Get to Know Progreso, Chicxulub’s friendly neighbor

If you’re thinking of making the move to the Yucatan Coast, Chicxulub is one of the hottest new beach community destinations in the Yucatan. You will have the distinct advantage of living in a small, laid-back community with the beach lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of. Plus, you will be just an 8- minute drive from the conveniences of Progreso and 35 minutes from Merida, the state capital and cultural center.

The lifestyle here appeals to those who want the tranquility of a village setting and a low cost of living. For the same price that you would pay for a small-sized condo in the Riviera Maya, you can get something much bigger here. We are seeing foreign buyers choose the area of Chicxulub over Playa del Carmen and Tulum.  

Expats are attracted to this area for two main reasons:  affordability and modern amenities. Expats who are used to living comfortably and having the use of modern services and amenities will find the same in and around Merida and Progreso. Expats say they love the area for its security, quality of life and the number of hospitals and medical facilities. Thanks to this, the state of Yucatan is attracting retirees and families from all over the world. Many expats who have moved here agree that it is a good place to raise children.

And it’s easily accessible; Merida international airport offers direct flights via Aeromexico, American Airlines and WestJet and is served via Mexico City by several daily flights. Check out How To Get To the Yucatan here.

Progreso: Chicxulub’s Close and Convenient Neighbor

Chicxulub itself is on a small stretch of land with Playa Uaymitún, Playa San Benito, the Xcambo Mayan ruins and Telchac along the Gulf.  Chicxulub turns into Progreso. Beyond Progreso you’ll find Chelem and Chuburna.  

In the continuation of Chicxulub, Progreso is a short 8-minute drive at about 7.5 kilometers. There is public transportation linking the towns. Progreso has a population of about 40,000.

Despite being a smaller town, Progreso has many of the same services and amenities as their larger neighbor, Merida.

Progreso has dramatically changed in the past few years. Thanks to a dynamic mayor, town council and a dynamic community vibe, Progreso continues to undergo a transformation with an ongoing $250 Million Dollar Federal Investment to improve Progreso´s Urban Infrastructure.

You’ll find a revitalized esplanade with sculptures and bikes for rent. Progreso boasts a mix of Caribbean, colonial and modern architectural styles. It has a beautiful French style City Council building and a curious inland lighthouse.

Progreso has attracted a large and active expat community. You’ll find clubs and activities with art classes, music events and social programs. Progreso is known for its friendliness and authenticity. It is an affordable destination for meals and activities.

Progreso’s Beaches

Progreso has a long beach with emerald waters and soft, white sand. Progreso’s beach is a Blue flag international beach with a nice ocean drive full of restaurants, bars and the cruise ship terminal.

The beach areas can be divided between the left and the right of the pier. The primary beach area of Progreso is found to the right of the piers, or on your left when walking along the Malecon. You’ll find an approximate 1-kilometer walk.

The Malecon is the beachside walkway dotted with restaurants and bars. The Malecon has undergone a transformation in the past years and is a great place to spend some time. There are lounge chairs and parasols on the beach here that belong to the different establishments and waiters will come out and bring you drinks and snacks or your favorite fresh seafood dish. You can try anything from Yucatecan cuisine to pizza to French cuisine. You can even get a full body massage right on the beach.

Progreso Piers

Progreso is the main port of this part of the coast. It receives cruise ships and has a tourism economy. Progreso has a 6.5-kilometer pier that juts out into the Gulf of Mexico called Muelle fiscal or the cruise ship pier. This part of the Gulf is shallow, and cruise and cargo ships use the pier to offload. Passengers arriving on cruise ships disembark at the end of the pier and are bussed into town where tour operators wait for them at the end of the pier. Locals fish off of the Muelle de Pescadores or the Fisherman’s pier.

To the left of the piers is where you’ll find bikes for rent, sculptures, 2 play areas and a full skeleton of a whale that beached itself here. There is also a merry-go-round.

There is new boardwalk, boutique style shops, bohemian chic restaurants / catch of the day always available and 1 Km recently renewed ocean walk with the international Mayan Museum launching soon.

Around the entire beach area, you’ll find many street food vendors both stationary and mobile with coconuts, crepes, real tacos and other street food.

Progreso has a market that you’ll find further up along the Main Street. You’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables year-round, a great selection of restaurants and bars and an open-air artisan/craft market.

Conveniences and Services

Progreso has a large selection of banks and ATMs. There are doctors, dentists and medical centers. The well-established hospital is famous now for serving the expat community on the coast. In downtown Progreso you’ll find a variety of shops with everything from pool supplies to shoes stores to cell phone stores to pharmacies. There are also large supermarkets like Soriana and Bodega Aurrera. These supermarkets have food and home goods as well as appliances.

Being in Chicxulub puts you at the center of it all: 45 minutes to the Merida airport, 35 minutes to downtown Merida, 10 minutes from Progreso and its convenient stores and services. At the same time, you’re at the heart of an area filled with cenotes, (the blue underground waters and rivers considered sacred by the Maya), pink lakes or Laguna Rosada (where the ancient Maya mined their salt), and archaeological sites. Chicxulub is just steps from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

If you’ve been doing the research, you’ve seen that the Yucatan is showing opportunities for investment that were seen in the Riviera Maya when it was first growing. If you’d like to explore the Yucatan property purchasing process with us, get in touch. We will guide you every step of the way to buying your dream home on the Yucatan coast. Prices here are still lower than the rest of Yucatan.  If you’d like to know more about Chicxulub, check out our article, Introducing A New Own Mexico Destination, Chicxulub Yucatan