Malécon de Mazatlan

When we briefly visited Mazatlan last February, we were struck by the charm and authenticity of the old city and the beauty and attraction of El Malécon. “The Boardwalk” is the English translation of El Mélacon, but Mazatlan’s version is like no other. First of all, there are no boards to be seen anywhere. It is a wide concrete and paving stone walkway that runs twenty one kilometers along the seashore, from the southern tip of the old town all the way to the touristy the Golden Zone and beyond. There is a separate bike path alongside the pedestrian path where you can ride one of Mazatlan’s bike share two wheelers.

There are several statues and sculptures that celebrate the ocean and others that commemorate great musicians born here. There are fishermen selling their catch of the day, an endless array of restaurants and bars, and hawkers selling hats, sunglasses, jewelry and the ubiquitous souvenir knick-knacks.

But the big attraction for us is the ability to run along the shore, with the omnipresent sea breeze providing refreshing coolness, the sound of the surf providing the soundtrack and the seabirds singing harmony. The Mélacon is almost completely flat and, early in the morning, is teeming with many runners getting in their daily mileage fix, however, the path is so wide, one never feels crowded, rushed or delayed by other joggers.

Last, but not least, is the scenery. The sandy beach seemingly goes on forever and the view of the western horizon is interrupted only by the handful of islands that rise out of the sea. Night falls quite early here, and the sunsets seen from the Mélacon are nothing short of breathtaking.

All in all, Brenda and I will have no trouble spending the rest of the winter here.Read more