I spent a week checking out the luxury travel scene in Mazatlan, Mexico recently to fill a whole we’ve had in our coverage. This is not known as a real luxury travel destination compared to some other Pacific Coast resort areas, but there are a few gems around if you know where to look.

The first review we’re posting is for Casa Lucila, a beautiful 8-room boutique hotel on the waterfront, a ten-minute walk from the heart of historic Old Mazatlan. Besides being a more sophisticated option than anything else in town, it also offers the chance to experience what makes this city unique among Mexican beach resort areas: it’s a real city, not a purpose-built destination with little history. The locals do more than just serve sunburnt tourists.

At this unique hotel you get a sumptuous room, personalized service, and a great spot to take in the sunset while watching people on the move on the malecon. The Mexican and Mediterranean food is good, the atmosphere is inviting, and you won’t see a beer funnel or hear techno music your whole stay.

See our full review of Casa Lucila in Mazatlan.

In June we’ll be posting detailed reviews of the three top hotels in Mazatlan, Mexico and after that a story on the real estate scene there. Meanwhile, here’s a video tour of luxury resort Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay so you can get a feel for the pool, beach and rooms. Enjoy! (P.S. – If you don’t see the video below, hit “refresh” on your browser.)

I am currently on the ground doing research in Mazatlan, Mexico, where we haven’t previously featured any hotels. I will be adding reviews of three in the coming weeks. One is the Las Villas hotel at Estrella del Mar, near the airport in Mazatlan. This is part of a large housing, condo, and golf resort that literally stretches for miles along a beach that’s a protected sanctuary for sea turtles: as in no ATVs, no parasailing, no vendors.

Here’s a look at one of the rooms and what you see when you step out onto the balcony. Gorgeous!

Doña Paca version of chiliquiles

In Mexico it’s seldom hard to find a good meal, but some of the best places to get breakfast are often restaurants in the top hotels. I spent last weekend visiting Patzcuaro, Mexico, a magical colonial city south of Morelia in Michoacan. My family and I at twice at Hotel Mansion Iturbe and here’s a sampling in photo form.

spicy omelette with a side of beans

Mansion Iturbe is not quite a luxury hotel, but it’s certainly comfortable enough and it’s in an evocative, rambling home built about the time the U.S. declared its independence. With a terrific location right on the main square (but surprisingly quiet in the rooms), it’s a fantastic value. Even if you’re not staying there though, try the food at Doña Paca Restaurant.

layered house special with amazing salsa

The dishes above are a sampling of what’s for breakfast if you go for the regional specialties.

If you have a picky kid with you though, as I did, don’t worry. You can still get French Toast with strawberries. What she really liked though, was the basket of sugar cookies on the table. Breakfast of champions.

Yes, you can get sweet instead of spicy.

See reviews and more about this hotel at MansionIturbe.com or at the Tesoros Mexico Michoacan website.

After spending a week in the Puerto Vallarta region in rainy season, after visiting it before in the dry season, the most astounding thing to me was how much the water changes from beach to beach depending on the month. This time of year, it’s raining every day or two for at least an hour, so the silty rivers are bloated and running down the Sierra Madres. Where most of them empty out—in the middle of the bay—this has a major impact on the beaches and the water itself.

I stayed first in the Nuevo Vallarta area, where crews were busy removing limbs and tree trunks that had washed ashore and the water (pictured here) was closer to brown than blue. It’s still a great beach, and not as chocolate brown as in Puerto Vallarta’s center, but certainly not postcard blue.

The next shot is from the beach in front of the Four Seasons Punta Mita and this far up the bay it’s a very different story. The beaches are powdery white, the sea is clear blue, and visibility is good enough to go snorkeling.

That’s kind of expected, but here’s the odd thing: if you go a bit south from Puerto Vallarta to where Garza Blanca Resort is (review coming soon), close to Mismaloya, the water gets clear blue again and the beach is white. See the photo below. There are still a few streams emptying out here, but the water is coming through the jungle (clear) and apparently the currents move toward the middle of the bay and Nuevo Vallarta. So if crystal clear water and a white beach are important to you and it’s the rainy off-season, head to the end of the bay up north or head south.