Mazatlan, Mexico

[Mazatlan Frank]

No problem with the questions. The name of the store is Indio Shop and it is on Angel Flores Street, around the corner from the Shrimp Bucket restaurant, which is in the Old Mazatlan.
The Taxi can be taken after you come back from Stone Island, at the embarcadero (dock) or at the cruiseship terminal. Randi will know better I am sure. Just tell her that after the tour you want a taxi. Very close to Indio (about 1 block) is the Malecon or board walk. If you like to go there and walk a little you can see some nice sights. Very close is also where the cliff divers dive from. If you get there when a tour bus arrives, they will ask you for a tip. If you get there, when no one else is there, they might ask you for 5-10us and then they dive. That is beacause they do not really charge, but the more people, the more they can make. I would not do it, not even for $10,000us, hahaha.
About the small ones, I understand you, I have two!
Any other questions are welcome:

Mazatlan Frank

 

[alohatee]

hey there, alohatee! to add to your list...shakas!

RSJJ - sorry for the delayed response - where is shakas?

 

[alohatee]

No problem with the questions... Very close is also where the cliff divers dive from. If you get there when a tour bus arrives, they will ask you for a tip. If you get there, when no one else is there, they might ask you for 5-10us and then they dive. That is beacause they do not really charge, but the more people, the more they can make. I would not do it, not even for $10,000us, hahaha....Any other questions are welcome:

Mazatlan Frank

1, Are the cliff divers there all day long? How far of a jump is that?
2. Sis in law LOVES hot sauce. Is there a popular hot sauce brand in Mazatlan? PV? Cabo?
3. You have probably mentioned in the past posts - what is the best brand of tequila in Mazatlan? PV? Cabo?
4. What is the average temps in August?
5. Where is the closest FedEx or UPS to the ship or do shops offer the service?
6. What is the current exchange rate?
7. How is the real estate market? For retirement or vacation?

 

[jlawall]

Thx Frank for all your detailed responses............what do you recommend to us one day visitors..................what should we definitely not miss when we come to your town?

 

[rsjj]

RSJJ - sorry for the delayed response - where is shakas?

alohatee...there's 2, with one opening soon. one is artesia (i think...never been to that one!) one in monterey park, right off the 60. and the new one opening soon will be in alhambra! not sure if you're familiar w/the area...if you need specifics, pm me, and i can give you the details. i think you're in cerritos, right? or maybe that's someone else?

 

[pppiglet]

I love The Loft! And we have an L & L close by us too, but never heard of Shakas. Guess I'll have to look for that one in Artesia!

 

[rsjj]

I love The Loft! And we have an L & L close by us too, but never heard of Shakas. Guess I'll have to look for that one in Artesia!

you have to tell me, where is the loft? and they serve standard hawaiian fare? next time i go to shakas, i'll check to see where exactly for the artesia location!

 

[alohatee]

you have to tell me, where is the loft? and they serve standard hawaiian fare? next time i go to shakas, i'll check to see where exactly for the artesia location!

We have one here in Torrance on Hawthorne/Sepulveda. Hefty portions of hawaiian cuisine (adapted to american culture) and very tasty!!!

 

[pppiglet]

The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant, (562) 402-3538, 20157 Pioneer Blvd, Lakewood, CA, 90715 Funny... I always thought it was more Long Beach area. Oh well, I think Del Amo is the cross street. Nice and casual, definately more seating than our L & L.

May DCL can have a cruise to Hawaii and put this kind of food on their buffets!

 

[Mazatlan Frank]

1-They are there all day and sometimes at night. It is 45 feet high and around 5 - 6 ft deep. Full of rocks around and also under the water.
2- Hot sauce. I like Don Leonardo (local) and also Brava or Guacamaya. Guacamaya came out with a Habanero one also (mmmm!)
3- Vanilla, I would say Orlando, but also Marthas.
4- Average temp Aug - 90° F
5- Some stores offer the service. I think fedex is affiliated to someone here, because there is no office. We do have DHL.
6- Exchange rate yesterday - $10.60 pesos to $1us dollar
7- Real estate market is getting better. I see a boom in investments in Mazatlan. Many Americans and Canadians are seeing Mazatlan as a great retirement City.

Everyone else, I am getting hungry Hawaian food sounds mmmmmmm!

Mazatlan Frank

 

[alohatee]

1-They are there all day and sometimes at night. It is 45 feet high and around 5 - 6 ft deep. Full of rocks around and also under the water.
2- Hot sauce. I like Don Leonardo (local) and also Brava or Guacamaya. Guacamaya came out with a Habanero one also (mmmm!)
3- Vanilla, I would say Orlando, but also Marthas.
4- Average temp Aug - 90° F
5- Some stores offer the service. I think fedex is affiliated to someone here, because there is no office. We do have DHL.
6- Exchange rate yesterday - $10.60 pesos to $1us dollar
7- Real estate market is getting better. I see a boom in investments in Mazatlan. Many Americans and Canadians are seeing Mazatlan as a great retirement City.

Everyone else, I am getting hungry Hawaian food sounds mmmmmmm!

Mazatlan Frank

Hola Mazatlan Frank:

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully on the city tour, we will be able to pick up some hot sauce and tequila. mmmmmm.......with the talk of hawaiian food on this thread - maybe it should be called Mazatlan Frank goes Hawaiian.

 

[lkohawaii]

The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant, (562) 402-3538, 20157 Pioneer Blvd, Lakewood, CA, 90715 Funny... I always thought it was more Long Beach area. Oh well, I think Del Amo is the cross street. Nice and casual, definately more seating than our L & L.

May DCL can have a cruise to Hawaii and put this kind of food on their buffets!

