I met Bronwyn within a year of moving to Toronto over a decade ago. At the time she had recently returned from living in Korea. As long as I’ve known Bronwyn, she’s remained untamed which qualifies her as a perfect candidate for an MBSB interview.
What made you choose the expat life?
I’m not sure I chose this life or it chose me yet. I do know that life “back home” did not fit with my philosophy of how I wanted to live.
Why Tulum, Mexico?
I was planning a cross country move when I made a brief yet life changing visit to the Mayan riviera. I sat there looking at the sea and it dawned on me that although Vancouver had water and a natural beauty I was wanting in my life…the sea and the playa in Tulum were far nicer and warmer with sunshine all the time. There was the undeniable. In this case Tulum picked me.
Please fill us in on an average day for you in Tulum.
Days are very tranquil here. If it’s a work day, it’s not much different than a work day back home except for the 4 km bike ride to the beach and the only traffic on the path are butterflies and iguanas. On a non-work day and this means no house cleaning, no laundry (which is a job in and of itself at times), I am usually found at the beach for part of the day or visiting one of the many cenotes around Tulum or just relaxing with friends. There is no plan as that set one up for disappointment and doesn’t allow for the randomness of life to work its magic….good Lord I sound like a hippie 😉
Ha! What adjustments did you have to make moving to Mexico?
First and foremost would be the climate and the language. Not sure you can adjust to the climate but it does hit you like a wall and takes some getting used to. In summer one just accepts the fact that sweat is a part of your daily outfit.
What is the status of foreigners in Mexico?
I’m unclear as to the meaning of this question but there are several types of “foreigners or expats” here:
- Retired folks that own homes and live here part of the year
- Folks from all over the world…mostly Europeans, Americans and Canadians who have moved here and started a business
- Folks that wanted a new way of living out of the “rat race”. A simple existence where work is not the main meal of the day. These people, of which I am one of, work in various fields from spa-type therapist, to service providers like child care to tour/dive guides and the like.
“I smile more,
laugh more
and live more.”
And of women? Additionally, how do you feel foreign women fit into the culture?
It’s a Latin culture on the Mayan riviera…women are second class in many ways and many jobs are still unattainable. Many local women do not work at all. Foreign women I find, are of a different elk even from the counterparts “back home”, thus are able to adjust or at very least accept the ways of the land and laugh it off.
In no way have I felt fear for my safety nor have I felt repressed by men or the culture here.
Many local ladies do not work but there has been a change in the last couple years and I am now seeing lady taxi drivers…the one industry that is very male oriented here.
Please give as an idea of the range of costs for monthly expenditures including rent, internet, food and other general expenses.
People rent rooms, small one bedroom houses or massive homes. Rooms can be as low as $120, a house $250 to $450 and massive luxury homes up to $1000 a month. Internet is approximately $35 and includes cable, tv, phone. Most do not have landlines and at the beach there is none at all. We all have cell phones and it’s pay as you go, so all depending on your usage really, but I spend less than $20 every 4 to 6 weeks. Food is surprisingly expensive but I think this is due more to the fact that this is a tourist town. It is comparable to city prices. Sadly, transportation on a truck can be filled up for $40 to $60 but many folks ride bicycles, scooters or motor bikes for ease as much as cost. Taxis in town cost $2 to the beach from town, $4.50 during the day and up to $9 dollars at night. Colectivos (local transport from tulum to Playa Del Carm and in big cities is more like public transport but in vans) cost from Tulum to Playa Del Carm – an hour trip costs $3.50.
Are there opportunities for expats to work in Tulum?
Yes. Tulum is a very small town but growing at light speed. Work options vary depending on your skills and bank roll. As in any growing economy there are just as many options for employment, many expats come and open a business. Hotels, bars, restaurants, to services….if you have the imagination you make what you want.
What’s your favourite aspect of living the expat life?
