Mazatlan Travel Tips and Visitor Information - A Guide for tourists and information and helpful resources for Mazatlan cruise ship passengers including info about Mexico immigration documents, consulates, exchanging money, credit cards, food, water, tipping, haggling, telephones, weather and much more!
Mazatlan Travel Guide Visitor Information and tips for Mazatlan tourists Required documents for tourists|Driving to Mazatlan|Consulates in Mazatlan Health insurance in Mexico|Exchanging money|Paying in dollars or pesos? Using credit cards|Tipping|Haggling over prices|What's that on the menu? Climate and Weather|Is it safe to drink the water?|Using public telephones Mailing letters|Electricity|Mazatlan time Documents required to visit Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #1 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about required travel documents
The first of our travel tips involves the immigration documents required to visit Mazatlan Mexico.
A valid passport is required to visit Mexico. Citizens of some countries -- including the United states and Canada -- are exempt from many of the more time-consuming document requirements for obtaining a Mexican tourist visa, and are issued Mexican tourist visas routinely and efficiently. One of the most useful of our travel tips: Mexican tourist visas can be vaild for up to 180 days, so they will usually cover even the most extended Winter visits.
Remember this important Mazatlan visitor information: passport and Mexican tourist visa requirements change. Travelers are advised to check Mexican entry requirements with their State Department, or with the Mexican embassy or consulate in their home country when planning a trip to Mazatlan so that they have the most current information about the documents required to visit Mexico. Mexican embassies and Mexican consulates also usually have Mazatlan tourist information. Driving to Mazatlan in your Canadian or United States registered car Travel Tip #2 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Visitor Info about driving to Mazatlan from the USA and Canada
Considering driving to Mazatlan? The second of our travel tips involves the documentation required to bring your Canadian registered car or United States registered car into Mexico.
If you are driving to Mazatlan from the United States or Canada, the documentation required to bring your Canadian or United States registered car into Mexico -- and to Mazatlan -- is simple and straightforward:
When driving to Mazatlan in your Canadian registered car or United States registered car you must have Mexican auto insurance.
Mexican auto insurance for your Canadian registered car or United States registered car can be purchased at the border; just inside Mexico; or from various insurers in the United States and Canada such as Lewis & Lewis in Beverly Hills, California -- mexicanautoinsurance.com
Lewis & Lewis has an excellent reputation, and can fulfill your Mexican automobile insurance requirements online - their website.
When driving to Mazatlan in your Canadian registered car or United States registered car you must have a Mexican automobile import permit -- a Banjercito. Banjercitos for your Canadian registered car or United States registered car are issued when you enter Mexico or -- for those driving south through the State of Sonora -- when you leave the Sonora Free Zone, just before you enter Sinaloa State.
Documents required to obtain a Banjercito for your Canadian registered car or United States registered car when driving to Mazatlan are: clear title to your vehicle; drivers license from the United States or Canada; proof of Mexican auto insurance.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: if you do not have clear title to your Canadian registered car or United States registered car -- vehicle registration in the United States or Canada is not sufficient -- when driving to Mazatlan you will need a notarized letter from your lender granting permission for you to take the car to Mexico. Banjercitos for your Canadian registered car or United States registered car are issued for the length of your tourist visa and are inexpensive, costing just (approximatly) $35 USD for the entire term of your tourist visa. Sometimes Mexican Banjercito offices also have Mazatlan tourist information. Consulates in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #3 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about foreign consulates in Mazatlan
The third of our travel tips involves the location and phone numbers of Consulates in Mazatlan Mexico.
Mazatlan has seven consulates: the Canadian consulate; the Danish consulate; the French consulate; the German consulate, the Guatamalan consulate, the Netherlands consulate, and the United States consulate. The German and United States consulates in Mazatlan are located in the Golden Zone - Zona Dorada. Many of these Consulates also offer visitor information.
