By Randy Jackson—
In another time, long ago, I owned a travel bookstore. This was before the internet, back when the world was still big and filled with foreign places. Mostly, my bookstore attracted adventurers bound for faraway lands, and I shared their excitement from behind the counter. But one pattern was persistent: Long-term travellers often returned early, cutting their trips short and citing a need for belonging, for Home.
As a long-time seasonal resident of Huatulco, I remain interested in the paradox of the impulse to explore versus the need for belonging: Have Huatulco snowbirds solved this conundrum, or are they simply seeking tropical warmth and companionship over margaritas? This question led me to conduct the Huatulco Snowbird Survey. Presented here are some of the key findings from that effort; the full results can be found on the website http://www.seasonedhuatulco.com.
I’ve tabulated anonymous results from 106 seasonal and long-term visitors of Canadian and American origin. While the actual size of the snowbird population is unknown (likely between 2,000 and 5,000), these responses offer an intriguing snapshot of the attributes and lifestyle choices of Huatulco’s seasonal residents. It’s not a scientific survey, given the small sample size, but it still provides a unique window into this community.
Longevity and Loyalty
Snowbirds have been consistently returning to Huatulco for several years. The bar graph shows two main humps. Almost 20% of respondents fall into the 4–6 year range, while the larger cluster, of nearly 30%, is in the 12 to 16 year range. When applying the results to a standard distribution curve (for any statistical nerds), it tells us the overall average number of years snowbirds have been returning to Huatulco is thirteen.
Where Winter Ends
Predictably, the geographical origin of Huatulco’s seasonal residents tells the story of escaping the deepest winter cold. The survey data were insufficient to provide a breakdown of the home states of the US snowbirds, but for Canada, the top three home provinces are Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia. The complete breakdown by province is in the full survey results on http://www.seasonedhuatulco.com.
Staying and Mobility – The Mechanics of Huatulco Snowbird Life
The survey reveals a near-perfect split between accommodation choices: 55% of respondents rent their properties, many of whom are consistent year-over-year renters, while 45% have chosen to purchase their own homes, indicating a long-term investment in a second home.
While the vast majority, 97% of respondents (survey says), choose the convenience of flying to and from Huatulco each season rather than drive, once here, their local transportation options are varied. 24% of those surveyed have purchased a car, and another 10% own a motorcycle or scooter, illustrating a desire for greater independence beyond taxis and local buses.
More than Margaritas: Activities and Engagement
It seems like a truism that trading cold weather for the tropics encourages a more active lifestyle, and our survey results for Huatulco snowbirds support this assumption. Forty-three percent (43%) of respondents report being more physically active in Huatulco than at home, compared to only 10% who are less active.
The survey responses show a commitment to activity, often driven by Huatulco’s best asset: the warm Pacific Ocean. When asked about regular activities, water-based activities dominate the list. While Huatulco also attracts dedicated participants in Pickleball, Yoga and other activities, where the primary driver of physical activity is the surrounding natural environment.
The survey asked; What activities do you regularly participate in while in Huatulco? (Select all that apply to you)
Beyond physical activity, many Huatulco snowbirds demonstrate an evident dedication to cultural engagement, particularly through language acquisition. The majority of survey respondents are actively attempting to improve their Spanish communication skills.
The motivation to learn Spanish is rooted in both personal enrichment and respect for the local culture. However, proficiency levels indicate the journey is ongoing for most.
Beyond Activities: Why Snowbirds Return To Huatulco
Back in our northern homes, our personal history shapes who we know and what we do. Here, strangers become companions without any of those usual ties. The survey results show that
Snowbirds return to Huatulco for more than the activities they enjoy here; they return for how this place makes them feel, and how that unexpected community of strangers forms each winter.
For an explanation of how these results were tabulated, and for results on suggested improvements in Huatulco, why snowbirds would stop coming, and the travel experience of Huatulco snowbirds, check out the full results at seasonedhuatulco.com.
Have Snowbirds Solved The Travellers’ Paradox?
Has the snowbird lifestyle solved the paradox of the impulse to explore versus the need for belonging?
In those conversations with my bookstore customers who cut their travels short, I always assumed their impulse to explore wasn’t exhausted; it just needed a rest. Travel has long been linked with personal growth; as a quote often attributed to Saint Augustine puts it, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” The survey offers us facts about who we are as a snowbird community in Huatulco, but it also echoes an observation I once read in a study: snowbirds seem to be looking for something. And that “something” may well be reflected in the top categories used to group the responses to the question: What does the snowbird experience mean in your life? These include Growth, Freedom, Friendship, Community, Identity, and Belonging. In the end, these may be the real coordinates of the Huatulco snowbird experience.
Randy Jackson blends local reporting from the perspective of a seasonal Huatulco resident with explorations of life and change in Huatulco, Oaxaca and Mexico. Email, box95jackson@gmail.com