Not sure if I relate to the idea of being an expat but I certainly relate to “Tulum living”. I have lived and worked in other countries where life was very different and I never felt it was my home. Here I feel I am at home. Topping my list of best aspects – lack of daily stress and drama. I smile more, laugh more and live more. My life motto being “work less…LIVE more” and the fact that I rarely know what day of the week it is. I no longer live/work, think “I cannot wait until Friday”.
Everyday is the weekend here.
I enjoyed this article. I had been thinking about moving to Playa del Carmen but after reviewing it, it appeared that there were a lot of problems with theft and people breaking in to gringa’s housing. I became dubious about it, but wondered how long this woman has lived in Tulum and if it is safe there. I don’t have much; I sure don’t want it stolen. And as a traveling single woman I want to feel safe.
It doesn’t mention in the article what she does for a living. I’d be interested to know, unless that information was purposely left out because she wanted to keep it private.
Thanks for your great blog, Laura!
Thank-you Lindsey!
crystal… the short answer YES i feel safe.
the longer answer that none of us want to hear is yes there is theft and gringos houses are broken into…as are mexicans and well just about any nationality in the world. theft happens everywhere.
Playa D. has a bad wrap for sure…and its not my city but i have many friend there that love it…its too busy and fast for this kitty to cross the road 😉
but if you are sensible than you are as safe here as you are living next door to a police station.
in my almost 4 years here i have had my bike stolen…twice…its a right of passage that we all sacrifice a bike every once in awhile to the petulance we call bike thieving season
remember when you do your research….the negative news always gets more air time.
=^..^=
Love your add. I am thinking and moving to Tulum for about 4 years now, just fell totally in love with this place and been back there many times in the last years just can get enough and every time I have to leave it’s a heart breaking, and I have a question for you What do really takes to move to Tulum? I have some money to go by 5 months after that What couldn’t happen? I do speak english, spanish and portuguese what could be my possibilities there and the prospects of legal residence or citizen and employment. I am ready to move, I could pack today and just go to Tulum which for me is home.
you are right…there is no mention of work…nor was there a question asked about what i did in the interview….i like that in an interview..thanks laura 😉
if i were asked such a question i would answer it like so -> ” i work at living”
vague enough for you…laughs…
to help you out tho….working on a tourist visa is frowned on here…and its not as easy as it once was tulum is very busy with officials looking for ways to “fine” workplaces and workers without papers…most employers will not hire someone without work papers the old FM3
as for me…i’m an artist…and my art is living life as it best suits me so i have not worked a full time perm job since 2004.
no i am not rich…not even close…but it is truly amazing how little one really needs to “get by” in life…mind you i am childFREE and do not own anything such as a house or car for that matter…but the idea that runs though the veins of most….”buy buy buy, own stuff, accumulate, debit is ok” well that is not in my blood.
work all depends on what you want to do and how much you really wanna do it…some folks here make bikinis and sell them on the beach, others babysit, teach yoga or work in stores/hotels …if you have spanish speaking abilities and papers, or start their own business….if you can dream it you can do it i say!
=^..^=
Hola Bronwyn…
Que tal? I am a Vancouverite as well who has just moved to Tulum… It would be great to talk if you are still living in the area… I am currently in Cancun and will be back in Tulum on the weekend…
Hopefully we can make a connection. Email me… 🙂
Emma
yes emma hells yes i am still in tulum…email addy??
=^..^=
Hola Bronwyn!!
I’m about to jump into a personal work/adventure and my first stop will be Tulum. I read this article and loved the way you see/live life!
If you’re still there, it would be nice to meet you and to gather some more tips from you!
Please contact me!! http://www.facebook.com/garciaherrerandrea
Hello….
We are wanting to search around Tulum for long term living arrangements…..haven’t ben there for a number of years, but really like the place……
We (my wife and I) are coming down to the area in March for two weeks….is there anyone that can help us look around and check out long term rental options?
Thank you so much!
