" alt="Baja Life Realty" />What’s it like to live as a single woman in La Paz? Is it safe? Is it social?
Our writer, Fern Corraini, shares her experience.
La Paz was recently chosen one of the best travel destinations in the world for single women. Let’s go a step further and say that La Paz is one of the best living destinations in the world for single women.
So who are we single women of La Paz? What brought us here? What keeps us here??
We’ve come from all over the world…Brazil, Holland, Korea…but primarily from Canada and the USA.
We’re all ages, but many of us are 50+.
The majority of us do not speak fluent Spanish, but we do speak Menu and Grocery Store and Hairdresser.
Some of us take Spanish lessons…and entertain our friends with funny stories of our screw-ups. (e.g. you want to buy eggs but you end up asking for testicles.)
Some of us are bilingual. Some of us think we are. We’re both a little smug.
No matter how much Spanish we speak, we all manage to find the things we need, get things done and feel proud of ourselves for doing it.
Some of us retired here…to do nothing and everything. We get up in the morning and do exactly what we want to do, choosing to be as busy or as lazy as we want.
Some moved here because we could maintain our job up north and work from home… on the patio with our laptop, morning coffee and birds singing.
Some of us found part-time jobs or started a business once we got here. We sell homemade specialties at the market, run property management or real estate businesses, open a restaurant or a B&B, give art classes and English lessons.
Some of us are here alone due to divorce. We lose weight, change the hairdo, and discover what it’s like to be single again.
Some are widows. La Paz is a good place to heal.
Some have never been married…and want to keep it that way.
Some do online dating. Some think they’re nuts. Some of us think about it.
Some go dancing to live music at La Costa on Wednesday nights.
Some of us join one of the many Meetup groups here and attend their happy hours and events.
Some of us happily stay home and read, do Sudoku, eat popcorn for dinner.
We feel safe. We don’t have worries about encountering violence as we go about our lives here in La Paz. On the contrary, we feel comfortable dining alone, walking at night, going to a bar or club. Of course, we use common sense…we’re not out looking for black tar heroin. We smile when we hear of folks who think our lives are in mortal danger in Mexico, when the actual truth is that we feel safer here than we did in the big cities up north.
We’re Democrats/Liberals, Republicans/Conservatives, we’re apolitical. Who cares?
Some of us make our own Kefir and buy veggies at the organic market. Some of us order cheesy enchiladas from Uber Eats. Some do both.
Some of us go to church. Some of us enjoy the margarita lifestyle. Some practice yoga. Some do all 3 but not at the same time.
We exercise…or not. We go biking on the 20 kms of new dedicated bike path along the La Paz malecon. (Click here for a link to an article discussing Portland’s bikepath envy.) We join a gym and do Pilates or DanceFit classes or work out with weights. We walk to the grocery store. We play pickleball. We hike from beautiful Balandra beach to the equally gorgeous Tecolote beach. We swim, snorkel, kayak, get our scuba certifications. We race cars in the Baja 1000. AND…we also sit around eating Cheetos and watching Netflix.
Are you noticing a pattern here?
We volunteer…at a primary school breakfast program or a dog rescue. We donate time and money to local charities.
We learn about healthcare options. We find a dentist we love and get inexpensive, quality implants/veneers/cleanings. We go for regular massages, highlights, manicures, pedicures, facials, threadings, peelings, waxings, pluckings, primpings, fluffings. Or not.
We wear yoga pants and flip flops, and we dress up a bit to go out – sometimes. La Paz is mostly a casual place.
We do a lot of socializing: Mexican train games, bridge/canasta/Rummikub afternoons, hitting our favorite haunts for lunch, invitations to dinner, boat trips, beach days, pool parties.
We go to semi-pro baseball games and spit sunflower seeds or sit on the tailgate at the neighborhood soccer game.
We attend outdoor concerts and theater events (the St. Petersburg Ballet performed The Nutcracker here at Christmas).
We go to a matinee at our posh movie theater (the one with leather recliners, full bar and food, waiters’ bell and courtesy blankets).
We sign up for cooking lessons, enjoy the talent night at a local bar, see Elvis perform at the local restaurant in El Centenario…there are endless options, most of them involving food and drink.
We do things alone. We read, start painting, take tango lessons, nap after lunch, go beaching, sew patio pillows, and learn how to move a cactus in our garden. We walk the adopted dog, spend an hour in Dax, and enjoy freshly grilled snapper and a margarita while watching the sunset from a malecón restaurant.
