|
Located 210 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona (65
miles south of the U.S. border), this laid-back beach community,
also known as Rocky
Point, has come into prominence as
a vacation spot within the last 10 to 15 years, but the town has
been here since the 1930s, well off the beaten path and
known only to a few adventurous expatriates, travelers and the
occasional scoundrel (one of its earliest famous
gringo visitors was Al Capone).
Puerto Penasco (population 26,000) is an intact fishing village, with the
Sonora desert and hills on one side and the
beautiful Sea of Cortez on the other,
and it has just started to develop its
tourism angle.
|
|
On the plus side of that, more services and
infrastructure are arriving. On the down side, more
services and infrastructure are arriving, dragging Puerto
Penasco into the 21st century (almost). This is
still a
rustic, somewhat scattered, place, but it has plans to
rival Mexico's splashiest resorts. That won't happen
for some time, so for seniors seeking a sunny, mellow
Mexican sand and surf retirement close to the U.S.,
Penasco is worth exploring. |
A few years ago, trailers and small houses were
the norm here. Now, big hotels, condos and expensive homes
are popping up, but the beach is still clean, quiet and good-sized. This is definitely a Mexican town, but enough
tourists and expatriates have come that English, in addition to
Spanish, is spoken. Many of the buildings here are
painted white or are brightly colored, and merchants sell their
wares, everything from hats and blankets to food, on the street
(do not eat any food from an open-air stand). Shops
are not air-conditioned. Merchants accept dollars as well as
pesos. Many gringos who come here bring their cars, so
American license plates are as common as Mexican ones.
Weekends see an influx of tourists, many driving down from
Arizona, and Spring Break can bring as many as 60,000 college kids
to town.
Cost-of-Living
in Puerto Penasco, Mexico
Generally, the cost-of
-living here is less than in most areas in the United States, as
is the case with most of Mexico. You will pay more, in some
cases, than services warrant because of the up and coming nature
of the area, but food, health care and most services are less than
the average price in the States.
Climate in Puerto Penasco, Mexico
The climate is similar to much of the desert,
southwestern United States, but with an ocean and the humidity it
provides thrown into the mix. January through May bring
temperatures in the 70s, with some 60s and some
80s. During the summer, expect temperatures to reach
100 or more, combined with humidity (this can be a good time to
return to the United States). Fall and winter months, August
to December, see temperatures in the 60s and low 70s, along with
rains that are short and heavy.
Puerto Penasco, Mexico Real Estate
Two kinds of people come
to live in Penasco. The first
are the bohemian expatriates and retirees who want to live cheaply on the
beach and who live in their RVs. There are at least a dozen RV
parks, including Playa Bonita RV Resort and the Reef RV Park, that offer
all the amenities any RVing vagabond might want. Rates vary from $12
to $20 a day. Many of these RV retirees come for the fall and winter
months and then head back to the U.S. for the summer (foreigners
are allowed to stay six months at a time in Mexico on just a
tourist visa or they can apply for an FM-3 visa for longer-term
stays). For those staying in one of the RV parks on the east side
of Penasco, modernization has arrived in the form of a community broadband
internet access system.
The second kind of
retirees are the ones who want to make a more permanent move and
purchase real estate. Property prices are quickly on the
rise, but deals can still be found. Very
simple, private two bedroom, 2 bath single family homes in
town can be found for $65,000. We looked at a lovely two
bedroom, two bath home with 1,300 square feet for $154,000
and a wonderful three bedroom, three bath home with 1,500
square feet for $265,000. We also found
several in the $300,000 and $400,000 range.
Condo developments seem to
be the most common form of real estate for sale; there are
estimates that 1,000 more will be built in the next five years,
and they will be snapped up.
A nice condo (one bedroom, 2 bath, 800 square feet) in Mirador,
one of the established condo developments, starts at $98,000. Another in
Sandy Beach, another condo development, is $285,000 for two
bedrooms, two baths and 1,200 square feet.
There are also some
luxurious resorts now, including the Mayan Palace with a Jack
Nicklaus-designed golf course, and Laguna Shores, a master-planned
community with homes and condos. These rival anything found
in Cancun.
What to Do in Puerto Penasco, Mexico?
A dozen fishing charter companies call Penasco
home
so if you enjoy fishing, this is the place. Flounder,
mackerel, sea trout and sea bass, among others, all bring fishermen
to town year-round. You can also find snorkeling, windsurfing and an abundance of marine
wildlife, including sea lions and dolphins.
There are also plenty of bars (some are rather wild), nightclubs
and restaurants, or you can stroll the beach, cook dinner under
the stars and enjoy the beautiful sunsets.
You will find at least two religious services each
Sunday, one Catholic and one non-denominational. The Hermosa Beach Club
meets Thursdays at Playa Hermosa for beach/ecology walks.
CEDO, the Center for Deserts & Oceans, offers free tours and
natural history walks. They also have a library and bookstore/gift
shop. You can also explore the beaches on your own; low tide
often reveals octopus, squid, shrimp, crabs, coral and colorful sea
plants in the tide pools. The hotels have wifi so internet
access is available if you don't have it at home. Most supplies you will need can be
found in town, but major shopping is best done across the border
in Arizona.
Health Care in Puerto Penasco, Mexico
Penasco has several dentists and private physicians.
The Santa Fe Clinic serves as the prime emergency care facility, in conjunction with the local
Red Cross (across from the town hall). Health
care is so inexpensive, roughly costing a third of U.S.
care, that most expatriates pay for it
out-of-pocket. Most
major illnesses need to be addressed in the United
States, and if emergency air evacuation is needed to the
U.S., arrangements can be made by the clinic.
Driving to Puerto Penasco, Mexico
If you are driving to Penasco, you will need Mexican
auto insurance, but you will not need a vehicle permit because you will
be in the state of Sonora. Generally, the roads from the Arizona
border are in good condition. We recommend getting
gas in the U.S. before driving into Mexico (quality is a little better).
Will You Retire in Puerto Penasco, Mexico?
Relocating to this mellow fishing village is not
for everyone, but it offers some options. You can choose an inexpensive, low-frills RV
retirement or a more luxurious one buy purchasing a condo in
one of the new developments. You can also take a more
middle-of-the-road approach and buy or rent (check
locally) a home in town and live in the Mexican community.
If you are a bit adventurous and really looking to get
away from it all, while still remaining close to the U.S., then
Puerto Penasco is a destination you might want to explore.
|
