Whether you’re an experienced world-traveler or an air travel virgin, each airport presents its own set of challenges – and if you’re traveling to fish those concerns may be compounded. Whether you’re headed to Anglers Inn El Salto or Picachos or a number of other destinations in Sinaloa, General Rafael Buelna International Airport in Mazatlán (MZT) is likely your arrival point.

Mazatlan Airport MZT small arrival in Mexico

It’s a small airport, and you’d really have to work at it to get lost, but if you want to breeze through the arrival process and be drinking Pacificos and catching big bass ASAP, then here’s a quick guide:

A variety of airlines travel directly to MZT from the United States, including American, Alaska, Delta, Volaris and Sun Country. At various times others including United and Interjet have done so. We almost always fly American because their direct options from Dallas (DFW) or Phoenix (PHX) tend to work out best for us in terms of price and scheduling.

Most of the time you will disembark outside and then walk into the terminal. If you checked baggage at the gate, they will unload it right there. After that, there won’t be many options as to which way to go, so follow the single path.

In order to enter the country, you will of course need to go through Customs. Only once in ~20 trips has a member of our group encountered any difficulties with them, and it was basically his fault. The officials are all professional, polite and speak fluent English. You will have to fill out an Official Entry Immigration Form. Historically the airlines would give you one, but in recent trips that has been spotty, which leads to a mad dash to fill out your forms in a hot and crowded hallway. In the course of researching this blog I learned that you can now print one out at home and fill it out before you depart. It’s all right here at the bottom of this page.

Mexico tourist card for arriving in Mazatlan

For the name and address of your hotel, we always write down “Anglers Inn Lake Picachos Sinaloa” or “Anglers Inn Lake El Salto Sinaloa” and we’ve never had a problem.

You just need to present this card and your passport to the customs official. He will review it, ask you a few quick questions, make some notations, and you should be on your way.

But before you go, here’s the important part: The official will rip the perforated portion of your Immigration Form apart. He will keep the ENTRY part and will stamp the EXIT part and hand it to you.

DO NOT LOSE THIS paper stub. You will need it to get out of the country. Don’t worry, if you do accidentally lose it, you won’t be stuck in Mexico forever, but you will need to visit the immigration office at the airport on the day of your departure. That will take time, and it might take money. It’s never been made clear exactly what the cost should be, but in all of our group trips we’ve had two friends lose their forms (despite our warnings). One was given a new form and sent on his way. The other was charged a not insubstantial fee. You’re at their mercy if you want to get home, especially if your Spanish is weak, so follow our advice and guard the form vigilantly.

Once you pass this hurdle, you’ll head to the luggage area, which is very small. There are only a couple of carousels, and there’s a pretty good chance that your bags will be out before you are. There is also a restroom at this point if you need it.

Because the airport is small and so many anglers pass through MZT, they are used to rod tubes. They will not put them on the luggage belt or mishandle them. Typically they come through a door right next to the baggage carousels.

Traveling with a fishing rod tube to Anglers Inn Mazatlan Mexico

Once you’ve collected your luggage, there is another short line directly behind you. Carry your luggage into this area and you’ll be asked to press a button. It will turn either green or red. I don’t know what percentage of the time it hits red, but I’d guess we get “lucky” one out of every four or so times. If it’s red, you’ll have to put your luggage through an X-Ray scanner. They may elect also to search it by hand. If it’s green, you’re on your merry way.

Once cleared, you’ll go through a set of automatic doors, where you’ll be accosted by people selling timeshares, vacation packages, and other things you don’t need. Next go through another set of automatic doors and you’ll be out in the main concourse of the airport. There will be various livery services and resort representatives. Look for the Anglers Inn representative, directly in front of you. Often it will be our good friend Mario Salas.

Mario Anglers Inn representative MZT Mazatlan airport

Mario will watch your baggage if you need to make a restroom stop before hitting the road. You will likely also be approached by luggage handlers eager to help you. We’ve never needed their assistance, but we’ve never heard of any problems with them. They do, of course, expect a tip to get your bags to the van outside.

Once the entire vanload of people has assembled around your host, he will call the van to come and get you, then lead you toward it. Make sure you have all of your belongings, and make sure that they all get loaded onto the van, either on the secure luggage rack up top or in the back. While Anglers Inn will arrange to retrieve misplaced or delayed luggage from the airport and deliver it to the lake (ask us how we know!), it’s always better to secure everything here.

Anglers Inn Mexico El Salto Picachos Van

Once you’re in the van your driver will have a cooler of beer, water and soft drinks, which are of course included in your trip.

It’s about 50 minutes to Picachos. Much of that is on winding country roads, so if you tend to get carsick, sit toward the front.

The ride to El Salto is a little under two hours. Gauge your bladder accordingly, but there is a restroom stop at about the midway point, right after a toll plaza. It’s not the Four Seasons, but it’ll more than do if you have to go.

Beyond that, kick back and enjoy the scenery and the company. Your driver will radio the lodge shortly before you arrive so the staff will be ready to help you off the van and grab your bags. Don’t forget to tip your driver, and don’t be surprised if you don’t handle a bag the rest of the week. The hard part is over.

Of course all good things must come to an end. Click HERE for a guide to leaving Mazatlan.