MAZATLAN, MEXICO PORT GUIDE
Mazatlan is a resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is a colonial Mexican city with a European influence reflected in their history, food and drinks. Her miles of beaches make her a perfect place for tourists to play and for cruise ships to visit when sailing the Mexican Riviera.
Mazatlan’s two biggest sources of income are tourism and fishing, but don’t mistake this for a quint, sleepy Mexican village. It’s a lively destination with lots to do, making it a popular place to visit again. In fact, Mazatlan is trending for Americans, Canadians and Europeans and she’s captured the interest of all ages.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Enjoy the 13-mile coastal pathway with its views, street venders, shopping and restaurants. The Mazatlan Malecón is one of the world’s longest oceanfront walkways and is a great place to “people watch” fellow tourists and the local Mazatlecos.
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Go dolphin and whale watching.
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Take in the flavors of Mazatlan--- The food, drinks, sights and sounds!
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Tee off in one of Mazatlan’s beautiful golf courses.
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Visit the city’s historical center (“Centro Histórico”) where you’ll see colorful 19th century architecture.
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Visit the Baroque style Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Notice all of the touches including the gilded Gothic arches, 28 stained glass windows and Aristide Cavaille-Coll organ.
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Enjoy some shrimp in any one of the many ways this “Shrimp Capital of the World” prepares it.
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Visit the Archeology Museum (“Museo Arqueológico de Mazatlan”) to learn about Mazatlan’s history including the number of various indigenous groups of people who lived in the area before the Spanish conquered the area.
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Visit the Huana Coa Canopy Adventure eco-park 45 minutes from Mazatlan for adventures in canopy tour zip lining, horseback riding and ATV trips.
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See cliff divers at Parque Glorieta Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada as they jump from a 50 foot high platform into water that, if they don’t time the dive correctly, could be only 6 feet deep.
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Take part in world-class sportfishing.
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Sip a cold Mexican cerveza on a hot day.
TRAVEL BASICS
Climate
Temperatures average in the upper 70sF in the winter to lower 90sF in the summer. Summers are more humid and experience higher precipitation. Hurricane season ranges from June through November with the prime months being September and October.
Best Time to Visit
November through May. Day of the Dead (always November 1st) and Carnival (February 28 – March 5, 2019 are especially fun and a chance to see experience a longtime Mexican traditions.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Mazatlan. English is spoken to some degree by many people. Your attempt at speaking some basic Spanish will be well met.
Money Matters
Mexican Pesos (MXN), Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted than American Express but do not assume all businesses will accept credit cards. The best way to obtain Pesos is through a local ATM. When the machine asks how much money you want (in Pesos!), choose an amount divisible by 50 or 100 Pesos so that you don’t get all large bills.
Passport & Visa
U.S. citizens cruising to Mazatlan should travel with a passport. It is best if your passport book is valid for at least six months after your travel date.