We ended up in the coastal city of Mazatlán almost by accident after a natural disaster derailed our previous travel plans. However, we were both so glad that we went! This area not only boasts of gorgeous beaches, but has a quaint district in its historic city that feels like you’ve stepped into another world. We feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this gem.
MAZATLAN BASICS
- Language: You can easily get by in the tourist areas speaking English, but I recommend learning a few Spanish phrases to make things easier. From my experience, Mazatlán is significantly less English-friendly than many other tourist cities in Mexico.
- Currency: The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso. (1 USD = 18.91 MXN). Most businesses and restaurants take card, but carry cash on you for the smaller markets.
- Cost: To stay in a hotel and eat out most of your meals, plan on spending around $60-80/day on food and accommodation. Staying in an Airbnb with friends and eating mainly street food or cooking, you can get by on as little as $20-30/day.
- Safety: You can read countless articles debating whether or not Mazatlán is safe. When we visited, there was a Level 4 Travel Advisory for the state of Sinaloa. However, we didn’t feel unsafe during our stay. I would say, as with most places in the world, make sure to check your cabs before entering, don’t walk around at night alone in the city, and be aware of the area of town that you’re in. Also, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car and driving on your own, as that’s where most of the media horror stories originate from. If you do have any doubts, ask your Airbnb host or hotel staff, and they’ll tell you which areas you probably shouldn’t go to.
- Average Cost per Day: Food, drinks, and fun are cheap in Mexico…unless you’re staying at a resort. As with literally everywhere in the world, resorts mark up the price of everything. If you’re staying in hostels, you can get by with as little as $30-$50 USD per day.
WHERE TO STAY
Very uncharacteristic of our usual travel plans to spend as little money as possible, we decided to splurge on a nice resort this time to celebrate my 25th birthday. We chose La Estrella Del Mar, and would highly recommend to anyone who wants a luxurious and affordable experience. The staff were amazing and friendly, the food was delicious and there was even a BABY TURTLE SANCTUARY on the property… what more could you ask for?! The only downside (or could be an upside), is that this resort is about 30 minutes outside of Mazatlán itself, so it cost us about $30 for each round trip to the city.
If you want to stay in Mazatlán itself, Airbnb’s start around $25/night and hotels start around $60/night. I highly recommend staying somewhere close to the beach, in the Zona Dorada, (tourist-friendly neighborhood), or El Centro (historical neighborhood).
THINGS TO DO
EL MALECON
El Malecon is the massive boardwalk that spans from the bottom of El Centro to the top of La Zona Dorada, over thirteen miles long. For $3/hour at this place, you can rent a bike to explore the whole thing! There’s a lot of cool stuff along this route, including street vendors selling the best hats ever (pictured), death-defying cliff jumpers and great restaurants.
PLAZUELA MACHADO AND EL CENTRO
Located on the southern peninsula of Mazatlán, El Centro (the Historical District) was by far my favorite part of Mazatlán. There are a ton of colorful buildings that are so fun to wander in and out of and it’s a great place to just sit and have an ice cream or a coffee, depending on the weather. The Angela Peralta Theater and Basilica are two of the main attractions here, so make sure to check their hours before exploring.
