Trading Colorado Cold for a Tightknit Beach Community

Name: Willie Gibson
From: Evergreen, CO
Living in: Isla Mujeres, Mexico

When Willie Gibson fell ill at his apartment in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, it was his favorite juice vendor who came to the rescue.

That morning, Willie had mentioned to a neighbor that he could use a healing vegetable juice, but wasn’t feeling up to walking down the block to get one. A few hours later, a knock sounded from Willie’s front door. Behind it: the juice vendor’s young nephew, who handed Willie freshly squeezed vegetable juice before scampering away.

Willie laughs telling the story. “My younger neighbors look after and respect their elders,” he explains. “I’m retired and they do things like carry big water bottles up to my apartment for me, or they ask for advice. They really appreciate us.”

The community, Willie says, was part of the draw of Isla Mujeres. And he should know. Now 76, Willie had been trading the cold winters of Evergreen, Colorado for what he calls “tropical paradise” long before Isla’s natural beauty made it the major tourist destination it is today.

“Paradise” isn’t a stretch. Isla Mujeres’ famous Playa Norte beach has been listed among the world’s top beaches, and US News lists it as one of Mexico’s top three shores. Add that to swaying palm trees, year-round Caribbean weather, and the cheerfully colored houses of the island… and it’s obvious why Isla Mujeres has captured the heart of many an American, Canadian, and European expat.

So in 2021, with the cost of living in the US going up, Willie decided it was time to make his move to Isla Mujeres permanent.

Welcome to Isla, Where Golf Carts Rule the Roads

From Cancún, it’s only a twenty-minute ferry ride over to Isla… as the locals call it.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” Willie says. Cancún offers big-city amenities, like top-tier medical specialists at major hospitals… plus theaters, Michelin-starworthy restaurants, and an international airport.

But Willie can also enjoy being part of the community of Isla, where only 22,000 people live full-time.

Rather than buy a condo or a house, Willie’s opted to rent in the Salinas neighborhood of Isla Mujeres. For $600 a month, including utilities, he rents one of twelve apartments in a hacienda overlooking the nearby lagoon. When things cool off in the late afternoon, Willie goes for a long walk down to the beach and watches skaters tear up the local park.

He loves that Isla Mujeres is walkable, and that he can jump on the hop-on hop-off bus for cheap. But cruising around in golf carts is the most popular way to go about daily life on Isla Mujeres.

“You can see the whole island in about half an hour,” Willie says, “and you can expect to see about 10 golf carts for every car on the road.”

But almost everything he needs, he says, is within a few blocks of the hacienda.

He particularly enjoys grabbing a bite from the nearby traditional street food carts, or from a cocina economica… a kitchen run out of a local’s homes.

“I prefer to put my money back into my neighborhood and support local families,” he says. Plus, by eating local, he gets extra bang for his buck. “A breakfast of eggs al gusto, coffee, and freshly squeezed juice is about $100–150 pesos ($5–8). Street food carts are even cheaper,” he reports. “You can enjoy breakfast for under two dollars.”

Hidden Gems Don’t Stay Hidden for Long

The island has changed a lot, Willie says, in the decades since he first visited. With 500,000 visitors in the first three months of 2023 alone, this tiny island and its famous Playa Norte has landed on a lot of people’s bucket lists… and not just foreigners’.

The beauty of Isla Mujeres, Willie says, is that it also attracts people from all over Mexico.

But with growth comes more expensive rent. The cost of island living is higher now than ever.

“Local friends of mine moved to Cancún because rent is cheaper there,” Willie says. Even so, he reports that the thriving island—full of restaurants, water sports, and tropical beaches—is still significantly cheaper than any major city in the US.

He lives comfortably on around $1,200 a month. That includes rent, utilities, eating out, and medical checkups. (Willie’s a fan of Isla’s doctors, who he’s befriended over the years.) And he still says that he’d make the move all over again.

So what advice does Willie have for aspiring expats?

“Spend a couple of weeks in whatever place you’re considering during different seasons,” he suggests. “See how it’s changed. What’s the availability of things you like to do?”

Willie “tested” Isla over many years, and says he wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than this warm, friendly, and inclusive community.

IL’s Mexico correspondent shows you around Isla Mujeres below: