Souvenirs, Mazatlán

I priced good tequila (Anejo) in town and it cost as much as at home in California! Finally on our way out, I got a decent deal at the airport. It was about $32 for a bottle that would retail for $50 in the U.S.

There are soooo many places to shop. One of the best places is on the beach... But barter a little. Take the time to ask them their name... visit a little... You will find that there are many fascinating people in Mazatlan.....
If you buy silver you should look for the 925 stamp on it...This is a stamp of quality.... Get a second opinion and look around to be sure you get the best price. But most of all, have a blast!!! The people of Mazatlan are the best!!

What to buy: Silver, silver , silver

What to pay: As litlle or as much as you want the more you buy at one time the better deal you get...

Shopping, people-watching and beach bumming on the beaches of the Golden Zone. The main drag is Rodolfo T. Loaiza -- ask your taxi driver to drop you at the Hotel Playa Mazatlan, which is pretty much in the thick of things.

There were so many little shops in the Golden Zone. A lot of them had the same stock and usually the same prices. I thought that it was fun looking in each crook and cranny trying to find something different. Great atmosphere and friendly people.

What to buy: A friend asked us to bring back vanilla. I wondered why.

The best deal was real vanilla. In Canada real vanilla is expensive. A large bottle of vanilla that cost $5 in Mexico would cost about $25 in Canada.

There are so many shops in the Golden Zone area that I wouldn't even want to begin to name them. My wife & I shop well together as long as we are close enough to a bar for me to sit in while she goes about her shopping. The difference between men & women is that women can spend all day going into every store around in order to find that special something to buy, while men have had enough after about half an hour of walking into stores.

What to buy: Actually the prices in Mazatlan are reasonable compared to other places like Puerto Vallarta & Cancun. Mazatlan has always been known to be one of the best tourist spots to get value for your dollar.

What to pay: The peddlers on the beaches usually almost double the actual price for a starting price & then it's up to you to talk him down to a more reasonable price. Usually you can get things for about 60% of the original asking price.
Sometimes the peddlers get lucky with someone that's right off the plan(you can tell who they are because they're as white as can be) & they get the almost full asking price.
The stores on the street on the other hand do not barder to much with their prices.

There is even a place right there near the pier to stop for refreshments. Irwin took advantage of the seat while I was still shopping.

December 2003

In Mazatlán there is a large building filled with vendors. When you leave the building heading toward the taxis, there is a large courtyard with even more souvenir stands.

December 2003