Mazatlan flights and travel guide

Mazatlan is located in the state of Sinaloa on Mexico's northern Pacific Coast. Its appeal lies in its timeworn and laidback vibe. Apart from the spring break season when students take cheap flights to Mazatlan to party, most visitors are families, surfers hoping to catch the perfect wave, and fishermen.

It's called the billfish capital of the world, the best place to catch marlin, swordfish, sailfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo and tuna. It's also the shrimp capital of the world - heaven for lovers of seafood.

Use the Malecon to get oriented. The boulevard stretches from the Golden Zone to Old Town. Old Mazatlan is home to the outstanding twin-towered cathedral. Nearby, the Plazuela Machado has plenty of historic buildings and sidewalk cafés. 

Stone Island Mazatlan (Isla de la Piedra) is just a short boat ride across Navigation Channel. It's quieter than mainland Mazatlan and boasts one of Mexico's largest coconut groves, sandy beaches and gentle waves. 

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Mazatlan climate

There is no bad time to take cheap flights to Mazatlan. The city experiences tropical weather year-round. Temperatures range from 18 to 35 degrees Celsius (65-95 degrees Fahrenheit).

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When to fly to Mazatlan

Peak Season:
November to April is peak. The winter months are when most visitors arrive on cheap flights to Mazatlan.

Off Season:
The rainy season runs June through October. Summers are hot and humid.

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Getting downtown Mazatlan

Once travellers have disembarked their cheap flights to Mazatlan, rental car from the airport or taxi is the most comfortable way of getting downtown. There are also buses from the airport downtown.

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Getting around Mazatlan

When your cheap flight to Mazatlan arrives, use any of several car rental options, like Advantage, Budget and Hertz. To get around the city, hop aboard a pulmonia, the open, golf cart-like taxis that run all over the city. They don’t have meters, but the fares are normally reasonable. You can also find plenty of traditional, metered taxis.

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Mazatlan insider information

• Banda music is a fusion of German polka music and traditional Mexican music. It was established in the 1930s by German immigrants. Most banda music groups have ten or more musicians. Restaurants in Mazatlan and throughout the province of Sinaloa often host banda music bands at night.
• Another German passion, good beer, is produced at the Pacifico brewery. There are tours Monday through Friday at 9am and 4pm during which participants can sample the famous beer.
• There is good fishing year-round in the waters surrounding Mazatlan. For swordfish and striped marlin take cheap flights to Mazatlan January through April, for blue marlin, May to December, for black marlin, July to December, for sailfish March to December and for dorado, March to December. Tuna is available year round.
• Time your souvenir shopping to avoid Wednesdays and Thursdays. These days are when cruise ships are in port and stores are very busy. Items to pick up include Mayan masks, animal models, ceramic patio and garden ornaments, lamps, wall hangings and sandals.
• Mazatlán’s three beach islands are a short boat ride away. They are Isla de Chivos (Goat Island), Isla de Pájaros (Bird Island), and the Isla de Venados (Deer Island) nature preserve.
• At the Aquarium and Botanical Gardens (Acuario Mazatlan), there are dozens of marine-life tanks with sharks, seahorses, lobsters, and more than 250 exotic species from around the world.
• The Sea Shell City Museum in the heart of the Zona Dorada is home to an amazing collection of seashells. Not only is there an enormous fountain made of sea shells, there are rare shells such as Bullmouth Helmet, Caribbean Milk Moon, Trumped Triton, and Venus.

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Mazatlan airports

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