Is Mazatlan safe? Mexico Travel Safety Guide

Mazatlán on the Map

Mazatlán is a popular beachside city located in the state of Sinaloa, along Mexico’s stunning Pacific coast.

Due to its location, it’s home to some incredible stretches of white sands and great weather, which makes it popular with US tourists.

Bounded by the Gulf of California, you’ll find that the closest neighbouring states to Mazatlán are Nayarit to the south and Durango to the east.

Then for reference, Mazatlán is roughly 445km north of the infamous resort town of Puerto Vallarta, and 1030km away from Mexico City.

Is it safe to travel to Mazatlán right now?

Yes – It’s incredibly safe to travel to Mazatlán and part of the reson why thousands of tourists visit every year. The police in the area are clamping down on any petty or tourist-targeted crime in the area, so it’s very safe.

In the Golden zone, Old Town, or on the Malecon, it feels extremely safe. Visitors frequent these areas at night too, as they come to life at night.

One thing many travel professionals in the industry have had to deal with in recent years is the huge influx of fake news or misleading statistics regarding safety in Mexico for visitors. This includes sensational headlines or crime reports that don’t provide the full context of the situation.

The irony of this is that most visitors to this region describe the area as safer than most major American cities. You may even want to compare Mazatlán with a city such as Puerto Vallarta to see the subtle differences.

The most dangerous risk when traveling to Mazatlán would be a simple petty crime, which in all honesty, can be found in most countries today.

All in all, it’s a touristy location to travel to, so the emphasis on safety and the upkeep of security is already better than in most of Mexico.

⚠️ What I think must be mentioned before providing these harrowing statistics about the region below, is that these are not for Mazatlán.

Safety facts about Sinaloa

Mazatlán has little to no crime at all, especially with serious crimes such as homicide or terrorism. The cartels don’t go near the touristy region, they mostly gather in places like Culiacan, which is a three-hour drive away.

Will you travel to Mazatlán soon?

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Is Mazatlán safe to travel alone?

Yes, Mazatlán is safe to travel to alone. Use your common sense when taking excursions outside of resort hotel areas. Don’t expect complete safety during the late hours, and stick to the confines of tourist areas.

It would help if you knew some basic Spanish since Mexicans very much appreciate English speakers who learn it as a second language.

Booking excursions, hotels, and bus rides will be a lot easier if you did speak Spanish. Otherwise you can just book excursions such as the Temazcal Experience online and meet an English speaking guide on-site.

A note for solo female travelers

It is not unusual to see solo female travelers in Mazatlán in places such as the Marina or in and around the Golden Zone.

As far as taking precautions go, things such as not frequenting the same streets at the exact same time every day and sticking to the built-up areas when out and about go a long way in preventing any unwanted encounters.

As a female traveling solo in Mazatlán, I suggest staying at a guest house such as the Wandering Monkey or connecting with the crowd there.

💡Smart Travel Tip
If you frequent the same places on a daily basis, get to know the local service staff. Such as the waiters or buying from local street vendors.

That way, those dubious characters who may be intrigued by your self-reliance will then see that you are interacting with others so you may not be seen as ‘alone’ as you may appear to be.

Backpacking Mazatlán safety

Backpacking across Mexico can be tricky since most of the bordering regions with other countries have a difficult reputation.

Consider staying at a hotel or one of the many top-rated hostels as a secure location when deciding where to stay in Mazatlán.

Mexico is an amazing country to navigate, but you definitely need to look up which regions should be avoided when backpacking.

I suggest that backpackers who find themselves in Mazatlán wanting to travel north or south, find a coach service that can take you to Mexico City and travel around from there as a starting point.

Either that or if you’re moving south along the Pacific coast, make the trip to Puerto Vallarta. See my Mexico bus guide for more transport tips.

Where to stay in Mazatlán

One of the best areas to stay in Mazatlán is El Centro, near the Plaza Machado. Check out Hotel Siesta for a great stay close to the beach.

Most places around the Plaza Machado are safer than the rest of the city as its frequented by more tourists, which means a heavier police presence.

Here you’ll also find lots of authentic street food vendors and shops to go bargain hunting in. Everything in this area is within close walking distance, so you’re never too far away from the best restaurants or bars

Las Gaviotas is another cool area, with its stretch of the long malecón here, where you can spend most evenings by the beach with many restaurants and some of the top nightlife options around the barrio.

Mazatlán: Travel safety tips

Providing you stick to the tourist routes, this region of Mexico is safe for exploring. But it still smarts if you exercise the right precautions while out.

⤵️ Here are some useful tips to help you on your journey:

Driving safely in Mexico

When driving, avoid isolated roads, and use toll roads (‘cuotas’) whenever possible. Another thing to do is to keep car doors locked and windows closed, especially at traffic lights and even more so when driving at night.

There have been a number of violent car-jackings and robberies along the Pacific Highway so be careful when traveling on this route.

Becuse of the associated value in transit, those traveling in large camper vans or sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have been targeted in the past.

If you have decided to rent a car and suspect you’re being followed or watched, drive to a police station or other safe place.

Be particularly alert on public transport, at airports, and in bus stations. Note that theft on buses is common. Keep an eye on your belongings!

Where possible, travel on first-class buses using toll roads, which have a lower rate of incidents than second and third-class buses traveling on the less secure free (‘libre’) roads. Most first-class bus companies perform some kind of security check before and after passengers board the bus.

Travel Safety in Mazatlán

Mazatlán is the spiritual and cultural home of a whole race of indigenous people that existed before the Spanish arrived. It has some of the best beaches, weather, and food in all of Mexico.

It truly is an underrated location in Mexico, so it almost seems untouched. It’s extremely safe with the police around at all times, but don’t venture out of the tourist spots.

Feeling inspired to travel to this part of north America already? See more of the safe places in Mexico you can visit whilst on your travels in this nation!