Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/22095
Cid Marina Hotel for guest convenience. Upon arrival to El Cid, I was personally greeted by the staff with tropical cocktails, and was pleasantly surprised to find, in my suite, fruit and wine courtesy of hotel manage- ment. El Cid provides all the guestroom amenities of a first class hotel: Wi-Fi and high speed Internet access, cable televi- sion with HD flat-screens, and individual suite climate con- trol.However, what truly separates El Cid from many other hotels and resorts of its kind are the miraculous ocean front views. Each suite comes equipped with its own private bal- cony showcasing either an ocean front or marina view with outdoor seating, perfect for watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Like El Cid, many of the hotels and resorts of Mazatlan share a similar characteristic, breathtaking beaches. Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay http://pueblobonito.com is another private, secluded hidden jewel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As the only AAA, 4-Diamond hotel in Mazatlan,Pueblo Bonito features an award winning spa, gor- geous gardens, and whimsical Neoclassic architecture. Travelers can play at Estrella delMarGolf and BeachResort http://estrelladelmar.com with an 18-hole championship golf course and an active SeaTurtleReserve.For a longer stay, Isla Mazatlan http://islamazatlan.com features 25 fully furnished world class villas on a private manmade island with all of the amenities of a top notch hotel resort. For a small group ofwriters,our journey began after check in at El Cid with an intimate dinner at Pedro y Lola, conve- niently located inOldMazatlanHistoricDistrict.Mazatlan is without a doubt known for its mouth watering seafood, and Pedro y Lola offers up some authentic fresh ocean catch. With outdoor seating in the cobblestone paved town square and live acoustic entertainment, one can expect to be trans- ported into a scene from one of your favorite foreign romance films.TheOldMazatlanHistoricDistrict is home to most of the authentic Mexican culture that travelers crave when visiting a destination like Mazatlan. One of my most amazing finds in Old Mazatlan was a charming art gallery I stumbled across while searching for the town market.Nidart http://nidart.comis a one of a kindMexican family art coop- erative housing themost amazing leathermasks,metal sculp- tures, and hand crafts.With all the cozy cafes and sweet street candy carts, travelersmight even considermoving into one of the boutique hotels such as The Melville http://themelville which offers extended stays for locals as well as travelers. Another amazing site to see in OldMazatlan are the dare devil cliff divers who will actually jump froma 45-ft. platform into only 5 ft.ofwater for an audience of tourists!A$10USD tip was the least I could do for providing me with such a jaw dropping experience.And for amore in depth look at all that Mazatlan has to offer,Huana Coa CanopyTours http://offer- tours.com/english/activities/huanacoa-canopy.html brings travelers amazing jungle and desert landscapes froma unique perspective. Only 45 minutes from Mazatlan, the tour includes a jungle-desert trek, zip-lining descent over 50 ft. in the air, and a traditional agave distillery. After tasting pure Mexican agave through each stage of the distillery tour, par- ticipants won’t even remember the $75 tour fee. For many travelers, exploring local cuisine is the best part of traveling. Mazatlan is arguable one of the most amazing places in the world to indulge in fresh seafood. From the shrimp pasta at Oceano Palace Beach Hotel in the Golden Zone http://oceanopalace.com, to the beach front fried fish at El Cardon on Stone Island,Mazatlan takes great pride in its exceptionally fresh ocean cuisine. The Sea Farer in Nuevo Mazatlan takes the seafood experience to another level with a dining area built over a giant fish tank, allowing guest to feed the fish while they dine. For those travelers looking for more of a traditionalMexican dinning experience,Meson de los Laureanos http://elmesondeloslaureanos.com offers just that. Located only 30 minutes outside of Mazatlan in the small town of ElQuelite,Meson de los Laureanos transports guests back into colonialMexico with a cozy colorful dinning experience in this traditional Mexican estate. Indulge in the region’s most authentic recipes that have been passed down fromgeneration to generation.Hosted by owner,Dr.Marcos Osuna, the experience at this hidden gemis anything but dull. For either tourismor businessmeeting purposesMazatlan, Mexico is an outstanding city full of rich culture and spectac- ular facilities.With reasonable prices and breathtaking beach- es, it’s hard to beat this location for any traveling need. Direct questions or comments to Brienne Herbert at bri- enneh@gmail.com, or through Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 37