El Quelite from the Mazatlán cruise port

Town & walkingabout 40 minutes by taxi5-6 hoursTight on a typical call

A small inland town north of Mazatlán with cobblestone streets, colourful houses and an old church on a small plaza. Tours stop for handmade ice cream and a country lunch at the Mesón de los Laureanos, where tortillas are made by hand.

Getting there from the ship

From
Mazatlán cruise terminal
Travel time
About 40 minutes by taxi · 37 km
Allow about 20 minutes to get off the ship first. Mazatlán taxi fares.
Cost
Holland America 'The Magic Town of El Quelite' tour from US$109, about 5.5 hours, meals not included (2026).
Time to allow
5-6 hours

Will you be back for all aboard?

Only just. On a typical 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mazatlán call you have about 5 h 50 min at El Quelite once you keep an hour's margin, a little short of a full visit (allow 5-6 hours). Go early, keep it short, or book a tour that meets at the pier.
  1. 1
    8:00 am · Ship docks
    Allow about 20 minutes to get off and through the terminal.
  2. 2
    9:00 am · At El Quelite
    About 40 minutes by taxi from Mazatlán cruise terminal.
  3. 3
    2:50 pm · Leave El Quelite by
    That gets you back to the ship an hour before all aboard.
  4. 4
    4:30 pm · All aboard
    Typical for Mazatlán; your ship's time may differ. Check ship time vs local time

Tip

Only on a full-day call, and best as a ship tour: it is outside the zone named in the State Department advisory for Sinaloa, and a ship tour will wait for you if the road back is slow.

Mazatlán cruise port: El Quelite FAQ

How far is El Quelite from the Mazatlán cruise port?

From Mazatlán cruise terminal it is about 40 minutes by taxi, about 37 km.

How much does it cost to visit El Quelite?

Holland America 'The Magic Town of El Quelite' tour from US$109, about 5.5 hours, meals not included (2026).

How much time do you need at El Quelite?

Allow 5-6 hours. Only just. On a typical 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mazatlán call you have about 5 h 50 min at El Quelite once you keep an hour's margin, a little short of a full visit (allow 5-6 hours). Go early, keep it short, or book a tour that meets at the pier.

Can you visit El Quelite on your own from a cruise ship?

It is easier with a tour or a pre-booked driver, because transport there and back is not simple to arrange on the day. Only on a full-day call, and best as a ship tour: it is outside the zone named in the State Department advisory for Sinaloa, and a ship tour will wait for you if the road back is slow.

Tours that go to El Quelite

Checked against a typical 8:00 am–4:30 pm call with an hour's margin.

All tours

More things to do near El Quelite

All 11 places
  • Zona Dorada · Beach · about 25 minutes by taxi from the pier · 33 km from El Quelite
  • Deer Island · Snorkeling · about 25 minutes to the Zona Dorada, then a boat from the pier · 36 km from El Quelite
  • Gran Acuario Mazatlán · Attraction · 20-25 minutes by taxi from the pier · 37 km from El Quelite
  • Cliff divers · Attraction · a 26 minute walk from the pier · 40 km from El Quelite