The Top 7 Best Things to do in Mazatlán for Cheap
There are so many free and cheap things to do even if you’re only in Mazatlán for a day. I’ve been to Mazatlán three times and on all separate visits I made it a mission to do something unusual each time.
There’s no secret that top Mexico destinations like Cancun, Tulum, and Puerto Vallarta are amazing locations and offer so much but I believe Mazatlán is an amazing hidden gem of Mexico. With the right budgeting and planning you can definitely get the right bang for your bucks! Since Mazatlán isn’t as well-known as the popular Mexican cities, I decided to put together a guide with some tips for anyone traveling to Mazatlán.
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Take a Hike to the El Faro LightHouse
This is one of the first things I tell people visiting Mazatlan to check out. This is a moderately easy hike up the mountain of Cerro Creston and it’s FREE! Cerro Creston is a small mountain next to Mazatlan’s port. It’s about a thirty minute walk from the Mazatlan Centro but you can take a taxi to the mountain for a very cheap price. Along the hike up you’ll encounter some cute stray cats, amazing weather, and sneak peeks of the views to come at the top. This mountain by far has the best views of Mazatlan. Once at the top you can walk through and around the El Faro Lighthouse for free and for the cost of 5 pesos you’ll be able to walkout on the glass-bottomed lookout.
2. Walk the Mazatlan MaleconThe Malecon in Mazatlan is a perfect place to stroll through and site-see. You’ll be right next to the ocean and on the other side have an abundance of Mazatlan restaurants and bars to choose from. You’ll see some great historic monuments and maybe even catch some cliff divers.
3. Lounge Out at the Mazatlan Best Western
This hotel in Mazatlan has probably the second best view of the city from the hotel rooftop.
There’s no charge to get pool access since the top floor is a restaurant/bar. Just make sure to purchase some drinks and food and tip the bartenders well for courtesy. And need I say there is free wifi available too? I know it’s fun to unplug but this is a great place in Mazatlan to connect with your family and update your social media accounts.
4. Go Horseback Riding on Stone Island
Get this, you can go to an obscure island and ride horses along the beach then stop and get some drinks at a beachside restaurant. I know it sounds like a dream but in Mazatlan this is real!
Stone Island is all but a quick boat ride away just outside of Mazatlan. The horseback riding I did on Stone Island is open from 9:30 AM to 1:30PM at the cost of $39usd. This includes free pickup from your hotel, about an hour and a half of actual riding, and a chance to lounge out at the local restaurants. It was such a surreal experience riding horses in a foreign country. We were going through small towns and coconut plantations. I cannot recommend this enough.
5. Grab Food in Mazatlan Centro
While you can take a self-guided walking tour through the Centro Historica, you’ll come across some amazing restaurants.
Some of the best restaurants in Mazatlan Golden Zone include:
6. Ride Bikes Along Los Pinos Beach
Los Pinos Beach is one of the smaller beaches in Mazatlan but still so beautiful. My boyfriend and I rented bikes to ride along the coast. There are some good options to choose from but just make sure you bring the bikes back on time or even before your time is almost up. This will save you from a pretty pricey late fee charge.
7. Take a Stroll Through Mazatlan Centro Historico
Things to know about Mazatlan is that the city is extremely historic. This historic commercial center of Mazatlan has been around since 1847!
At no charge, you can take a self-guided tour throughout the city center visiting historic cathedrals, museums, and more. Throughout the walk you’ll see the influences of German, Spanish, and Italian artisans.
GlobetrotterCurls Pro Tips:
Bring walking shoes! You can save a lot of money walking to different destinations in Mazatlan because the weather is amazing and the distance isn’t far.
Pack a reusable water bottle. The water in Mexico is unfortunately not safe to drink, I recommend packing some water bottles or even better a reusable one.
Be sure to bring bug spray, especially on your hikes!
If you have any questions regarding traveling to Mazaltan and what to do there feel free to leave a comment down below message me on Instagram.
Hey Everyone!
I’m Chenise J, a part-time, self-made, traveler who’s been to over 17 Countries! I created this life of traveling and maintaining healthy natural hair completely on my own, and my goal is to give you as much information and inspiration as possible to make travel happen for you too!
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