Me and my family go to stone island every year. It so beautiful with all the flowers and its beach that streches on forever, the relaxed atmosphere and even the people make visiting stone island an unforgetable, get-away experience. there are lots of activities to do. my favorite is horse back riding on one of loco daniels horses. there are not many people on the island and everybody knows everybody so its easy to get to know alot of people. I also thought the hotel owner was very cute ; )

My wife and I just returned from a week's getaway to Mazatland. Prior to going I had read several postings from other travelers about spending time on Stone Island. The information was very helpful and paved the way for us to make the journey on our own rather than taking one of the ubiquitous tours that are offered.

From our hotel near Marina Mazatlan, we took the Sabalo Centro bus (8 pesos each) and got off at the Market in the historic district although we could have continued on the bus all the way to the waterfront. Instead we walked the approximately one mile distance form the Market to the docks where we caught the water taxi to Stone Island (15 pesos round trip per person). Once we arrived on Stone Island we took a taxi to the other side of the island (20 pesos one way) where the beach is. It is only about three-quarters of a mile -- probably a 15 minute walk -- but we opted for the easy way across the island. The taxis on the island are small pickups with benches built into the bed.

We were headed for Victors restaurant on the beach but it was closed as were many of the restaurants. I'm not sure if that was because it was Monday or because this was the off season and there weren't enough people going to the island to make it worth while to open. So we ended up stopping at Lety's which is right next to Victors. We ordered lunch and because everything was fresh made on the spot, it took about 45 minutes for our meal to be complete. But while we were waiting I was able to take a swim and relax on the lounge chairs under the beach umbrellas until our meal was ready. It was well worth the wait. One of the best meals of our trip. We spent the entire afternoon relaxing on the beach drinking cold ones and enjoying the surf and sand. The owner, whose name I've forgotten, brought us drinks whenever we wanted one, but never bothered us. He let me use a boogie board for a little added adventure. At the end of the day we were able to use the shower and changing room at the back of the restaurant before heading back to the water taxi for the return trip to the mainland. The water taxi runs until about 6:00 -- I'm not sure of the exact time because the ticket said 5:00 but the islanders said it actually goes until 6:00 or 6:30.

The entire afternoon at Lety's, including a fantastic lunch, several drinks each for the wife and me, use of the lounge chair, umbella, boogie board and shower, was 225 pesos ( a little over $20). Although a tour would have gotten us much of the same plus additional options such as snorkeling or riding a banana boat, I don't think the $35 price per person would have given us any more pleasure than the way we did it.

For those who like to be independent rather than at the mercy of a tour guide with a prescribed itinerary, I recommend a self guided trip to Stone Island. It was one of the best times we had during our week stay in Mazatlan.

We were in Mexico Of January 2006 my husband and 15 year old son. We went on this tour and had a blast, at the island we went quading for two hours, then kayaking. And the lunch was superb. I love beans and rice. And when we went quadding we left our camera, and other such personal items, as the tour guide told us that they would look after it, and no harm would come to it. So as we came back we expect this to be true and it was. No surprise, I find the Mexican, and Spanish people to be marvelous and honest and have never had any problems.

This was the worst tour that we've ever experienced. I booked through online but they sub-contracted me out to Playa Sur. Myself, hubby, mom, and 3 kids were excited to go but instead of a air conditioned bus that others were picked up with if you went with King David Tours, were were picked up (and very late I might add) by a open bed truck by a guy who didn't know any english. He almost got in a car accident on the way there which was scary and when we arrived at the marina to get on the catamaran I handed one guy my printed ticket that I had printed out from the computer. He then handed me my coupons....2 activities coupons per person and 1 mean per person and the catamaran ride coupon per person. There was a guy taking coupons before you got on the catamaran and I gave him the catamaran ride coupons and he said that he needed more...he took 4 activities coupons which I didn't notice until we left the dock in which when we docked on stone island my mom saw him giving to a spanish family. the catamaran ride was the only part we enjoyed, it was a nice boat ride. But once on the island we were cattled into these tractor trailor things just like cattle in hot/humid weather and it was a 10 min ride to the place where they dropped us off at. They escourted us to the "white covered tables" where we sat down and immidiatly vendors started coming up to us wanting us to buy their items. In the tour description it says to only come with your swimsuit and towel so we did not bring but $5.00 with us and it the vendors do not let up after you say no. They keep it up, keep coming around, and after you say no 3 times then they send t heir children around to ask you to buy from them. If you get up from the table to go on the beach to do a activity the vendors are there too. We are trying to enjoy ourselves and play in the sand with our kids and the vendors keep coming up to us and do not go away after we say no. Since the guy had taken 4 activities coupons from me and there were 6 of us/ 3 kids that meant that in order for us to let the kids have fun doing the activities one adult needed to be with them that my mom and I forfeited doing any activities so that my hubby could take the kids so that at least they could have fun.

the meal was ok but iffy. My hubby was still hungry afterwards as the "combination plate" that they had reccomended for him had 1 drumstick, a small piece of fish, and rice and beans. We were expecting a nice meal from what they advertised on the tour.

All in all, if you want to do activities, find a place elsewhere on the beach by your resort/hotel. You can surely do better then spending the money to go to Stone Island. The beach was much better right off our resort.