Mazatlan travel guide

Mazatlan, Mexico

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Mazatlan

Introduction

Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, and it serves as the seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name. You'll find it on the Pacific coast, directly across the water from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Before you go

Mazatlán has a tropical savanna climate that borders on hot semi-arid, with a long dry season running from November through June. Summer humidity makes the heat feel well above what the thermometer shows, while winter can turn cool enough that beach days aren't at their best, especially during a cold snap. Plan your packing around that split: light, breathable clothing for the humid months and a layer for cooler winter evenings.

Before you arrive, decide which part of the city suits you. The Golden Zone (Zona Dorada) is where resort-seeking visitors head, while the historical center (Centro Histórico) offers plazas and renovated 18th-century commercial buildings and residences. The city is more affordable than many of Mexico's other Pacific resorts and keeps an authentic character, and it's a popular retirement spot for Americans and Canadians. As in any large Mexican city, take basic precautions: walk in groups or with someone else after dark, don't assume well-lit or busy areas like the Centro Histórico and Golden Zone are safe at night, and avoid jewelry or nice clothes that might make you a target. During the day, the Cathedral, Malecon and Plaza Machado are fine to explore on foot. Outside the city, rural Sinaloa and small towns are heavily affected by the drug trade and aren't particularly safe for travel.

Getting there

Most international visitors arrive by air at General Rafael Buelna International Airport, also known as Mazatlán International Airport. It receives direct flights from a long list of North American cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Houston, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. If your city isn't on that list, you can usually connect through Mexico City. All major Mexican domestic airlines serve the airport, along with the regional carrier Señor Air.

Overland travel is straightforward thanks to Mexico's extensive bus network. Mazatlán is roughly 12 hours by bus from Mexico City, 6 hours from Guadalajara, 15 hours from Nogales, and only about 2 hours from Culiacán. Buses arrive at the Central de Autobuses de Mazatlán at Río Pánuco and José Angel Espinoza Ferrusquilla. Be warned that bus companies tend to blast the air-conditioning, so pack a sweater. Driving is another option: Phoenix, Arizona is about an 18-hour drive away, though bringing a car into Mexico involves its own set of considerations.

By sea, Baja Ferries runs a ferry between Mazatlán and the Pichilinque docks in La Paz, Baja California Sur. The crossing takes 12 hours or more and departs almost daily, though you should check for weekend departures. From the port, it's a five-minute taxi ride to the southernmost hotels or fifteen minutes to the more modern, more expensive places to the north. Cruise ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess also call regularly at this busy port. For something different, the Mexican Navy operates an every-other-Friday ferry to Islas Marias, a former offshore penal colony turned tourist destination with a Pueblo Magico, a UNESCO Biosphere Reservation, nature and sky watching, and an eerie prison tour. Cruise ships and the La Paz ferries dock at the Terminal Marítima Mazatlán in Playas del Sur.

Getting around

In-town transport is mostly motorized, with one exception: the Centro Histórico is a very nice walking district, so plan on covering the rest of the city by road. Mazatlán has no metro, tram, or urban rail network; getting around is done on foot, by road, or by sea, and the only rail-like service is the long-distance car ferry across the Gulf of California.

Two kinds of public buses run in Mazatlán. The larger green coach-style buses follow the main tourist strip along the water, either turning off at Rafael Buelna Avenue or continuing along the Malecón to downtown; they are well air-conditioned and in great shape. Regular local buses are cheaper and serve the entire city well, but can be confusing without a thorough knowledge of the system, so check the windshield, where the route is typically written. For travel along the Malecón between downtown and the tourist district, look for the "Sabalo-Centro" buses.

Taxis are plentiful, and the tourist areas — the Zona Dorada and Centro Histórico — always have many small white open-topped taxis called pulmonías, which look like bumper cars and are often old Volkswagens. They are unique to Mazatlán. You will never have to wait long for one, since they are always whizzing back and forth, but ask the price before you get in and then bargain; the correct price is usually about 30% less than the original quote, though it is best not to overdo the haggling. A trip between downtown and the tourist district costs less than US, and you may want to give the driver a little tip as appreciation for a safe and enjoyable journey. Uber also operates in Mazatlán and is about half the price of a pulmonía.

Where to stay

Mazatlán is known for offering some of the best lodging value among Mexico's major resorts, with affordable rooms and food easy to find. The exception is January and February, when the city can be a little cold; the rest of the year it is one of the country's most attractive seaside destinations.

Food & drink

Mazatlecos are keen on seafood, especially prawns (camarones), and steak, and there's a restaurant to suit everyone's taste and budget. For something quick and cheap, the budget spots cluster around tacos and tortas: fish and shrimp tacos, marlin tacos, and tortas ahogadas. Mi Platillo Express serves a no-frills Mexican breakfast, and Tacos Borrachos Emlio, one block west of the fire station, opens mornings only with outdoor seating. Coconuts are a local treat — try them with lime, salt, chili powder, or various hot sauces.

Mid-range eating ranges from seafood to pizza to vegan cooking. El Pargo y La Vaca in Playa Norte is a good stop after a long walk on the beach, El Velero sits in a tranquil spot on the Isla de la Piedra, and Mariscos Bahía is known for its seafood. La Mona Pizza has three locations — in the centro, on the marina, and in the Golden Zone — and serves salads. MAWE Cocina Vegana offers vegan food with outdoor seating, while El Presidio Cocina de México in Centro hides a restored courtyard inside a century-old building. Topolo is a fancy courtyard restaurant with red walls and oil paintings by local artists; try the cubos tementapec or the shrimp. Via Condotti in the centro histórico does thin-crust pizza, lasagna, and meatballs. For a splurge, Hector's Bistro in Centro serves high-end European food, and La Marina at the El Cid Resort offers buffet and à la carte service by reservation.

