Set at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains on a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean, Mazatlán is one of the Mexican Riviera's premier resort areas.
Description
Mazatlán is situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, almost directly across from the tip of the Baja peninsula. Mazatlán has its own airport, as well as ferry service to La Paz. See the getting here section for more information regarding how to reach Mazatlán. Set at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains on a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean, Mazatlán is one of the Mexican Riviera's premier resort areas. Its remarkable scenic beauty is complemented by a delightful festive atmosphere and a wealth of exciting activities.Although Mazatlán is one of Mexico?s most popular vacation destinations, it has another identity as the largest port in Mexico, with a bustling economy independent of the tourism industry. This duality adds an interesting cosmopolitan flavor to this unique city that you are sure to savor.Because it was a city long before it became a beach resort, Mazatlan is less touristy than some of its neighbors on what the cruise industry calls the Mexican RivieraThe City is concentrated in two areas: In the north, there is the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located. In the south there is El Centro (downtown) where the heart of the city is. These two centres are linked by Avenue Del Mar, also known as the Malecón, which is a scenic beach-front avenue that bridges the gap between the two areas.
Local Information
The Mexican economy operates on the rise and fall of the Peso. While most businesses will accept foreign currency, especially US dollars, using pesos is your best bet. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many casas de cambio (exchange houses). Mexican banking hours are normally Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 P.M. however for money exchange the hours time are normally from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Casas de cambio are open later than most banks and they generally offer quicker service. Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa, MasterCard, and American Express being the most popular.
Airport Information
To get to Mazatlan from the USA your choice of originating cities is quite limited. There are charters during the winter with direct flights from Mineapolis and Denver, as well as Salt Lake City and Oakland. In terms of regularly scheduled flights on American carriers, you can fly Alaska Air from Los Angeles, Continental out of Houston, or America West from Phoenix. There is a new daily one stop flight out of Dallas with American Airlines that stops in Guadaljara. The only other airlines with regularly scheduled flights into Mazatlan are Mexicana, Aeromexico, and AeroCalifornia. The airport is about 40 minutes from the city.
Hightlights
"Pearl of the Pacific"
10 Miles of Sandy Beaches
Home to the Pacifico Brewery
Variety of Interesting Historical Sites
Sportfishing
Fishing Tours
Local Weather
Mazatlán is blessed with warm tropical weather. In the summer it gets a little warm by some standards. There is a strong possibility of afternoon rain during the summer, starting in July. Usually the rain lasts for a few hours after which the air is clean and the humidity drops. The weather is very pleasant from November until May. Sometimes in June, and definitely from July until September, it is quite hot and humid. Mazatlan has a very intense rainy season. It's not recommended to visit between July and September. January through March are the coolest months, with typical daytime temperatures in the high 70's to low 80's and evening temperatures in the low 60's.
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