How much does it cost to travel to Mazatlan?
You should plan to spend around $77 (M$1,323) per day on your vacation in Mazatlan. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $33 (M$570) on meals
- $20 (M$344) on local transportation
- $63 (M$1,082) on hotels
A one week trip to Mazatlan for two people costs, on average, $1,075 (M$18,523). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Mazatlan has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Mazatlan expensive to visit?
Mazatlan is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Mexico, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Mazatlan is a very affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in North America for its affordability. Very few cities in the region are as affordable as Mazatlan.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Mazatlan Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Mazatlan?
The average Mazatlan trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Mazatlan travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
M$1,082
($63)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
M$344
($20)
|
Food 2
|
M$570
($33)
|
Entertainment 1
|
M$160
($9)
|
Alcohol 2
|
M$152 -
455
($9 - 26)
|
Accommodation Budget in Mazatlan
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Mazatlan is $31 (M$541). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Mazatlan is $63 (M$1,082). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Mazatlan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Mazatlan
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Mazatlan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $20 (M$344) per person, per day, on local transportation in Mazatlan.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$20
M$344
How much does it cost to go to Mazatlan? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Mazatlan will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Mazatlan
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Mazatlan can vary, the average cost of food in Mazatlan is $33 (M$570) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Mazatlan should cost around $13 (M$228) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mazatlan is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$33
M$570
Entertainment Budget in Mazatlan
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Mazatlan typically cost an average of $9.26 (M$160) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$9.26
M$160
Alcohol Budget in Mazatlan
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $18 (M$303) on alcoholic beverages in Mazatlan per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$18
M$303
Mazatlan On a Budget
Mazatlan, Mexico
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
Mazatlan's climate is dry, wet tropical. There is a distinct dry season between the months of December and June. Summer months are prone to high humidity, making the temperatures feel significantly higher than they actually are. Summer highs are typically in the low 90s Fahrenheit and winter highs are in the high 70s Fahrenheit.
Sights
Centro Historico is the city's old town, and is not to be missed during a visit to Mazatlan. It's easy to organize a tour of the area, but self guided tours are just a fun.
There are many sights spread throughout the town. Mazatlan's lighthouse is the highest natural lighthouse in the world and offers wonderful views. You can find it by following the signs around town that say "Faro".
If you've heard of the cliff divers in Acapulco, you'll find something comparable here, although they dive from a lower height into shallower water. It's still entertaining to watch.
El Mercado is the largest marketplace in the city and is located in the historic city center. Here you'll find everything from souvenir t-shirts to homemade handicrafts. It's also a great place to try your hand at bartering.
Olas Altas Beach is a popular nearby beach that is lined with restaurants. It's a great place to walk around for a while.
Neighborhoods
Mazatlan has several different inner city districts as well as a few outlying suburbs. The two districts that are most significant to tourists are Zona Dorada and the Centro Historico. The Zona Dorada is north of the city and has many beaches that attract vacationers. Centro Historico is the historical part of town that is quite attractive with many plazas and nicely refurbished houses. This area is where you will find El Mercado, which is the city's largest marketplace. Machado Square is a famous square in Centro Historico. Teatro Angela Peralta, Pedro y Lola's Restaurant, and a beautiful hotel are all situated on the square. Four blocks from the square is Olas Altas Beach. This beach is popular with the residents of Centro Historico and has many restaurants.
Activities
Most people spend a significant amount of time on the beautiful beaches of Mazatlan. The miles of beach also offer a variety of water sports including jet skiing, water skiing, and parasailing. Surfing is also an option at several locations.
Mazatlan has an excellent nightlife with many popular bars including Senor Frog's, Valentino's, Sumbawa, and Joe's Oyster.
Other activities in the area include playing golf at Estrella Del Mar Golf Course and visiting Estrella Del Mar Sea Turtle Sanctuary.
Food and Dining
As a relatively large city, Mazatlan has restaurants to meet every budget. Predictably, seafood in the area is excellent. You can also find cafes that serve sandwiches or snacks. International food is available including pizza, hamburgers, and Asian options.
In addition to restaurants, there are many bars around town where you can grab a drink. Most seafront bars are frequented by tourists while the locals typically spend their time at the inland bars. These local options usually have an excellent atmosphere.
Transportation
The two main ways to get around Mazatlan are by bus and taxi. There are really two different bus options. Large green buses pass by most of the tourist destinations. They are of high quality with air conditioning and cost about US$0.70. There is also a regular bus service that caters more to locals and costs US$0.45.
In addition to traditional taxis, you'll also find pulmonias around town. These are open top taxis that are abundant and easy to find. Do ask the price before getting in as prices are negotiable and you should pay about 30% less than the original asking price.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.