Where to Retire in Mexico Based on Interest

Top Places to Retire in Mexico: Near the ocean

• Loreta, Baja California
• Mazatlan
• Acapulco
• Mayan Riviera
• Nuevo Vallarta
• Playa del Carmen

Top Places to Retire in Mexico: Near the United States

• Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco)
• San Felipe

Top Places to Retire in Mexico: Coastal Towns and Towns near Lakes

• Barra de Navidad
• Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Top Places to Retire in Mexico: Traditional Mexican Communities

• San Miguel de Allende
• Oaxaca
• Cuernavaca
• Guanajuato
• Morelia

Where to Retire in Mexico?

Video: Discover Puerto Vallarta for Retirement

Just hearing the following words in the the first 30 seconds of this video almost has me sold on Puerta Vallarta as a retirement community, "same latitude as Hawaii" and "300 days of sun per year." The video talks about the tropical climate and ambience of the city located right on the Banderas Bay.

Project Breakaway Cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Lines

In order to make it's cruise ships more fashionable, Norwegian Cruise Lines or NCL recently ran a contest to solicit naming ideas for its newest ships, a pair of 4,000-passenger twins due in April 2013 and April 2014. The winners are Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway

"We felt Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway epitomized both our Freestyle Cruising philosophy and our belief that these ships will offer a true respite, whisking our guests away from their everyday routines and delivering the ultimate cruise vacation," said NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan in a media statement.

Mexico Safer than Headlines Indicate

Many consider Mexico to be less safe than the States. Well, did you know that even the very safe Washington, D.C. has a higher homicide rate than Mexico City? The flip side to all of the news about crime in Mexico is that more than 95 percent of Mexico's municipalities (the equivalent of an American county) are at least as safe as the average American traveler's hometown.



Based on FBI crime statistics for 2010 and Mexican government data released early this year, Mexico City's drug-related-homicide rate per 100,000 population was one-tenth of Washington's overall homicide rate - 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population compared with 22. (Drug violence accounts for most murders in Mexico, which historically does not have the gun culture that reigns in the United States.) Media sensationalism accounts for much of the wariness concerning travel to Mexico. The biggest factor may be, as this San Francisco Gate article suggests, that travelers looking for a carefree vacation simply find it easier to write the entire country off than to learn what areas to avoid.

Fiesta de Huamantla 2011

Via Go Mexico Guide:

Colorful papel picado decorated the streets of Huamantla during this year's Feria.

Oaxaca Children's Band

I'm amazed at how well these kids play their instruments. Look at how they keep to the rhythm of the music. Does anyone know what type of music they're playing exactly?

Rancho La Puerta: World-Class Spa Destination in Mexico

As I wrote about on my blog in July, the readers of Travel and Leisure magazine honored the spa Rancho La Puerta as the World's Best Destination Spa both this year and last. As retirees, it's still nice to take some time to rest and relax. In fact, it's the best way to stay happy and healthy. If you're looking for a spa vacation in Mexico, Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Baja California is the place to go. As the general manager states, “Our business model is taking care of the body, the mind and the spirit. And even though right now that is a trendy way to say it, it’s something we’ve been exercising since the early 1940s.”

The Rancho La Puerta spa is ranked highly for the quality of accomodations, treatments, service, food and value. In this Mexico Today article you'll see what you can experience among Rancho La Puerta's 3,000 private acres of garden, mountains and meadows. Check out the video below as well to learn more.

Reason to Retire in Mexico #6

Reason Number #6 to Retire in Mexico: The Opportunity for Activities

One of the great advantages to retiring abroad in Mexico is the amount of opportunities there are for engaging in social activities with fellow retirees. In Mexico, you can do so many things (the weather is a big help!)..."Whether it's playing tennis, golfing, fishing, swimming, strolling the boardwalk, browsing world class art galleries and shops, meeting new friends, learning a new language, volunteering for numerous charities or dining in local or gourmet restaurants, ...there is something for everyone. Not only that, but Mexico's more laid-back lifestyle will allow you more unplanned events and socializing from something as simple as talking in the grocery store, to an impromptu dinner with new neighbors.

Click here to read more on this reason to retire in Mexico.

Reasons to Retire in Mexico: Health

According to this article, The #2 reason to retire abroad in Mexico is their Health Care system. It's well-known that Mexico has improved in leaps and bounds in this area over the past half century and is a host to medical facilities and infrastructure comparable to that of the U.S.
Many people have resorted to Mexico for medical travel due to the breadth of experience, lower costs, geographic convenience and bilingual medical staff. Besides great healthcare at accessible prices, North Americans living in Mexico lead a much healthier lifestyle here; fresh fish, fruit and vegetables are always available...read more here.

5th Festival De Cultura Del Caribe Maya, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Watch this piece of footage of last year's Festival of Cultura del Caribe Maya on Isla Mujeres in Mexico.

