Last summer while interning with PEACE Mexico, a nonprofit in Punta de Mita, Mexico, I shared an amazing house with the other interns in Bucerías. For me, living within the community provides a much richer experience and you get to feel less like a tourist and more like a neighbor. The place we stayed was about a ten minute walk to el centro and less to get to the bus stop (which is incredibly cheap and it’ll take you all the way to PV!) The house had a pool, 5 rooms, kitchen, living/dining room, garage, pool room, and two dogs! Oh yeah, and no TV

Bucerías was our home for three weeks and it was a place where we got to experience a different side of Mexico – compared to other towns, there is a higher rate of expats living in and around the area. It’s pretty easy to find other American’s and many of the Mexican’s living there know some English, which can ease the nerves for some people wary about traveling to a smaller Mexican town.

Our favorite local watering hole was The Shamrock. Yep – Irish themed and all! We spent many nights eating, drinking, and hanging out here and met a lot of really cool people.

Lucky for me, I got to spend my 22nd birthday here as well, with a shot on the house! They really know how to make you feel like you’re at home

Mexico will always hold a special place in my heart and will be a place I continue to return throughout my life. Every experience there, from volunteering in Juarez, vacationing in Riviera Maya, and interning in PM has had such a positive impact in my life and I know the people I met along the way would say the same…

In all my travels, I’ve never encountered a place so inviting and warm, or a place so beautiful and rich in culture. I’ll be comin’ back for you, Mexico. You ready?

If you could return to a place you’ve been and call it home, where would that be? And what are you waiting for…..