Estadio El Encanto: Guide for Visiting Fans

The airport serving the city is Aeropuerto Internacional General Rafael Buelna (IATA: MZT) , and it is located 16 km southeast of Mazatlán . From MZT, your realistic options are taxi (authorized airport taxis run roughly 250–350 MXN to the Zona Dorada or stadium area, fixed-rate at the booth) or Uber, which is active in Mazatlán. Expect about 25–35 minutes to the stadium from the airport depending on traffic. There is no rail or metro in Mazatlán — this is a bus-and-wheels city.

The stadium is set in Mazatlán's Fraccionamiento Pradera Dorada on Av. Munich , in the northern part of the city. City buses do run along the main corridors toward that area, but routes and schedules are informal by North American standards — useful for locals who know the system, not reliable for a visitor trying to make kickoff. Uber operates in Mazatlán and is a convenient way to reach the stadium . From the Zona Dorada (the tourist hotel strip), the ride is roughly 10–15 minutes and rarely more than 100–150 MXN. Pulmonias — open-air vehicles similar to golf carts — provide a uniquely Mazatlán experience; negotiate the fare before departing. For drivers, the stadium sits off the highway bypass connecting the city center northward; follow signs for Fraccionamiento Pradera Dorada.

Parking at El Encanto is surface-lot and street-adjacent — this isn't a stadium with a structured multi-story garage. Informal lots and vendors operate along Av. Munich and the surrounding streets of Pradera Dorada, typically charging 50–100 MXN per vehicle. There is no pre-purchase system for most of these spots; it's cash-in-hand with a attendant waving you in. Arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff if you want a spot within a 5-minute walk of the gates. The closer you park to the stadium, the longer you'll sit in traffic after the final whistle. The stadium's location can lead to traffic congestion on game days, as only one main avenue provides access — visitors are advised to plan their arrival well in advance. If you're parking, come early, park a few blocks farther out, and you'll win on the exit.

The stadium is in the northern residential zone, not the tourist corridor — so staying within walking distance of the ground doesn't make much practical sense. When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay in Mazatlán, you have two fantastic options: the charming historic center, adorned with colonial buildings, or the lively seafront Zona Dorada, with numerous bars and restaurants.

For away fans, Zona Dorada is the obvious base. It puts you 10–15 minutes by Uber from the stadium, walking distance to the beach and nightlife, and in the middle of where most of the pre-game eating and drinking will happen. One Mazatlán in the Zona Dorada offers great value for money, steps away from the beach, with modern amenities and a pool starting around $70 USD per night including breakfast. Royal Villas Resort, also in the Zona Dorada, has a pool overlooking the sea and direct beach access, with rates starting at around $91 USD per night. For a splurge, Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán Beach Resort is an all-inclusive 5-star property with direct beach access, multiple pools, and a spa, starting at around $300 USD per night.

None of these are next to the stadium — the Pradera Dorada neighborhood around El Encanto is residential and quiet. Your pre-game scene is in the Zona Dorada, about a 10-minute Uber away.

Joe's Oyster Bar (Av. Gaviotas 100, Zona Dorada) — a go-to destination for fresh oysters and cocktails in Mazatlán's Golden Zone. Open-air, loud, and very much a place where a visiting fan can get a cold Pacifico and some shrimp without feeling like a tourist who wandered into the wrong joint.

Restobar Cheers (Av. Camarón Sábalo 204, Zona Dorada) — a vibrant spot with live music most nights, featuring chicken wings, tuna tostadas, and hearty hamburgers, with beers served by the litre and fair prices. Bring a group, it's built for exactly that.

El Mal del Puerco Tragos y Garnachas (Av Camarón Sábalo 1103, El Encanto) — vibrant nightlife with delicious garnachas and craft cocktails. The garnachas are the move here — cheap, filling, and genuinely good before a night match.

La Bichola (Av Camarón Sábalo 6292, El Dorado) — a craft beer bar where the Peanut Butter Stout is surprisingly light, infused with chocolate and roasted cereal notes, and the English Pale Ale is well-balanced and refreshing. Pacifico is the most popular beer in Mazatlán and is brewed in the city — but if you want something different before a match, this is your spot.

Bag policies regularly change to accommodate new guidelines and protocols — it's best to consult the venue's website for the current Estadio El Encanto bag policy. Generally speaking, small hand-held clutches (around 4.5"×6.5") are your safest option, and clear bags are better than opaque backpacks. Don't show up with a full-size daypack and assume you'll breeze in. Items likely not permitted include camera equipment, laptops, flashlights, drones, strollers, and laser pointers.

Gates typically open around 90 minutes before kickoff, though for Liga MX matches this can vary — check Mazatlán FC's official channels before match day. Despite large crowds, entry is generally efficient with no major delays at security or ticketing, and vendors bring refreshments directly to spectators inside. The stadium address is Av. Munich, Fraccionamiento Pradera Dorada — put that in your maps app.

The stadium features a two-tiered seating arrangement, partially excavated into a pit for better acoustics and visibility , which means some areas involve level changes. As a 2020-built facility constructed to modern standards, El Encanto is expected to have accessible entrances and designated wheelchair seating areas, particularly on the lower tier. The stadium is partly dug into a pit, with the pitch surrounded on all sides by stands that have two tiers on the west, north, and east sides — lower-tier sections along the sidelines are your best bet for accessible viewing with minimal ramp/elevator dependency. Visitors requiring specific accessibility accommodations should contact Mazatlán FC's official ticketing office directly before purchasing, as assistive listening device availability and sensory accommodation details are not publicly documented.

