Main difference between Playa & Progreso?

[Quinn]

Question.... what would you say is the main differenced between Playa & Progreso?

Would a die hard Playa fan enjoy a holiday there?

[Critter]

Originally Posted by Quinn

Question.... what would you say is the main differenced between Playa & Progreso?

Would a die hard Playa fan enjoy a holiday there?

The water. You aren't on the Caribe, but on the gulf. The water is not the rainbow of greens and blues.

[kjtom]

Critter makes a good point on the water ... I swam once in three different day trips/one overnight to Progreso in past 10 years ... the other two times, one could not enjoy the beach because the wind was wicked and made laying on the beach exceptionally uncomfortable and there was no sign of a storm ... I can not say that this is a persisitent condition but there was a strong wind but bearable the day I did swim with few others on the playa or water ... to comment further on your question, I would say that Progreso is quieter than PDC and offers significantly fewer choices for restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping than PDC ... a PDC fan can enjoy quiet time in Progreso and if in Merida for a few days it is a chance to hit the playa (hold the wind) and see a smaller town go by

[Michael]

Playa is a vacation destination that caters to, and attracts, people from all over the world.

Progreso caters mainly to Mexicans, I’ve never seen a foreigner in Progreso. I’m sure they visit, but I have never seen one. Obviously I was not on the beach the day the kjtom was visiting.

I hardly ever meet any Mexicans, in a social setting in Playa (yes I am excluding all the wonderful people that serve my food, cook my meals and drive the taxis). Almost everyone I know socially is either European, Canadian, or from the USA. My wife and Steve’s wife are the only two Mexican’s that I have ever had dinner with in Playa. This is in stark contrast to Progreso, where the only foreigners I ever see are my kids (who would prefer to be in Playa).

I’ll be in Progreso for a day, or perhaps two, in December, and while the contrast to Playa will be refreshing, we’ll be sure to spend at least a week in Playa.

[Elle]

There are several differences, its hard to pick a main one. During the winter months Progreso can experience Nortes (strong, cool winds from the North) as kjtom mentioned. Playa gets them too but they are not as strong there. The Nortes are not constant and nice beach days are possible. We had one week of cooler windy weather and one beautiful week when we were there in early February. The water is not crystal clear like in Playa. The Gulf is very shallow there so the bottom gets churned up quite a bit. There are some foreign tourists on Tuesday and Thursday ( in the winter months) when the cruise ships stop there for the day but that's about it. They are gone by 3:00pm and Progreso becomes a sleepy fishing village once again. Progreso is not as touristy as Playa. English is not widely spoken there. There is little night life in the winter months, many of the bars, restaurants close early in the evening at that time of year. So if you are a die hard Playa fan Progreso may not appeal to you. However ..... Progreso is alot cheaper than Playa (food, drink accomodations). You will likely be treated very well there as foreign visitors are not that common. You will definatley get to practise any Spanish that you may know. You will always find a great spot on the beach there in the winter months. (Apparently Progreso becomes much busier after Easter and in the summer months when many Mexicans vacation there) You are very close to Merida there which is a great city to visit. Hope this helps.

[Marie La-rae]

I used to think I had a "working vocabulary" in Spanish. After arriving in Progresso by bu sand walking probably 20 blocks wheeling the "big red suitcase" which I will never travel with again, I realized my vacabulary worked in PDC and Merida, but definately not Progresso. (while wlking with my suitcase I started having visions of the pioneers throwing stuff out of their covered wagons and thought do I really need all this stuff???) I have been there twice and still want to go again I feel as tho there is a hidden treasure to the place that I just keep missing. But I can find no similarity between it and PDC. They are totally different experiences. I would not go to Progresso for the beach tho, the ones I found were dirtier and smellier then the worst in Florida. PDC has clean beaches and water that cannot be equaled for the color. the people were nice, but in the winter it is basicly a ghost town. I think it is big time in the summer months tho I have never visited then. In Oct and again in Dec there were many more places closed than open, and I never saw a taxi, in fact someone told me they went somewhere else for the winter. My last trip there was 2002.

[james]

are there any similarities?

[Michael]

They both have seawater and sand………
However it should be mentioned that the water and sand have few similarities.

