Hasta La Vista – A Guide to Departing Mazatlán (Updated June 2023)

So your Mexican fishing trip has ended, and you’re headed home, a little depressed but still energized. Whether you’ve done this trip a thousand times or it’s only your second visit to the Mazatlán airport (see our arrival guide here), there are a few things that’ll make your departure go more smoothly. Having done this nearly 20 times, we’ve made all of the mistakes so you don’t have to.

First, make sure that you have all of your gear, including but not limited to your passport and your tourist card stub. You’ll need those to get out of the country. Then scour your room, as you would on any vacation, to make sure you don’t leave anything behind.

If you’re staying at Anglers Inn Lake El Salto or Anglers Inn Picachos and you intend to return, you are welcome to store tackle bags and/or a rod tube at the lodge. We know of one family who actually keep a complete wardrobe there, too. They come down four or five times a year with nothing but a small carry-on. All they need to do is call ahead and everything is waiting in their suite. If you elect to do this, make sure that your bags are well-marked with your name, and you can watch as the staff Saran Wraps them to ensure that no one messes with your stuff.

Even if you leave gear in Mexico, you will no doubt be taking something home. Make sure that it gets onto the van’s external luggage rack or inside the van. Carry medications and documents with you. Once you are at the airport, there’s no time for someone to bring anything that you left behind at the lake. They can store it for safekeeping, but it’s stuck south of the border until you return.

One thing that the Anglers Inn staff will gladly do is pack you a breakfast or lunch for the road – usually breakfast burritos or BLTs or other sandwiches, depending on the time of day. From the time you leave the lodge until you get on the plane can be several hours, and while there are food options at MZT, don’t hesitate to ask.

Again, the ride from Picachos is through some winding country roads, and takes about 50 minutes, so if you’re prone to carsickness sit up front. The ride from El Salto takes a little bit less than two hours, mostly on a major highway. There’s a bathroom stop at the midway point if your bladder demands it.

When you pull up at the airport, once again take stock of all of your belongings and be sure to tip your driver. You will be approached by luggage handlers who will be only too happy to help with your gear – they do, of course, expect to be compensated for that effort – for the short walk to the check-in facilities. No matter what, check your pockets and your carry-on (especially if it served as a tackle bag in the boat) to make sure that you didn’t leave any hooks, pliers or other sharp objects for security to find.

As you enter the terminal, most of the carriers headed to US destinations will be to your right. American Airlines, our usual (but not exclusive) choice, is at the far end of the hallway. They are usually quite helpful, with English-speaking employees leading you to the kiosks and then to check in your luggage. They are experienced at handling rod tubes, so as long as you’re within the airline’s length and weight restrictions you should have no problems.

If you lost your tourist card exit stub, you will need to go the government office in at approximately the midpoint of the facility. Of the two times our friends have misplaced this item, only once was the officer actually there. The other time he was “on a break” and we had to send another employee to fetch him, which took around 15 minutes. Again, just another reason NOT TO LOSE THIS TICKET! As described previously, your results may vary if you lose it – you may be issued another for free, or you may be charged/extorted a hefty fee. Whatever the outcome, DO NOT LOSE YOUR COOL. You do not want to end up in a Mexican jail.

[Editors Note: This next part changed in 2023. Click here to read about the new, more streamlined, efficient and comfortable new security process. Now you go through screening before heading upstairs, which saves the last minute shuffle.]

Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay on this first floor. There’s a small bar/café, as well as a few gift shops, including an outpost of Señor Frog's. There are also kiosks selling things like sunglasses and fan gear for Mazatlán’s baseball team, the Venados. There tends to be a lot of commotion here, so we elect to head to the upstairs waiting area, which has similar amenities (a bit more of them) but better seating and less noise.

Take the escalator upstairs and you will come to a couple of gift shops. If you need souvenirs – t-shirts, toys, magnets -- this is the place to stop. I have never bought anything here but snacks and drinks. If you have remaining Mexican pesos, this is a good place to use them. If not, they will take credit cards or American cash (at a reasonable exchange rate), but your change will be in pesos.

On this level there are also several eating options – two sit down bar/cafes, and a fast food option in Carl’s Jr.

Furthermore, if you have some form of lounge access (like Priority Pass) there is also an Oma Premium Lounge. It is miniscule, but has a nice bathroom and offers free snacks and drinks, including beer.

At this point, you still have not gone through security. I recommend saving that task until about 30 minutes before your flight – leaving time for the possibility that they’ll need to “wand” you or go through your carry-on bags. Why? Because the post-security gate area is small, with limited seating, and tends to be quite congested and stuffy. It has a few shops, but for all but duty-free purchases the pre-security area is a better bet.

When it is time to go through security, have your ducks in a row. There is no TSA Precheck or CLEAR on this side of the border, so you’ll wait in line with everyone else. You’ll also need to take off your shoes and belt. They’re inconsistent about things like laptops and CPAP machines, so either take them out or be prepared to do so. There are several displays throughout the airport showing things that are NOT allowed in your carry-on luggage — fishing lures are in all of them. Hooks will be found and they will be confiscated, causing you delay and embarrassment. Have them all in your checked luggage. As always, BE RESPECTFUL – you are in a foreign country and getting loud will not help your cause.

Once you get through the security line, it’s a short hike down the hallway to the waiting area. The only food option is a small hot dog cart that offers some chips and drinks as well. There are also Duty Free Shops here where you can buy alcohol, chocolates, perfumes, and some specifically Mexican items like hot sauce and tequila.

Now you’re stuck in what I call the “Room of Sadness.” It’s particularly upsetting when the plane you’ll be leaving on arrives, and disembarking passengers walk by you, separated only by glass and attitude. They’re in the position that you were in just a few days ago, full of hopes and dreams.

At this point you have done the hard work. Keep your boarding pass and passport handy. They may pull a few passengers out of line at random to have their carry-ons searched, but other than that your next steps should take place at US Customs (unless you’re flying through Mexico City), back on more familiar turf.