Canadian Consulate
Boulevard Marina Mazatlan 2302 / Marina Mazatlan
Telephone 669 913 7320
Fax 669 914 6655
email: mazatlan@canada.org.mx
Danish Consulate
Heriberto Frias 1509
Telephone 669 981 7642
Fax 669 985 0578
email: alfredofuentevilla@hotmail.com
French Consulate
Belisario Domínguez 1008 Sur / El Centro
Telephone 669 985 1228
German Consulate
Avenida Playa Gaviotas 212 / Golden Zone - Zona Dorada
Telephone 669 914 9310
Fax 669 914 3422
Guatemalan Consulate
Alejandro Quijano 211 Pte. / El Centro
Telephone 669 981 6305
Fax 669 981 6305
Netherlands Consulate
Avenida Camaron Sabalo 6300, Apartado 575
Telephone 669 988 0047
Fax 669 913 5177
United States Consulate
Avenida Playa Gaviotas 202 / Golden Zone - Zona Dorada
Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 1pm
Telephone 669 916 5889
Fax 669 916 5889 Health insurance in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #4 / Mazatlan Mexico Visitor Info about health insurance coverage for foreigners in Mazatlan
Some of the most requested Mazatlan tourist information relates to health care, and specifically the question, should I buy health insurance for my trip to Mazatlan?
The fourth of our travel tips addresses the question of the need for healthcare insurance for foreigners on trips to Mazatlan Mexico.
For more detailed visitor info regarding medical and emergency medical resources available to visitors in Mazatlan please refer to the medical and emergency medical page on this website.
Some healthcare providers in Mazatlan accept American or Canadian health insurance -- if your insurance company is willing to pay a Mexican healthcare provider.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: if you intend to rely on American or Canadian health insurance to cover you on your trip it is wise to check with your insurance provider before your trip to learn what their policies are, and what the procedures are if you have to make a claim.
For many visitors to Mazatlan -- especially those who spend longer periods of time here -- it is worth considering buying health insurance coverage that is specific to Mexico. One brokerage with an excellent reputation for providing such coverage is GlobalInsuranceNet.com GlobalInsuranceNet.com
7700 North Kendall Drive, Suite 412
Miami, Florida, 33156
United States Telephone 305 274 0284
Telephone toll-free in the United States 800 975 7363 globalinsurancenet.com info@globalinsurancenet.com GlobalInsuranceNet.com has an online insurance premium calculator that allows you to comparison shop the many plans they offer, and offers detailed and highly informative information about world wide health insurance coverage.
For Americans who spend more than six months per year in Mazatlan (or anywhere outside the United States) there is even more reason to look into this option: GlobalInsuranceNet.com offers plans designed for just such people (including plans that allow treatment in the United States) that are substantially less expensive than regular USA health insurance -- with identical coverage and benefits. Exchanging money in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #5 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about changing money in Mazatlan
Some of the most requested Mazatlan tourist information relates to exchanging money in Mazatlan! "Where should I exchange my dollars for pesos" and "How do I get the best exchange rate for my dollars" being the most frequently asked.
The fifth of our travel tips addresses the question of the best strategies for exchanging money in Mazatlan Mexico. For further visitor information regarding banks in Mazatlan please refer to the Banks & ATMs page on this website.
As in virtually every country, banks usually offer better exchange rates than private money-changers, called Casas de Cambio here in Mazatlan Mexico. Sometimes much better rates -- as much as 10% or more.
Current Mexican Peso (MXN) exchange rates for the United States Dollar (USD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), and Euro (EUR)
Currency data courtesy coinmill.com
All banks are open Mondays through Fridays, almost all from 9-5. Some are open Saturday mornings. Some have special windows solely devoted to currency exchange, thereby sparing the foreign client the need to wait in line at the normal bank windows.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: remember to bring your passport or other government-issed I.D. -- you will probably be asked to present it.
It is important Mazatlan tourist information that to exchange smaller denomination bills -- usually $20 is the limit -- most of the ubiquitous OXXO convenience stores offer very competitive rates, almost always better than Casas de Cambio.
