The info below was accumulated from www.cruisecritic.com which is a fabulous website. They even have a GLBT forum so check it out. I pulled this info off of last years forum and I thought everyone might like to see it. There is some great info. I'll post about the other ports as there is too much info to put on one post.
Rhonda & Dawna
Mazatlan
When you arrive into Mazatlan, you arrive at a commercial port, so there is a lot of traffic there. This is why you must take a complimentary shuttle to the terminal building. Once you get there, to start with, you will see many timeshare people, so if you are not interested in this, just pass by them and go into the terminal building.
At this terminal building there are a lot of little shops, restrooms and businesses. As you exit, there is a little plaza where there is a bar, a small snack place and more little shops. That is where all the taxis are. You can take a taxi from there, either to: ------The Golden zone (aprox 20 mins away) where all the big Hotels are, nice beaches and many stores selling everything.
------El Centro (downtown)( aprox 10 mins away). This is where the beautiful cathedral is and also the Mercado (market) which sells food mostly but also some arts and crafts.
-------Old Mazatlan (aprox 10 mins away) This is where the Angela Peralta theatre is and also the Machado Plaza, really worth the visit. To me it is the nicest area in Mazatlan.
As for shopping, it could be either by the ship at the terminal area or the Golden zone.
BEACHES/HOTELS:
Took a cab to the El Cid ($12.00). Tipped the pool guy for towels and the drink/waiter $5.00 who waited on us hand and foot all day. Side note, the beach would have been fun, but the water was too dangerous so we hung out at the refreshing pool all day. Spent $26.00 for five drinks plus nachos (drinks were good, nachos all right). We trusted that the place was fine and no we did not get sick. Enjoyed our time at the El Cid (there were only a handful of other cruisers there). Walked to the Golden zone and got some awesome deals on leather. Shared a cab back to the ship with a couple of servers from the ship for $10.00 total. Beach driving back looked fun to swim in and wished we would have had time to play in the surf there.
In Mazatlan, we took a taxi to El Cid. We spent most of the day hanging out at their pool. Later, we took a walk along the beach before heading back to the ship. It was a great, relaxing day.
In Mazatlan, go to Stone Island, spend a nice relaxing day at Victors, or do Randi's Happy Horses if you like horseback riding (note the picture of my daughter on the horse was NOT from Randi's, and if I am lucky enough to go back there, I will definitely do Randi's next time). They have other activities available on the beach there, so you can do as little or as much as you want to do. The first two pictures below are from Stone Island.
Food (per Mazatlan Frank):
There is a good seafood restaurant close to the docks. It is called La Puntilla and it is where many locals go to. Actually sundays there are line ups.
Good food and good price.
You can actually walk there as it is about 3 blocks from the cruiseship terminal building.
Go the terminal building and walk outside where the main avenue is, you turn left and you walk about 3 blocks till the end of the avenue. Turn left again and you will see this restaurant called La Puntilla. It is right by the water.
SHOPPING:
Take a pneumonia car to the main shopping district. Otherwise, there is an outdoor market on the pier just adjacent to the ship.
Another place to shop would be downtown where the Mercado is. There is not that much of a selection as in the Golden zone, but you do find some things. If you do not want to go so far away, stay by the ship, they have little stores, like Sr Frogs store, Pardo and Pacific Jewelry and others. There is a little flea market, public phones, internet service, restrooms, a bar, a restaurant and also someone that does massages. If you are looking for stamps, there is a little booth right by the massage people, it belongs to the Mexican Postal Service, so you can mail it right there.
If you like shopping, go downtown (where the locals go), if you are looking for regular day to day stuff, like shoes, fabrics, clothes, sandals, etc.
If you want the tourist stuff, like souveniers, then go to the Golden zone. Thats where we have some nice beaches.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Many people ask me how far away are things from the ship. Mazatlan has been growing from the south to the north. In the south part, a few minutes away (5-10 mins) from the ship is the Old Mazatlan, where you will see that most of the buildings are from the 1800´s, then we have El Centro (downtown), where the market and Cathedral are, where most of the buildings are from the 1900´s and farther north is the Golden zone, which is the area where all the major Hotels, Restaurants, Shops and other things are. This area was developed around the mid 1970´s. It is a 20-25 minute taxi ride and the cost is around $10us per taxi one way.
If you enjoy aquariums, the one we have in Mazatlan is very nice. It is not as big as a Sea World, but it is quite interesting. It has different salt and fresh water fish as well as a botanical garden and they have some shows with sea lions and birds. The admission fee is $60pesos (6us) and $30 pesos (3us) children. The taxi ride from the ship should be around $6-8 us one way per taxi and two blocks away is Sr. Frogs, in case you want to hit two interesting places in Mazatlan. It is pronounced ah quar eo.
We have different types of Taxis in Mazatlan.
We have regular taxis which are painted green and white or red and white. We have Pulmonias (Pneumonias in English), they call them that way because of the taxi drivers, who would tell people to not ride on those vehicles like golf carts because they would catch a pneumonia, which is not true, but they were trying to make them look bad because they were the competition of regular taxis. As the time went by, the pneumonias got so popular that the taxi drivers tried to compete, so they bought the VW´s The thing, and made them similar but trying to call them Penicilins, because they were the cure to pneumonia. The name did not stay so we call them Safaris. Also we have these red Nissan pick ups with a little roof in the back and also benches, which seat around 8 or 10 people. These were called first Bronquitis but now called Aurigas. These are great for large families and also cargo.
GOLDEN ZONE:
We talk so much about the Golden zone and some people ask me what is it. Well, the Golden zone is an area that developed in the mid 1970´s and now it is one of the main areas of the City. It is were most of the Hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. are. You will find stores recommended as well as not recommended by the ship. If you know how to barter, try it. Normally they have a price tag on the item. If it doesn’t, that’s when you barter. But, even with a price on, try and see, sometimes it does work. Getting back to the Golden zone, if you take a taxi from the ship. Normally they charge around $10us per taxi and it takes around 20-25 minutes to get there.
FOOD:
Personally I love Tony’s on the Beach a lot. Do not confuse with Mr. Tony’s which is in the Golden zone. Tony’s on the Beach is between CARAVELLE AND FIESTA INN HOTELS. There are 3 restaurants in the same place; Tony’s is the one in the middle. They have excellent seafood as well as Mexican food and others, even Hamburgers! It is on the beach and they have great drinks also. Piña coladas are great or with no alcohol they are called PIÑADA. My favorite is MICHELADA, Glass or cup with salt on top like a Margarita, inside Ice and Lime Juice then you pour in the Beer (Pacifico, Corona) and salud! mmmmmm! Getting thirsty! If you go there and meet Tony tell him that you want a CHOCOMILK. That is my secret word for Michelada between Tony and Me hahahaha! Another great place by the Cathedral and Mercado is the PANAMA, good food also! So many good places and not enough time!