William Freeman

In Mazatlan, we usually go to the Golden Zone and buy stuff, and have lunch at one of the many open air restaurants, but last time we took the advice of others who said the Stone Island Tour was exceptional. The island is across the channel to the south of the ship dock. You can either take the ship's excursion or get a ride on the ferrys which make the short trip from the pier about a half mile west of the pier, almost over by the lighthouse. It's a short cab ride. Our boat made a side trip to show us the little rock islands off the lighthouse. Stone Island is truly a tropical paradise, the "Margaritaville" you knew was out there somewhere. You can ride horses or take a cart ride around the island to see the palm groves, hang out at some palapa restaurant, drink beer and veg out in a hammock under a palm thatched awning. You can eat tacos and shrimp and fish all day for practically nothing.

The beaches are beautiful and relatively calm, and mostly frequented by the locals. Vendors, and there are a lot of them, are required to stay on the beach, behind a rope. It's fun to bargain with them from your hammock or beach chair. The restaurants line the beach and most are identical. The ship tour will drop you off at one of them. This is THE place to relax in the traditional Mexican manner. The lagoon at one end of the island, where the launch docks, is beautiful with azure blue calm warm water for swimming and is reminiscent of the South Pacific. I plan on spending a week there some time. There are little apartments with kitchens you can rent for about $100 a week. Viva Stone Island!

If you're still hungry when you get back to the ferry pier, try the huge seafood restaurant there, also a favorite of the locals.

A side note- the ship docks a long way from downtown, but it doesn't look all that far when you're standing on the ship. DO NOT succumb to the temptation to walk thru the rather raunchy part of town around the pier- taxis are plentiful and cost about $5 to get to the Golden Zone or the Cathedral area. The central indoor/outdoor market downtown is interesting if you're a bit "bold." Be sure to see the butcher shops.

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