Pacific Mexico: Fertile land

Hello Permies,

I have really enjoyed these forums and found them a rich resource for learning. I'm in the midst of a challenging search to which I hope some of you might lend your knowledge and experience.

It has been the dream for many years now to settle in Latin America. While I have spent time living, working, and traveling through a good portion of Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador, I would like to return to Mexico in search of a place to settle. This due to number of factors, but one being its proximity to California, where I am from.

In just a few days, I will begin south by car in an effort to explore the pacific coast for a suitable place to buy land. By suitable, it would have appropriate climate/soil to support a small permie farm, be situated, ideally, in a lively ecosystem (I often work as a wildlife biologist), and be along the ocean (I am cursed/blessed with a love of surfing).

I often feel like this is an impossible combination, but thought I could draw on the wisdom of you fine folks to direct me toward any regions you might think fit. I have seen that there are some permaculture projects near Sayulita (which is within a beautifully lush area), but I imagine all the tourism in the area has driven land prices beyond my meager means. The state of Oaxaca offers some vivid lagoons and great surf, but I fear the more southern latitude and heat may put more limits on crop variety. But my knowledge/experience is rather limited!

Thus, if you've any thoughts, ideas, questions, or anything at all, they would be much appreciated!!

Feliz ano y saludos , David

Welcome to Permies, David!

Since you are looking at the long term, I should point out that the models of climatologists have northwestern Mexico drying out even more than it already is. From that, you may want to rule out anything north of Mazatlan or thereabouts. It's a pretty long hike south from California until you get out of the desert and into climates that are more conducive to permaculture. As long as you stay away from the "developed" towns, and by that I mean the real estate developments that are made as turn-key investments for los estadounidenses, the real estate prices should be reasonable (i.e. at the Mexican level). Of course, all the nice shopping tends to be centered in those rich areas, so maybe you look 5 km up the coast and 5 km down the coast to find a deal.

I spent a couple of years in Ensenada, and you quickly learn what are the areas for tourists, which are different from the areas for American ex-pats, which are different from the regular Mexican neighborhoods.

Thanks John. Taking the climate change models into consideration is wise. I will definitely be looking south of the Tropic of Cancer (not much surf north of there on the mainland anyway!). Saludos, David

Hi David, did you find somewhere to surf and permaculture? I would think Los llanos, La saladita would be a good place to do it, I tried Puerto Escondido but the waves are too heavy and you can get hurt easily. It's hard to have both, surf, permaculture and a nice town to not be so Isolated. Few countries have it, Portugal, New Zealand, US Hawaii. Spain.