How I Hiatus: Mazatlan
My best childhood friend Lisa surfs and lives in Indonesia. This year she was invited to attend Mexi Log Fest, the world’s premier longboarding competition! Bringing together top surfers from around the globe, Mexi Log Fest is known for its focus on community and surf culture, but it is also a festival full of music and art and though it was initially conceived in La Saladita, it has been held in Mazatlan for the last three years.
I had never been to this part of Mexico, so when Lisa invited me to join her I immediately said yes! Direct flights from LAX are only 3 hours and while the state of Sinaloa is infamous for it’s cartel, I was told by various friends and ex-pats that the city of Mazatlan is notoriously safe.
—Sael Bartolucci, Founder of House of Hiatus
Mexi Log Fest
Mexi Log Fest at Playa Los Pinitos
Lisa dancing las olas de Mazatlan, by Tommy Pierucki
Lisa and I have been traveling together since we were very young, many adventures reminiscing a Thelma & Louise story, but for this trip I was expecting to simply lay on the beach and cheering on during her heats. What I did not expect was to grow so fond of Mazatlan itself!
The city’s boardwalk has been developed something akin to a mini Miami over the last decade but a short ten minute walk to the center of the peninsula is the historical center, where buildings have been slowly restored to their lively colonial colors and courtyards open into wonderful boutique hotels, traditional craft shops and restaurants.
Sael in the Sol Pant in one of the magical courtyards
Lisa in the Sol Uniform overlooking Playa Los Pinitos
We spent the mornings at Playa Los Pinitos where the festival was taking place and then we would head into town, getting coffee on the way at Cafecito del Parque and loved having breakfasts at La Olivia and Casa Hindie. We explored the Centro Historico each day, with its shaded plazuelas and fun traditional craft shops. During siesta time we enjoyed some swimming and reading on the beach and then we would return to town for the more cultural events planned by Mexi Log Fest. We visited the Museo National de la Ballena, a maritime museum housed in shipping containers overlooking the bay or going up to the top of the promontory to the Observatorio - a building dating back to 1873- with beautiful grounds, really worth going to for a stunning sunset and cocktail.
For dinner we absolutely adored Marde Fondo’s aguachiles and Mano Santa for more contemporary takes on traditional dishes. Closer to the beach El Pangas and Ola&Sal were the spots for seafood! You cannot avoid the street tacos, Raymundo being the most popular amongst the locales and surfers. Honestly there were so many more restaurants we did not get to try but we will be back soon!
The city really is wonderful for those who like to explore and walk but it is also equipped with a fleet of pulmonias, brightly colored open-air taxis where - as you will learn from the Mazatlecos - you can ask to play ANY music you’d like …. an experience in itself! Spanning over 13 miles along the coast there is also a bike path, the Malecón flanking the entire boardwalk of the city: stop by El Clavadista, a tall ladder atop a rock overlooking the Pacific.
