Mazatlán Is Mexico for Real
Puerto Vallarta may draw the tourists, but Mazatlán, about 275 miles to the north, is increasingly attracting expats who want to experience “the real Mexico.” Between 3,500 and 7,000 U.S. expats have settled in this city of about 400,000. Some are restoring historic houses near the center of town, while others have built modern villas on the hillsides overlooking the bay. Some have their eyes on beachfront high-rises still being developed.
For some time, it has been home to U.S. and Canadian citizens trying to stretch their retirement (or pre-retirement) dollars. It’s not difficult to find other English-speaking expats for socializing or, if you speak a little Spanish, to lose yourself among the local people. While some expats worry about finding quality healthcare, some who’ve settled here claim they’ve experienced the best care ever in Mazatlán.
Though you’ll see cruise ships docked in the harbor, Mazatlán is a working city which boasts the largest port facility between Los Angeles and the Panama Canal. It is home to Latin America’s biggest fleet of commercial shrimp vessels. Excellent seafood restaurants abound.
For more, see our article, Mexico—Still a Mecca for Expats and this Los Angeles Times article Mazatlan, a Mexican Harbor for American Expatriates