El Cid Marina Beach Hotel
El Cid Marina Beach Hotel is the marina member of El Cid's four-hotel Mazatlan campus, alongside Castilla Beach, Granada and El Moro, and it trades a beachfront address for something more unusual: yachts and fishing boats docked outside, the Aries Fleet sportfishing operation on the doorstep, and suites with full kitchenettes. The beach is a private club across the channel reached by a short water taxi. Mazatlan itself is underrated, with the Golden Zone close by and the historic Centro a short ride away, and the El Cid campus with its golf club, marina and sister hotels works almost like a small resort town.
Things to Know
- Wi-Fi costs extra
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Marina-side setting on the Pacific with the El Cid Aries Fleet running daily sportfishing departures right from the property, so blue marlin, sailfish and dorado trips start a short walk from your room
- +The standard all-inclusive plan also opens the restaurants, bars, theme dinner shows and activities at sister properties El Cid Castilla Beach and El Cid Granada at no extra charge, and the Elite plan adds El Moro for all four Mazatlan hotels
- +Every suite has a fully equipped kitchenette, both the Junior Suite and the One Bedroom Suite, which is rare for an all-inclusive and handy for snacks, drinks and longer stays
- +Two pools with snack bars, the El Calypso swim-up bar and an expansive hot tub, and the grounds are consistently described as well kept
- +A complimentary shuttle runs to El Cid Golf & Country Club about every 10 minutes, and the all-inclusive plan includes the tennis, pickleball and padel courts, so active travelers stay busy without paying for taxis
- +La Terraza is an outdoor restaurant with marina views at sunset, the kind of dinner guests specifically remember years later
- +Mazatlan's historic Centro has some of the best-preserved 19th-century architecture in Mexico and is a short ride away
- +Noticeably less crowded than Cancun or Los Cabos resorts in the same price range, so a pool chair or beach lounger rarely takes strategy
Cons
- −The beach is not on site: you take a short water taxi across the marina to a private beach club, which serves lunch and drinks from 11 AM to 5 PM and closes to guests at 6:30 PM
- −Wi-Fi in the rooms costs extra, sold by the day or the week, and guests describe it as fine for messaging but unreliable for video calls
- −Room service, specialty dishes such as jumbo shrimp and Chateaubriand, and the resort fee all sit outside the all-inclusive plan, and guests also report paying for bottled water and in-room coffee
- −On-site dining is small: La Marina is the one full a la carte restaurant on the all-inclusive plan, backed by the Las Iguanas and El Calypso snack bars, the beach club and the sports bar, so variety means riding over to the sister hotels
- −The Kids Club (ages 4 to 12) and Teens Club (13 to 17) are at El Cid Castilla Beach, not at the Marina, so families with younger children spend part of each day at another property
- −The marina-adjacent location has more of a working-port feel than the beachfront look in the marketing photos
- −Service consistency varies by shift at the pool and in the restaurants, with some crews noticeably sharper than others
The all-inclusive structure is the thing to understand before booking. The standard plan covers La Marina, the Las Iguanas and El Calypso snack bars, the beach club and the sports bar here, plus the restaurants, bars, theme dinner shows and activities at El Cid Castilla Beach and El Cid Granada; only the Elite All-inclusive plan adds El Moro, along with premium menu items, guaranteed ocean views and the Elite Club lounge. Room service, specialty dishes and the resort fee are extra on the standard plan. Two pools, a swim-up bar, an expansive hot tub and the El Cocay Spa round out the property, with nightly live entertainment that stays low key rather than lively.
This resort makes most sense for travelers who want Mazatlan as a destination rather than a generic beach week: couples who will spend an afternoon in the Centro, anglers who want one of the best billfish grounds in the world on their doorstep, and families comfortable sending kids to the Kids Club and Teens Club at Castilla Beach next door. Golfers get a free shuttle to El Cid Golf & Country Club every 10 minutes, and the on-site Pronatours desk books sunset cruises, whale watching and city tours. It generally prices above budget Mazatlan options but below comparable all-inclusives in Cabo or Riviera Nayarit.
Common Questions
How does the water taxi to the beach work, and is it annoying?
Is sportfishing worth doing from El Cid, and how do you book it?
Is Mazatlan's Old Town safe and worth visiting from the resort?
Which El Cid restaurants does the all-inclusive cover?
Is El Cid Marina good for families, or is it adults only?
How is El Cid Marina different from El Cid El Moro Beach Hotel?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Seafood | La Terraza |
| International & fusion | La Marina |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Playa Norte10 min drive · 4.0 mi
Cliff Divers (El Clavadista)15 min drive · 6.4 mi
Gran Acuario Mazatlán11 min drive · 4.2 mi
Playa Cerritos12 min drive · 4.9 mi
Mazatlán Malecón12 min drive · 5.0 mi
Mazatlán Cathedral15 min drive · 6.1 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching cruise (December to March) · excursion4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- El Cid Marina · marina4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Playa Brujas · beach12 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Sunset cruise · excursion4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Deer Island (Isla de Venados) boat and snorkel trip · excursion4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Bird-watching boat tour of the marina · excursion4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Playa Sábalo · beach4 min drive · 1.5 mi
- Marina Mazatlán · marina5 min drive · 1.7 mi
- El Cid Golf & Country Club · golf5 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Sea Shell City · museum6 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Playa Gaviotas · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Mazagua Water Park · water park12 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Fuerte 31 de Marzo · historic site14 min drive · 5.9 mi
- Olas Altas Beach · beach20 min drive · 6.8 mi
- Old Mazatlán (Plazuela Machado) · town20 min drive · 6.3 mi
- Museo de Arte de Mazatlán · museum20 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Museo Arqueológico de Mazatlán · museum20 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Teatro Ángela Peralta · historic site20 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Observatorio 1873 · museum20 min drive · 7.5 mi
- Museo Nacional de la Ballena (MUNBA) · museum20 min drive · 7.5 mi
- El Faro Lighthouse · viewpoint25 min drive · 8.5 mi
- Mirador Puente de Cristal · viewpoint25 min drive · 8.5 mi
- El Verde Camacho Turtle Sanctuary · wildlife40 min drive · 22 mi
- Estrella del Mar Golf Course · golf50 min drive · 26 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Seaweed & sargassum
Mazatlán is not a sargassum destination.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 5,906 reviews
“We stayed at the El Cid in mid-December, and though it was peak tourist season, the resort was not packed. We had a suite facing the ocean/marina, and the view of the sunset was incredible every night. The staff everywhere were so friendly and helpfu...”
“Great customer service, high food quality and really caring about guests experience. They truly changed my mind about how they want guests feel in their vacation. Their food quality and drink quality is great , thanks to Katia ( concierge manager )...”
“All in all our trip was great it was our first trip out of the US as a family of four we have gained a son in law. Hope to be able to take more trips together! The reception at the front desk was a bit different since I am not a part of the million...”
