Sinaloa
This exceptionally rich agricultural state is also a relatively small one—it takes up a narrow strip of land along the Pacific Ocean and only makes up less than 3% of the entire country. Thanks to its location in the Northwest part of the country, between the Gulf of California and the Sierra Madre Occidental Range, it has everything from magical coastline with beautiful beaches to challenging hiking trails to a strong mining industry. A little more than 3.2 million people live here.
FUN FACTS
- The state has four Pueblos Mágicos, cities flagged for their charm and uniqueness: Cosalá, El Fuerte, El Rosario, and Mocorito.
- Sinaloa has 640 kilometres of coastline. As a result, seafood is abundant (and well-enjoyed)!
- The state is home to one of the continuously played sports— a game played with a rubber ball—in the world. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s called Ulama and is experiencing a revival in Sinaloa.
- The Culiacán Botanical Garden not only houses great collections of flora from northwestern Mexico. It is also a showcase for the works of 35 of the most contemporary artists from around the world!
Culiacán Rosales is the capital of the state and is dubbed the “Garden City”. Despite it being located in the middle of an urban region, it is blessed with a natural landscape where three rivers converge. To add to the beauty, the city’s coastline is on the Cortéz Sea. That means there are many beaches, islands, bays, lagoons to explore. Just thinking about it has me dreaming of adventures in water skiing, sailing, surfing and scuba diving!
Culiacán’s most famous landmark is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, perched high atop a hill. From there, you can take in views of the church’s incredible stained glass windows and also get the best vantage point overlooking the city.
THREE CITIES TO DISCOVER
Sinaloa possesses so many places to visit —aside from the beautiful state capitol, of course—that it’s hard to choose a few. But here are my top three picks.
Mazatlán, one of Sinaloa’s coastal cities, has the largest fleet of shrimp boats in the country. No wonder it’s called the “Shrimp Capital” of Mexico! It is a popular tourist destination for those who like to enjoy the sun, beautiful beaches, and long walks on the 21-kilometre malecón (boardwalk). But it’s also a perfect city for people looking for a true cultural experience. Mazatlán’s is a multifaceted gem, with a historic downtown, many eye-popping gardens, colourful vendor kiosks, art galleries, and farmer’s markets teeming with handicrafts from all over the state.
With its colonial architecture from the XVII century, it seems that time stopped in Cosalá, one of the country’s Pueblo Mágicos. It’s not uncommon to hear the legends of the area’s miners and their yet-to-be-discovered buried treasures.
Every year for the past 300 years, the Fiesta de las Velas (Festival of Lights) takes place on the eve of December 11 to welcome the Our Lady of Guadalupe. As per tradition, the streets and windows in Cosalá are illuminated with thousands of candles as people enjoy this grand celebration with a lively procession through the streets to the atrium of the main church. The night culminates in a feast of dishes including tamales (steamed corn dough with stuffing wrapped in corn or banana leaves).
This city, also one of Sinaloa’s Pueblo Magicos, is located in the northern part of the state, It has preserved the culture of the Mayo (or Yoreme), the indigenous people of the area, and their seven ceremonial centres. Take a stroll through town and visit the Museo Fuerte Mirador. Built in 2001 to replicate the original old fort that was built by Spanish conquistadors, it's a lovely place to discover Mayo handicrafts, read about the first people's traditions, and access the vast library.
CUISINE
Sinaloa is known for its agriculture and fishery, combining earth and sea to create a rich culinary culture. Here are some of the most renowned dishes in the state.
When I think of Sinaloa’s cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is aguachile. Forgive me if my mouth is watering. Aguachile, one of the most significant dishes of the region, is a delicious mix of cured camarones (shrimp or small prawns), marinated in a blend of peppers, lime juice and cilantro, add avocados, cucumber and purple onions served in a molcajete (volcanic rock mortar) and eaten with tostadas (fried corn tortillas). Sounds delicious, right?
This is a traditional dish from Escuinapa, a city in southern Sinaloa. The tamales barbones (roughly translated as “bearded” tamales) are stuffed with shrimp in an adobo sauce, wrapped in corn husks and steamed to perfection. This dish gets its name because the “whiskers” (or antennae) of the shrimp stick out of the tamal.
This dish originated in Culiacán and it is arguably the most popular dish in the state. Chilorio is made up of shredded pork, seasoned with spices, garlic, pasilla peppers, and salt. It’s dolloped onto flour tortillas and topped with guacamole (avocado salad) and salsa.
FESTIVITIES
Throughout the year, Sinaloan municipalities hold festivals and cultural events to honour patron saints, to celebrate the agricultural harvest, and to honour the abundance of seafood and fish from the waters inland and coastal waters.
This is the festival—celebrated since 1898—that is most representative of Mexico. It claims to be the third largest carnival in the world with more than one million revelers attending every year.
In the five days preceding Ash Wednesday, Mazatlán turns into a party city. Year after year, people from all over the world gather on seaside avenue to enjoy colourful parades, fireworks, and of course, the tamboras (traditional brass brands).
From sunset to sunrise, the streets along the malecón (boardwalk) are transformed into a celebration zone. During carnival, daytime is for rest, and nights are for drinking, eating, dancing, and socializing.
June 1 is Día de la Marina (Navy Day) in Mexico and it is commemorated in many ways. In Topolombo, Sinaloa, students, community members, government authorities, and naval officers lead a raucous parade. Once the procession comes to an end, everyone gathers at the dockyard for a ceremony that salutes and remembers those who died on duty. Many ships come to shore to take part in the celebration.