Mazatlán Centro Histórico
The Historical Center: Heart of the Pearl of The Pacific

Centro Historico | Plaza Machado | Angela Peralta Theater | Museo de Arte

Museo Arqueologico | Pedro Infante Museum | Pino Suarez Mercado Centro

Central Mazatlan Cathedral / Basilica | The Malecon | Mazatlan Cliff Divers

Carpa Olivera Pool | Acuario Mazatlan Aquarium | El Faro Lighthouse

Bosque de la Ciudad | Estero del Yugo Nature Preserve

Download a free self-guided Centro Historico Walking Tour map with descriptions!

The Centro Historico in Mazatlan is the living beating heart of The Pearl of The Pacific, and the birthplace of both its commerce and its culture.

Below is a zoomable slippy street map of Mazatlan beginning in the Centro Historico. This map can also be opened in a new browser window (View Larger Map) to provide a full screen viewing area.

Zoomable street map of the Centro Historico in Mazatlan, Sinaloa



The growth and importance of the Centro Historico closely tracks the history of the growth of Mazatlan as a commercial and cultural center in western Mexico.

By the late 1700s pirates had been largely purged from the waters off our port and, with the pirate threat eliminated, the first decades of the 1800s in Mazatlan brought steadily increasing ship traffic and the regular arrival of passengers that hailed from very distant ports.

Mexico freed itself from Spanish rule in 1821 after an eleven year struggle, and growth in Mazatlan accelerated rapidly.

In 1829 a banker, Juan Nepomuceno Machado, arrived on a ship from the Philippines. He founded an import / export firm that traded with with vessels coming to our port from far-flung places in Asia; Chile and Peru in South America; Europe -- especially Germany -- and the United States.

In 1837 Juan Machado -- investing both in the citys' and his own economic future -- caused the Plaza Machado (Plazuela Machado) to be built as a icon of Mazatlan's commercial and cultural wealth.

His vision of a central civic space built upon an important infrastructure improvement that had been made in 1832. The area that the Plaza Machado occupies -- and much of what we now consider the Mazatlan Centro Historico -- was once a marshy estuary fed by the ocean, but in 1832 a robust sea wall was constructed along Olas Altas beach which dried the area and made it possible to construct larger buildings.

Located at the Southern end of the greatly expanded modern city, the Centro Historico and the beautifully restored Plaza Machado exemplify what the Mazatlan Renaissance is all about. As the 21st Century begins, Mazatlan's Centro Historico has been rediscovered, spuring a renaissance of restoration, real estate investment, and entrepreneurial efforts.

Our city has nearly 500 buildings that have been designated as national historic landmarks, a large number of which are located in the Centro Historico. Walking through the historic center of Mazatlan one can't help but notice the distinct style (classical elements with climate-related adaptations, such as more robust drain spouts) with which the majority of these Mazatlan Centro Historico buildings were constructed.

The grand homes and landmark Centro Historico commercial buildings that had fallen into disrepair or ruin have been restored to their historic glory and now house young families, retirees, and unique boutique Mazatlan businesses such as cafés, art galleries and many of the best restaurants in The Pearl of The Pacific.

The list of architects, builders and craftsmen who created the buildings within the Mazatlan Centro Historico is a history of the rich tapestry of immigrants to The Pearl of The Pacific.

These international influences include German, Spanish, Italian and of course Mexican artisans -- but the similarities in architectural solutions are striking, and representative of the birth of a genuine Mazatlan Classical Tropical Style that continues to please both residents and visitors.

The modern Centro Historico has drawn artists and entrepreneurs from around the world who have chosen to make Mazatlan their home and be part of the vital re-building of Centro.

The City has also played and important positive role in maintaining and improving the lovely small museums and art facilities that populate the Centro Historico, and that reflect well on both our long cultural heritage and our ever-blossoming present.

If you think that the Mazatlan Centro Historico is only about history, think again.

Each year in early June, Cultura Mazatlan stages a Dia De La Musica (Day of Music) where stages are erected throughout the Centro Historico and musicians of many types perform -- for free.

Have no doubt about it -- the Mazatlan Centro Historico Grooves!

Not in Mazatlan in the Summer? Don't worry, our local musical talent can warm any music-lovers heart. For example, meet Lori Davidson, American ex-pat and Mazatlan resident performing just off the Plaza Machado in the Centro Historico as leader of the Lori Davidson Trio. Is this funky enough for you?

Video of flamenco dancers at during Dia de Los Muertos at Plaza Machado in the Mazatlán Centro Historico



Video of Lori Davidson and Rob Lamonica performing in the Centro Historico at Macaws