OXXOs' do not simply exchange money -- you have to make a purchase.
The chart above only shows the current conversion rates for the American dollar to the Mexican peso and the Canadian dollar to the Mexican peso. For those looking for Mazatlan tourist information about current exchange rates for any other convertable currency click here. Note: the exchange rates quoted at this website are bank-to-bank rates, you will recieve slightly less.
Detailed Mazatlan tourist information about bank locations and telephone numbers can be found in the Bank & ATM section of this website. Should I pay in Dollars -- or Canadian Dollars, or Euros -- or Pesos in Mazatlan Mexico? Travel Tip #6 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about how to to pay for products and services
Many visitors to Mazatlan wonder if they should pay for goods and services in pesos or dollars. The sixth of our travel tips addresses this question, and the answer is simple: tourists and visitors should virtually always pay in pesos.
The reason for this travel tip is also simple: the vast majority of prices for any product or service in Mazatlan will be denominated in pesos, and a visitor or tourist who pays in in pesos will usually get a better deal.
It is not exactly secret Mazatlan tourist information that most merchants, hotels, restaurants, and bars offer poor exchange rates compared to banks -- or even Casas de Cambio -- and it is in the visitors' best interest to pay in pesos.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: the best places to exchange dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros or other convertable currencies into pesos are almost always banks (not Casas de Cambio). Additional Mazatlan tourist info about bank locations and hours can be found in the Banks & ATM section of this website.
The currency of Mexico is the peso -- use it.
Any international currency can take a while to get familiar with, and the Mexican Peso is no exception.
For many years for Mazatlan visitors from the United States -- or others spending American dollars -- the easiest way to make on-the-fly conversions between prices in Mexican Pesos and the the cost in United States dollars was to divide by 10, i.e. 10 Pesos = 1 Dollar, 100 Pesos = 10 Dollars, 500 Pesos = 50 Dollars, etc.
Depending on the exchange rate, in actuality 10 Pesos was either a little more or a little less than an American dollar, but using the Rule of Ten used to be a very easy way to get a general idea of prices.
With the peso hovering in the 12 - 13 range vs. the United states dollar since mid-2008, the math has become slightly more complicated.
Current Mexican Peso (MXN) exchange rates for the United States Dollar (USD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), and Euro (EUR)
Currency data courtesy coinmill.com
Some useful Mazatlan tourist information about currency: Mexican currency comes in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 peso denomination bills. The newer bills -- like the 20 peso and 50 peso notes above -- are made of plastic, and have a clear window in them. The first of these plastic bills were the 20 and 50 peso Mexican notes. The new bills -- like the 20 peso and 50 peso notes pictured above -- are slightly smaller than the older paper peso notes. Both plastic and paper notes are in circulation for all denominations below 1000 pesos.
An important bit of Mazatlan visitor information related to currency: 1000 peso notes should be avoided. This is a relatively new denomination (2005), and once issued was immediately counterfeited.
More importantly, it is often difficult to use 1000 peso notes as payment except at banks or very large retailers because most small stores, Mazatlan merchants, restaurants, and bars will not have sufficient cash to make change, or will simply be unwilling to accept the risk that the bill is counterfeit.
If you receive a 1000 peso note pass it back and get smaller bills.
500 peso notes can also present a problem in change-making -- especially at smaller shops and restaurants -- so try to carry bills smaller than this. 100's and 200's are not too large for all but the smallest vendors and stores.
Virtually no business in Mazatlan will accept a bill which is not entirely intact, and ripped or torn bills may be refused as well. You should not accept ripped or torn bills as change, they will probably be a headache to spend.
Common Mexican peso coin denominations are 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos. The 10 is especially easy to identify -- it's a nice thick, substantial coin, bronze on the outside and silver on the inside.
There are also 20 and 100 peso coins (each slightly larger than it's next-smaller denomination), but they are not in wide circulation, and as a Mazatlan visitor you are not likely to encounter them. One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: beware the 20 peso coin -- it is very easily mistaken for the 10!
