MAZATLAN

Mazatlan is located in the northwest of the Mexican Republic and in the south of the State of Sinaloa, below the Tropic of Cancer, between the meridians 105 07' & 23 52' with an altitude of 2 meters above sea level. The port city combines its beaches with the colonial centers of the western sierra, giving a striking contrast to the distinct attractions that can be seen in the southern part of Sinaloa.

In nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Empire, the word Mazatlan signifies “land of the deer,” composed of two syllables: mazatl, or deer, and tlan, meaning place or land.

For many years, Mazatlan was the principal city in the state of Sinaloa, not only for its superior population but also for its economic development. In 1821 when Mexico became independent from Spain, it was declared the “top international port” of the Mexican Pacific. From 1859 to 1873, given its importance, it functioned as the state capital.

Mazatlan occupies a peninsula which little by little has grown to the north through the addition of new neighborhoods and housing developments as well as tourist complexes, and now has a population of approximately 500,000 inhabitants..

It is still one of the major ports on the Mexican Pacific, and has the largest fleet of shrimp and fishing boats in the country. It also has some industries, although its major source of business nowadays is tourism..

How do you get to Mazatlan?

You can arrive in Mazatlan via one of the air routes connecting this city with the principal cities in Mexico, such as the Federal District (Mexico City), Guadalajara, Monterrey, Hermosillo, Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, among others. Flight times are short and by road, great advances in highway construction have created superhighways that create fast and more comfortable driving conditions. There are also ferry connections from Baja California.

a) Land -- Mazatlan is accessible by all modes. Transport by highway is done via a network of 16,000 kms. (about 10,000 miles) of road connecting the state’s major cities of Mazatlan, Culiacan and Los Mochis by International Highway No. 15 with Nogales, Sonora, to the north and with Mexico City to the south. Mazatlan is connected with Durango, 319 kms. (about 200 miles) to the east via Federal Highway No. 40. There are also toll roads from the border extending clear through to Mazatlan.

b) Air -- Rafael Buelna International Airport serves the city, with direct flights from Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, as well as from Mexico City and Los Cabos/La Paz in Baja California Sur. The number for general information at the airport is (669) 982-2399.

c) Sea -- Maritime connections to Mazatlan are by ferry from Baja California Sur, as well as by cruise ships. Such lines as Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, regularly schedule stops here, and soon Disney ships will be making calls as well.

The ferry terminal phone numbers are (669) 981-7020 and 981-7021.