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Mazatlan is one of the top Mexico beach destinations on the Pacific coast, and with good reason. It has miles of wide beaches, a gorgeous historic city center, lots of good food, fascinating culture and a wide variety of beachfront hotels that tend to offer good value for the money. Another great reason to visit is for the variety of easy day trips. During my most recent visit to this Mexico vacation hotspot, I spent a gloriously relaxing day on Deer Island.
For this Mazatlan day trip, we headed to Marina El Cid, one of the city’s most upscale hotels, where the marina serves as home base for Aires Fleet, a company that offers tours including sightseeing and deep-sea fishing.
We boarded the Kolonahe, a trimaran (similar to a catamaran), where the crew introduced themselves and cranked up a wide-ranging variety of music as they served drinks. Sailing off the coast is a great way to take in the full scope of Mazatlan’s expansive beachfront, and the soaring hotel and condo towers slowly shrank as we approached the lush Deer Island (Isla Venado in Spanish).
We all descended into a smaller boat to reach the shore, and the water felt soothingly cool as we made our way onto the beach. The island is decidedly peaceful and relaxing, and I enjoyed my spot under a palapa-style thatched roof (there are also umbrellas in the sand, for those who want a spot closer to the water and more opportunities to sunbathe). An array of activities are quickly organized upon arrival: First, a bumpy banana-boat ride, followed by snorkeling (the water’s super calm, and I saw some colorful small fish), kayaking and beach volleyball.
Soon after, lunch was served, buffet style and brought over from the mainland. Chicken fajitas, refried beans, macaroni and lots of fresh fruit, all served in beachy styrofoam plates, were the tasty featured items (and of course, the open bar was still open).
After some more relaxing time on the beach, it was time to head back, and leave the breezy, sun-soaked island. Overall, the entire trip (including transportation by boat and the time spent on the island) takes a relaxing five hours or so, but the time flies.
Priced at just $58 per adult ($35 for children), this Mazatlan day trip is an especially good deal, since it included the boat ride, open bar, lunch and activities on the island.
Source: latinflyer.com