Mazatlan is a bustling city located on the Pacific coast, just across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula - and a hugely popular year-round tourist destination. Founded in 1820, the city developed in the mid 1800s on the arrival of German immigrants who subsequently developed Mazatlan into a thriving seaport city - not to mention influencing the local Sinola Tambora bands with Bavarian influences that can still be heard today. Mazatlan and Vicinity are full of things to do: stroll the street and you'll find cafes, restaurants, shops, and attractions; buy a ride with local fishermen and head out to Stone or Deer islands to scuba dive, snorkel, or just chill out on the sandy beaches; see ancient petroglyphs in hidden caves; visit Teacapan to see the mangroves and lagoons; or come at Carnival time to the third largest Mardi Gras in the world.