So now you know that we single women of La Paz are just “normal” women…not special, just lucky, spunky women. But what keeps us here?
LONG ANSWER:
The weather. Enough said.
The tranquil pace. (except when Mexican moms are picking their kids up from school…then all bets are off)
The expanded worldview gained from meeting people from all over the world.
The tacos. Ohhh, the tacos!
Feeling far away from the world news…if we choose.
Our money goes farther, the nest egg lasts longer.
We are 2 hours away from daily flights to Canada and the US.
La Paz is not overrun with drunken tourists and spring-breakers. (They mostly go to Cabo or Cancun.)
The kind and friendly Mexican people welcome us into their neighborhoods and often, into their families. We feel accepted.
Because we aren’t near our families, our friendships are valuable. We celebrate them. A lot.
We have safety and freedom, sunshine and interesting things to do.
We have opportunities to better our health, humor and interactions.
We’re surrounded by beauty.
We live by the sea!
SHORTER ANSWER:
We fell in love with Baja, with La Paz, the weather, the Mexican people and the sea.
The single women I know in La Paz give themselves permission to be themselves here. So whoever you are or whoever you want to be, you will find a niche for yourself here in La Paz. You will feel at home.
(Note: After all this attention slathered on single women….you might be surprised to know that married/partnered women live here too. Bet you can’t pick them out in the photos. Single or married, we women of La Paz, El Centenario and Comitan, are all grateful that marital status doesn’t seem to matter much here. Neither does age, origin, size, income level or personality quirks, We’re all the uniquely the same. (Hmmm, except for married women have better food in the fridge. Thanks for all the times you’ve sent yummy leftovers home with your single friends!)
Oh yah…I lied about driving race cars in the Baja 1000. Maybe you could be the first!
Are you a single woman living in La Paz? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
Fern Corraini is a veteran traveler and explorer who moved to La Paz from Canada fourteen years ago and is happy to call Mexico home. In addition to her international travels, Fern has been an English teacher in Canada and Guadalajara, a customs officer, a beekeeper, a sandblaster, a travel rep in the Dominican Republic and a motel owner. When she’s not busy keeping Baja Life Realty organized as our administrator, Fern loves to cycle, visit the beach and spend time with her two rescue kitties. She loves La Paz and firmly believes that the taco is the perfect food.
Beautiful story Fern!
Yes I agree, I love La Paz and all the amazing people from all over that i’ve Met here. As well as the wonderful local people I’ve had the privilege to get to know and be a part of their get togethers.
I am one of the married ones, who enjoys from Nov to April living here.
Always fabulous food to be found, so many places to enjoy a meal at, whether the Malecon other areas off the Malecon or out to Centenario. Yes the taco is a yummy meal.
Keep writing Fern!
Thanks for reading, and for the encouragement, sure do appreciate it! Married or single, there are many of us adventurous souls here in La Paz, one of the great things about living in this special place. And yes, the food is fabulous, and some of the best places are found by those who venture off the Malecon!
Love what you say about single woman. I can appreciate the independence! Over the years I have spent months and months living in Mexico and I believe have been in every state except Baja.
Thanks for the heads up. Oh, I am an Alaskan.
Thanks for your feedback, Laura! Hope you put La Paz on your calendar for one of your future trips, we’re sure you would love it!
Excellent article Fern!You said it ALL!Love our life here in LaPaz❤️
Thanks for commenting, Diane, my fellow singleton.
Well said Fern. So many of my friends from home (Red Deer, Alberta ask if I feel safe here and what do you do with your time?) I built my house here in El Centenario 12 years ago after separating from my husband. Best thing I ever did. I have worked hard and it’s only recently that I have been able to spend more than two or three weeks at at a time here. This year I hope to sell my home in Red Deer and move here full time. I am a bookkeeper and very lucky to be able to work from here. I love all my beautiful single and married girlfriends and have had many laughs sharing stories. My life is full and I couldn’t be happier.
Thanks for your comment, Shannon. Good luck on selling your Alberta home and realizing your fulltime Baja dream.
Thanks for writing this Fern. The social life here is so rich and the camaraderie between women and the support they give each other is very special. Mexican and foreign. So much to do that the days are not long enough. People used to ask me if I was scared to live in Mexico. I say to that: “Dude! I moved here from L.A.!” 😳
I walk around by myself here at night, no parking meters, no police stalking you for any type of fine known to man, drive your car to the beach with your dog and a bottle of wine. No one to bother you.
