Not Cancun and its jam-packed resort zone, Puerto Vallarta and its club-lined beachfront, much less Cabo with its ultra-luxurious hotels and wellness centers: the fastest-growing destination in Mexico is a sunny, up-and-coming Mazatlan!
Straddling the Pacific shoreline of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, this mid-size city just over 441,000 people call home is expected to have a 15 to 20% increase in tourism in early 2025, with a significant increase in the number of airline seats.
As local authorities have noted, this is proof American visitors ‘trust’ in Mazatlan to treat them well, and these are some of the main reasons why:
Mazatlan Isn’t Nearly As Dangerous As The Media Portrays It
For starters, Mazatlan is incredibly safe compared to other beach destinations sitting along the Mexican Pacific.
It’s no secret that this is a gang hotspot, and every now and then, there are problems from this that typically do not end up well, especially in the state of Sinaloa, but in Mazatlan’s case, the levels of crime are much, much lower.
The U.S. continues to advise its citizens to avoid travel to the state, citing security concerns, but as they point out, Mazatlan is a low-risk destination if you’re arriving via air, particularly the Zona Dorada, where many of the hotels are located, and the historic center.
According to Numbeo, the level of crime in the city is only ‘moderate’, on a par with the likes of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, and in recent months, no major incidents involving tourists have been reported by local media.
That’s not to say Mazatlan is crime-free, but as long as you exercise the expected caution––i.e. don’t flash valuables in public and steer clear of suburban areas, particularly at night––you’ll be fine.
Mazatlan Is Way More Affordable
On top of being relatively safe for visitors, it is much more affordable than your typical Mexican getaway.
While resorts in Cabo can easily run you up to $600-a-night in the high season, not to mention the limited availability, Mazatlan equivalents start at a comparatively economical $306: that’s the five-star Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort for you.
The Courtyard by Marriott has ‘luxe’ listings from as cheap as $121, the landmark Varali Grand Hotel has oceanfront, double rooms setting you back by a surprisingly-inexpensive $84-a-night, and if you don’t really care for luxury, local hotels average only $54.
When it comes to food, there’s of course curbside tacos for under a dollar, hearty portions in traditional Mexican restaurants for around $10, as seen on Numbeo, and as for three-course dinners in a fancier restaurant by the Malecon, expect to pay roughly $37.
In total, a one-week trip to Mazatlan costs $840, based on estimates provided by Budget Your Trip.
Why Is Mazatlan So Cheap?
At such attractive rates, you may be wondering how exactly Mazatlan is this cheap when you can’t find vacation package deals for under $2,000 bucks elsewhere in Mexico.
The answer is in the kind of destination it is: unlike Cancun, Cabo and the like, it still mostly serves domestic vacationers, or in other words, Mexicans who cannot afford burning through their savings to treat themselves in an all-inclusive Caribbean stay.
As a result, consumer prices reflect the purchasing power of the middle-income Mexican family, which as you might suspect, is more restrictive than their American counterpart’s.
Old World Charm & Golden Sand Beaches
Additionally, Mazatlan combines coastal relaxation, nightlife, and culture in one destination.
It has beautiful golden-sand beaches hugged by an azure Pacific, all lining a 13-mile long Malecon, with Playa Gaviotas, Playa Cerritos, Olas Altas and Playa Norte to name some, as well as a centuries-old center dating back to the Spanish colonization.
If you love Mexico for the Old World vibes, chances are you’ll be obsessed with the narrow cobbled streets of Old Mazatlan, flanked by colorful house facades and traditional family-owned restaurants and dotted with noteworthy architectural elements.
Two of the most notable structures in the center are the imposing Immaculate Conception Basilica and the 19th-century Teatro Ángela Peralta.
Over in Zona Dorada, the picturesque, pedestrian-friendly lanes give way to a modern cityscape of many high-rise condominiums, rooftop bars and beach clubs: it is where a majority of nightclubs and entertainment venues are located, including a popular Classico Mazatlan.
More Flights To Mazatlan This Season!
According to Gilberto Avilés, the––this one’s a mouthful––coordinator of the Airlines and Marketing Committee of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of Mazatlan, believes tourist trust in Mazatlan is at an all-time high.
Starting this season, Delta flights will launch to Mazatlan from Los Angeles and Minneapolis/St. Paul, both on December 21 and the growth in air connectivity was the highest in Mexico, with growth in air connectivity being the highest in Mexico.
This winter, Mazatlan’s is expected to grow 7 percent, while Cancun, the leading tourist destination in the country, has seen a single one-digit adjustment––Avilés concludes that, as a result, the city should host between 15 to 20 percent more tourists between January and April alone.
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