Mazatlan, Mexico: It's Not Just Beautiful, It's a Hidden Gem
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Many have a long list of why they are considering leaving the USA or Canada and are considering venturing down this path much earlier than in retirement years, though retirees make up a large number of people who are leaving their home country.
With the recent rise in gas prices plus the out-of-control inflation, in addition to the great resignation, many are making lifestyle changes and creating new pathways.
Is the American dream dead?
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Go Where?
Mexico is one country with an increased number of not just tourists, but a rise in immigration requests through temporary or permanent residency.
I recently got back from visiting Mazatlán (April 2022) as it was the city I selected for my exploratory trip.
I was quickly impressed with the beauty of the city, friendly people, and relaxing atmosphere, not to mention the delicious food. The beach is stunning and clean, and I was not afraid to travel and walk the beach.
In this article, we are going to talk about several reasons why Mazatlán may be a great place to start the journey of exploration outside the USA if you are in search of a safe and affordable place with abundant culture.
I will also share some things you can do at first to ease your transition to a new city.
Welcome to Mazatlan
Mazatlán is a city in Sinaloa, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It’s known for its stunning beaches and amazing climate. Too, the malecón (boardwalk) is one of the longest in the world.
Mazatlan has a population under 500K and is expected to grow in the next few years and beyond.
Why Mazatlan
Many people enjoy Mazatlan for the cost of living, beautiful beaches, weather, abundant restaurants, affordable housing, friendly culture, great expat community and even close proximity to the USA and Canada.
Cost of Living
One of the draws besides the excellent culture is the cost of living. Mazatlan boasts some affordable housing prices in comparison to several cities in the USA and Canada.
To compare the cost of living between cities, a good site to look it up is numbeo.com. You can enter your current city to compare, or you can compare two different cities in Mexico.
According to this site, as of October 2022, a one bedroom apartment inside the city centre is approximately 12,667 Mexican pesos which is around $633 USD. The site continues to provide other categories to compare such as restaurant prices, transportation, utilities, childcare and more. Of course rental prices will vary depending on what part of the city, but overall they seem to be affordable prices.
If you are looking to move to Mexico, and Mazatlan specifically, one recommendation many state is to rent a place for a year first before purchasing a home. Or, you can AIRBNB, in different areas of the city so you can get a feel of the area.
TIP: For AiRBNB, try searching for monthly rentals (30+ days) which many rentals offer a discount for longer stays.
Plan Your Trip and Test the Waters
If you plan on taking an exploratory trip to visit Mazatlán, here are some things I recommend to do to get acclimated and go off the beaten path, yet incorporate some touristy things in as well.
Tourist Attractions
I love to get into the heart of the city and experience it as locals do. Sure, I go to some touristy events, it’s so I can get a feel of the city, but I love to get away from touristy locations to integrate quickly.
Walk the Malecon
The Malecón (boardwalk) at Mazatlán is one of the longest in Mexico. It’s great if you want to get a good walk in while feeling the wind from ocean while getting in your Vitamin D.
I went for a long walk, but it seemed effortless. It was beautiful, there were shops on the waterfront where you could buy earrings or a necklace or a T-shirt. It was a walk where my stress seemed to fall into the ocean.
I loved to walk through Mazatlán and felt comfortable doing so that I walked all the way from the malecón (boardwalk) up north past the golden zone. It was about a 2-hour walk and I stopped at Starbucks and got a coffee on my trip.
Visit Stone Island
Stone Island is not really an island, it’s a peninsula, but it’s on the southern end. It’s rustic, and it’s real life, off the beaten path.
We took a fishing/touring boat to the island, then hopped on a tractor ride which took us through town, and then we landed at a beautiful restaurant for the day. We managed to stay at the restaurant and beach for 4 hours. They have horses you can ride on the beach and water, ride a yellow banana, pick up some tourist items, go for a walk right on the beach, or relax on one of the many chairs on the patio.
Everyone was friendly and accommodating.
Join a Tequila Tour
The tour we went on picked us up at our hotel, and from there we drove to a tequila tour on the outskirts of town. They toured us through the facility explained how they make tequila and provided some samples at the end.
Areas of Mazatlan (El Centro, Golden Zone, Marina)
There are three areas of Mazatlan — the Golden zone, El Centro, and the Marina. I was able to visit all three areas during my time there. There are smaller areas/neighborhoods within these but broadly speaking, these areas contain the highest level of ex-pats and are within 1 mile of the coast.
El Centro, the oldest part of town, is historical, a little loud, and is located downtown, Some of the key features are older homes and a central marketplace with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Golden Zone is in the middle between the Marina and El Centro and it is the primary tourist area. It is filled with shops and stores, and just about anything you need will be there somewhere. You can walk easily though many prefer to take an Uber, or pulmonia to get around.
The Marina is further north and is an area of town seeing the greatest build-out of new construction. New apartments and condos are going up rapidly, are affordable, but are a little far away from the tourist area. If you choose this area to settle, a vehicle is needed.
Take the Uber Drive
To get around town, you can walk, drive, take an Uber, a local Taxi, a pulmonia, and of course, there are bus and van tours and local buses. At the time of my visit, a pulmonia ride was approximately 100 pesos (approx. $5.00 U.S)
Tip: Always ask for the cost of the ride in pulmonias before you accept.
One of the best Uber rides I had was on the way to the airport as I left the city. The Uber driver took us through the heart of the city, away from the coast, and not near the major highways where the large city busses would go.
As someone who is normally on edge with an uber driver, it was one of the best rides I have had. I felt I was able to see and experience the backroads of Mazatlán, and I am grateful for that road trip. There was dirt in the air, as it was the dry season and he was flying through the traffic, yet I felt completely comfortable. The Uber driver probably had no idea how much that ride meant to me.
So, should you quit your job and move to Mazatlán? Maybe, or see if your job is open to remote or consider a work from anywhere job, or even changing fields, or too, Mazatlan is a great city to slow down and retire.
Is Speaking Spanish Required
I took 5 years of Spanish in High School and college and living in Texas, I used it every now and again. During this trip, I was able to dust off my Spanish and use it more than I had in a while. In fact, it gave me the confidence to be able to order food, ask for directions, and get around town on the limited Spanish I was able to remember.
The more I spoke, the more words I remembered, and as I read the street signs, conversing with taxi drivers, reading restaurant menus along with google translate, I was able to get around town with ease.
If you do not have experience speaking Spanish, it would be beneficial to start by learning the basics and increasing your knowledge of the language. Learning the language is essential in my opinion, if you want to barter at the fruit and vegetable stands and to avoid being “gringo’d”.
Was the Trip Worth the Experience?
It’s worth taking an exploratory trip, breaking into the culture, leaving your culture behind from wherever you are coming from, embracing the new, asking questions, and being open to a new adventure.
While many ex-pats tend to gravitate toward Mexico City (CDMX), San Miguel de Allende, Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, or Santiago de Querétero, Mazatlán is a city that may be overlooked but should be on your radar to explore.
Have you been to Mazatlán? Have you considered retiring in this beautiful city or living and working remotely? Are you considering leaving the USA or Canada and shopping for your next destination? Drop a question or comment below.