Brad and Maricela
Was thrilled to finally find an actual person interview with someone who is doing what we are trying to do which is move down to Tulum. We’ve been going on vacation there for a while now, and everytime we leave we want to go back and live a simple life, a life not filled with such competition and anger, a life that doesn’t involve such stress ridden days and nights. We don’t want to be those people who just settled down here in New York, have a family, and work work work till you can’t work anymore, and become irritable and nonexistent to each other because we’re all trying to make that quick buck to keep up with the expensive lifestyle here. I admire this story and for this woman for turning to trust her intuition about letting go of her life where she came from to gain accustom to a new surrounding of beauty and simplicity. We hope to be a neighbor in Tulum one day, but til then we will be back in March 2014!
hola destination tulum,
bienvenidos!!!! and a huge cheer to wanting to LIVE LIFE …and not to work and try to live…hope your dreams are coming true for you
see you on the beach
=^..^=
Miss Kitty.. Hola, and I am hoping u are at this time still in TULUM.
I’m packed and ready to arrive March 11th,,, I have adopted your living
philosophy exactly… and to that end.. I would like some info on my arrival..
I am looking at “hotels”,, ( gasp!!!!) and they are quite pricey… is there any place
you can recommend,, to stay a few nights,, until I can ,hopefully, find a local
spot to rent???,, thanks for any help…
You can go to couchsurfing.com and find a host for your first few days/weeks in Tulum, there are several lovely hosts in the area.
Hola priscilla
My apologies for not responding sooner but I have been road tripping around being the tour guide to friends and family.
Hope you land safe and sound in Tulum. Yes Tulum hotels can be rather expensive and timing wise it’s still our high season prices. Some of the hostels are quiet nice and post offer private rooms for cheaper prices than the hotels.
Welcome to the beach 🙂
Totally agreed, I am so ready to get out of Atlanta, and live excited, stress free life in the beautiful Tulum
Great article! My hubby and I visited Tulum for the first time a few weeks ago and we LOVED it! We were married in Mexico 4 years ago and we come back every year. We’ve always said we want to raise our kiddos in another country for many reasons, and have seriously considered this area since our recent trip. Would love to connect with you and hopefully meet up when we come for another visit towards late summer early fall! We crave the simplified life 🙂
I am a professor/therapist and my wife works in the fitness industry. We are planning on taking a sabbatical and living in the area until we find something to buy and eventually work from there providing I can get internet access. We both love warm weather (hot weather) and was somewhat surprised by comments by other bloggers about volume of mosquitoes they reported in Tulum Area. Can you comment on that and give me your thoughts on what one can get for around 500,000 in terms of a place with acreage and off the beaten path..
Thanks..
Hello Mike,
I bought a hectare of jungle 5 and half years ago for about $2US per meter. We are 16km north of Tulum on the Coba road and so enjoy the benefit of being away from any hustle but near enough to access what we need. I have since built a stupidly big Bauhaus style house on it, and it is entirely self sufficient – solar panels/collect rain water/off grid. BUT, we have a fabulous internet connection which is much needed as my boyfriend is an on-line psychotherapist.
For 500kUS – you could do a LOT.
Life is calm and tranquil. The jungle sounds are fabulous and whilst, yes, there are mosquitoes, they don’t make life miserable at all. We’ve been here since mid January and love it. You’re welcome to come and visit us when you’re here.
Georgie
Hey Georgie,
km 16 huh? We are on km 19 on the same road to coba. We only have a 50m by 40m lot and we are planning on building beginning to mid 2015. I would love to hear some advice on materials to use and costs etc…hope to speak soon.
Gina.
hola georgie,
i woudl suggest you get in contact with a relator type person for your questions on buying here. that is so out of my area to be honest….i am not into land or anything ownership.
be fair warned…tulum is EXPLODING so finding something “off the beaten path” is not as easy as it once was.
as for mosquitoes….yes we have them…a lot? i would say no. the town is sprayed ( yes with bad unhealthy chemicals at the price of having no recorded cases of malaria in years) during the worst part of the season….april may june as the rains bring on the mosquitoes. just a hint…hot and humid weather countries have BIGGER bugs…just saying 🙂
happy planning
meow
bu
sorry the above was written for mike not gorgie…
thanks gorgie for the real estate words of wisdom 🙂
Great article!
