Sinaloa is a Pacific coast state in northwestern Mexico, stretching from the Sierra Madre Occidental foothills to a long stretch of Pacific coastline. It is home to Culiacán, the state capital and largest inland city, and Mazatlán, a historic port city and long-established beach resort with a colonial old town and a wide, palm-lined malecón. Sinaloa is also one of Mexico's main agricultural producers and has a strong regional identity built around seafood, banda music, and its Pacific coast heritage.
Local currency: Mexican Peso (MXN).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Sinaloa.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- MXN 350-550 ($20-32)
- Budget
- MXN 900-1,400 ($52-80)
- Midrange
- MXN 1,400-2,800 ($80-160)
- Luxury
- MXN 3,500-8,500+ ($200-490+)
Food
- Street
- MXN 20-60 ($1-3.50)
- Local
- MXN 100-200 ($6-11)
- Midrange
- MXN 250-500 ($14-29)
- Fine
- MXN 700-1,800 ($40-105)
Transport
- Bus
- MXN 10-15 ($0.60-0.90) local pulmonia/bus fare in Mazatlan
- Taxi
- MXN 80-200 ($4.50-11.50)
- Airport
- MXN 300-600 ($17-35) fixed-rate airport taxi from Mazatlan International
- Daytrip
- MXN 400-1,200 ($23-70)
Activities
- Museum
- MXN 40-100 ($2.30-5.75)
- Sites
- MXN 30-90 ($1.75-5)
- Tour
- MXN 500-1,400 ($29-80)
- Excursion
- MXN 900-2,500 ($52-145)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Sinaloa costs end-to-end.
Budget Traveler traveller
Daily total MXN 900-1,300 ($52-75), Description Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Mazatlan's Centro Historico, street tacos and market meals, local buses and pulmonias, and free beaches and historic-center sightseeing
Midrange Traveler traveller
Daily total MXN 2,300-3,500 ($130-200), Description 3-star hotel or beachfront mid-range property in the Zona Dorada, sit-down seafood restaurants, a mix of taxis and tours, and paid attractions like the aquarium or a Faro lighthouse hike with a guide
Luxury Traveler traveller
Daily total MXN 6,000+ ($345+), Description Beachfront resort or boutique hotel, fine dining on fresh-caught seafood, private transfers, sportfishing charters, and spa or golf days
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat where locals eat - mercados and street stalls in Mazatlan's Centro Historico serve excellent tacos, aguachile, and mariscos for a fraction of restaurant prices
Use pulmonias (open-air local taxis unique to Mazatlan) or city buses instead of hotel-arranged transport for short hops
Visit the historic center, the malecon, and public beaches, all of which are free, rather than paying for private beach clubs
Book accommodation in the Centro Historico rather than the Zona Dorada resort strip for lower nightly rates with easy bus access to the beach
Travel in the shoulder months (October-November or April-May) when hotel rates drop from the winter high season peak
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Walking Mazatlan's Centro Historico and Plaza Machado, ringed by restored 19th-century buildings
The Malecon oceanfront promenade, one of the longest in Latin America, for walking, jogging, or watching the cliff divers at Clavadistas de Mazatlan (tips appreciated)
Hiking the free public trail to El Faro lighthouse for panoramic views over the bay
Public beaches along Playa Norte, Playa Olas Altas, and Playa Los Pinos
Watching sunset from the malecon or Playa Olas Altas, a long-standing local tradition
Browsing the Mercado Pino Suarez, Mazatlan's historic central market
Exploring the exterior and plaza of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Catedral Basilica de Mazatlan) in the Centro Historico