Mazatlán, Mexico

Mazatlán’s biggest appeal lies in its location along Mexico’s central Pacific coast. There’s more than a dozen miles of sun-kissed shore, ideal for travelers looking to lie out on the beach or splash around in the sea. Then there’s the malecón, or oceanfront promenade. It stretches more than 13 miles along the ocean and is the longest in the world. Nearby, cliff divers thrill travelers by leaping off a nearly 50-foot-high platform and into the Pacific—a cherished Mazatlán tradition.

Creative types of all kinds have carved out a home in Mazatlán’s Centro Historico neighborhood, turning what was Mexico’s midcentury party capital into a getaway with serious cultural cachet. Artists, actors, writers, designers, and others have restored the area’s neoclassical buildings, transforming them into galleries, theaters, and shops. Travelers wander through the neighborhood’s colorful streets, snapping photos of murals or shooting videos of buskers performing outdoors.