From February 16 to 21, Mazatlan will be celebrating its 114th Mardi Gras Carnival, a raucous event that draws over 60,000 revelers every year.
Sun, sea and sand. Food, drink, music and dancing. What more could you want? And what better place to indulge in a last bout of sin before Ash Wednesday than the Pearl of the Pacific?
A seaside town in the state of Sinaloa, Mazatlan has been celebrating carnival since the late 1800s, when it started off with a parade of bicycles, primitive floats and lots of confetti. The festival started to pick up in 1900 when a beer factory opened in the city just before the first official carnival.
Despite a few interruptions, including the Mexican Revolution, the annual tradition has continued to grow ever since into one of Mexico’s biggest carnivals. With a Roman theme this year, it will be known as “La Fiesta de los Imperios” (“The Party of the Empires”).
Daily there are lavish parades along the Malecon, which at 21 kilometers is among the longest in the world. There will be colorful costumes, masked dancers, crownings, fireworks and parties. Do not miss it.
Book hotels well in advance as thousands of domestic and foreign visitors are expected. Buses from Guadalajara to Mazatlan cost around 400 pesos one way and take around six hours. See www.carnavalmazatlan.net for more details and a full schedule of events.
Mazatlan is not the only place to go for a captivating carnival. From February 14 to 22, Veracruz wll be throwing its 88th annual carnival. Besides the traditional food and culture on offer, there are 60 planned activities, including floats, parades, outdoor concerts, dancing, cheerleading and fashion shows. For more information visit www.carnavalveracruz.com.mx