[hooshootoo]

Michael,

You have never seen a foreigner in Progreso??? I can't imagine how you missed all of us. We number in the hundreds during the year - and the thousands during the winter. Many have been there upward of 20 years or more. We have a ladies club and have even started an Animal Protective Welfare organization. We even have Sunday church services in English. In fact, there are SO many Americans and Canadians in Progreso (and Merida and all along the coast) that it is virtually impossible to learn Spanish without taking classes!

True - because we live there, we tend to avoid the Malecon when "tourists" are in... but that doesn't mean that we aren't there! You are right about one thing, though. Progreso is not a "tourist town." It is a place people can go to retire and enjoy both beach life and the rich cultural life of Merida. I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

...and - for those who find the beaches in Progreso brown and weedy, you are probably too far on the east side of town. From the Malecon on to the west, the beaches are fine and the water is wonderful.

[PlayadelSoul]

I used to live in Merida, and there are quite a few ex-pats living in Progreso. Land is cheap and, although not Playa, it is a nice place to live. I would compare it to Ocean City, Maryland. All of Merida goes there in the summer.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by hooshootoo

Michael,

You have never seen a foreigner in Progreso???

I know you are out there, because my friends (in Playa) tell me so. I was back in Progreso again around Christmas and I did not spot any obvious signs of foreigners.. Perhaps the next time I’m in Progreso I’ll meet a one. However the main point (from this old and I expect soon to be obsolete comment) is not that there are no foreigners in Progreso (I’m told Canadians are a well represented contingent), it is that the population density of foreigners is low compared to Playa.

Certainly the Malecon is a good example, look around you at the beach in Playa and then look around you on the Malecon at Progreso. No comparison. Its like another country.

And if I am wrong about that, speak up, I’m still learning about Mexico.

Things in southern Mexico are changing fast and old comment on a subject like this may soon look like an old real estate ad. Completely outdated and incorrect.


…..and I am so glad to see foreigners enjoying Progreso, it is a very cute town. I like to drive the entire coast east from there whenever I get the chance. You’ll find at least one trip report if you do a search.

If you see me in town please say Hi. I’m still betting mine is the only big white SUV with the CA plates you’ll see in Progreso (but not the only one you'll see in Playa). But things are changing…………….

[Murrsay185]

I will have to agree with all the comments regarding Progresso. However, as we walked the sand beach (grey sand) enjoying the sea breeze (cold north wind) looking over the water (grey water) we did find a foreigner or he found us. He was from Florida and was purchasing a fixer up hotel one block from the beach. This guy could talk a mile a minute. Anyway we stayed there for a night for $200 pesos (basic and clean). There was lots of availibility (Jan. 6/2003). We only stayed the night but found Progresso to be too quiet. There was no activity on the beach or on the streets. I presume the hundreds of Canadians and Americans where in the church that I did not see. The Market was an experience and it seemed the local population used it as a spot to socialize. If the oppertunity presented itself I would visit Progresso again. Anyone going there must realize it is not Playa and the experience is totally different.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Murrsay185

I presume the hundreds of Canadians and Americans where in the church that I did not see.

......too funny.

[Jesus]

Yep Progreso is not Playa for all the reasons stated above.
The ocean has not the same qualities as that of the Yucatan Channel in terms of visibility and tonal range. The sand is not as fine and white.
The town is not devoted to foreign tourism but to Mexican tourists, strolling at the malecon you won't find Yaxche, Hemingway's, Babe's, etc. but carts selling "marquesitas" (like a creppe with melted gouda cheese inside), fruit, coconuts, ice cream, and small cheap souvenirs.
I have been there only in winter and it was somehow lonely due to the Nortes, but was told by friends that all Merida tries to go on Summer to escape from the heat in the city 30 minutes away.

[redhed]

I spent a couple of months in Merida and often travelled via collectivo to the beach of Progreso.....about a 20 minute ride. I had read a lot of negative reviews about Progreso and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the quiet little town....the seafood restaurants on the beach are amazing and the prices are so much cheaper than Playa.

The sand and water were certainly different than in Playa. But then, it is the Gulf of Mexico...not that gorgeous Caribbean. My first journey to Progreso on a cruise ship day startled me. I was not prepared for the difference. There were vendors set up everywhere, loud music blaring, seadoos galore....tons of people all over the streets drinking beer.....totally different from the normally little quiet town and little quiet beach.

As previously mentioned, around 3 o'clock everyone started leaving and it became that lovely little town again. Whew!