Mazatlán is known as a party city with exceptionally good nightlife. Tourists occupy the seafront bars, while locals head inland where the atmosphere can be excellent. Joe's Oyster Bar, a palapa bar on the beach at the Hotel Ramada, has a volleyball court and turns into a nightclub after dark; Gus Y Gus in the Golden Zone pairs reasonably priced food with a house band playing classic rock. La Querencia Bar has outdoor seating and live music on Saturdays, Delorean Bar is a dark, artsy after-party spot in the centro, and El Perla Negra and Cotorritos draw locals around the marina. Classico Mazatlán and Privé Mazatlán are the nightclubs. You must try Pacífico, a locally brewed beer sold everywhere. For coffee, Casa Medrano serves it inside a small art gallery in a beautiful building.

What to see and do

Start in the restored Centro Histórico, where Plaza Machado is the jewel of the district. The square is flanked on its west side by the Teatro Ángela Peralta, a beautifully restored 19th-century building that regularly hosts drama and music, and you'll find restaurants with indoor and sidewalk seating around the plaza, including El Patio and Café Pacífico on the northeast corner, where an acoustic guitarist often plays at night. A few blocks away on Constitución, near the Universidad Politécnica de Sinaloa, is a Spanish-language bookstore, and shops around the plaza carry high-end local art. From Plaza Machado it's only four blocks west to Olas Altas Beach, a curving stretch with its popular Malecón and many restaurants. Also in the centre, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, finished in 1899 and gently being restored, is worth a look for its stained glass and the Star of David set into its top windows, a nod to the Jewish family who helped fund its construction. The Museo de Arte on Sixto Osuna shows temporary and permanent exhibitions, and the Museo Nacional de la Ballena, an imposing seaside museum and observatory with interactive displays, focuses on marine life and whales.

For a view over the city, hike up to the Lighthouse of Mazatlán, which sits on a cliff with its light high above sea level; don't attempt the climb unless you're in good shape. Below, the cliff divers known as El Clavadista leap from a rock formation into shallow water, waiting for the right wave — they're around all day, but morning is the best time to watch. The Gran Acuario Mazatlán, next to the Parque de la Ciudad, puts on bird, seal and diving shows. Along the beaches you can jet ski, water ski and parascend — always haggle on price. Playa Norte, just north of downtown, has good swimming, palm-roofed fish restaurants and a fishermen's end with boats, plus the Fishermen's Memorial, a bronze replica of a pulmonia taxi and a monument to the Pacific Brewery along the boardwalk. Farther north, Playa Sábalo and Playa Cerritos are the tourist stretches, with Playa Delfines beyond. South, Playa Isla De La Piedra makes a quieter break from the city bustle, reached by ferry from the Embarcadero Isla de Piedra or Embarcadero Playa Sur. Surfers head to Playa Bruja in the north, where waves can reach 2.5–3 m and boards are usually available to rent; another option sits next to Valentino's, though the surf there isn't as good. Boat cruises cover the islands, whale watching, bird watching, deep-sea fishing and party trips, and can be booked almost anywhere. Sport fishing is a more affordable alternative to Los Cabos, with marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark among the catch. On land, the Estrella Del Mar Golf Course is an 18-hole championship layout beside the ocean, and the Estrella Del Mar Sea Turtle Sanctuary works to protect olive ridley turtles. Catch a professional soccer game at Estadio El Encanto, home of the Mazatlán Futbol Club, or an evening at the Mazatlan Comedy Club or the murder mystery dinner theater. Time a visit for Carnaval de Mazatlán in February, when streets in Old Mazatlán close for live bands and vendors, or for Semana Santa, when Mexican visitors fill the beaches for a wild week.

When to go

Mazatlán has a tropical savanna climate, and the year splits into two clear halves: a long marked dry season and a hot, humid summer. Summer is the wet stretch, when most of the annual rain falls. Heat and humidity combine so that conditions usually feel well above what the thermometer shows, making this the most demanding time to be in the city.

The rest of the year is dry, with little rain, and prevailing northwesterly winds blow steadily through the season. If you prefer reliable dry conditions and a steady breeze over the sticky heat of summer, plan your trip outside the summer months.

Festivals & events

Mazatlán's biggest celebration is Carnaval de Mazatlán, held in February. If your trip coincides with it, expect the city to be in full festive mode, with the streets given over to the event.

Three days in Mazatlan

Day one: Start in Centro Histórico, the old heart of Mazatlán, where the Cathedral and Plaza Machado give you a feel for the city's Mexican and Sinaloa roots. Wander the streets around the plaza before heading to the Malecon, the long seafront walk along the Pacific. As you go, check the lifeguard stations and heed any warnings before you swim.

Day two: Move on to the Golden Zone, or Zona Dorada, the resort strip where most North American visitors stay. You will hear plenty of English here, and Americans and Canadians are common. Outside the busiest hours, the beaches are easier to enjoy. Bring sun protection, because summer from June to November is hot and humid.

Day three: Plan a slower day. Before you leave, return to Centro Histórico for a last look at Plaza Machado, or take one more walk on the Malecon. If you are flying out, General Rafael Buelna International Airport, also called Mazatlán International Airport, handles flights to and from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Houston and Dallas, as well as other North American cities.

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