Hey Amigos..We will be going to Mazatlan in Sept. for a couple weeks and I was wondering if any of you world travelers knew of any shops there that I might be able to obtain a few otherwise unobtainable 'gars.

I would also be open to any suggestions of cigars to try.

Since there will obviously be plenty of 'laying on the beach' time I will be able to consume vast amounts of tequila and 'gars so bring on the suggestions....69

about 90% of the cuban cigars at minimum are fakes. i have seen a few 5 pack boxes of montecristo #4's that were green and at the time i thought these must be authentic so i smoked a few at about $10.00 each. my suggestion, sorry to dampen your enthusiasm, would be to bring your own, and bring enough to last.

down town mazatlán has at least 4 "tres hermanos" shoe stores and you can get some great bargins on all leather half boots.

do the para sailing on the beach.

i can't think of any other tips except always "protect youself", and have a great time.

RICKAMAVEN...Thanks for the damper(j/k). Oh well, I will take a bunch of my 'mowin' the lawn' cigars and a good supply of "after a great dinner, watching the Senior Eaters, the sunset over the ocean" cigars.

Can you parasail with a cigar?

Fubar,Only if you soak the parachute W/gasoline first. X

I'm no expert but I seriously doubt that 90% of "Habanos" for sale in Mexico are fakes. Bought a Cohiba recently in Puerto Vallarta that I suspected because the band didn't look quite right to me but it sure smoked like the real thing. If you ever had a genuine Cohiba you'll know what I mean. How do you fake that destinctive triple fermented character? For what it's worth I like Cohibas and Bolivars. Have a good time in Mazatlan. And yes, I think it'd be possible to smoke parasailing.

just because the band had Cohiba spelled Cohaba would be a good clue! However, a large percentage of cigars purchased in Mexico are in fact not what they pretend to be.............Padron Anniverseo's, etc..let alone ISOM's. Just be leary and I suggest you enjoy the cigars for what they are! Charlie

Rick is right, only the number is more like 99%, and probably 100% in tourist areas. Fubar, just keep in mind that in Mexico a dealer of Cuban cigars must have a Habanos Certificate if they are a legitimate dealer. Even then, they may have bought fakes and not known it. The only way to be 100% of authenticity is to shop at an LCDH, and I don’t know if there is one in Mazatlan. Good luck.

Fubar69 - don't be naive, it's true. I will go so far to quote CA and say that 95% of Cubans are fake.

The only place to get the 'real' deal (and be assured that you are getting genuine ISOM's) is a goverment run store. These are "La Casa del Habano" ... and is the name for an international combination of cigar houses, which exclusively in a contractual relation with the cubanischen Havannahersteller Habanos S.A.. ...

Don't trust anything else in Mexico. The country's reputation is well known for it's fakes ... of every top-end cigar, not just those from Cuba.

Hhhmmm...Thanks to all for the replies...I guess I will just try to get the best bargains and then as Charlie says "enjoy them for what they are"!

I have quite a few singles, etc. from 5 paks and samplers from CBID that this will allow me plenty of time to clear out some humidors.

So after the middle of Sept. I will be able to bid on more. That is if there is any room on the CC after my "beach bill"!..69

efm: it's called a "farm" cigar...Cuban tobacco but not a real Cohiba (the most counterfeited cigar line by far)...If the band does not "look right" it's not going to be a real Cohiba.

Welcome back Slim...You beat me to the usual "La Casa Del Habanos" suggestion...Its the only place I purchased cigars when I was in Cancun in 1999

rookie139: When I say the band didn't look right...well, I'm not expert enough to say it wrong. But I enjoyed the cigar even if it was a "farm cigar".

I went there 7 months ago. There was a cigar shop near Senor Frogs on the west side of the main drag that was highly recommended to me by a friend who is very knowledgible and well traveled. I went to the store and found it to have a first class walk in humidor and lounge area. Everyone spoke English. The female proprietor was not ashamed to show me which ones she suspected as being fake. I purchased a number of singles, Bolivar, H.Upmann, to name a coulple. All but 1 was quite excellent. I looked all over for the reciept but I cannot find the name of the place. I just know it from sight. Keep asking, I am sure someone knows what the place is called. I have to admit. 95% of what I saw outside this store were not only fakes, but rather poor ones. These cigars I bought, if they were fake cubans were still well worth what I spent on them.