There are also 5, 10, 20, and 50 centavo (cents) coins coming into wider circulation.
They are roughly the United States and Canadian equivalent of 1/2, 1, 2, and 5-cent coins, and the smallest ones are made of aluminum and have the appearance and weight of toy money.
You're only likely to receive the smallest of these coins as change at larger stores, like groceries and pharmacies -- prices at almost all other stores are usually in even or half pesos. Using credit cards in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #7 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about using credit cards in Mazatlan
Many visitors to Mazatlan wonder about how easy it will be to use credit cards to pay for things on their visit. The seventh of our travel tips addresses this question.
First, it is certainly possible for tourists to use credit cards in a wide variety of settings. Most major businesses, hotels, and many restaurants and bars in Mazatlan accept credit cards.
When using credit cards in Mazatlan, Visa and Master Card are generally much more useful than American Express, which is not accepted by many establishments because of their exorbitant fees.
Your credit card charge in Mazatlan will be denominated in Mexican pesos, which will be converted to your home country's currency at the time that the charge is processed, usually the day following your transaction.
Conversion rates offered by most credit card companies whe you use a credit card in Mazatlan are usually fairly close to the international bank-to-bank rate at the moment of conversion. Appropriate tipping in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #8 / About tipping in Mazatlan
Many Canadians and Americans are unsure about what appropriate tips in Mazatlan are. While tipping anywhere -- not just tipping in The Pearl of The Pacific -- is highly subjective, the eighth of our travel tips is an attempt to review the basics of what are considered appropriate tips in Mazatlan for various services.
Important Mazatlan tourist information: to begin with -- and unlike some countries -- tips (Propinas in Spanish) are a standard practice in Mexico.
The typical range for tips in restaurants, bars, cafes and cantinas is similar to tipping in the United States or Canada -- 15% unless you received extraordinary service.
It is an important bit of Mazatlan tourist information that visitors should be aware that they will rarely be offered the check at a Mazatlan restaurant until they ask for it. One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: do not assume that the waiter / waitress is being rude or ignoring you: this is simply customary and, on the contrary, in Mexico to appear to be rushing a customer out would be considered rude.
When you are ready for your bill, simply signal the waiters with a small wave, and ask for "la cuenta" (pronounced "la kwenta").
There is generally no tipping in Mazatlan at taco stands or food carts, but leaving a small tip is considered gracious, and is appreciated.
Mexicans generally don't tip taxi or Pulmonia drivers -- and you should always negotiate a price before starting your taxi ride -- but the same principal of tipping a small amount applies. If the taxi driver performs additional services, your tip should be appropriate to the amount of service they provided, for example 20-30 pesos for waiting or 30-50 pesos for helping with luggage depending on how much luggage you have.
The exception would be taxi or Pulmonia sightseeing excursions -- where the driver is really acting as your tour guide, beyond simply driving -- and where tips (above the pre-negotiated price) are more common, and to some degree expected. Ordinarily 10% will suffice as an appropriate tip in Mazatlan, unless the service was extraordinarily good.
Airport porters should be tipped about 10 pesos per bag. 50 pesos should probably be your maximum tip unless you have a very large amount of baggage.
Appropriate tipping in Mazatlan for salon staff are similar to the United States or Canada, the standard tip for salon services (massage therapy, hair cuts, pedicures etc) generally being in the range of 10-15%. Haggling over prices in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #9 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Visitor Info about haggling over prices in Mazatlan
Many Canadians and Americans are unsure about where haggling in Mazatlan is appropriate. The ninth of our travel tips is an attempt to review where haggling over prices in Mazatlan is appropriate -- and where it is not.
To begin with, haggling over prices is expected in many settings in Mexico.
Whether it is vendors on the beach or jewelry in a fancy store, the first price quoted is often far higher than the seller is willing to accept. A good haggling strategy in Mazatlan is to counter with a far lower offer, perhaps half of the initial asking price and take it from there.
