Who doesn’t love Stone Island? In the 35+ years we’ve been coming to Mazatlán, it’s been one of our favorite hangouts: pescado zarandeado/bbq fish over an open fire, hammocks,  calm ocean for swimming and killer views. Every time we go, we say, “we should climb Goat Hill.” And, every time, for 35+ years, we don’t. The hammock, a horseback ride, swimming, margaritas, a walk on the beach, a massage… these win out over the hike.

Well, today changed all that. Our friend Dallas loves hiking Goat Hill. His wife Rocio runs Restaurant Cerro de los Chivos (great food and service, open Fri-Sun) at the base of the hill. He has told us that the views are spectacular and that there are, indeed, wild goats. Both proved very true; we counted at least 26 feral goats. The top of the hill is like a tropical forest, and the bottom closer to a desert with lots of cacti. The view is 360 degrees and incredible. Click on any photo below to enlarge it or view a slideshow.

King of the Hill

Goats, namesake of the hill

“Sombrero Island,” I call it, in Stone Island Bay

Goats, namesake of the hill

Goats, namesake of the hill

Rocio’s Restaurant

Our local Titanik

Tuna boats moored on the Stone Island dock

A marker from the 1950s when they connected Goat Hill to Stone Island and dug the port

Our friend Dallas overlooking the port

Dalls

Greg overlooking the island in the bay off Stone Island

Lighthouse as seen from Cerro de los Chivos

Stone Island as seen from Cerro de los Chivos

The port and Stone Island Bay as seen from Cerro de los Chivos

The lighthouse as seen from Goat Hill

The jungle atop the hill

View of our house past the spires of the cathedral

Wild goats, namesakes of the hill

Friendly wild goats

Turquoise water

The port and Stone Island

A very old cactus

Greg with a very old cactus

A very old cactus

Cactus closeup

Texture on the very old cactus

Hotel Freeman from Goat Hill

Baby pigs

The original homestead on Goat Hill

An old tree trunk

The original homestead on Goat Hill

Dallas and Greg

Piglet

This mama pig is all fattened for an upcoming quinceañera

Butterfly

A caterpillar crossing the road

A caterpillar crossing Greg’s arm

Closeup looking up at the top of Goat Hill

No doubt you are smarter than we are, and you’ve made the hike to the top. If you haven’t, be sure you do sometime soon!