You ride a tram before you reach the gate
Because the berth is in the working cargo port, passengers are not allowed to walk from the gangway across the container yard. A free tram shuttles people between the ship and the cruise terminal every few minutes. The terminal has taxi ranks and a few small shops.
Old Mazatlán is only about 1-1.5 km from the terminal; the Golden Zone hotels are roughly 4-6.5 km. After cruise lines stopped calling over drug violence in 2011 and returned in 2013, the port renovated a walking path toward the historic district and marked it with a blue line - useful on the way back if you'd rather not take a cab.
Pulmonía fares are a negotiation
Pulmonías and aurigas have no single regulated fare. A local news survey in June 2026 found short hops going for 70-80 pesos and longer trips across town for 100-130 pesos, while an hourly tour along the malecón and through the historic centre ran 500-700 pesos an hour.
Agree the price before you sit down, and say whether it's in pesos or dollars. The taxis waiting outside the terminal tend to be cheaper than those at the pier.
Sources: cruisemapper.com, luznoticias.mx