This haggling principal applies to most services, such as taxi rides or automotive repair at independent automotive service facilities (not dealerships).
There are also many contexts where haggling over prices in Mazatlan is not possible, and would be considered rude or simply dumb. At larger stores -- with bar-codes and computers -- and, of course, restaurants and bars with menus, the price is the price.
mazatlantoday.net encourages potential hagglers to try to put their haggling instincts in context and consider the value of the product or service that they are obtaining from a hard-working Mexican.
While aggressive haggling in Mazatlan might make it possible to knock a street vendor down a few additional pesos, do you really want to deprive that person of a small -- and needed -- profit simply to prove that you can do that? A guide to Mexican food in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #10 / Mazatlan Mexico Tourist Info about local foods in Mazatlan
Many visitors to Mazatlan are experts in Mexican food, but some are not. The tenth of our travel tips is a brief guide to some of the great food that visitors can experience. The following visitor information is a brief list of typical Mexican food you will encounter in Mazatlan, along with short descriptions.
The Pearl of The Pacific offers many culinary choices in addition to Mexican food, and a large database of Mazatlan restaurants -- representing many different cuisines -- can be found in the restaurants section of this website.
It is also worth noting that Mazatlan has a very vibrant Street Food Scene, and you might want to take a look at some of the delicious food that you can buy from street food carts and vendors!
What's for breakfast?
As in many cultures, eggs play a central role in Sinaloa breakfast cuisine.
Because of the number of non-Mexicans who visit Mazatlan, your eggs (Huevos) can be prepared pretty much any way you want them, from simple scrambled or over-easy variations common in coffee shops in the United States and Canada to very spicy Mexican versions like Ranchero style with either red or green salsas.
Eggs are virtually always accompanied by refried beans, and chips rather than bread.
Chilaquiles: Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican breakfast dish. The word chilaquiles is derived from the Nahuatl word "chil-a-quilitl" which translates as "herbs or greens in chile broth".
Corn tortillas cut in strips or quarters that are lightly fried form the basis of the dish. Green or red salsa -- or sometimes mole sauce -- is poured over the crisp tortillas and the mixture is heated until the tortilla softens and is topped with queso fresco (fresh cheese). Pulled chicken or pork -- or scrambled or fried eggs -- are often part of this delicious mix which is nearly universally served with refried beans. Yummy!
Chilorio: Want something different with your eggs? Chilorio is a Sinaloan breakfast treat! Chilorio was invented in the State of Sinaloa. Chilorio is made with shredded pork seasoned with vinegar and chiles. Chilorio is a great spicy way to start your day in Mazatlan!
Machaca: Another way to spice up your eggs is to order them with Machaca, which is most commonly made from shredded -- dried -- spiced beef or pork. Carne Seca is another name for this tasty treat. Machaca with eggs is a very popular breakfast or brunch dish.
Care for a drink?
Agua Frescas: Agua Frescas could be anything from fruit flavored water drinks to mashed sweetened rice mixed with ice water. Agua Frescas from street carts are made with purified water and ice cubes. Agua Frescas are the perfect antidote for a hot day!
Liquados: Liquados are a true Mexican treat. Liquados are blended drinks similar to smoothies usually made from rice milk (or cow milk), vanilla, and cinnamon. Sweet and refreshing, Liquados are served from many food stands, carts, and at shops devoted only to selling them.
Refrescos: Refrescos are soda. In addition to Coke -- now available in a sugar-free version, not just reduced sugar -- Pepsi in Mazatlan offers a variety of locally produced soda pop products.
Try a carbonated apple cider; a Jimaica drink (really more of an Agua Fresca, not a soda pop, it is a cold tea made from the flowers of the Jamaica plant); or Toni Col, a vanilla-based soda invented in El Rosario, one of our recommended Mazatlan Day Trips.
Tuba: Tuba is a traditional drink made of coconut milk, palm sap and chunks of apple and nuts served over ice. This is a very common street cart / vendor item, and you’ll see street sellers carrying a pole over their shoulders with a gourd on one end and a bag of ice and cups on the other. Refreshingly sweet on a hot day!
