In the state’s main tourist destination, there is no beach with full accessibility; the lack of suitable spaces and the concession of viable sections limit the development of accessible tourism.
In Mexico, there are approximately 9.5 million people with disabilities, 50.9 percent of whom are 60 years of age or older, and physical disabilities are the most frequent, at 48 percent, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
This segment of the population should not only have the opportunity to enjoy the beach and the sea as a recreational option, but also to fully exercise their right to access public spaces; however, the availability of beaches with suitable conditions in the country is limited, mainly due to a lack of infrastructure and trained personnel.
In the case of Mazatlán, along its 16 kilometers of coastline, from Punta Cerritos to Cerro del Crestón, there isn’t a single beach that comprehensively guarantees infrastructure, equipment, and services geared toward people with disabilities.
Omar Calvario Martínez, a researcher at the Center for Research in Food and Development, pointed out that beach access allows for recreation, contact with nature, and is relevant in terms of identity.
Inclusive beaches: 9.5 million Mexicans with disabilities lack access.
Calvario Martínez explained that there are already destinations in the country where projects have been implemented to facilitate access for people with mobility issues, such as in Jalisco, Chiapas, Yucatán, and Baja California, meeting criteria established by the Foundation for Environmental Education through the Blue Flag certification.
This distinction recognizes excellence in sustainability, safety, and services and is awarded based on a series of evaluations that consider infrastructure, equipment, and specialized care.
Among the elements that characterize an inclusive beach are ramps, handrails, amphibious chairs, walkers, and special crutches for sand and water, as well as staff trained to assist people with disabilities or reduced mobility.
Access ramps, safe circulation areas, exclusive parking spaces, accessible restrooms and changing rooms, and tactile maps are also considered.
“The awarding of this distinction involves several processes; one of them is passing through a national jury, which is chaired by the Ministry of Tourism and includes representatives from the National Water Commission (Conagua), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Ministry of the Navy, various other institutions, and also the organization Libre Acceso, which represents people with disabilities,” he said.
He considered it necessary to promote the creation of accessible beaches for people with disabilities in Mazatlán, the state’s main coastal destination, particularly given that the port received approximately 2.7 million tourists in 2025.
He recalled that in previous years, some temporary efforts were made at Playa Norte, next to the area known as “Monos Bichis,” where amphibious chairs were provided to access the sand and enter the sea; however, these were occasional actions and not a permanent program.
Concessioned Beaches
For his part, Ángel García Contreras, director of the Beach Management and Operations Authority, indicated that one of the main obstacles to creating an inclusive beach is that most of the sections that could meet the technical requirements are already under concession to private entities.
In addition to the availability of space, the physical characteristics of the area also play a role, such as the type of terrain and the waves. Safe access requires minimal or very gentle waves, bay or lagoon-like conditions, shallow depth, and a moderate slope.
Otherwise, he explained, inclusive spaces can exist only in terms of scenery—that is, to allow access to the sand and sea views, but not necessarily for entering the water.
“If we go from the Pueblo Bonito hotel to Luna Palace, the waves are calm, but the beach is under concession. Those areas suitable for meeting all the requirements of an inclusive beach are already under concession; there might be one for viewing, but it wouldn’t meet the requirements for entering the sea,” he pointed out.
Tourism Competitiveness
The lack of accessible beaches is also addressed in Sinaloa’s 2022-2027 State Development Plan, which acknowledges that Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest wealth of natural resources and beach destinations, but that very few of these spaces are inclusive for people with disabilities.
The document warns that the potential of this tourism segment is not being realized due to the lack of accessibility and inclusion measures and identifies Mazatlán as the state’s main destination, along with other coastal municipalities.
“There is a lack of a culture of inclusion, and this leads to consequences such as a loss of tourism competitiveness due to the failure to cater to this market,” the document states.
Source: OEM