Laura, honestly, you made me comming to Tulum.
I still live in Montreal, Canada. I was planning to move to Mexico.
I was hesitating where exactly to stay and live in Mexico. I was fluctuating between Progreso, Mahahual or Sayulita.
After reading your article I took the final decision: it will be Tulum. Your “I smile more, laugh more and live more” made me comming…
Thank you, Laura! God bless you!
I hope I’ll see you in Tulum if you are still there.
I’m comming…
hola antonio…
i am glad you like the article and i hope you “smiled more” while you were here
life truly is a “beach” 😉
meow
Hola Gato,
Yes, indeed, sunshine & beach – all I need to be happy.
But for the time being I’m still in Canada, still involved in the “rat race”…
As you are Cat
can you tell me
how to kill that “rat”? 😉
Antonio (El Gringo Nuevo)
Thank you everyone for keeping the discussion going! I’m so glad this piece on Tulum is resonating with all of you. Thank you Bronwyn for the interview and insight!
Hi Miss Kitty! Great interview! I’m also from Vancouver and just arrived in Tulum a week ago. I’m planning on living here for a while and I’m loving it so far but still don’t know many people. I’d love to grab a juice and chat if you’re available one of these days 🙂
hola alma,
welcome to tulum glad you are enjoying things so far…it really is a lovely place to get lost in here.
i will ask laura to send me your email and connect with you there…i can be found most days after 230 at Xoco Loco and if i am not here just say hola to the staff they are super friendly and serve great juices, coffees and so much more 🙂
meow
While we wait for your book, please take a look at mine. After 15 months of criss-crossing Mexico, my new book looks at Americans and Canadians who’ve chosen to avoid the big expat colonies in San Miguel de Allende and Lake Chapala. What they’ve found is both diverse and surprising. If you’re wondering what the expat experience is like, whether on the beach or in the colonial cities of the interior, you need to listen to this conversation. The book is called Into the Heart of Mexico: Expatriates Find Themselves Off the Beaten Path, and there is no other book like it. There’s a sample on my website:
http://www.sanmiguelallendebooks.com/intotheheartofmexico.html
Hola! Thank you for the inspiring article! My girlfriend and I visited Tulum back in February for a romantic vacation getaway. We couldn’t have made a better choice! We plan on returning this year. I too feel the lure of the simpler, less hectic lifestyle which Tulum seems to offer. I wonder how a seasoned jazz musician/fitness trainer would fare in this environment.
Hola Hola!
Thank you very much for this really interesting article…my boyfriend and I recognized ourselves in your way of thinking! We just came back from Tulum and we definitely felt in love with the place. People are soooo amazing. There is an <> spirit leaving back there. I traveled a lot around the world and I had never felt this peace of life! The sea, the climate, the nature and the people are just so nice! Its been a long time my boyfriend and I are thinking that our actual home (Canada) is not the place we want to live. Like you said, our philosophy of life is sooo different than our friends, colleagues, family. With this trip, we realized deeply that we are not at the right place! Good news: we can changed our life and moved there 🙂 Everything is possible in life and as long you know in what you believe you can realize your dream! So our plan is to start a business in Tulum. Depending how fast it goes, we would like to be in Tulum within 1 year. It would be nice to stay in contact with you so we can meet once we are there! Looking forward to hear from you!
Isa & Nick
What kind of business are you thinking about? Just got back from Soliman Bay…going back in May. Been visiting Playa del Carmen for 25 years. Thinking about possibilities of staying in Tulum???? Thanks, Janine
Hello! Thank you for your post!
