Gringos in Mazatlan

After being here a month it’s become obvious that there are a lot of people from north of the border living in Mazatlan on a full-time basis. We just keep running into them—in the Mega store, in little eateries, on the beach, and while we’re searching out apartments. I’ve been told there are 8 to 10 thousand Gringos living here. There are at least three different website groups for English speaking residents here and other supports like English libraries, organizations and lots of opportunities to get involved in the life of the city.

We met a couple yesterday from Oregon who just retired here to an apartment they bought a couple years ago while here on holiday. They’ve been here since November and are already volunteering in English classes at a local school. Then there’s a woman who’s creating a life here after a divorce and is developing a business selling dog treats. We also met a couple that’s lived here the past four years with their son who goes to a Mexican high school and spends his spare time surfing. The mom has a business here designing courtyards. Here’s their own courtyard that they’ve built on a small piece of property.


Some people buy property here but others rent and it can be very reasonable to do so. Bob and his wife rent a three bedroom, two bathroom house just down the road from us for around $450 a month. He’s here because he can retire on a limited income and he loves it. He says he occasionally misses ice fishing in the winter but does a lot of bass fishing now and explores the lakes and beaches and little towns with his truck and boat. His wife and adult daughter live here too.

The other interesting thing is the number of people from Canada. I’d say the majority of people who are here for the winter are from Canada, and lots of Canadians are here for longer than that. We met a fellow from Parksville the other day who rents a lovely house in Playa Sur, a very nice residential area for under $400 US. He and his wife have been here for several years. And a couple from Surrey has a little place near Sabalo Beach that they live in ten months of the year. Some people leave for a couple months in the summer when it gets hot and muggy. They head north for their summer holiday and return in September.

There’s even a restaurant here called Canucks that’s a meeting place for expats. We’re thinking we might go there tonight and find out a bit more about the people who’ve made a permanent move here and how they like it.