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Mazaltan

Radarhog

By Radarhog,
in Mexican Riviera

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Radarhog

Radarhog

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Would it be a good idea to just get off the ship in Mazatlán and walk the city. Are there places close? Or would we need to take a taxi to some starting point. I know we want to go to the city market and find a local place to bravely challenge out stomachs.

 

Go!

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riffatsea

riffatsea

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Hi,

It sounds like you haven't read any of the other threads below this one with questions about Mazatlan?? Yes you can easily walk! In the port area you take a people mover to the exit.

There you will find local volunteers made up of snowbirds/tourists etc who stay in Mazatan for either the winter or who have retired there. They will point you to the blue line painted down the middle of the street which you follow to the central market. There will be other volunteers along the way.

There is a church, market with all sorts of food a central plaza etc.

You will also find golfcart taxis called pulmonias. You can bargain with the driver for a ride farther around the city to points of interest or just a ride back towards the port if you are tired.

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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Riff's answer is great.  The blue line will not take you 100% to the Cathedral/Mercado, but there are plenty of snowbirds to point the way.  These volunteers love to talk to the tourists!

 

I'd just like to add that there are restaurants as well as food stalls in the central Mercado, for you to experience the local food.

 

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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Riff, the Blue Line takes you to Plaza Machado, a very nice place to relax, and you can eat in any of several restaurants.

 

The Cathedral (Basilica de La Immaculada Concepcion) is not at Plaza Machado, but at Plaza de la Republic.  That is about seven blocks further on.  The Blue Shirts [the American and Canadian tourist assistants] at the Plaza Machado will be happy to point the way. 

 

The Central Market (Mercado Pina Suarez) is about two blocks further down from the Cathedral.  

 

To the OP, I often walk to the Cathedral and the Market, to get my exercise in.  It is far more interesting than walking around the ship (seven very boring laps equals one mile!).  From there, I take a golf cart to Zona Dorado.  From there, I take a golf cart back to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

 

The golf carts are everywhere and you will get tired saying "no thanks" to the persistent drivers.

 

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riffatsea

riffatsea

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@Mike45LC

Interesting that I mixed it all up in my mind.

I do see though that the Cathedral is north of that square you mentioned.

Is it possible that there's another church at Plaza Machado that I mistook for the cathedral???

I know I've been to the market and I didn't think we walked much farther than the blue line but it's been a few years and we've visited a few other Mexican cities in that time!

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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Riff, I don't recall a church at Plaza Machado, but it is unlikely that you mistook another church for the Cathedral.  Especially if you walked to the Market.  It is just a few blocks further, walking in a very pleasant atmosphere while on vacation and while on a cruise port stop!  What could be better, and how easy to mis-remember the short extra distance!!

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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Jen, before you get into one of the golf carts, you have to negotiate the fare -- "How much to take us to the Cathedral?"  The price will be for the entire party (if you can all fit in the cart!!!) -- I have had drivers say "per person" but that is not the way they usually present it.  The fare is usually quoted in $US.  Depending on the distance involved, $5 to $10 is not unreasonable, but sometimes $15.  More if you are hiring the cab for a tour instead of basic transport.  

 

Do you simply want to go from the cruise ship terminal to the Cathedral?  Or do you want to first go to see the cliff divers, and have the taxi wait for you there before taking you to the Cathedral?  

 

I have had drivers take us to OXXO stores and wait for us as we drove back to the ship.  I had one driver stop at a coconut stand as we were going up to see the lighthouse (El Faro), so we could buy coconuts -- I bought one for the driver as well.   I had a driver take us through the drive-through at Dairy Queen -- I bought him a sundae.    I did not negotiate the add-on for these, but gave the driver an extra $5 and he was happy.

 

The drivers all speak enough English so that they understand where you want to go, and you can reach an agreement as to price.  Of course, if you speak Spanish like a native (my wife is fluent), the prices are always better!!

 

Pay in US $ cash at the end of the drive.

 

Do NOT hire a driver for a multi-stop trip, such as "take us to the Cathedral, the Market and Golden Zone."  It is too hard to remember which of the golf carts is yours, after you walk out of the Cathedral!!!  There are dozens of them, and many of them look alike.  Finding the right cart after the divers do their act is hard enough!

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
cruisenurse2

cruisenurse2

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Hello

 

Last year we walked the blue line. Oh did we have a fun adventure. We found a wonderful quilt shop. Little locally owned shops such as a coffee shop with real Mexican coffee and ice cream. we also saw the cathedral and if we had kept walking and walked over a bridge there was a market. We also found a wonderful artsy craft/ gift shop. Beautiful things. We met many American ambassadors. We felt safe and welcomed. 

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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Blue Line is literally a blue line painted down the center of the streets, showing the direct route from the cruise ship terminal to downtown Mazatlán.  The line begins at the terminal -- any of the Ambassadors (Tourist Information Volunteers, American and Canadian expats for the most part, who love Mazatlán and wish to share their knowledge) can show you the beginning of the route.  There will be both Ambassadors and police along the route (not that you need them!), so you cannot go astray.

 

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

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The walk is not too far, maybe a mile?  I hope Falcon comes on and gives you the actual distance!

 

Lots of shops, restaurants, and -- I learned from CruiseNurse -- even a quilt shop!

 

Most vendors accept US$.  But I prefer to use pesos -- the vendors use a lousy exchange rate, in part because of the inconvenience to them of changing US$ into pesos.  Think about it, what would you have to do in Indi to change pesos into US$ if someone paid you in pesos, and how expensive would it be for you?

 

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Editrix

Editrix

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Posted (edited)
On ‎8‎/‎31‎/‎2019 at 12:09 PM, Radarhog said:

Would it be a good idea to just get off the ship in Mazatlán and walk the city. Are there places close? Or would we need to take a taxi to some starting point. I know we want to go to the city market and find a local place to bravely challenge out stomachs.

 

Go!

 

If you want to eat local food, I recommend you book a Flavor Teller Tour. I was in Mazatlán last week and took the Mercado and More Tour. It was exceptional. If you're in town on a weekday, the Barrio Bites tour would be offered. It isn't offered on Sundays (when I was there) because Sunday is still considered a day of rest in Mexico and many places are closed.

 

My husband went sport fishing, so I took a taxi (by myself) from port to the meeting place in Plazuela Machado. It couldn't have been easier.

 

https://www.flavorteller.com/

 

Edited by Editrix
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