Mazatlan Activities Tours Destination Information

Request a Free Quote

Time Zone

Mazatlan is on Mountain Standard Time

Currency

The peso is the Mexican form of currency. It is suggested that you exchange small amounts of U.S. dollars for pesos. Major credit cards are also widely accepted. A pocket calculator can also be helpful when you shop to help convert U. S. dollars to pesos. Bartering when shopping outside of the resort areas is practiced. U.S. dollars are accepted in the resort areas but keep in mind any change that is due back will be in pesos. One recommendation is to use a credit card which will present the daily currency exchange on your next billing statement.

Language

Spanish is the official language. English is also widely spoken in the hotel areas

Proof of citizenship

Acceptable forms of proof of citizenship for U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and our International Destinations are a valid passport, OR a certified , state issued birth certificate with raised seal AND a valid government photo ID, a naturalization/citizenship certificate, Armed Forces' ID or discharge papers stating place of birth. It is the traveler's responsibility to provide proper documentation. Married women traveling with any documentation in their maiden name must supply a marriage license (a copy is acceptable).

Visitor Information

The City and State Tourism Office is on avenida Camaron Sabalo (corner of Tiburon) in the Ban Rural building, fourth floor (tel. 6/916-5160; fax 6/916-5166). The staff is English-speaking. It's open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 2pm and 5 to 7pm.

Mazatlan is comfortable, casual, value-packed Mexico at its best. More than any other beach resort in the country, it probably best represents the golden beaches, fresh seafood, and inexpensive vacation accommodations that launched Mexico's appeal to travelers in the first place. Although there have been some developments that are edging Mazatlan into the golf-playing, manicured resort that typifies most of Mexico today, it is going there grudgingly--most of Mazatlan remains refreshingly simplistic.

Mazatlan's lures continue to be its expansive beaches and renowned sport fishing. The evolving golf scene, luxury yacht harbor, and growing selection of accommodations have yet to catch the attention of enough tourists to drive prices to the levels of other Mexican resorts, good news for travelers looking for economy in a beach resort.

Mazatlan is also a city in its own right, with a population of nearly 500,000, and is the largest port between Los Angeles and the Panama Canal. Elegant reminders of its history, 17 miles of sandy beaches, and a geographically diverse environment to explore are all simply added attractions in Mazatlan's efforts to become a premier beach resort.

Limited flight availability is the principle reason holding back Mazatlan's growth. Charter operators have picked up some of the slack and are the predominant form of arrivals here.

Once known as a spring break haven and a place to party, Mazatlan is now attracting more families, mature travelers, and other tourists with an eye for value. It enjoys strong repeat business and positive word of mouth, as it continues to offer exceptional vacation values.

Arriving - The Rafael Beulna International Airport (MZT), recently renovated, is located 17 miles southeast of the hotel-and-resort area of town. The following rental-car companies have counters in the airport, open during flight arrivals and departures: Hertz (tel. 800/623-3650 in the U.S., or 6/985-0845), Budget (tel. 800/322-9976 in the U.S., or 6/982-6363), and National (tel. 800/227-7368 in the U.S., or 6/982-4000).

Both taxis and collective minivans run from the airport to hotels; taxis cost about twice as much as the collective, which runs $8 to $12, depending on the location of your hotel. Only taxis are available to make the return trip to the airport, costing between $12 to $18. The Central de Autobuses (main bus terminal) is at Río Tamazula and Chachalacas. To get there from avenida del Mar, walk 3 blocks inland on Río Tamazula; the station is on your right. Taxis line up in front of the bus station.

American Express - The office is on avenida Camaron Sabalo in the Centro Comercial Balboa shopping center, Loc. 15 & 16 (tel. 6/913-0600; fax 6/916-5908), between the traffic circle and the El Cid Resort; it's open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to noon.

Area Code - The telephone area code for Mazatlan is 6.

Banks - Foreign currency is exchanged at most banks Monday to Friday 9 to noon, although banks are generally open until 6pm. Some have limited hours on Saturday.

Climate - As the northernmost major beach resort on the mainland, Mazatlan can be cooler in summer than the resorts farther south. The wettest month is September.

Emergencies - Dial 060. For medical emergencies, contact the Sharp Hospital (tel. 6/986-5676) at Rafael Buelna and Las Cruces.

Internet Access - There are numerous places to access the Internet and e-mail, including Mailboxes Etc., on avenida Camaron Sabalo 202 local 4 esq. Sierra de venados (tel. 6/916-4010; fax 6/916-4011; mbe15@mzt.megared.net.mx), charging $3 for 30 minutes and $1 per printed page. It's open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 7:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 3pm. In the Centro Comercial Lomas, avenida Camaron Sabalo 204, you'll find the Cybernet Cafe Mazatlan (tel. 6/914-0008), open 10am to 10pm, charging $2.50 per half hour and $4.00 per hour. It's the fastest in town now, as it offers cable access rather than dial-up, offering much speedier downloads.

Pharmacy - Farmacias Hidalgo, Herman R. Hidalgo s/n (tel. 6/985-4545 or 6/94646) is open 24 hours.

Police - The local police number is tel. 6/983-4510.

Post Office - The correo (tel. 6/981-2121) is downtown on the east side of the main plaza, on Benito Juárez just off Angel Flores. Hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Spanish Classes - Spanish-language classes begin every Monday at the Centro de Idiomas, 3 blocks west of the cathedral near 21 de Marzo and Canizales. In addition to small group (maximum ten students) and individual instruction, the language center offers a home stay program and a person-to-person program that matches students with local people of similar interests and vocations. On Friday at 7pm, the center holds free Spanish and English conversation groups open to both visitors and locals. For more information, call or write Dixie Davis, Belisario Domínguez 1908, Mazatlan, Sinaloa. (tel. 6/985-5606; fax 6/982-2053, languagecenter@compuserve.com; or www.go2mazatlan.com./Spanish). Dixie has 25 years experience teaching, and is registered with Mexico's Federal Education Department.

Telephones - Most telephone numbers for the Gold Zone, from the Hotel Camino Real south to the Hotel Playa Mazatlan, begin with a 91. Numbers downtown and along avenida del Mar begin with a 98.

Mazatlan Activities Tours Destination Information