Our very first escape took us to Mazatlán, Mexico—the ‘Pearl of the Pacific.’
We had never vacationed before, but I won a trip through my travel work to the El Cid El Moro Beach Resort. I had been on a familiarization trip to Cancun through work a year earlier, but that was a guided tour. Additionally, this was my husband’s first time on a plane, let alone out of the country. We were fresh, tentative, and less adventurous than we are now.
Back then, the ‘weaving’ was non-existent. We booked the dates and the flights and arrived with no expectations or plans. Looking back, it was a beautifully care-free vacation.
We spent our days anchored to the resort pool, fueled by the most incredible nachos and the sweeping views of the Pacific from our balcony. But as the days passed, we became curious. We looked at tours at the desk, but nothing really drew us in until I remembered the advice of a previous customer – take a pulmonía—Mazatlán’s iconic open-air taxi.
As we wound our way along the Malecón and through the bustling markets, the city’s vibrant energy finally took hold. We fell in love with the lookout points, the local flavors, and the realization that there was a whole world waiting to be interwoven with our own. We left Mazatlán with a passion for the escape.
The Resort: > El Cid El Moro is a beach front property with access to 3 sister properties. All-inclusive is optional but was included with our booking. Our booking also included the Platinum club which guaranteed us an ocean view and VIP treatment. We had a 1-bedroom unit with two double beds in the bedroom plus a living area, dining area and kitchen. We enjoyed delicious steaks at La Concha, and the French Toast through room service was amazing. La Conchita snack bar by the main pool is where my husband ate the best nachos of his life – he still remembers them 8 years later.
The resort is located in the Golden Zone between the main street and a swimmable beach and is entirely walkable. You can walk to get groceries, do some shopping, and even try some local meals. To see more of the city, flag down a pulmonia and go.
The Weaver’s Perspective: > While I love the carefree nature of this first trip, I now know that a little bit of ‘weaving’—like researching the history of the Malecón before you arrive—can turn a good view into a profound experience.
