Salty Paws and Jungle Dreams: Life in Mexico
From Canada to the Beaches of Mexico. This is the Amazing Story of How Mexico Became More Than a Destination
This is the amazing story of how Mexico became more than a destination for one family — it became the thread running through four decades of travel, change, and homecoming. You’ll read how Tamara Jacobi’s parents first brought her to Mexico as a baby, how those early trips turned into yearly pilgrimages from snowy Canada to the Pacific coast, and how a wild piece of jungle near San Pancho eventually became Tailwind Jungle Lodge. From climbing volcanoes and kayaking Baja to raising two “pata saladas” kids in the jungle, this is a personal, honest look at what it’s like to build a life in Mexico — and why this country has a way of staying with you.
Author: Tamara Jacobi
Mexico captured my heart before I could walk. My parents first brought me here as a baby, beginning a relationship that has now spanned more than forty years. They say salt is healing — tears, sweat, and the ocean — and that truth has certainly shaped my family’s journey along the Mexican Pacific. Two decades ago, we put down roots to grow in the coastal jungle near San Pancho, Mexico, bringing to life what would become the Tailwind Jungle Lodge. As we celebrate 20 years in this wild place, it’s a beautiful moment to reflect on how Mexico has shaped not just my travels, but my family, my work, and the rhythm of my life.
Our family’s Mexico love story actually began during my childhood in snowy Canadian winters, when long, chilly months had my parents daydreaming of tropical beaches and warm saltwater. Actually, the story goes back even further. My father’s love affair with Mexico began in the 1960s — long before I was born — when he rode his motorcycle south from Alaska in search of surf, freedom, and adventure. Along the way, his heart was captured by the pristine beaches of Nayarit. Years later, my grandfather joined him for slower journeys, staying in classic hacienda-style hotels in Guadalajara and Mazatlán, savoring tequila, culture, and the art of lingering. Over time, those early travels evolved into annual family pilgrimages, balancing icy northern winters with the warmth and vibrancy of Mexico’s coastal communities.
When I was ten, my parents took a leap that would forever shape my worldview: they stepped away from work for a year and homeschooled my brother and me while traveling through Mexico. We explored the awe-inspiring ruins of ancient Mayan civilizations at Chichén Itzá and Palenque, learning history not from textbooks but from stone temples rising out of the jungle. At seventeen, I stood alongside my parents atop Pico de Orizaba, one of Mexico’s majestic volcanoes and the third-highest peak in North America at 5,636 meters (18,491 feet). With an ice axe in hand and crampons gripping the frozen slope, I watched the sun rise from the crater’s edge. After that climb, nothing tasted better than the tacos and quesadillas we devoured below. In those moments, Mexico stopped being a destination — it became part of who I was.
Turning a Jungle Dream into Reality
About a decade later, in 2004, while I was studying Environmental Economics at Middlebury College in Vermont, my parents discovered a five-acre piece of wild jungle along the Mexican Pacific coast, just north of the small village of San Pancho (San Francisco, Nayarit), about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. That land sparked something in me. Combined with my studies and a semester abroad learning about eco-tourism in Australia, a vision took shape: an eco-lodge rooted in sustainability, adventure, and community. I wrote a business plan during my final semester and pitched it to my parents over graduation weekend.
Their answer was simple and life-changing: “Let’s do it.”
Before breaking ground, my father wanted to celebrate his 60th birthday with one last epic adventure —kayaking Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. For 47 days and nights, my brother, my father, and I paddled nearly 1,000 miles, camping on deserted beaches and waking each morning to uncertainty and possibility. That journey — later chronicled in my book Wildpreneurs — gave me something invaluable: time. Time to slow down, to be present, and to daydream about what life and work could look like in the jungle.
A Life-Changing Kayak Journey in Baja
“The Baja gave us the gift of time — a reprieve from the speedy modern world… As my arms moved mechanically, my mind was set free to wander. When my thoughts drifted to the business plan tucked away, jolts of inspiration reminded me of my jungle lodge dream”.
— Wildpreneurs, Chapter 1: Baja Daydreamer
Salty, sandy, and inspired, we returned to the mainland and began building what would become the Tailwind Jungle Lodge, welcoming our first guests in December 2007. Through plenty of trial and error — and a healthy dose of mañana culture — we learned how to host with heart. In 2009, we became the first certified sustainable lodge in Mexico through Sustainable Travel International, a milestone that reinforced our commitment to caring for both the land and the community that welcomed us in.
Tailwind Jungle Lodge: A Sustainable Haven
Over the past two decades, the Tailwind Jungle Lodge has hosted guests from around the world — honeymooners, families, and retreat groups — them to slow down, unplug, and reconnect. Days here might include whale watching during migration season, surfing waves perfect for beginners and intermediates, hiking jungle trails to hidden beaches, or birdwatching (one guest once spotted 97 species). The jungle offers quiet magic, while adventure waits just beyond the path.
Guests also fall in love with the vibrant spirit of San Pancho, a small coastal village of about 1,500 people known for its creativity, sustainability, and warmth. The town hosts music festivals, art fairs, and community gatherings that reflect a shared commitment to culture and connection.
A cornerstone of the San Pancho community is EntreAmigos, a nonprofit center founded in 2006 that empowers local residents through education, art, and environmental initiatives. Its impact has reached far beyond the village, earning international recognition for its work in peace-building and community development. The center serves as a creative hub for both locals and visitors, reflecting the spirit of collaboration that defines this place.
Building a Family in the Jungle
In 2017, I found my Tarzan, and he happily joined me in the jungle. Together, we’ve built a home in the jungle and explored Mexico’s many wonders — from the wild coastlines of Michoacán to the cultural richness of Guadalajara and the magic of San Miguel de Allende. Along the way, I carved out time to write Wildpreneurs, published by HarperCollins Leadership in 2020 — a guidebook for turning passion into purpose-driven business, woven with stories from the jungle and interviews with over 50 free-spirited entrepreneurs, many of them San Pancho locals.
In recent years, our two children were born here — true pata saladas (“salty paws”) born in Puerto Vallarta. They’re growing up surfing, hiking, learning Spanish in a Waldorf school, and welcoming guests from around the world into our home. I love listening as they teach visitors about local wildlife, from mischievous tejones to brightly colored trogons singing in the palm trees.
Wildpreneurs
If you’d like to go deeper into the mindset behind building a life shaped by freedom, nature, and meaningful work, Wildpreneurs is a beautiful next step. It’s a story-led guide to choosing a more intentional path — one that blends adventure, family, and purpose. Add it to your reading list and let it inspire your next chapter.
Reflecting on a Life in Mexico
As I reflect on this journey — more than forty years of connection to Mexico and twenty years of life rooted in the jungle — I feel deep gratitude for the land, the culture, and the community that have shaped our family. Whether you’re seeking adventure, rest, or meaningful connection, I invite you to experience our ecolodge (Tailwind Jungle Lodge), the community of San Pancho and the magic of Mexico for yourself. Warning – you may fall in love!
Mi casa es tu casa.
– Tamara & The Jungle Family
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Tailwind Jungle Lodge
