Mazatlán FAQ
These are the most frequently asked questions about Mazatlán. If you don't see your question listed, please let us know and we will add it!
- Is Mazatlán Safe?
- Why visit Mazatlán?
- Where is Mazatlán?
- How do I get to and from Mazatlán?
- When is the best time of the year to visit Mazatlán?
- What is the weather like in Mazatlán?
- What does the word Mazatlán mean?
- What are the different areas of town in Mazatlán?
- What currency is used in Mazatlán?
- Can I drink the water in Mazatlán?
- Can I put toilet paper in the toilets in Maztlan?
- What does 2x1 mean?
- What is the big white castle in Mazatlán?
- How much should I tip in Maztlan?
- Where is the United States consulate in Mazatlán?
- Where is the Canadian consulate in Mazatlán?
- What is the Mazatlán Airport Code?
- How do I say "Cheers" in Mazatlán?
- How do you pronounce Mazatlán?
- What time zone is Mazatlán in?
- When is the Carnival in Mazatlán?
- Is Uber operating in Mazatlán?
- What are the red truck taxis in Mazatlán called?
Is Mazatlán Safe?
Yes, Mazatlán is safe. Like any big city there are incidents of crime, but it is surprisingly low in the tourist areas: Golden Zone, Olas Altas, and Historic Old Town where you will most likely stay.
In 2025, there are cartel problems north of Mazatlán. These problems haven't made it to Mazatlán yet.
It seems these days that the majority of Canadian and American visitors to Mazatlán are older and they don't seem to care too much.
We do however recommend that you do not get too drunk and don't do drugs...people that do are more likely to encounter issues! You will notice many police (traffic, city, state, federal) patrolling the streets to keep a visible presence.
Why visit Mazatlán?
Mazatlán is more than just a beach resort. It is also a large colonial city that has many Attractions, Activities, and Events! From the largest Aquarium in latin america to the 3rd largest Carnival in the world to professional Baseball to tens of miles of fabulous Beaches, you can do as little or as much as you want in Mazatlán!
Where is Mazatlán?
Mazatlán is located in the state of Sinaloa in the country of Mexico.
It is right on the Pacific Ocean, i.e. western, coast of Mexico.
It is located directly east of the end of the Baja Pennisula north of Puerto Vallarta.
It is located almost at latitude 23 which is the 'Tropic of Cancer'.
How do I get to and from Mazatlán?
You can get to Mazatlán by air, land, or sea.
The Mazatlán International Airport has international and domestic flights daily.
There is now a super highway to/from Durango in the north and a highway from Tepic in the south if you are driving to Mazatlán.
There is also a daily car ferry to/from La Paz on the Baja Pennisula that you can take to get to Mazatlán.
What are the different areas of town in Mazatlán?
Mazatlán is a big town and has many different areas that you should be aware of. We have written up descriptions of all the areas of Mazatlan on this webpage: Areas of Town
When is the best time of the year to visit Mazatlán?
Depends on what temperature you like. The main tourist season runs from November through April. During this time it is fairly dry and sunny, and the temperature is warm during the day (25-30 celsius) and cooler at night (15-23 celsius). Our favorite months are November and April. It cools off a bit in January and February and the water can be cool to enter. From May through October is is very hot and humid. Temperatures can reach 40 celsius! From the late summer through November is hurricane season. Rarely has Mazatlán been hit by a hurricane, but it could happen.
What is the weather like in Mazatlán?
If you were to generalize the weather you would say that it is sunny, dry, and warm from November through April and very hot, humid, and sometimes rainy from May through October. After rainstorms there has been flooding in the Golden Zone, Cerritos, and downtown.
Average Highs/Lows (in celsius)
- Jan: 27/12 degrees
- Feb: 27/12
- Mar: 28/13
- Apr: 29/14
- May: 31/18
- Jun: 32/23
- Jul: 32/25
- Aug: 32/25
- Sep: 31/25
- Oct: 31/23
- Nov: 30/18
- Dec: 27/14
Note that it can get significantly hotter or cooler than the averages. Most hotels rooms don't have heaters and heavy blankets so if there is a cold spell it can be cold in a hotel room. In the summer, the sand on the beach can be hot to walk on.
Rarely do hurricane hit Mazatlán, but they frequently hit north and south. Hurricanes usually occur in this region from September through November.
What does the word Mazatlán mean?
Mazatlán means "Land of the Deer".
There are 3 large deer statues in town, one at the Marina Mazatlán, one on the Malecon, and one in Olas Altas.
We have never seen a real deer in Mazatlán, but there were actual reports of a deer in the north part of town in 2024!
What currency is used in Mazatlán?
The currency used in Mazatlán is the Mexican Peso.
Most Hotels, Restaurants, and shops will accept smaller US dollar bills as payment, but won't give you a good exchange rate. Also, the bills must be perfect or they won't accept them.