Good idea Ppiglet...then everyone can come to visit me. I really need DCL to come this a way....Florida is just such a long way for us to get to the Magic. Anyway Disney is doing Hawaiian vacations this summer....wonder what they're up to. Maybe I could start a rumor. I knwo they're not building a Disneyland Hawaii.

I didn't know there were all those local food places near Disneyland. Dawn and I were dying for local food. We resorted to trying to make our own Spam musubi's in the hotel. Now we know.

Alohatee make sure you show Frank what a Shaka is when you see him.

 

[lkohawaii]

rsjj- tell Randi what you want to do when you see her at the dock. She may put you in the first group of riders. Knowing Tony her asistant he won't let you out of his sight until you're safely in a Taxi. He wouldn't leave us until we were safely in Frank's hands. Randi and Frank are the best.

AlohaTee- We were sent by a friend to a tequilla factory called Leva. It was supposed to be the best. It was in P.V. He wanted us to bring it back whatever the cost for customs. It must have been really good because as soon as I returned he was right there to pick it up. I tried the liquor but I'm not an alchol drinker so I can't tell you how good it is. My DH did say it was super smooth. It was about 20 min. taxi ride from the dock.We met the nicest tour guide ( like Frank there). I can't remember his name and he hasn't gotten e mail so I can't help you there. If he e mails me before you leave I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[alohatee]

AlohaTee- We were sent by a friend to a tequilla factory called Leva. It was supposed to be the best. It was in P.V. He wanted us to bring it back whatever the cost for customs. It must have been really good because as soon as I returned he was right there to pick it up. I tried the liquor but I'm not an alchol drinker so I can't tell you how good it is. My DH did say it was super smooth. It was about 20 min. taxi ride from the dock.We met the nicest tour guide ( like Frank there). I can't remember his name and he hasn't gotten e mail so I can't help you there. If he e mails me before you leave I'll be sure to let you know.

lkohawaii - Mahalo for the info. Did it cost much to go thru customs? How many bottles can you take back to US? Please PM me with the cost of the tour? And if they accept CC? Don't want to carry too much cash around?

 

[alohatee]

Gracias!!!! I thank you all for the nice wishes. Yes, we had a great time in PV. It was 4 days, but they were great!
I have a nice friend that is a tour guide there and he took us to some places that we had not been to. We went to a Tequila factory, a farming area and a beach. We also did the Sunset Pirate ship trip and much more.


Mazatlan Frank

Hola Mazatlan Frank:

Do you have any contact in PV for a Tequila factory tour? We have a DCL excursion from 11am - 230pm, will we have enough time to take in any sight seeing in PV? Please PM me with info. Muchas gracias.

 

[Mazatlan Frank]

I answered you amiga. Just to let you know.

 

[Mazatlan Frank]

Just to let those who do not know, on Wednesdays we get the Magic and also the Carnival Pride. Originally it came on Thursdays, but they got excited about the Magic in Mazatlan and wanted to be here at the same time. hahaha just kidding. They say that this way they get more time in Cabo.

Just so you know!

Mazatlan Frank

 

[calmom]

Hi Frank,
Thanks so much for all your great advice. We are boarding the Magic on Saturday, and will be in your town on the 13th. I've read through the posts and have a couple questions.
First - can you give a jelly fish update? really hoping they are on their way out...
Second - when we visited in the past, it was just my husband and I and we went to Pueblo Bonito and hang out there for the day. No one said anything - we tipped the towel person to get some towels. We'd like to do this again however this time we are traveling with three kids, as well as my sister's family. I think we might not blend in...so would you advise to pay for a hotel for the night? If so, would you pick El Cid or Pueblo Bonito? El Cid has a rate of $85, and Pueblo Bonito is about $140. Also, if I paid for one room, do you think they would say anything if we showed up with 4 adults and kids? Thanks again for all your help, Lisa

 

[lkohawaii]

In Mexico everything is green cash and small bills. It seems like a lot of the merchants wanted to change me bigger US dollars for small bills. The limit for customs is 1 liter per adult. When we got to the tequilla factory the guy told us it was like 2 or 4 liters. They are WRONG!!! If you're going back to LA on the Magic it is 1 Liter per legal adult. Of course we were over...we had to report to customs at 6:30 on the morning of arrival in L.A. Lucky for us customs gave us a break and we didn't have to pay. Customs needs to be paid in green cash also.

Alohatee and Frank my regular computer is down. I've gotten your e mails but connection with this computer is like a snail. I'll get back to you guys soon. Frank...I couldn't forget you that soon. Don't worry. I'm still waiting for you to come to my Aloha state.

 

[Mazatlan Frank]

Calmom
Sorry for the delay. I took some people to the beach yesterday and checked first, but saw no jellyfish. They went in the water a while and no problem, it was nice. Cloudy in the morning but later the sun came out nice! Today it is raining Anyways, good thing it was today and not yesterday. Normally as long as you buy something at the Hotel (food or drinks) you can use their instalations. Personally if you reserve a room, I would go for Pueblo Bonito. El Cid is nice, but Pueblo Bonito is extra nice! I must say though that this is the high season for Mexican tourists in Mazatlan and Hotels are full. Just letting you know this.
I think that if you get the room at El Cid for the $85 it is good, this way you will have no problems with anything, like towells, a place to change, to rest, etc. The pool is nice, but as I said they might be busy with the tourists. If you show up with 4 adults and kids they might say someting. But you would say it is just for the day. I think there is no problem that way. If you need more information PM me if you like.

lkohawaii
You are right, it is only one liter per adult. They were probably trying to sell you more in PV. It has always been like that. Thank you for always remembering me, I do the same thing. I hope that our dreams come true someday and we can go to your beautiful Island. Saludos!


Mazatlan Frank