The prettiest beaches in Mazatlan, Mexico, the ones with broad bands of silken white sand, are located in the northern part of the city, in La Zona Dorada – the Golden Zone, and even further north in the new hotel zone. Although attractive, these northern beaches lack character because of their location: step off the beach and into the tourist area and you could be on any beach in any part of the world. High rise condos stand side-to-side with franchise hotels, storefronts are filled with cheap trinkets and T-shirts, and the restaurants are ubiquitous franchises that cater to American palettes.

Olas Altas, a pretty little crescent beach in Old Town, Mazatlan

On the other side of town, across the broad boulevard from Mazatlan’s charming Old Town, lies a smaller crescent of beach known as Olas Altas. At the south end of the half-moon bay, waves roll in on the  point and set up nice waves for surfers and body boarders. The rest of the beach is sheltered and enjoys calm water that is perfect for families. The sand here is soft and glows pink in the sunrise and sunset, perfectly framing the sunset over the bay. Best of all, this beach’s proximity to Mazatlan’s city center makes it a perfect choice for a visit that combines sunbathing with dozens of other activities, from investigating hundreds of historic buildings painted in riotous colors to browsing through the Art Museum or Archeological Museum.

Walking the Malecon along Olas Altas Beach

And not to worry about the quality or price of the food. Restaurants such as La Cueva de Leon, directly across the street from Olas Altas Beach, feature authentic, delicious Mexican food for incredibly low prices (in the case of La Cueva, nothing is priced higher than $50 pesos, which is slightly less than $4 U.S.).

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel

Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels