State · Noroeste e Barrancas del Cobre

Sinaloa

Sinaloa, on the Pacific: Mazatlán and the historic center, the malecón and Carnival, El Fuerte and Los Mochis, at the end of the Chepe train line.

In the photo: Topolobampo Bay

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Sinaloa

Sinaloa lies on the Pacific coast, between the sea and the Sierra Madre Occidental. It is an agricultural and fishing region, known in Mexico for its seafood, banda music, and the beaches of Mazatlán.

Mazatlán is the state's main tourist city. The historic center has restored 19th-century houses, Machado Square and the Ángela Peralta Theater. The malecón runs for more than 20 km along the waterfront, and the lighthouse on Cerro del Crestón, atop a hill, overlooks the city and the islands offshore. Mazatlán Carnival, held before Lent, is one of the oldest in the country.

To the north, El Fuerte is a colonial town with colorful houses, a Pueblo Mágico, and one of the stops of the Chepe train, which climbs through the Copper Canyon to Chihuahua. Los Mochis, near the port of Topolobampo, is the Pacific-side terminus of the line.

The capital, Culiacán, sits in the middle of the state. On the table: shrimp aguachile, pescado zarandeado and fresh seafood sold on the beaches and in markets.

Destinations

1 destination in Sinaloa

1 city

Mazatlán

Cities

1 cities in Sinaloa in the guide

Sinaloa

Mazatlán

Mazatlán is Sinaloa’s main tourist city on the Pacific, with a busy port, a restored 19th-century historic center and a malecón over 20 km long. It has urban beaches, the Cerro del Crestón lighthouse, Isla de la Piedra across the channel, banda music and one of Mexico’s oldest carnivals.

When to go

From November to May there is little rain and moderate heat; it is the high season. From June to October it is very hot, it rains and it is the Pacific hurricane season. Carnival takes place in February or March. Sinaloa is 4 hours behind Brasília.

Getting there

Mazatlán airport (MZT) receives flights from Mexico City, other cities, and from the United States and Canada; Los Mochis (LMM) and Culiacán (CUL) also have airports. From Durango, Mazatlán is about 3 hours via the mountain highway. The Chepe Express train departs from Los Mochis and stops in El Fuerte.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Sinaloa

How many days to stay in Mazatlán?

Three to four days for the historic center, the lighthouse, the malecón and a boat trip to the islands.

When is Mazatlán Carnival?

Before Lent, in February or March, with parades on the malecón.

Can you start the Chepe train in Sinaloa?

Yes. The train departs from Los Mochis and stops in El Fuerte before climbing into the mountains.

What is aguachile?

Raw shrimp cured in lime with chili, cucumber and onion, a typical dish of the Sinaloa coast.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.