The Princess Diaries

View near Mazatlan. Mazatlan meaning "land of the deer" in the ancient Nahuatl language offers 10 miles of inviting sandy beaches. Located on Mexico's Gold Coast, Mazatlan is the closest Mexican resort to the United States. Nickname: the "Pearl of the Pacific".

Sea Shell City.

The Three Islands (Las Tres Islas). These islands, Island of the Birds, Island of the Deer, and Island of the Wolves, are trademarks of Mazatlan. Each has tranquil beaches of fine sand tempting the visitor to stay all day. Transportation to the islands is provided by panga, or small boat. Great botanical paintings have been found on these islands.

There is a special type of taxi called a pulmonía ('pneumonia'), a small open-air vehicle similar to a golf cart. Pulmonías can be slightly cheaper than a regular taxi, depending on your bargaining skills.

Mazatlán's lighthouse (El Faro) began to shine by mid-1879. The lamp had been handcrafted in Paris, containing a big oil lamp with mirrors and a Fresnel lens to enhance the light. Since the light was static, in the distance it was often mistaken as a star. By 1905 this lamp was converted to a revolving lamp. Today, the 1000 watt bulb can be seen for 30 nautical miles (60 km).

The third highest lighthouse in the world (after that of Gibraltar and Funfria, Spain) is located here in Mazatlan. It sits high on a hill, more than 150 meters above sea level. You can hike to the top in about 25 minutes, but your calves will never be the same. Be sure to attempt the hike only during the daytime as, as there is some pretty rugged terrain between you and the lighthouse, and, of course, it is not lit at night.

A couple of the many statues along the Malacon.

Acapulco isn't the only place famous for it's cliff divers. Here in Mazatlan, these brave fellows jump twice a day from the rocky cliffs into the waters of the Olas Altas, or high waves. Timing is everything, as the water is only six feet deep at times. Co-incidentally, the timing is also in perfect syncronicity with the arrival of the city tour tourist bus. Gratuities are gratefully accepted.