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.