By Eric Streit
2025 is behind us. Another year has come and gone. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year have been properly celebrated and are now in the rearview mirror. Carnival, Semana Santa and Moto Week are the next big celebrations looming in the not-too-distant future.
The cliff divers, Cueva del Diablo and the Carpa Olivera sea pool are steadfast as always. Crowds of visitors continue to line up to pose with The Beatles day and night. The zip line from El Faro to the Observatorio has eased into normalcy and acceptance, and I look forward to trying it myself sometime in this new year.
The city has a new Maritime Museum, the Aquarium continues to expand, and the Pirate Museum has moved to a more central location and is bigger and better than ever.
Forbes Magazine continues to list Mazatlán as one of the world’s “Best Places to Retire and Invest” – so the 97 high rise condos along the Malecon will hopefully find plenty of interested folks from around the world. I even noticed that one of the investors is the Saudi Royal Trust, which is something I couldn’t have imagined 25 years ago.
Although four decades have passed since ABC canceled the series, The Pacific Princess continues to play the theme song of “The Love Boat” as it departs the city. Most passengers do not realize it was both the series and theme song that revived the ailing cruise industry when it debuted in 1977. I once spoke with a returning cruise ship passenger who was insistent that the song the Pacific Princess plays when departing Mazatlán is an ancient Mexican folk song with deep spiritual meaning to the denizens of the Pacific coast. I chose not to argue with the and let him enjoy his own narrative without my interruption.
As we get into the new year, here are a few things I will continue to enjoy – or may try for the very first time, and I highly recommend you do the same.
HELIMAZ: Did you know Mazatlán has aerial tours? Those red choppers zipping through Centro and along Olas Altas are available for tours! The choppers can hold from 1 to 3 passengers, of course the cost depend on the longer and more personalized tours. If you wonder what Mazatlán looks like from an aerial perspective, give this one a try.
PARASAILING: If you still want to see Mazatlán from above, head down to the beach, walk up to the guys standing near the big parachutes and say, “Me next!” Paid your raid, strap on the harness, and you’ll soon find yourself soaring high above the water and taking in a breathtaking view that goes from Stone Island all the way beyond Cerritos. Mazatlán parasailing is something I once indulged in regularly… along with whisky and tequila shots. As I get older, I find that – like copious amounts of liquor – parasailing may not best serve my long term interests… especially my goal to not fall 200 feet through the air and crashing into the Sea of Cortez at terminal velocity. That being said, I’ve enjoyed the experience many times over the years. If I ever happen to indulge in one-too-many margaritas, I will no doubt try it once again.
CASA DEL MARINO: “House of the Sailor.” As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I was thrilled to visit this new maritime-themed museum actually opened in 2024 and is in a restored historic building that once served as a sailors’ residence while ships were in port. It has many comprehensive exhibits that highlight seafaring life, local nautical culture, and Mazatlán’s deep connection to the sea. It’s a free attraction and a good complement to other museums in the historic area.
Yes, Mazatlán has many museums, parks, beaches, restaurants and tourist attractions, old and new, to be enjoyed by citizens, tourists, visitors, snowbirds, expats, immigrants, gringos or whatever moniker you choose to christen oneself with. When one compares all the new places to see and be seen today to how it was a quarter of a century ago, it is somewhat hard to believe. But time marches on, cities grow, and we all experience the growth with a balance of hope for the future and nostalgia for the past. I am most curious what will become of Centro’s La Fonda de Chalio; and hope it will soon re-open and remain the longest-standing restaurant along that stretch of beachfront.
If Mazatlán continues to grow – and I have no doubt that it will – I would like to suggest a potential new possibility for anybody who is in the attraction-building business. Feel free to take this idea and run with it. This idea will benefit the public good and the private purse of anybody who chooses to take this vague notion and turn it into a tangible, real world place.
CARNIVAL FLOAT PARK: Every year, a great deal of creativity and money go into the creation of the Carnival Floats and managotes. Once Carnival ends, many of the floats are unceremoniously forgotten. They are either disposed of or left to deteriorate in a large lot on Alemán by the roundabout. Why forget these distinct pieces of artwork are treasures that could become a fun gathering place, similar to the Neon Museum in Las Vegas? There are any number of large swaths of land that these could be displayed that could create a carnival atmosphere year-round. Perhaps the road to nowhere at the bottom of El Faro, or the large empty lot just north of Valentino’s? Undoubtedly, some of the floats and managotes are refurbished, redecorated or reimagined for future Carnival Parades; but I have seen enough of them sitting alone and forgotten. People would pay fifty pesos just to walk through the scrapyard where they are right now; imagine if they were proudly displayed in a spot with vendors, food carts and maybe a few carnival games?
I hope the new year will bring peace, prosperity and abundance to all who continue to call Mazatlán home on a full- or part-time basis. I enjoy seeing friends and acquaintances out and about when I am not working in far-flung locations in other parts of the globe.