 GETTING THERE
Air
Five airlines operate direct or nonstop flights to Mazatlan's Rafael Buelna
International Airport (MAZ); Mexicana, Aero California, Alaska, America West and
Mexicana. From the United States, Aeromexico flies from Los Angeles,
Atlanta, Phoenix, and Tucson, via Mexico City. Mexicana has direct service
from Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Antonio, most connecting
through Mexico City. Aero California flies from Los Angeles. Alaska
Airlines serves Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Within Mexico, Aero California flies from La Paz, Guadalajara, and Mexico City.
Aeromexico has flights from Hermosillo, Durango, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta,
Tijuana, and Leon, all via Guadalajara or Mexico City. Mexicana offers
service from Mexico City and Los Cabos. The ride to town from the airport
is about 40 minutes.
Bus
First-class and deluxe buses connect Mazatlan to Guadalajara and Mexico City
almost hourly, and less often to other points within Mexico. The region's
major bus companies are Transportes Norte de Sonora, Tres Estrellas de Oro and
Elite, and Transportes del Pacifico.
Car
If you drive your own vehicle to Mazatlan, the Mexican law requires that you
have Mexican auto insurance. To reach Mazatlan from the United States,
take International Highway 15 from Nogales, Arizona, to Culiacan, change to the
four-lane tollway -- it costs about $40 but is the only road considered safe and
in drivable condition. On the tollway, total trip time from the United
States to Mazatlan is about 10 hours. Consider an overnight stop, because
driving at night in Mexico can be dangerous. From Puerto Vallarta, the
560km drive is not easy -- the road winds through the mountains, but is in
generally good condition. Take highway 200 north to Las Varas. There
it becomes four-lane Highway 68; follow that until you see a detour for Highway
15. Take 15 north to Mazatlan. Coming from the east through Durango
is another option on Hwy.40, but it's important to drive slow and be cautious as
this road crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental.
Ferry
Passenger ferries operated by Sematur run between Mazatlan and La Paz, Baja
California Sur. The ferry leaves daily at 3pm and carries cars, with
Thursday reserved for cargo and seated passengers (no cabins). The trip
takes 18 hours. Seats cost $52, tourist-class service with two beds $116,
cabin class with two beds and a private bath $142, and special class $167.
Tickets for the ferry must be purchased in advance at the ferry office at Paseo
Clausen 310 on Carnaval Street or through travel agents.
GETTING AROUND
Bus
Buses, some with air-conditioning, cover most of the city and are relatively
easy to use, although knowing some Spanish is helpful. The fare is 80
cents for local routes. The Sabalo Centro line runs from the Gold Zone
along the waterfront to downtown near the market and the central plaza; at
Avenida Miguel Aleman, the buses turn and head south to Olas Altas. The
Cerritos-Juarez line starts near the train station, cuts across town to the
malecon beside the Gold Zone, and heads north to Los Cerritos and back.
The Sabalos Cocos line runs through the Gold Zone, heads inland to the bus
station, and goes to downtown by a back route. The Playa Sur line goes to
the area where the sportfishing and tour boats depart. Buses run daily
from 6am to 10:30pm. Additionally, mopeds and scooters are popular and can
be rented at several locations.
Taxi
Eco Taxis are green-and-white cabs with posted set fares. Taxis are
easy to flag around town and can also be rented by the day or by the hour.
It's best to agree on the price in advance. Fares between the Zona Dorada
and Old Mazatlan average $4.50 to $6.50; within the Zona Dorada, you should pay
about $3.50.
Pulmonia
These open-air vehicles resembling overgrown golf carts carry up 3-5
passengers. Pulmonias have surreylike tops and open sides. As a
rule, they're slightly cheaper than taxis, but you should settle on a price
before boarding. The fare starts at about $1 and increases according to
the length of the trip.
Car
It's a good idea to rent a car and take a tour on your own since it provides
the convenience to stop whenever you sight something interesting. Several
car rental chains including Budget, AGA and National car rentals all have
offices here. As long as you stay close to the beach it is unlikely that
you'll get lost in Mazatlan.
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