Exploring Mexico: Great ways to experience Mazatlan outdoors

Mexico is known by travelers for its beaches and historic sites, but the diversity of its natural beauty is an equal magnet for the country. Mexico ranges from mountains and jungles to its wide ocean, which is great for outdoor buffs comprising the natural attractions of Mazatlan.

The Mazatlan jungle and beach are worthwhile to visit. During the varied excursion, which has been featured on the Animal Planet network, visitors start at the lighthouse that towers over the city before boarding a boat for a trip to a lush mangrove jungle located four miles south of Mazatlan.

Avian species inhabits this ecosystem, making great for bird watching. According to King David, a five-hour tour gives guests plenty of time to enjoy viewing the 150 species of sea and shore birds in the protected wildlife area. After admiring the mangroves, guests usually head by land through vast coconut plantations to an unspoiled beach, where they can swim and relax.

There is also the Huana Coa Canopy adventure conducted by tours in Mazatlan. At the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Huana Coa Canopy adventure is about 45 minutes outside of Mazatlan. It's a well-known facility located at La Vinata Los Osuna, an agave distillery where guests can have a tour and learn about the process of making a traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage. The series of 12 platforms with 9 zip lines at Huana also provides scenic and fast-paced adventures, as mentioned in Canopy Tour Builder.

Between December and April, humpback whales gather in the waters off the coast of Mazatlan for breeding season. The local tour, Onca Explorations offers four-hour boat tours to view the creatures. Passengers can also witness females nursing their calves, or hear the songs that males perform during courtship. From April through November, it offers a Wild Dolphin Adventure program that includes the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins in their natural ocean habitat.

And upon arrival at the Isla de la Piedra, most visitors arrive from downtown Mazatlan and spend the day on the beach swimming, snorkeling and horseback riding. The eateries line the beach provide opportunities to savor freshly caught seafood. Tour operator Best Day also offers a tour with a catamaran ride past some of the most-photographed spots off the coast, including Sea Lions Rock.

In addition, outdoor enthusiasts who are willing to travel longer to enjoy the stunning scenery also consider an excursion to Mexiquillo. It is a region in the nearby state of Durango where rock formations and deep canyons provide dramatic settings for exploration. The 60-foot Mexiquillo waterfall is another must-see attraction. Visitors can also rappel the walls of the waterfall. This canyon tour excursion takes approximately 12 hours round-trip from Mazatlan via the Vista Tours.

To date, there are still a lot of tourist attractions present in Mazatlan. And a lot of travelers are actually getting attracted to visit the place probably because of its rich history as well as natural beauty.