I’m moving to Tulum in March – starting over from scratch, and I’m wondering if you recommend waiting until I”m actually in Tulum to find a place, or if it’s possible to book something before I come.
Are there cabanas to rent on the water for a monthly fee? I seem to only be finding vacation rentals which are priced nightly.
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Katie and everyone,
It is great to find this post! I too am a Canadian planning to leave it all behind and head to Tulum in August. I had the same questions as you Katie, so if you find anything out please let me know.
Although it is a while before I will arrive, it would be great to meet up with some of you once there, hopefully this message board is still going strong!
xo
Hola ! My husband and I are planning to relocate to Mexico in about three years once my daughter graduates from middle school. We were looking into Cozumel, Playa Del carmen and Merida, but over the last day or so I’ved disoverd Tulum and my spirit just feels good when I think of our family possibly calling this place home one day. Can anyone tell me how the school system is, my daughter would be going into the 9th grade! Also any dance training there? My daughter studies jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop! We’ll be back in Cancun the first week in August and I was thinking of traveling to Tulum and spending a day there…about how far from Cancun would the drive be? Thanx in advance for any advice/info that c ould be given;)
Hi: I am a retired person looking for 2 to 3 month rental in Tulum. I would like advice on contacting a local or a local person who specializes in helping an English speaking person to find affordable housing. The reason I am doing it this way is to see if I would like to make the long term decision of retiring to Tulum. I am Canadian and would love to move somewhere warmer.
Than you
What about a supermarket and a department store with electronics?
I’m simple and a part of that is I want a simple place to go to buy what I need all in one place.
Tulum has had a Chedraui for about 4years….just like a Walmart really.
Some folks make the 45 minute trip to playa del carmen for more options but i have found that i can get everything i need right here in town
Are you still in Tulum?
Yes I am still here..will be 6 years this coming may
Hi Kitty…I threw my stuff in storage 1 1/2 years ago and have been what I call “purposefully homeless”. I work from my computer M-F so need signals otherwise I’m transient, chasing music. I’m heading down that way next week and going to stay through the end of Feb. I would love to have a coffee or drink and chat about both our experiences. If your around, let me know how I may contact you!
Hi Kitty ! Loved treading your blog, very insightful and helpful, reflects our own findings ! 🙂
We’ve been to Tulum twice now, and obsessed with returning and spending more time over there ! What a beautiful lace with a genuine vibe. My companion and I would love to make our own little spot there, eventually… Would you have any information about how local artists (painters, sculptors, leatherworks, etc) are making it there ? Tulum is developing at the speed of light indeed, I wonder if there are opportunities for gringos or foreigners with construction/renovation experience ?
Also we are martial artists as well (Chito-Ryu karate), any good place that offers training ? How does it feel to train/spar in the hot and humid ? 😉
Hi Ttavel Kitty!
I’m making the move to Tulum from Canada, but just on the tourist visa to start. What is the best way for someone to find accommodations for a 2-3 month stay? I’ve looked at airbnbs, but their nightly rates add up to be far too much when talking more long term. Is their a website with apartment rentals or should I be looking only once there?
Also, how tough is it to get by with no Spanish? I definitely want to learn (and that is part of the reason for my move), but I don’t know any yet.
Finally, is there anywhere to look for jobs online? I understand that one needs to be invited to work by a company there before getting the longer term visa, but I’m not sure how to go about trying to secure / apply for that invitation.
In advance, thank you for any guidance you can provide!!!
Hi ,
I’m living in Toronto right now and i’ve been trying to find a place in tulum for the monthly proces that you mentiond in the interview.
Can you please tell me where exactly in Tulum i can find a place with those rated cause all i can find are very expensive rates .
Thank you
I pay 2750 peso/ month for a studio with my own bathroom. Their are getting fewer hard to find. I could help you find one maybe. You could stay at a Hostel for around 200 pesos per night while you look. When I started staying here 5 yrs. ago their were only 10 hostels now their are close to 40. All the apartment places converted to Hostels.