Organized Tours

In addition to 3-hour city tours ($23), tour operators offer excursions to many colorful and interesting villages nearby, such as Concordia and Copala. Some towns date from the 16th-century Spanish Conquest; others are modest farming or fishing villages. Information and reservations are available at any travel agency or major hotel, and all accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. The premier provider of these and other tours is Pronatours (tel. 669/916-7720 or -3333, ext. 3490; www.elcid.com), yet another part of the El Cid megacomplex of activities. In addition to the city tour, they offer a 5-hour Tequila Tour, including a distillery tour ($35), a 5-hour sailing excursion to Isla de Venados ($42), and a visit to a historic village by the El Quelite river. Two other recommended tour agencies are the very helpful Marlin Tours (tel. 669/985-4875) and Olé Tours (tel. 669/916-6288; www.ole-tours.com).

Copala-Concordia -- This popular countryside tour stops at several mountain villages where artisans craft furniture and other items. Copala is a historic mining village with a Spanish-colonial church. The tour ($48), also known as the Mountain Tour or Country Tour, includes lunch and soft drinks.

Mazatlan Jungle Tour -- Some might say that David Pérez's (King David's) Jungle Tour (tel. 669/914-1444; www.kingdavid.com.mx) is misnamed, but it's still worthwhile. It consists of a 1 1/2-hour boat ride past a Mexican navy base, Mazatlán's shrimp fleet and packing plants, and into the mangrove swamps to Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island). There's a 3-hour stop at a pristine beach that has what could be the world's largest sand dollars (though fewer and fewer are left). Horseback rides on the beach are $6 for a half-hour. After the beach stop, feast on pescado zarandeado (fish cooked over coconut husks, green mangrove, and charcoal). Tours run from 9am to 3pm Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and cost $45 per person.