WHEN STORAGE SPACE IS LIMITTED…

MUST HAVE’S FOR CRUISING TO MEXICO

FOOD

First off, a love of tacos will serve every traveler to Mexico well.  Tacos throughout Mexico are tasty, available everywhere every day of the week, affordable, and generally delicious!

Second, know that most markets big and small are very well stocked in Mexico.

Third, some items will be beautifully presented in bulk in covered market spaces.

Over the years more and more people are cruising to Mexico from the north and the south and finding that provisioning in Mexico is overall excellent particularly in larger towns.  In most larger coastal towns like Ensenada, Cabo, La Paz, Loreto, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, etc… there are multiple large competing supermarkets (like Chedraui, Soriana, Walmart, Sam’s Club, La Comer…etc), plus many smaller, local markets, and produce stands.  In fact, excluding certain specialty foods that you may love in a certain brand (i.e. Jiffy Peanut Butter), most larger towns now have broad specialty provisioning possibilities.  That said, as one visits smaller and smaller communities the selection may lessen and in an eye opening way so it is wise to provision well in large communities.

Nonetheless, one can depend on finding food provisions easily throughout Mexico and does not need to arrive in Mexico with their vessel stocked to the gills with a full pantry.  Nowadays, some people are filling their hard to reach storage spots with special treats that bring them joy or could be fun gifts to bring others the taste of their homeport.   For example, a buddy boat from the Pacific Northwest packed several cases of homepacked salmon to enjoy and give away.  With this in mind, people are finding that they are fine to fill their stores with enough food for their passage to their next big port (plus a little) whether it is Ensenada or Chiapas, and save the rest of their storage for other items less easily acquired in Mexico.

BOAT SPARES AND PARTS

Often boats and boat owners are pretty brand and/or quality specific.  These types of items may or may not be found easily and locally in Mexico.  Often specialty and/or brand specific marine parts need to be ordered in which adds cost and time.  For example, our boat has a fair bit of brightwork which we choose to keep up on.  That being said, while we have tried many different varnishes and techniques over the years we always load up on the particular material we are using when and where we can because we stick to one product at a time.  Mind you, there is Varnish for sale in Mexico, it just may not be the brand you (or we) are loyal to and, if imported, it may be twice as much.  For this reason, many people load their vessel up with spares and boat maintenance materials that they are particularly loyal to.

Additionally, many people head to Mexico with boat projects in mind as labor and yard costs are more affordable in Mexico than in the neighboring USA.  For this reason, some people will sail to Mexico with parts they plan to use in a project.  Use Storage Space for these specialty parts and products that would otherwise need to be imported.  Additionally, as engines and generators are very part specific, many people fill their stores with basic spares and filters for your engine and/or generator.

Equally important to note: Mexico is the land of ‘Fix it’ not ‘Replace it’.  To this day I wish I took a picture of a plastic chair we found on an empty beach under the shade of a beautiful tree.  The chair was old, battered, AND laced together with fishing twine continuing to serve its purpose to any and all who pass by.  Similarly, things like alternators and starter motors are often torn down, rebuilt, and reimstalled rather than torn out, thrown away, and replaced.  The key to success here is a willingness to ask locals and look for the local specialist for whatever repair one needs.  Mexico is full of smart, resourceful, and talented people that make and fix things.  Understanding and speaking Spanish, and at the very least trying ones best, is a very important tool in ones toolbox when travelling in Mexico.

PERSONAL/HEALTH CARE

Pharmacies are well stocked and widely distributed in Mexico.  Many medicines that are controlled in the USA can be bought without prescription in Mexico.  Our first aid kit has been easily maintained and readily built up in Mexico.