Casa De Leyendes…Mazatlan, Mexico

Author: sandi weston
Date of Trip: September 2007

My husband and I stayed at the Casa De Leyendas Bed & breakfast the last week of Sept. 07 in Mazatlan, Mexico. This was our 5th trip to Mazatlan. We have stayed at The Playa Mazatlan the other times. This time being that it was low season.. we came into Mazatlan with no reservations. It was our plan to “hotel hop”.. it was a really fun and exciting idea for us… So here’s how it went..

We arrived in Mazatlan and checked into The Hotel Playa for the first nite.. We had lunch that afternoon at the Shrimp Factory.. you have to know Mazatlan is famous for great shrimp! Hung out at the beach at The Playa..great beach. We have friends that live in Mazatlan and went to dinner with them that nite. Our friends Billy and Gail Chapman have a local adventure business.. The Steel Thunder Outfitters..and run tours and Motorcycle rides out of Mazatlan. They also own The Angler’s Inn in the Sierra Madres on El Salto Lake. We stayed there the second nite.. The Angler’s Inn.. a curious blend of casual and elegance. We went out on the lake and did some Bass fishing had a great dinner in The Lodge and also had a wonderful massage..we were the only guest that nite.

We were woke up by the manager of the property, Sammy, with coffee and juice and rolls. We again went out on one of the boats and fished..it was really something being out on that huge lake watching the sun rise. The mountains are so pretty and just breath-taking. We really did catch some fish!! That afternoon we again traveled more into the Sierra Madre’s to a lake called Mateo.. The Chapman’s were in the process of building another resort, we rode ATV’S around the small village and toured a small citrus orchard there. rode over to the lake which was huge! We stayed in a camper that nite..none of the cabins were finished yet. It is beyond beautiful in the Sierra Madres..a wonderful part of Mexico and I really felt privileged to see how a lot of the local mexicans live. A little note.. the Mateo Lake resort is now open for business and will be a huge success for the Chapman’s.

That next morning we were driven back to Mazatlan. It was quite and adventure for us to venture out of Mazatlan and see a lot of the countryside. We were surprised just how much agricultural the area is. When we arrived back in Mazatlan again we were wanting to “Hotel Hop”. I have wanted to stay at the Costa De Oro.. on the other side of the Golden Zone.. so we stayed there one nite. The Costa De Oro is another great hotel..very friendly and clean.great service and great location. Mazatlan is full of really great restaurants.. We had dinner at Pancho’s on the Beach. Great place to have a really romantic dinner and watch the sun set. We also ate breakfast there that next morning.. A good tip..if you see a lot of locals eating there..chances are good it’s a good place!

The next day we did some searching and found the Casa De Leyendas Bed & Breakfast. We were really lucky.. it sits right off the Plaza Mercado..and one block from the Mazatlan Malacon. September in mazatlan is really “low season” ..I haven’t mentioned that.. everywhere we went ..all the hotels ..we were really the (seemed like) only people in town!! So.. if you really want a no crowd like experience in a nice resort type city.. try Mazatlan in September.

Anyway.. the Casa De Leyendas.. Beautiful…it’s a huge renovated Mansion..they have six rooms..all different. Of course we had our pick.. all of the rooms have private bathrooms.. and doors to the balcony that overlooks a really pretty courtyard and pool. Also unlike many of the hotels in Mexico ..the mattress was very soft and comfortable!! The price was very reasonable at around $100.00 per nite including a really good breakfast.. That nite we went to the Plaza and had dinner.. lot’s of great places to eat. We had steaks at Las Bristis. They also have entertainment on the Plaza, that nite two different bands on either end of the plaza. We got up that morning and had a wonderful stroll on the Malacon. The Casa De Leyendas has a just wonderful feel about it. It has a library with pictures of the original builder and owner of the property and some history of the area. The “Old Town” area of Mazatlan is full of a lot of interesting history. We’ve been to all the resort type cities in Mexico and have really fallen in love with Mazatlan. I really don’t think we’ll go anywhere else.. it give’s you the most bang for your buck. It’s still quite reasonable price wise.. and also has great beach resorts(The Playa and Costa De Oro) just to mention the couple we’ve been to. You can also travel to the north end and visit the Playa Bruja Beach..it’s quite a ways north but well worth it. Along with some outstanding and reasonable priced restaurants. And then there’s the nite clubs…. You can’t go to Mazatlan with out going to the “Mambo Cafe” a great nite club with a huge dance floor and great bands.or Tony’s ..right around the corner from the Playa with live music. And also have the shopping and cultural experience of the Plaza Mercado..The wonderful Cathedral down the street from that and right on the Plaza the Peralta Theatre.

We are coming back in March 08.. for “Bike Week” the last week in March.. Mazatlan host the largest Motorcycle rally in Latin America. This time we will stay at the Playa. I will be coming down again with my mom in August or September 08 .. we will stay at the Casa De Leyedas for that week.