Retirement Life in San Carlos, Mexico

The seaside town of San Carlos, in the state of Sonora, Mexico represents an ideal setting for retirement or a second home. Many U.S. senior citizens and retired Canadians make their home in San Carlos. The Anglo community lives side by side with the Mexican citizens in mutual respect and support. A variety of social clubs, coops and professional services provide an interesting lifestyle and health care support. Art galleries, Community Theater and all kinds of sports-fishing, golf, boating and diving-lend this quiet small town a very pleasant atmosphere. There is even a small airport not far from the golf course. For assistance in getting established in San Carlos, a number of excellent real estate firms, both Mexican and American are located right in the town. I got to know this pretty town fairly well when my wife and I stayed there three months last winter. We parked our RV in a campground just across the street from the beach.

San Carlos curls around a mostly sandy shoreline describing a graceful arc the shape of an elongated scythe. At the north end of town, beach front homes, shoulder to shoulder line the shore. At the southern section, mostly open beaches stand free for public use.

At the northern most end is a white pointy rock - an outcropping that stands alone. A narrow channel separates it from the mainland, which rises rather steeply at that point, creating a hillside where homes have been set into place in the most ingenious ways. This section of town is called the Caracol, which means conch shell or snail.