A bit of soup?
Birria: Birria is a popular Mexican meat stew usually made with goat, lamb, or mutton. Spicy, hearty and filling, Birria is flavored with roasted peppers, onion and coriander and thickened by hours of simmering.
Pozole: Pozole is a seasoned stew with pork and hominy. Pozole is usually served with onions and cabbage on the side.
Sopa de Mariscos: Sopa de Mariscos is seafood soup. The Mazatlan version of Sopa de Mariscos is similar to many Mediterranean soups with shrimp, clams, octopus, and the catch of the day usually included.
Tortilla Soup: Tortilla Soup is a Mexican dining dream come true. Do you like salsa? Avocado? Cilantro? Fresh hot tortilla chips? Tortilla soup combines these ingredients -- and more -- into a soup version of a perfect enchilada!
All-Day Grazing
Arrancheras: Arrancheras is grilled skirt steak served with guacomole, salsa, beans and tortillas.
Asada a la Plaza: Asada a la Plaza is grilled beef, cut up into pieces, served with potatoes and / or another vegetable, lettuce, onions and tortillas.
Carne Asada: Carne Asada is grilled beef. Carne Asada can be served in a taco; as a very thin steak; or cut into pieces and served with potatoes and / or vegetables. Sinaloa is known throughout Mexico for the quality of its' beef, and the carne asada in Mazatlan is truly delicious.
Ceviche de Camarone: Ceviche de Camarone is a regional classic that is served virtually everywhere in Mazatlan Mexico. Its prepared by marinating fresh uncooked shrimp in lime juice and then blending them with chopped spicy fresh chili's and vegetables. Ceviche de Camarone is served mounded on a plate or in a glass with crisp fried corn tortillas. Try Ceviche de Camarone with ice cold beer -- wonderful!
Chiles Rellenos: Chiles Rellenos are Poblano chilis stuffed with cheese, breaded and pan fried or deep fried. Chiles Rellenos are sometimes served in a soupy ranchero sauce.
Enchiladas: An Enchilada is a lightly fried tortilla -- usually corn -- that is stuffed with cheese and / or shredded chicken or beef. Sinaloan enchiladas are usually served sprinkled with grated queso cotija and a hot sauce or sauces.
Gorditas: A Gordita is a corn cake made with cornmeal and stuffed with cheese, meat or other fillings. It is similar to a pasty and can include pork, chicken, shredded beef, chorizo (hot sausage), carne al pastor, nopalitos (cactus), beans, rajas (sautéed strips of chile), potatoes, eggs or picadillo (ground meat usually mixed with tomatoes, onions, olives and often raisins).
Tacos: Tacos are soft flour (harina) or corn (maize) tortillas filled with your choice of beef, pork, chicken or shrimp. A particular treat are tacos "pastor", which is more-or-less like BBQ pork, often served with grilled pineapple -- and simply delicious.
Pescado Zarandeado: Pescado Zarandeado is butterflied whole fish covered with sliced tomatoes, peppers and onion with usually a mayonnaise-based dressing, cooked over coals. This is usually ordered by size of the fish and is a must-try dish here in Mazatlan Mexico.
Pollo a la Plaza: Pollo a la Plaza is grilled chicken with potatoes and / or another vegetable served with lettuce, onions, and tortillas.
Smoked Marlin: Smoked Marlin is primarily served three ways in Mazatlan -- in Escabeche which is a sweet and sour preparation with carrots and onions and other veggies; Estofado, which is stewed; or ala Mexicana with tomatoes, chiles and cilantro.
Tamales: Tamales are chicken, beef or pork with vegatables -- usually potato -- surrounded by cornmeal and wrapped in corn husks. Sweet Tamales are also sold. Tamales are not truly a Mazatlan specialty, and they aren't that easy to find. Is it safe to drink the water in Mazatlan? Travel Tip #11 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Visitor Info about the safety of tap water in Mazatlan
Many visitors to Mazatlan wonder, is it safe to drink the water? The twelveth of our travel tips addresses the safety of tap water in Mazatlan Mexico.
In virtually all cities in Mexico -- and certainly in Mazatlan -- tap water is potable, meaning that it has been purified and is suitable for human consumption. That being said -- and like other Mazatlan tourist information you may have read -- drinking tap water is, generally, not advised.
The exception to this tip would be some hotels who have filtered internal water systems. These are generally luxury hotels, and they will usually advertise these systems as one of their hotel amenities.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: it is alway worthwhile -- even if you are staying in a luxury hotel -- to check with the front office before drinking tap water.
Almost all restaurants -- including less expensive restaurants -- serve only purified water and ice cubes made with purified water, and the safety of water in Mazatlan restaurants is usually not an issue. Using public telephones in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #12 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about public telephones in Mazatlan
Many tourists ask if the public telephones in Mazatlan are useful to visitors. The thirteenth of our travel tips is an emphatic yes to this question.
There are public telephones everywhere in Mazatlan Mexico.
These phones take either coins or phone cards that can be purchased at any convenience store, such as an OXXO.
Local call from public telephones in Mazatlan are extremely inexpensive -- as little as 3p per call, time unlimited.
International calls can be made from these Mazatlan public telephones but the rates -- like virtually all long-distance telcom services in Mexico -- are rather high compared to what an American or Canadian is used to.
Despite the relative lack of utility of public telephones in Mazatlan for international calls, we are perplexed that more Mazatlan tourist info doesn't emphasise their utility for local calls. One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: get yourself a phone card on your next visit and share this Mazatlan visitor information with friends!
There has also been a resurgance of private telephone booths -- Casetas Telefonica -- in Mazatlan. In elclipse as cellular phone service proliferated, private telephone booths have made a comeback in the form of independent providers such as Casefon who place booths within air conditioned convenience stores like OXXO's -- a big plus on hot humid days!
These private phone booths offer worldwide calling at rates ranging from 1 peso per minute for local calls to 12 pesos per minute to countries outside Mexico other than the United States.
More complete Mazatlan tourist information about your telephone and internet communication options can be found in the Internet & Telephone section of this website. Climate and Weather in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #13 / Mazatlan Mexico Visitor Info about Mazatlan weather and seasonal climate
Mazatlan has a wonderful climate year-round, and four distinct seasons. Fall, Winter and Spring are all extremely comfortable, with variations on warm daytime / deliciously cool evenings. These months are also virtually completely dry, with only a very small portion of Mazatlan's annual rainfall falling within these nine months.
Summer and Fall are the greenest times for Mazatlan and surrounding countryside because Summer brings rains and the benefit of all that water sustains plants well into the Fall.
June, July and August are the rainy -- and tropical storm / hurricane -- season, with daytime temperatures and humidity considerably higher than at any other time of the year. Despite this, Summer days in Mazatlan are usually sunny (storms tend to build in the afternoons), and our Summer rains can be very exciting! Video of a Mazatlan Thunder and Lightning Storm
Mailing letters and postcards from Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #14 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about postal services
Many visitors to Mazatlan -- and Mexico in general -- believe that Mexico doesn't really have a postal system or that the Mexican postal system doesn't work. The fourteenth of our travel tips: contrary to this popular belief, Mexico does have a postal system and, generally, it does work!
Mazatlan's post office is located downtown across from the cathedral. Hours are 9am - 5pm weekdays, and 9am - 1pm on Saturdays. It is also usually possible to mail postcards and letters at your hotel, and the front desk will often have stamps.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips (it will make you a very fun international traveler!): sent postcards and letters home and thrill your family and friends with very cool and colorful Mexican stamps! Electricity in Mazatlan Mexico Travel Tip #15 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Visitor Info about electrical service in Mazatlan
In the era of ubiquitous electronic -- electrical -- devices, most tourists have some questions about electricity. The fifteenth of our travel tips is an attempt to review the basics of electricity in Mazatlan Mexico.
