About Progreso
Progreso is a small town on the Gulf of Mexico with all the amentities of a city but without the problems. The population is diverse, with a large percentage of children. The industrial port handles containers, bulk products, oil and gas products and cruise ships. The port of Yucaltepen provides shelter to many commercial fishing companies as well as the Mexican navy and private marinas for pleasure craft.
As with any small town, there are branches of all the major banks, open 6 days per week, with many ATMs. There are pharmacies(some open 24 hours, grocery stores, video rentals, restaurants, movie theatres, furniture stores, rentals of anything and everything. The local market is awash with fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, local food stalls (very good food, cheap!) and all the other items one expects in a market.
Transportation to Progreso is easy, with a bus line leaving Merida every 15 minutes all day, collectivos leaving from Merida regularly, and taxis available at very reasonable prices. The bus and collectivo system within Progreso is very efficient, with a van leaving every 10 or 15 minutes to everywhere in and around Progreso. It is easier to walk or take the bus than to drive and find a parking space in the downtown. And if you do drive, there are parking lots scattered throughout the Centro, as well as street parking. No meters!
Hardware stores, repair shops, and building supply houses are in good supply in Progreso, with specialty items half an hour away in Merida . We even have coffeeshops with cappuccino and espresso!! The comidas economicas deliver to your door, and the pizza parlors have free delivery anywhere in town. We have beer and liquor stores, souvenir shops, artist galleries and craft supplies.
And we have some fine hotels in a variety of price ranges, with all the amenities one desires. Apartment and house rentals are available, both on and off the beach. The service industries are well represented, with housekeepers, maids, gardeners, plumbers, electricians available, laundries and car washes. Construction companies are here too, both large and small.
The police and fire departments are competent and well-trained, with all the technology one expects in a city of this size. Language is not a barrier as many of the police and other professionals are bilingual. If you need translation services to accompany you to doctors, dentists, or other places, we can arrange that for you.
The hospitals here are up to date in equipment and most of the doctors are foreign-trained. The quality and price of medical care here is much better than in most places, due to the influence of the many northerners and the cruise ships. And medical insurance is reasonably priced in mexico.
Daily life in Progreso is relaxed. The fishermen go out at night. If you walk along the malecon after dark, you can see their lights bobbing on the water. During the day most of the kids go to school in the morning. There are many private schools, as well as schools for languages, culture, music and computers, with classes in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. The afternoon sun is a good excuse to sit in the shade and not feel guilty.
There is only one disco in Progreso, and it is open only on Saturday nights. The karoake club is open on Fridays and Saturdays. In the evenings you will see entire families strolling the malecon, from babes-in-arms to grandmothers. Early mornings bring out the joggers and walkers, enjoying their exercise on the malecon, which is marked for distance by the half kilometer.
For many years Progreso has been “summer cottage” territory for the folk from Merida and other inland cities. During July and August the population triples with people coming from all over the country to enjoy the clement weather. While the temperature in Merida and away from the coast is stifling in the summer, Progreso and the beaches are comfortable, with cooling breezes off the Gulf of Mexico, and frequent afternoon showers. Many of the houses that have been empty for the winter fill up with family and friends taking advantage of the school break to escape the heat. The town sets up a fair on the malecon, with rides and games and entertainment galore. On the weekends there are stages with live music, dancing and the general celebration of being alive. The smell of food is everywhere, tempting you day and night. The local delicacy, pescado frito, is reason alone to visit Progreso.
Christmas and Semana Santa, (Easter) are the other major tourist times. Make your reservations early if you plan to come then because space is limited!! During Semana Santa there are peregrinations and masses in the streets and the main square of Progreso. The parades are fun, especially for the kids!!
For the past number of years Progreso has been growing in popularity as a nice place to escape the ravages of winter in the north. Canadians and Americans, Germans, Dutch, and French people come here for up to four months, buying or renting houses and condos. The temperature in Progreso during December to March is a comfortable 22C to 24C during the day and into the low teens at night. Even the cool winds of the nortes are invigorating when compared to the minus 10 or colder weather in the north!! We locals shiver in our coats and sweaters watching the northerners swimming off the beach!!
New businesses come with the snowbirds, including a restaurant with the best fish and chips I have had in many years! The snowbirds take language lessons, visit the archaeological sites, and contribute to the general economy in many ways. All of this activity is propelling Progreso into a rosy future!
