Relaxing on a wide sandy beach and watching cliff divers jump into the choppy sea were the best parts of our time in Mazatlan, Mexico.

This was a one-day adventure during our Norwegian Cruise on the Joy, which sailed from Los Angeles and stopped in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan, Mexico.

Setting Up the Excursion

We took a 3-3.5-hour Mazatlán Sightseeing and Golden Zone tour with a beach stop through Viator.com. Usually, we use Norwegian Cruise shore excursions, but they were way more expensive and didn’t include all the activities we wanted to do.

The excursion did not go far out of town, so we could take a taxi back to the port if we had wanted to head back earlier.

Start of the Day

The Norwegian Cruise Line port stop is in an industrial area, so we first took an open-air shuttle to the terminal, where there are shops and restaurants.

Viator, our travel operator, had an umbrella stand near the last shopping area by the parking lot where tours depart. It was easy to find, and the staff were friendly.

After that, we boarded the tour bus and set off.

Virgen de La Puntilla

We stopped briefly at the Virgen de La Puntilla and a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is on the Colonia Lazaro Cardenas near the pier. It protects the port from natural phenomena. On the pedestal, it reads “To the one who is the forger of the Mexican homeland, mother of the church and queen of the universe.”

Look Out Point Hill

From here, you can look out over Mazatlan below. In the distance, there’s a small mountain point surrounded by the sea. There’s also a cannon here with a Spanish inscription beneath it.

On the way down, we passed by the Whale Museum.

Touring the City

We stopped briefly to see a monument featuring the Escudo de Sinaloa, the shield of Sinaloa, on one side and the Mazatlán shield on the other.

There are many statues along the Malecon in Mazatlan.

You’ll spot the Monument to the Mazatlan Women and another monument featuring a deer.

Next, our bus driver dropped us off at the Monument to the Continuity of Life, which includes fountains and dolphins in flight above the pool of water.

We walked back to watch the cliff divers.

Cliff Divers

They don’t actually dive from a cliff, but from a platform about 50 feet above the ground. It’s not as high as the famous cliff divers in Acapulco, but it’s still dangerous. The divers must jump with the waves to ensure there is enough water below, and the area is rocky and treacherous. They dive every day of the week. They do ask for donations.

Basilica of Mazatlan

Next, we stopped at the Catedral Mazatlan Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepcion.

In front of the basilica is Plaza Republica, which has a red gazebo in the center of the garden-like square.

We stopped at a convenience store behind the plaza, away from the basilica. There, we found snacks and bottled sodas.

I took some photos of the two yellow-painted towers and a white statue outside.

Inside, they were having services, so I stayed in the back.

In one corner, I saw a sculpture, and in another, a painting.

After that, we headed to the beach.

Beach Time

The tour guide dropped us off at Hotel Playa Mazatlan. We went to the beach and ordered dinner and drinks from the hotel restaurant at a table. The fish tacos were delicious.

The beach was busy but didn’t feel overcrowded. The water was warm and had plenty of waves, which my son enjoyed.

I took photos of several buildings under construction south of the Golden Zone.

There’s a small island across the water.

About an hour and a half later, the tour operator picked us up to return us to the cruise terminal area.

Final Thoughts

We didn’t know much about Mazatlan before this trip, but we really enjoyed our time here. My son’s favorite part was the beach, of course. The food at the hotel restaurant was pretty good.

Since we had plenty of time, I’m glad we booked the tour ourselves, though I wouldn’t usually do this because I’ve heard stories of people not making it back in time.

MORE CRUISING

Touring Grand Turk

Grand Turk is known for diving with a 7,000-foot drop-off within yards of the shoreline and snorkeling among the coral. We will explore this tiny island by tram, stopping in Cockburn Town and feeding the wild donkeys. Also, just so you know, they drive on the left side of the road since it is a former British colony.

Seeing Stingrays at Half Moon Cay

Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private oasis, was our first port. It is filled with a variety of island activities including stingray encounters, glass-bottom boat viewing, snorkeling or just hanging out on the beach and swimming in the pristine Caribbean Sea.