Topolobampo

Topolobampo Review

Cottonwood trees and bougainvillea line the highway to Topolobampo. A century ago this was a socialist utopia built by the same man who dreamed up the railroad across the canyons. Today this seaside suburb is where travelers arrive on the ferry from La Paz. The beachfront is staked out by a sprinkling of open-air restaurants and budget motels. In the indigenous Mayo language, the name Topolobampo means "watering place of the sea lions"; Isla El Farallón, off the coast, is a breeding ground for the animals that gave the town its name. Tours of the bay, one of the largest in the Americas, can be arranged either through your hotel or tour operators at the dock. Your guide will almost certainly introduce you to Pechocho, the friendly bottlenose dolphin who lives in the bay. The 45-minute bus ride from Los Mochis costs $2; a taxi will take half the time but cost about $20.