El Quelite

  Take the “free” road north of Mazatlán to kilometer 33, hook a right, and in a few minutes you’ll be in El Quelite. Located along the banks of the Quelite River, this pleasant little town is the stuff daydreams are made of.

One can wander the cobblestone streets for hours, and you’ll feel a closeness to the people and have a real understanding of life in rural Mexico. Sights to see include the Church of our Lady Virgin of Guadalupe, the statue of the ulama player, the town square (zócalo), the cock farm (finca de gallos) and the lookout high on a hill above town. Enjoy a pastry made in the dirt and brick mound oven of the bakery (panadería), and have lunch at one of a few restaurants, including 2010 Mazzie Award Winner, Meson de Los Laureanos. If you have any problem finding anything, just ask anyone.

  Some houses here were built in the mid-1800s and are still used today, passed down from generation to generation – you’ll see plaques on the porches of the historic homes on the main street. Look for the “deformed” cactus plants collected by the townspeople as prized possessions in their gardens. Visit the few small gift shops in town, and be sure to stop and have an ice cream or raspado on one of the many covered porches where they’re sold. Take a tour, drive or catch a Mazatlán city bus which run every hour from dawn into the late afternoon and cost only $25 pesos each way. Do check with the driver for return times though, as schedules change often. –Lisa Lankins