Lake Chapala: Huge New Expat Spot

Via International Living:

Lake Chapala, Mexico, is arguably the easiest place in the world to adjust to life as an expat. This area offers all the charm you love about Mexico…but with the U.S.-style conveniences and support systems to make your transition a snap.

This article talks about how easy it is to get settled in and accustomed to Lake Chapala, due to the amount of English-speaking retirees that have retired here. As the International Living states, "You'll have no trouble getting by in English. You’ll make friends and acquaintances just walking down the cobblestoned streets of little pueblos like Ajijic, Chapala, and San Juan Cosala, all of which lie on the lake’s well-populated North Shore."

Click here to read more about the charm, combined with ease and convenience that Lake Chapala offers.

"Loving New Retired Life in Mexico"

An American expat retired in Mexico, tells her story of retirement abroad and how she found the perfect place that keeps her happy and healthy in her retirement years. Her name is Pat Cornwell, and at 74 she can proudly say that she has made an important leap to health and happiness in Mexico: "In 2005, Pat [...] bought an affordable three-story house in Coatepec, Mexico, a small coffee-growing town about an hour west of the Gulf of Mexico. There, she says, she’s able to enjoy a slower life with less distraction. “I have time for friends, reading, gardening and health, though not in that order.”

Retired in Mexico: How to Plant a Beautiful Mexican Garden

If you're retired in Mexico and thinking of starting a garden, here is a great link to a gallery of plants that will grow strong in the Mexican climate as well as be a beautiful addition to your home.

"Americans Should Know Much of Mexico is Safe"

This photo of Punta de Mita is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Read this account of the real Mexico, courtesy of a resident who is now living in beautiful Punta de Mita, Mexico, in the Riviera Nayarit region,'saddened by all of the negative media stories about Mexico.' The stories, in general, are very misleading and don't explain the reality of this beautiful country- one of the best countries to retire in in the world.

Ranking of 12 Overseas Retirement Spots

U.S. News is one of my favorite sources for news on retirement abroad, since it offers real advice as to what living in specific countries can cost and how equipped your new retirement spot will be. This article has several charts with information that's important to know if you're moving to another location overseas. It compares weather with infraestructure, and even how well you can get by with just English.

The Flavors of Mexico Cooking Class: A Tour of Mexico Through the Tastebuds

These cooking classes are probably the best and most original you'll ever find.

With the name “The Flavors of Mexico”, Florelisa Hernandez, a local resident of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and founder of Crearte, materialized a new project early in 2011. The project, part of what the PV Mirror describes as 'a cultural venture that blends Gastronomy, History, Culture and Art' is what Ms. Hernandez says is the best way 'to experience Mexico through your taste buds!”

Florelisa is very passionate about Mexico, emphasizing, "If I had a chance to be born again, I am sure I would be Mexican, we are such a rich culture, interesting and intriguing, [...]"

The series, The Flavors of Mexico, refers to a bi/monthly cooking class in which each session covers the cuisine of a different state of the Mexican republic.

Fun 50's-Style Burger Drive-in on Mexico's Emerald Coast

Here's an inspiring story of a couple that changed everything in order to pursue their dream of retiring in Mexico. In a tiny town called Tecolutla, on Mexico's Emerald Coast, this American couple decided to not only revisit the 50's in the creation of an American-style drive-in but bring a taste of that charm to Mexico. The couple, Kai and Lois, turned their porch and yard into a hamburger stand, and from the beginning they're proud to say that they don't depend on tourist traffic to keep business alive. Another sign of their success, Lois Hendrikkson says, "Many local children insist on having their birthday parties here."

Technology for Expats: The VOIP Phone

If you've ever thought about how to move to Mexico and what will come along with moving to the best country to retire in, I'm sure you've had a lot of questions. One of them that often pops up is how to stay in touch with loved ones while living abroad. You would probably learn these things from retirement communities in Mexico eventually, but it's good to have as clear an idea as possible on what living in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico would be like.

Welcome to this 101 session on Technology for Expats

The VOIP phone is a great system and a very clever service for those living abroad. A VOIP phone is essentially a normal telephone that can be easily used without any special devices, so long as you have a connection to the Internet. The ingenious part is this: the VOIP service that you choose will give you a local phone number with the area code of your choice so that friends and family can call you (the call is diverted from that phone to the Internet phone) with with no extra cost to either parties. A definite must-have for those living overseas.

If you have any fun tips for using a VOIP phone in Mexico, please write me below!

Puerto Vallarta: One of the Safest Destinations for International Travelers

Lately there's been a lot of talk about security in Mexico. It turns out that even though many times people have the best intentions, not all arguments are based on fact.

I found this article online that is based on a Security Assessment Study that was conducted by Thomas Dale and Associates (TDA), a leading global investigative and security firm that lists Fortune 100 companies as some of its clients. The study found, through interviews and a thorough assessment on the ground, that Puerto Vallarta, Mexico continues to be one of the safest destinations for international travelers. The study was conducted from this past April 6 to April 13 and developed a report in relation to all aspects of security in Puerto Vallarta.

Click here to read the full story on the report.