The $130 Souvenir: Chasing the Paracho Guitar Legend in a Tiny Cancun Shop
I honestly have no idea why I bought it—but I did. I’m already debating what to do with it; maybe I'll just leave it here with someone until we return next year, a little musical anchor waiting for me in Mexico.
The adventure started when I grabbed an Uber into Cancun with three buddies, leaving Anne back at the house relaxing with the guys' wives. Our destination was a guitar shop called "Rockland." Based on the photos I'd seen on Google Maps, I was bracing myself for a massive, sprawling warehouse loaded with gear. Reality, however, had a different plan. We walked in to find a cozy space roughly the size of my living room back home, featuring just a small, modest selection of guitars hanging on the walls.
The adventure started when I grabbed an Uber into Cancun with three buddies, leaving Anne back at the house relaxing with the guys' wives. Our destination was a guitar shop called "Rockland." Based on the photos I'd seen on Google Maps, I was bracing myself for a massive, sprawling warehouse loaded with gear. Reality, however, had a different plan. We walked in to find a cozy space roughly the size of my living room back home, featuring just a small, modest selection of guitars hanging on the walls.
A few days prior, I had been chatting with a talented local guitar player about the name "Paracho," which seems to pop up everywhere you go in Mexico. He enlightened me, explaining that Paracho isn't actually a specific brand or a single builder. Rather, it's a famous region renowned for its luthiers, producing everything from cheap tourist trinkets to high-end, boutique masterpieces.
So, as my friend Matt and I reached for a couple of small, lightweight classical guitars off the Rockland wall to noodle around, I leaned in close. Peeking into the sound hole, I saw the label: Guitarras Monarquita, Paracho Mich. Just seeing that legendary regional name was enough of a spark. I asked the price, and in that split second, I knew I had to buy it just for the story.
So, as my friend Matt and I reached for a couple of small, lightweight classical guitars off the Rockland wall to noodle around, I leaned in close. Peeking into the sound hole, I saw the label: Guitarras Monarquita, Paracho Mich. Just seeing that legendary regional name was enough of a spark. I asked the price, and in that split second, I knew I had to buy it just for the story.
Let's be perfectly candid: this instrument was almost impossible to get into tune initially, and keeping it there was a real test of patience. Thankfully, it eventually settled down. It’s so incredibly light that you'd swear it was carved straight from balsa wood, and if you look closely, you can clearly see the surface glue smeared around the bridge. But after a little friendly haggling, I managed to talk the shop owner down to 1600 pesos (about $130 CAD), and the deal was struck.
The shop owner even threw in a free tuner, and I grabbed a gig bag for an extra $22 CAD. Since I was there, I also picked up a high-quality 1/4” cable to use with the Stratocaster my friend Irving graciously loaned me, plus a solid capo—both of which will definitely be making the trip back home with me. The grand total came to $192 CAD.
Was it a waste of money? Maybe. But honestly, I don't care at all. It's the memory, the laughs with the guys in that tiny shop, and the music I'll make that truly matter.
The shop owner even threw in a free tuner, and I grabbed a gig bag for an extra $22 CAD. Since I was there, I also picked up a high-quality 1/4” cable to use with the Stratocaster my friend Irving graciously loaned me, plus a solid capo—both of which will definitely be making the trip back home with me. The grand total came to $192 CAD.
Was it a waste of money? Maybe. But honestly, I don't care at all. It's the memory, the laughs with the guys in that tiny shop, and the music I'll make that truly matter.
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