Condos are being sold in two phases, the first of which has sold out and the second of which is selling fast.  Less expensive units (some priced just under $200,000) have been snatched up, and currently, the least expensive unit (one bedroom, one bath and 1,300 square feet) is $337,000.  All condos have either a view of the ocean, golf course or gardens and either a private walkout patio with easy access to the swimming pool and beach or a private deck.  All also have air-conditioning, oak cabinetry and Internet access.  There are a few Phase I units available for resale; prices start in the low-$400,000s.  Estrella del Mar is under joint Mexican/American ownership and is managed by an American developer; financing is available.

This is a master-planned, gated resort so it caters to upscale vacationers as well as residents and has a lovely boutique hotel with 27 rooms.  Some condos are available as vacation rentals as well.  This is not, however, a party destination, as other resorts in Mazatlan tend to be.  Here, the beach is quiet and secluded; there are no annoying vendors, and no one comes for Spring Break    Instead, visitors and residents enjoy fine dining in the clubhouse and playing golf on the 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course (one of only three courses in town) that meanders alongside the glimmering white beach.  Swaying palm trees, lush landscaping and ocean breezes add to the tranquility of this lovely community.   Call 800-967-1889 for more information.

An added delight is the very active, on-site Turtle Preserve, built in 1998 to help protect sea turtles, of which there are eight species, all listed on the "Endangered Species List."    Each breeding season, Turtle Preserve volunteers collect turtle eggs and relocate them to the safety of a protected nursery; once hatchlings emerge, they are returned to the beach and watched over as they make a dash to the sea.  

Estrella del Mar's condominiums may appeal to some for investment purposes, but to others, they make for a wonderful part-time or even fulltime sand and surf retirement spot.  U.S. citizens may remain in Mexico for up to six months at a stretch on a tourist visa or live here permanently on an FM-3 visa.  Yes, foreigners can buy property in Mexico, although there are restrictions, particularly this close to the beach.   And while the condominiums here are expensive, nearly everything else in Mexico, including health care, is roughly half the cost, or less, of comparable items and services in the United States and Canada.

Mazatlan is one of Mexico's oldest resorts and began its reputation as a vacation get-away in the 1950s when Cancun and some of the other popular resorts of today were nothing more than strips of undeveloped sand.    It remains an affordable destination and retains much of its easy-going charm.  Dining and shopping are excellent, and the city is restoring its historical downtown.  With increased competition from other Mexican resorts, Mazatlan is working hard to improve its appeal.  While Cancun and Ixtapa are the new showy resorts, this west coast destination sticks to the basics of great beaches, good food and plenty of sun.  And isn't that what retirement should be all about?