Canadian dollars and coins are not accepted anywhere.
We recommend that you convert your currency to Mexican pesos and use pesos. It is usually cheaper to convert to pesos in the US or Canada.
As of 2025, many more restaurants are accepting debit and credit cards.
Can I put toilet paper in the toilets in Mazatlán?
No, except in the major hotels. The sewage system in Mazatlán is at sea level and cannot handle toilet paper well.
The general rule is that if you see a waste basket next to the toilet, put your toilet paper into the waste basket!
Can I drink the water in Mazatlán?
No, we don't recommend it! You will likely get sick if you do.
We recommend that you always drink bottled water. Some hotels claim to have purified water, but we wouldn't trust drinking it from the tap.
You can buy bottled water cheaply at any convenience or grocery store. If you are staying a long time, you can buy 5 and 10 litre bottles of water at most grocery stores.
What does "2x1" mean?
When you see "2x1" in a restaurant or bar, it means that you get 2 for the price of 1.
When you order 1 they will bring 2. This usually refers to beers, but can also refer to mixed drinks as well.
You will see this at many bars and restaurants in Mazatlan. Usually, they do not allow you to order just one beer if it is 2x1, you have to take two beers. So when you order be sure to order the correct amount. If we are ordering more than one, we usually say "uno" for dos"(1 for 2), "dos for quatro"(2 for 4), or "tres for seis"(3 for 6), etc. just to be clear to the server.
What is the big white castle in Mazatlán?
The big white castle on the point is an entertainment and food complex called 'Punto Valentino'. It is at the corner of Avenida Rafael Buelna and Avenida Camaron Sabalo where the Malecon ends and the Golden Zone starts.
Previously this complex was called Fiestaland and was home to famous nightclubs: Valentinos and Bora Bora along with some restaurants. Fiestaland fell into disrepair and most of it closed by 2020.
In 2021, new owners took over and renamed it 'Punto Valentino'. As of fall 2021 it is currently being built out. So far, it has an outdoor beach club called: Onaki Beach Club that opened in the summer of 2021 and a seafood restaurant called: Onaltica, that opened in August 2021. Eventually, it will have 8 bars and restaurants.
How much should I tip in Mazatlan?
It is generally accepted that tourists in Mazatlán will tip about the same as they tip in the US or Canada which is about 10%-20% on average depending on the service.
Where is the United States consulate in Mazatlán?
The United States consulate office is located at: Playa Gaviotas 202, Local 10, Zona Dorada,Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
This is directly across the street from the Hotel Playa Mazatlán in the Golden Zone
Where is the Canadian consulate in Mazatlán?
The address of the Canadian consulate in Mazatlán is at Boulevard Marina Mazatlán #2302, Marina Mazatlán, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, 82103.
This is in the northern part of the tourist zone in the Marina Mazatlán area of town.
The office is in an office complex called the 'Centro Comercial La Marina Business and Life'. The local telephone number is: 669-913-7320. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
What is the Mazatlán Airport Code?
The Airport Code for the Mazatlán International Airport is: MZT.
The airport is called the General Rafael Buelna International Airport.
The airport is located about a half an hour drive from the main tourist areas of Mazatlán.
How do I say "Cheers" in Mazatlán?
In Mexico, the common why to toast with a drink is to say "Salut"!
How do you pronounce Mazatlán?
You pronounce Mazatlán like: mah-zhat-LAN . The emphasis is on the last syllable because it is accented!
What time zone is Mazatlán in?
Mazatlán is in the Mexican Pacific Standard Time Zone (MDT) time zone.
For most of the year, except around daylight savings changes, the MDT time zone is the same as Mountain Standard Time(MDT) in the US/Canada(e.g. Calgary) which is 1 hour ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST), e.g. Vancouver, Los Angeles.
Mexico has different dates when they change to/from Daylight Savings time so for a period of time in April and November it is different by 1 hour.
When is the Carnival in Mazatlán?
Carnival occurs annually and is usually in February...but always is 6 weeks before easter. For 2025, it will be from February 27, 2025 to March 3, 2025. 2025 Mazatlán Events Calendar for a full list of the Carnival events that will take place!
Is Uber operating in Mazatlán?
Yes, Uber operates in Mazatlán. We used it a number of times and found the price slightly lower than for taxis/pulmonias.
Note: we prefer to use the Didi app over UBER. There seems to be more Didi drivers around. The main difference is that you need to pay Didi drivers cash for the ride. We found Didi ride much cheaper than taxis/pulmonias.
What are the red truck taxis in Mazatlán called?
The red pickup truck taxis that take large groups of people are called "aurigas" which literally means chariots!
The name evolved from the horse-drawn carriages that used to operate in the old days in Downtown/Old Town.
If you have a group of more than 4 people you will likely have to use an auriga. They operate similarly to how the Pulmonia taxis operate.
