As if there isn’t enough to explore in Mazatlán already, the city by the bay is about to deliver yet another must-see experience. We’re excited to announce that the new Mazatlán aquarium is scheduled to open to the public on April 29th. What does that mean for guests to Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán? You’ll have the wonders of the water world right in your backyard, and we think you’re going to love it. Read on to learn more about the backstory, what will be inside, and complementary activities around the museum so you can make a day of it.
The Backstory
The Gran Acuario Mazatlán is the first public-private partnership project in Mexico’s tourism sector and is the work of three levels of government. Reportedly, costing 1.8 billion pesos (US $99.3 million), 60% of the funding is coming from the Kingu Mexicana company, owned by Sinaloa businessman Ernesto Coppel Kelly, founder and president of Pueblo Bonito Golf & Spa Resorts and a new judge on “Shark Tank México”. According to media reports, other funds are coming from the national infrastructure fund (Fonadin), the national fund for tourism (Fonatur), the National Bank of Foreign Trade (Bancomext), the National Works and Public Services Bank (Banobras) and BanCoppel.
A Look Inside
Want a sneak peak into what’s inside? The aquarium’s floor plan is the largest in Latin America, with its sheer grandeur being one of the primary points of intrigue for tourists, 900,000 of which are expected to visit in the first year. That’s so big for the county of Sinaloa, Sinaloa Tourism Minister Estrella Palacios Domínguez said that the new aquarium will mark a “before and after” in the history of Mazatlán. Coppel Kelly said its opening will trigger the construction of even more hotel rooms and restaurants. Designed by female Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao, whose works often merge geometry with nature, the aquarium will house some 260 marine species and have a 2.8-million-liter main exhibition tank with a window that is 13 meters tall by 7 meters wide. Overall, its exhibition tanks will hold some 4.7 million liters of water, plus there will be 200 million liters in its large lake. Among the marine animals will be 36 species of mammals, 31 cetaceans (including gray, humpback and blue whales), five of the seven global species of sea turtles, as well as sharks, jellyfish, and manta rays.
“This abundant marine fauna and the crystal-clear waters that bathe the coasts of the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa led Jacques Cousteau to call the Sea of Cortéz ‘the aquarium of the world,’” says Miguel Torruco Marqués, the Minister of Tourism.
In addition, the facility will include a botanical garden and interactive and educational exhibits that promote the region’s biodiversity and commitment to conservation. There will be 19 exhibition rooms, four inner courtyards, and a 240-person auditorium. The modern buildings have striking architecture, plus terraces and roofs covered with vegetation. When the aquarium does open, only the first 26,000 square meters of the project will be accessible. The second stage of the 24,000 square meters will be finished in the fall of 2024, officials said. In the spirit of conservation, some of the aquarium’s revenue will go toward a research center to preserve biodiversity in the Sea of Cortéz.
Where to Go and How to Spend the Day
The Gran Acuario Mazatlán will open in the western part of Mazatlán in Parque Central. That puts it right next to Mazatlán’s malecón, the city’s seaside promenade lined with bars, restaurants, shops, and installations by internationally renowned artists. Considered to be one of the longest of its kind in the world at 13 miles, the commercial seawall runs the length of the main bay along the Avenida del Mar, around to Olas Altas, ending in Paseo Claussen. The promenade is wide enough to invite walkers, runners, and bikers at all hours of the day. And with lighted palm trees lining the way at night, you can stay out later to watch the sights and sounds sparkle after dark.
Along the Avenida del Mar portion of the malecón, you can see the Monument to Family, the Pacific Brewery monument, Pulmonia taxi monument, the Fisherman’s Monument, and others. On the Paseo Claussen portion of the promenade, there’s a string of monuments including the Continuation of Life and the Monument to Women. In the afternoon, you can watch cliff divers go to work at a spot called El Clavadista. All along the way, make sure to look seaward, too, so you don’t miss the beautiful high cliffs lining the Pacific. If you happen to be in the Golden Zone near the beach in the evening, enjoy a fabulous night view of the malecón with the lights of the Avenida del Mar in one direction and the rotating light from the El Faro lighthouse across the bay. Taken all together with a day at the aquarium, these activities make for a “best ever” day by the bay, one perfect to enjoy with your partner or your whole family when you visit Mazatlán.
We can’t wait for the Gran Acuario Mazatlán to open, and we’ll look forward to being your host when it does! Book your stay at Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán today!
