Great news! Vida Verde Vegetales is open all year. You may have met the owners of Vida Verde Vegetales [VVV] at the Saturday Zaragoza Organic Market. The great news is, they now have a store on Constitución, open from 9 am. to noon on Saturdays.
Owners Dr. Holly and Lorenzo Jimenez, have been quietly selling to 29 restaurants in Mazatlan for three years – Gaia, Totem, Casa 46 , Aruba etc. plus they have three organic farms in Mazatlan, Coyotitan and Durango. Their website promises : “we offer fresh organic produce, harvested at its peak and sustainably grown without pesticides. We guarantee quality and health for you and the planet.”
Dr. Holly is from Vancouver, British Columbia has been coming to Mazatlan on holiday for ten years and moved full-time in 2022. The Dr. is a PhD in natural medicine and nutrition. She may as well be called Dr. Healthy. Holly and Lorenzo are dedicated to offering Mazatlecos a healthier way to eat. They have grand plans to deliver fruit and vegetable packages into various neighbourhoods . For now, their focus is on the store and installing additional hydroponic equipment.
Lorenzo oversees the three organic farms as well as selling to restaurants in Culiacan, Los Mochis, Guadalajara, Durango and Mexico City. His background as a plant manager of a large Mexican food supplier has prepared him well. He spends four days in Culiacan and three days in Mazatlan. These two hard workers are hoping Mexicans will embrace healthier choices.
Snowbirds may fly north for the summer, but that won’t affect VVV- they will be open all year as they have so many restaurants to service. In store for you now: 29 types of tomatoes, four types of cucumbers, four types of eggplant, four types of cauliflower, three types of swiss chard, strawberries, bell peppers, two types of broccoli, corn on the cob – peaches and cream when in season! The herbs include rosemary, basil, cilantro and lemon grass and more are growing in their vertical hydroponics such as kale and arugula. Please don’t trust this list; it could change next week and this is just a snapshot of the vegetables that are available. To get the full picture, a visit to the store is necessary, or give Dr. Holly Healthy a call if you want something specific.
Many of us do our daily shopping at the Pino Suarez Market or local fruiterias such as Alicia’s, but if you are seeking local organic produce packed with vitamins, nutrients and flavour then spend a Saturday morning with Holly and Lorenzo at Vide Verde Vegetales. VVVamos!
[Vida Verde Vegateles is located in Centro, on Constitución #702, at Benito Juarez, on Saturdays from 9 am. to noon. Pesos only please, no credit cards. Phone 669 223 2864. Holly’s degrees include: a PhD in Nutrition, MA in Master Herbalist, a PhD in Psychology, more degrees in homeopathy, reflexology and hypnotherapy. If you wish a consult, from gut issues to weight, to depression, give her a call, 669 223 2864. Holly also has several Airbnb rentals.]
From Forbes Magazine, March 2025- “3 Places to Retire in Mexico for a Relaxing, Affordable Life.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenpeddicord/2025/03/07/best-places-to-retire-in-mexico/
If you are considering Mazatlan for your retirement, you may want to read this article.
Do you have “an in a case of emergency” wallet card? What’s in your pocket when you take your dog for a walk, go for a morning stroll on the beach, or a run on Malecon? The consulate suggests something like this:
It will surprise you how much it takes to become a certified tourist guide.
[KM had this to say, March 2022:”if you are looking for an exceptional tour guide, I highly recommend Akino Montiel. He is a certified tour guide and the most knowledgeable and pleasant guy you’ll ever meet. We spent the day with him seeing dancing horses, visiting a tequila distillery and learning about the process in Osuna, and ending with a great meal and shopping in La Noria. Akino knows a lot about the area and the one question he couldn’t answer he researched and followed up with me soon after we returned. The whole experience was such a pleasure!”]
Many of you have “your guy” the person you turn to for day trips and for city tours. I always knew, to receive this designation, that it took time and money. A friend who has know him for 18 years introduced me to Akino Montiel – a certified tour guide. He kindly gave me all the details of what it takes to become a certified tourist guide/Guia Turistas General. I think you’ll find the dedication and cost to be an eye-opener.
- The certification allows a tour guide to work in any city in Mexico, but you must be a Mexican National and have finished high school.
- To be certified requires 510 hours and costs between $30,000 to $40,000 pesos and you must past the bilingual [English/Spanish] test, as well as the CPR course.
- Every teacher is an expert in their subject [architecture, wild life etc.] and has a master’s degree which is partly what makes the course so expensive.
- Every four years Akino must renew his license, which involves 160 hours and approximately another $10,000 pesos.
- Akino must renew his CPR course every two years.
- If you have a federal driving license with a federal plate [which Akino has] he must pass a medical test every two years and every six months there is a mandatory engine and pollution inspection.
“I love to be a good host, it’s like when you have a new friend visiting your house, you just want them to feel comfortable and you want to show the best part of your place. It’s super fun and to give good service is my passion. For me it’s the best job in the world.” [These are all Akino’s quotes with no editing so you can see his English is excellent.]
He’s been tour guide since 1997, and his van holds six passengers. Not a requirement but Akino also has a degree in Tourism from Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa. Akino will take you wherever you want to go, but his two personal favourite tours are the Tequila Factory with El Quelite, and Concordia and Copala. If “your guy” is busy or you want another recommendation for a tour guide judging from his FP page and all the rave reviews he’s your man. You can reach him on WhatsApp 624 122 0915, e: akinomontiel@hotmail.com. [ SM, November 2018]
[Updated December, 2024: over the years Noë has trained a team, he’s not working alone any longer. During the height of Covid-19 he suspended his business to protect his employees and his clients. It’s full steam-ahead -cleaning now. A very large and well-used sofa is $850.]
If you have ever thought about giving your mattress a deep cleaning then Noë Guadiana Villareal is your man. He started his business, Deep Extraction Cleaning [yes, that’s the name – “Mexicans love English names”.] opened its cleaning services in 2014. A deep cleaning takes about 1 1/2 hours depending on your mattress size and stains. Noë begins with a Hepa filter vacuum [oh, the dust bunnies you would not believe!], then a soil remover and finally an injection suction for the deep clean. Allow a four to five hour drying time, with an approximate cost of $500. You may have two mattresses and there is a discount, or you may just need a light cleaning, for $250. He also cleans furniture, rugs, and car interiors. Noë’s team is very punctual and texts right on the dot of the appointed time, “I’m here.” The English-speaking Noë can be reached at 669 134 8864, or 669 986 1314 or e: decmazatlan@gmail.com. Sweet dreams.
If you want to say it with flowers, then Luz Elena is the florist for you. She’s owned Floreria Jardin de Rosas for 35 + years and specializes in fresh flowers and creative arrangements; for years she has had her flowers shipped from south of Mexico City four times a week. Many are unique to Mazatlan! Wish to have a delivery? No problem, free delivery with a minimum order of $1000. Luz Elena also accepts most major credit cards. 
If you don’t speak flower-Spanish don’t worry, Luz Elena’s English is perfect. In fact, you don’t have to worry about anything with Luz Elena, she’s just so professional. Jardin de Rosas is located on Paseo Lomas #248 [past Starbucks and the school], call 914 1754,or WhatsApp, 669 912 0415 and the hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.and on Saturdays 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Like every florist in the world, plan your order way ahead for Mother’s Day [May 10] and Valentines.
