excursion out on the water, trudge up to any of the El Cid hotels & inquire about the Deer Island Trip. For about $65/person, you'll get a nice ride out on a luxury catamaran that's open bar, with a really nice & filling snack course included.
The trip takes you from El Cid Marina out to Deer Island, the Island you can see right in front of most of the hotels within the Golden Zone. Deer Island boasts Mazatlan's best sandy beach.
Deep Sea Fishing
Mazatlan sports the best deep sea fishing of any spring break destination we offer, without question. We highly recommend the Aries fleet at El Cid's Marina Hotel. As fisherman ourselves, we don't skimp on quality.
They have the newest, fastest yachts in Mazatlan for fishing, and the best guides are there for hire. You will definitely catch fish on this trip and they even bring snacks & all the booze & beer you want. It's first class all the way.
Expect to pay - per person depending on how many people you have and how long you want to go. A lot of our Texas-pride and Midwestern students go fishing and come back with a fish that's more than just big. All the fish you'll catch in Mazatlan are TEXAS-SIZED, and that means really mo' fo' big! Bring a camera. This will be the best chance in your life to catch fish 50-100 lbs. consistently. Important: tip your Captain (not the guides, the Captain) BEFORE you even are out of the harbor. They save the best spots for the best tippers.
Sierra Mountain Tour
This is sort of an "old people" tour, but it does involve some four-wheelers, and it's worth mentioning. Believe it or not, less than 45 minutes out of the 90 degree Mazatlan sun, you can enjoy pine trees, fresh mountain air, and 75 degree temperatures. The tour includes a professional tour guide, lunch, and a 4 wheeler tour of the Sierra Madre Mountain range. Cost is about $50/person, and you can reserve at your tour desk in your hotel's lobby area.
Country Tour to La Copala
The Country Tour in Mazatlan goes through a set of small mountain towns in the Sierra Madre Mountain range. The trip costs about per person, and includes a guide, transportation, and a party beverage.
This trip is perfect for those parents that want to get away from the spring break crowds. ATV's are also available to cruise the jungle. You can buy the tour at your hotel front desk.
Tequila Factory Tour
While this tour is mostly for an older clientele, if you are into Tequila this trip is awesome. The Pelayo family's hacienda boasts an amazing Tequila Factory that shows you first hand how Tequila is made. The tour includes a great Mexican lunch, and of course, all the tasting you can handle until you're borracho. Approximately $50/per person. Buy tickets at the Royal Villas Hotel or Howard Johnson.
Bungee Jump
We're not going to explain a bungee jump to you. In Mazatlan it's a gigantic tower on the beach next door to Bora Bora Beach club. Expect to pay USD for the jump. We've done it and lived to tell the tale. They do in fact have a 20 foot safety air bag below the bungee.
Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing in Mazatlan runs about $50 for 30 minutes. We recommend asking your pool activity people who they recommend. Make sure you check over the equipment before you go, INCLUDING GAS LEVEL, so that you are NOT charged for anything broken, nor run out of gas. (they are a little lax about the details in Mazatlan).
Party Yacht Cruise
Included in our optional Red Carpet VIP Party Package as an optional event choice, this cruise takes you out for just about 2 hours on a large, double decker yacht. It is of course open bar, all you can drink, and they have a little rule: if you don't have two drinks or beers in your hands at all times, the staff have a naughty little super soaker squirt gun filled with Tequila which they will happily shot gun down your throat! Eat a lot of carbs before you go to soak up the alcohol. Cost is approximately $35/per person without our VIP package.
Surfing with East Pacific Surf Company (beginners' lessons at Playa Bruja)
Mazatlan is for (good athletic people) in our estimation the best place to learn to short-board surf in Mexico. Playa Bruja, located just north of El Cid Marina in Nuevo Mazatlan, has awesome, consistent 4-6 foot faces. The break has a strong current along this peninsula that you hug up to and it will drag you out until the sets break & you can get out. It is only about a 50 yard swim out to catch waves.
If you don't have experience, or are concerned about the strong current, please contact Alan at East Pacific Surf Company. For $40, he'll take you out, whether he provides the suit & board or not. Call or email our Inertia Surfer boy Chad: chad@inertiatours.com, or call & hit ext. 101 if you want a confirmed reservation with Alan. Remember, as always, the best waves are around 9 a.m., so plan ahead. If you're into extreme surfing (8+ foot faces & full barrels) Rich can show you a spot about 1 hour from Mazatlan.
Parasailing
In Mazatlan, you can still enjoy authentic, "take off from the beach" parasailing. The cost is about $40 USD per person. We recommend asking your pool activity people who they recommend. Remember, this is THE most dangerous activity to participate in, and we do advise you to use caution, and watch them take people up before you go. Bring a disposable camera for some great shots up in the air.
Eating Fresh Shrimp or Mahi Mahi
Mazatlan is the shrimping capital of the world and you can enjoy what is in our opinion the best fried, peel to eat, or grilled in the whole world. We recommend El Capitan for a Seafood platter. The restaurant is beachfront by Joe's Oyster Bar, and you can also throw in the fresh Mahi Mahi while you are at it. Really good fried shrimp can be had at The Shrimp Bucket.
Golfing
Just to the east of the city of Mazatlan itself is truly a remarkable good course called Estrella del Mar. You can also hit the links at El Cid, a Robert Trent Jones course.
Shopping at the Mexican market downtown
If you're not comfortable taking a $5 USD cab ride each way to the downtown market, you can schedule a city tour at the front desk of your hotel as a day excursion. The price is about per person, and is completely guided by an English-speaking person.