Visitors to The Pearl of The Pacific from the United States or Canada don't need to worry about bringing power adapters -- electrical current in Mazatlan is the same as you are used to (110 volts), and the plugs are the same.
Older buildings may not have 3-prong (grounded) outlet. If your any of your electrical devices have a 3-prong plug, make sure to bring a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter. Also, be aware that many 3-prong sockets are not actually grounded, because the third ground wire was not installed. This is one of our most important Mazatlan travel tips because, without a proper ground, surge protectors -- for example, one that may be built into your laptop computer or that you bring with you to protect your laptop computer -- will not work.
The electrical system in Mazatlan is generally reliable. Most areas will get a few occasional flickers (usually not surges), and many parts of The Pearl of The Pacific experience occasional electrical outages, especially during rain storms or days with very high winds.
Most of these electrical outages are momentary -- really extended electrical flickers lasting only seconds or a few minutes -- and CFE (the federal electricity company, Comision Federal de Electricidad) is very good about getting power restored quickly when there has been more substantial damage to some portion of the electrical grid.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: given the substantial possibility that even if you are plugged in to a 3-prong outlet that it is not really grounded (see above), it is very inadvisable to keep delicate electronic devices plugged into the grid during storms.
Take a break, unplug, have a drink, relax -- they're all good alternatives to having your computer or the iPod or Blackberry you were charging fried!
If you decide to live in Mazatlan long term, you'll need to get a contract for your electricity. Go to the CFE office with your passport and proof of address (this can be a letter from your landlord, deed or title papers if you own the property, or a recent paid phone bill from the address). You'll need to pay a contract fee (a few hundred pesos), and within a few days you'll get hooked up. If you already have power on a previous resident's contract CFE will just come out and change the meter or read the current one to start billing you.
In most parts of Mazatlan CFE bills are issued every two months, and are usually due within 15 days. If you don't pay, CFE wastes no time in cutting you off. You can pay in person at the CFE office, or use the auto-tellers there -- they take cash. CFE electrical bills can also be paid at many retailers, such as Walmart or even OXXO convenience stores. You can also pay your bill at your bank, again for a small additional charge.
You can only pay at non-CFE locations through the next-to-last-day before the due date: on the due date you have to go to a CFE office or CFE automatic teller machine.
One of our most important Mazatlan travel tips: if you don't get your power bill it's your responsibility to know when it's due. If it's getting close to the normal due-date and you haven't received your bill, take a previous bill to one of the CFE machines or the CFE office, wave it in front of the bar-code scanner, and the machine will tell you the amount due.
Be aware that electrical rates in Mazatlan -- and throughout most of Mexico -- are extremely high per kilowatt-hour compared to what Canadians and Americans are used to. If you run air conditioners heavily (or electrical space heaters in the winter), expect a large electrical bill.
Unfortunately, stealing neighbors electricity is not terribly uncommon in Mazatlan. If your bill seems unreasonably high, turn off everything in your house -- or pull the circuit breaker or fuses -- and check to see if your meter is still running. If so, somebody is almost certainly stealing your power. CFE takes this seriously. Let them know. Mazatlan Mexico time Travel Tip #16 / Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico Tourist Info about the correct current time in Mazatlan
The sixteenth of our travel tips is all about time.
Mazatlan is in the Mountain Time Zone: same as Denver
Daylight Saving Time: Mazatlan observes daylight saving time on the same schedule as the vast majority of the United States.
24-Hour Clock: Time in Mazatlan is often referred to by the 24-hour clock (often called 'military time'). This is especially true when in writing, such as in printed advertising. It's easy to discern: Any time posted as 13:00 or higher is in the 24-hour clock.
Simply subtract 12 from the number of hours displayed.
For example, if a soccer match is advertised as being broadcast at 13:00, it will be shown at 1pm. 18:00 means 6pm, 20:30 means 8:30pm, etc.
Travel Tips
Mazatlan Travel Guide
