Alternative Tourism

Two Paradises South of Here

Enjoy and Get to Know El Rosario and Teacapan

Text: Martha Bojórquez - Photos: Salvador Herrera

Go a bit south of Mazatlan and you can find the towns of El Rosario and Teacapan, two spectacular, colonial, natural places that stand out in our wonderful state of Sinaloa.

El Rosario, which is known as an ex Royal Mine of the Spanish crown, was founded in 1655 when the mine of Del Tajo was discovered.  The mine was very productive for almost 300 years and lent a lot of splendor to El Rosario.

Be sure not to miss Our Lady of El Rosario church when you are in town.  It is truly a jewel of colonial baroque.  In its interior you can admire the 24 carat gold gilded altar from the 17th century.

Just outside the town there is the Paloma del Rosario mausoleum where Lola Beltran, the famous Mexican singer, is buried.  Thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage here.  There is also an old Spanish graveyard close by from the 17th century.

The Iguanero lagoon is another place worthy of visiting.  The famous mines of Del Tajo were once located here.  Right in front of the lagoon there are ruins of an old church which show an amazing architectural dimension. 

The Lola Beltran Museum is also here.  Inside you will find old dresses, records and belongings of La Señora Beltran, the favorite daughter of El Rosario.  Right next door there is the Cultural Museum where there are pieces of architecture and various decorations and reminders of the town’s glory days.

Continue south for a half hour and you will find Teacapan, a great place that attracts hundreds of visitors every weekend.  Coconut tree groves line the long beaches, adding a special touch to this wonderful place.  Make sure you talk to the people with launches and skiffs as they can take you out for a ride to see the unique tropical mazes of estuaries and tropical vegetation.  Bird Island is such a place, a great place to find diverse species of animal life amidst the mangles. 

The main attraction of Teacapan is its spectacular, long, virginal beaches.  The most out standing are Playa Tambor, Las Cabras, Los Angeles and Las Lupitas.  This proudly Sinaloan area is one of the most important ecological reserves in North West Mexico.