Mazatlán FC uses dynamic pricing, meaning ticket costs vary depending on the opponent's popularity — a match against a less popular team will be more affordable than a game against a major rival like Chivas. Budget-friendly options are found higher up or behind the goals, while mid-level seating along the sides offers the best balance of view and price.

Away fans are not formally corralled into a single designated section the way you'd see in European football — you'll generally be mixed in, which means you want to be sensible about where you sit relative to the home ultras. The ultras and more vocal home support tend to congregate behind one of the goals (the Barra). For away fans, the upper lateral sections on either the east or west side give you the best sightlines and a bit of natural buffer. The stadium's design omits a running track, which maximizes spectator closeness to the pitch — so even an "upper" seat feels more intimate here than in older Mexican stadiums.

The stadium is well-maintained, with vendors conveniently bringing refreshments directly to spectators — food and drinks are reasonably priced. Expect to pay roughly 60–90 MXN for a beer and 80–130 MXN for a plate of tacos or a torta inside the ground. Pacifico — the local brew, made right here in Mazatlán — is the beer of choice , and you'd be doing yourself a disservice ordering anything else.

El Encanto is one of the more welcoming environments in Liga MX for visiting supporters — not because the home fans don't care, but because the fanbase is still relatively young and doesn't yet carry the territorial aggression of the Chivas Barra or the Cruz Azul ultras. Mazatlán FC's Liga MX story only began in the Apertura 2020 tournament , and you can feel the newness of it — a crowd still learning its own chants, still figuring out which sections to fill first. What that means in practice is that away fans can wear their colors openly without much incident, the sightlines from the lateral upper deck are genuinely excellent, and the overall atmosphere is more festive than hostile. The one thing that catches visitors off guard: the Pacific heat at evening kickoffs in the Apertura (August–October) is real. The upper canopy covers only part of the auditorium , so the open upper sections get direct sun until well into the evening. Bring water, wear light colors, and don't sit in an uncovered upper section in August and expect a breezy evening.

By rideshare: This is where you need to plan ahead. After the game, the road near the stadium closes, meaning your Uber pickup point will be approximately a half-mile walk away. Don't order your ride while still in your seat — walk out immediately at the final whistle, head down Av. Munich toward the highway bypass, get at least 500 meters from the stadium entrance, then request your ride. Surge pricing kicks in hard within the first 15 minutes post-final whistle; wait it out for 20–25 minutes if you're not in a rush and you'll save meaningful money.

By driving: Only one main avenue provides access to the stadium , which means the post-game exit is a genuine bottleneck. If you're parked on Av. Munich itself, you could be sitting for 30–40 minutes. Lots farther back on side streets to the north exit faster because they feed onto the bypass rather than funneling back through the main access point. Don't rush to your car — let 20 minutes pass after the final whistle and your drive out drops from a crawl to a reasonable roll.

On foot + taxi: Pulmonias and traditional taxis stage themselves on the roads just outside the cordon. Traditional taxis are readily available throughout Mazatlán, and you can expect to pay around 200–300 MXN to travel between the stadium and popular tourist areas like the Zona Dorada. This is honestly your cleanest post-game option — walk 5–10 minutes, grab a pulmonia, done.

One opinionated tip: Skip the rideshare entirely post-game. Walk 10 minutes toward the highway bypass, hail a pulmonia, negotiate 150 MXN to the Zona Dorada, and you'll be at a bar with a cold Pacifico while everyone else is still watching their Uber ETA tick upward.

How do I get to Estadio El Encanto from the airport?

Mazatlán's General Rafael Buelna International Airport (MZT) is located 16 km southeast of the city. Take an authorized airport taxi (fixed-rate booth, around 300–350 MXN) or Uber to your hotel first, then Uber to the stadium on match day — about 10–15 minutes from Zona Dorada.

Is there a metro or light rail to the stadium? No. Mazatlán has no metro or light rail system. Your options are Uber, taxi, pulmonia, or city bus. Uber is the most reliable for visitors.

What is the bag policy at Estadio El Encanto?

Small hand-held clutches are your safest option; clear bags are preferred over opaque backpacks. Always verify the current policy on the official Mazatlán FC website before match day, as it can change.

How much does parking cost near the stadium? Informal surface lots around Av. Munich and Pradera Dorada typically charge 50–100 MXN. There are no pre-purchase parking passes for most lots — cash only, pay the attendant on arrival.

Where should away fans sit at Estadio El Encanto? Upper lateral sections on the east or west sidelines give the best sightlines and distance from the home ultras. The lack of a running track keeps you close to the pitch even in upper sections.

When do gates open? Typically 90 minutes before kickoff, though this can vary. Check Mazatlán FC's official social media on match day for any changes.

Can I get tickets at the box office on match day?

You can purchase tickets at the Estadio El Encanto box office, though popular matches may sell out in advance, especially for desirable seating sections. Buy online via Boletomovil in advance for big fixtures.

What's the best way to leave the stadium after the game? Walk away from the stadium 5–10 minutes, then grab a pulmonia or traditional taxi to Zona Dorada (around 200–300 MXN). After the game the road near the stadium closes, so Uber pickup is roughly a half-mile walk away anyway — the pulmonia cuts out the middleman.