Interesting article on RV park vacancy rate in Mazatlan.

RV Biz is in the dumps in Mazatlan. the California RV park did not even open there gates and parks are very empty..

http://mazmessenger.com/2013/11/27/promotion-of-trailer-park-tourism-ignored/

http://mazmessenger.com/2013/11/27/promotion-of-trailer-park-tourism-ignored/

"80% is demand for Mazatlan trailer park" That is my google translate. Most of the article seems to state that due to better road infrastructure there are many more tourists in Mazatlan.

Yet from what I understand, one did not open, 2 are in process of building residential housing and one costs much more than a well appointed condo or apt.

What is your translation? as I do not speak Spanish and the translation seems to be googled.

From another post here
We stayed at La Penita and Los Mangos in Bucerias in 2011/12. Approx $400 US at La Penita and $680 at Los Mangos.Prices appear same for those two but wondering if anyone has rate approx for Tacho's.

I can rent a fully furnished place with grand Vista for these rates Here in Mazatlan.. know lot of folks that do not travel down in there rigs because of Costs. and now rent apts and homes here. Dying Biz here in Mazatlan..

We were in Mazatlan for 3 weeks in Oct/Nov. Mar Rosa was empty, others we passed had one or two RV's there. The only one that had a good occupancy was the one at Bruha Beach. It is a lot cheaper to rent a house or condo per month that drive your RV down.

My friend runs caravans down into Mexico. Mar Rosa gave them the cold shoulder, so they went north up the beach. Makes you wonder if Mar Rosa is thinking of selling out. They are on prime land.

Sounds like the State is trying to paint a rosy picture if they are claiming 80% occupancy? We were actually planning on staying at California. Guess that will change!

Moisheh

We did a pitstop at Cerritos and it seemed almost full but many are permanent so don't know how many are currently occupied. We went to Lo de Marcos from there and they were almost full. Lots of nice people everywhere we have been.

The cerretos park primary leases sites. It took the place of the old Los Canoas Park that closed years ago.. I drive by Mar Rosa all the time , pretty empty most of the time... with the land prices going up and folks coming down from the Durango and Centro Mexico on the new road it just a matter of time before the owners sell out for $$$ Mazatlan had close 700 RV sites at one time those days are long gone. Condo towers going up everywhere.

Wonder how the rest of Mexico RV parks are doing ?

...know lot of folks that do not travel down in there rigs because of Costs. and now rent apts and homes here.

...I think you nailed it (at least for us). The cost of hauling an big honking RV from northern North America all the way down to central Mexico (and, back!) is brutal. There are many costs that most RVers, who aren't CPAs, don't figure properly or at all into the cost (but they mysteriously see it at the end of the year in their financial situation): buying, insuring, maintaining, depreciation and feeding "the beast".

Those US citizens that live near the Mexican "frontera" would still take a full hit on all the above costs, but less so on food (metaphor for diesel/gasoline). Think about it. We went through the same exercise, and came to the conclusion that RVing in Florida (we're on the east coast: south/Central Florida is the closest guaranteed warm spot; The RGV is, well, too cold: weather-fickle) at a 3 month "Snowbird Special Price" of $510 a month + electricity @ fairly low kilowatt cost, and a good long 2 day drive, is WAAAAY less expensive (mileage/wear & tear/time-to-destination, etc) than the huge "Overland" needed to get to a decent beach-- mostly on Mexico's west coast; The Yucatan Riviera Maya is just far too long-haul for us with an RV.

Safety isn't even a concern for us in Mexico (we're both old hats at living/working in Latin America, and speak the language perfectamente bien). So, we decided when we "want Mexico, or Costa Rica, or Panama", we'll fly there (from Plattsburgh Air Force base-turned-civilian airport: an hour's drive for us) for a few hundred bucks return, and rent a nice cheap condo with an ocean view, for peanuts$.

Anyhow, this is just one voice of the many hundreds of thousands who carefully considered "RVing in Mexico" as a snowbird, or alternative. I don't claim to speak for more than myself, nor do I claim to represent the voice of thousands of Snowbirds contemplating said locales...

Silver-

For the sit in one place snowbird I agree that flying and renting is cheaper. However, if you are a viajero (traveller) nothing beats an RV. We usually don't in one place for more than 7 or 8 days and then move on to another location. Nice to have your own bed with you. Also great if you have a pet.