I would never go back, voluntarily at least.
Loved your last sentence! They’ll have to drag me outta here too.
Thanks for your comment, Christine.
Well said Fern! Doesn’t matter if you are single or married … we women love to enjoy being together!
Correcto, Susan. Thanks for your comment.
One of my favorite friends retired in La Paz and I have gotten to visit her and I would love to live in La Paz it was wonderful!
– Julianne
Hope you have the opportunity to live here one day, Julianne!
Wonderfully written, Fern! Made me smile and filled my heart with love for all of the truly special women here in La Paz, of all nationalities. I believe there is no other place in the world as special, and it’s the WOMEN who make it so. We bought here in 2003 and I thank god every day that we did! I tried to post it on FB, but it would only come as a ‘story’ and will go away in 24 hours?! Love you all!
Jeri-Anne, you could be the poster person for the Women of La Paz! Lots of loving friends, fun activities and a little off-plumb! Thanks for your comments and for subscribing.
Good one, Fern. I don’t think I will let Jerry read this though. He will want to hear from the single men.
Love ya!
Deborah
Thanks Deb! Maybe I can find a single man who’s willing to share his pt of view. I’ll have to drag someone off the golf course, out of the fishing boat or away from his hammock!
So we’ll said Fern. I’m one of the partnered women but the best part of living here in La Paz is the beautiful Gurlz I have met here and of course the weather.
Love my life! 🦋
Hi; Fern,
Wow, what a tale of truths! It is truly a sweet thing to have many women that Listen and share their stories. We all arrived here from a need to settle better and calmer life.
All stories are not good nor are they all bad..
If anything, we (women) will support anyone in sad/sorrowful/bad and joyful. We have sympathy for all this and more love to go around.
Thankyou again,
Linda walters
Thanks Linda. You’re right…we all found a calmer life here supported by others who were looking for the same. Lucky, eh?
Thanks Gail. It’s hard to imagine what our lives would be without all the wondrous women we’ve met here! OK…some men too.
I hope to join you all next winter! i’m collecting info now. i will be coming down with my trailer in tow, Would love to hear info about RV parks if anyone has anything to share.
Hola Gizella. Talk Baja is a forum that discusses anything Baja. There is a plethora of good info on the drive, current road conditions, the sights and the RV parks along the way.
They’ll be able to answer your queries. See you next winter!
Hi, I am Wendy Bri. I admin the Everything Social La Paz, Todos Santos and Beyond Facebook group. We have lots of activities for single and partnered women. We just had a wonderful dinner at El Rustico. Join us next time. I am also always eager to meet other interesting women..so reach out. My email is purelycbdmexico@gmail.com. I am also the Purely CBD Mexico Lady. Hope to meet you soon!
Hola Wendy Bri. I will email you…always up for pizza at El Rustico!
Fern, I really love your writing style! I have lived more than ten years in La Paz and I’m very grateful for all the wonderful friends I’ve made here. I think between retirement and the sunshine, It’s very easy to get out and enjoy Mexico wherever you end up; but I have to say, I do feel very safe in La Paz. Safer than in the U.S. Family up north should not worry. ha!
Fern eres la mejor.. es adictivo leerte.. siempre tienes algo divertido que contar, algo interesante, algo positivo y vez las cosas de una manera especial y diferente, vez cada detalle hermoso de la vida y tu reportaje es totalmente puro y cierto.. lograste captar todas las cosas buenas. De verdad te felicito y me siento afortunada de conocerte.
Mil gracias, Kathy. Yo tambien me siento afortunada de conocerte y tenerte una fan como tu. Soy la tuya tambien. Mereces bien tu lugar en el sol.
Hi Fern,
I sure enjoyed your article! I’ve watched videos on living in Mexico; always wondering about feeling safe and now I’m looking forward to my first visit to La Paz very soon. It’s been on my “bucket list” for a while. Love the sun, love the beach, love making new friends and tacos ……. What am I waiting for? right? 🙂 Sounds like La Paz is the place to be.
Thanks, Lily. Once you get here, you’ll kick yourself for not coming earlier!
This article came to me at the exact time I needed it. As a lover of Baja and someone who is at a turning point in my life, I hung on every well written word. I actually had some tears too when hearing about the amazing group of women that have made the leap of spending their lives doing exactly what they need/want to. My heart needed to hear all the possibilities and you explained them so well I already picture myself living my best and peaceful life there. Thank you. 🙏