How You Can Get Involved In Your Community in Mexico

Picture of Children of the Angel Tree Program, in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, State of Guerrero, Mexico (photo slide presentation on link below)

Here is a great link that will give you a good idea of ways to get involved in your community in Mexico. Below are two unique non-profit groups, out of the 11 listed on the 'Another Day in Paradise' web site, in the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa region of Mexico that offer wonderful services to its community.

Hablando Menos, Amando Mas A. C.
Hablando Menos, Amando Mas, means “Speaking Less, Loving More”. The goal at hand is to construct a home for seniors who have been abandoned and who are at risk living on their own. [LINK]

S.O.S. Bahia, A.C.
Local non-profit group dedicated to the rescue and long-term preservation of the ecological integrity of the Bay of Zihuatanejo. [LINK]

Click here for the full list of ideas.

Medical Care in Mexico: Interesting Special on CBS

It can be challenging to keep up with medical costs in your golden years. Watch this CBS special on medical care in Mexico with testimonials from expats on how it's better than the healthcare they could've received in the U.S.




No limits, no deductibles, no copays..."We like it!" says the wife of an American expat couple. She's talking about how she goes to the doctor and doesn't have to pay for her prescription at the pharmacy on her way out. It's just as good, sometimes better, than the medical care in the U.S... That's because facilities in Mexico have doctors that have been educated abroad: speaking perfect English, familiarized with the latest procedures and using up-to-date medical tools.

Le Cordon Bleu is Back to Riviera Nayarit

So it turns out that while looking for a more upscale place to dine out, I found this blog that mentions Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. The famous French culinary academy Le Cordon Bleu will be presenting the best of International Fusion Cuisine, this June 16th to 26th, with guest chefs Patrick Martin, Olivier Bué, Olivier Calvez y Miguel Quezada. The Riviera Nayarit is well known for it's delicious cuisine and its rich history of gastronomy.

During the 10 day festival, world reknown chefs will be creating a special menu at this restaurant called Piaf Restaurant, part of the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit hotel, that will be open to the public. The best part is cooking classes will also be offered!

Check out the original blog post to find out more.

Visit Mexico and Get Cheaper Health Care says Calderon

It's no secret that medical care is very expensive in the U.S. and that more and more, the medical tourism economy is booming, thanks to countries like Mexico. A preferred option for older generations due easy access from the States, Mexico offers over a thousand new clinics, built by the Mexican government, and has renovated approximately 2,000 others. With numbers like these, it's obvious that there is a lot of interest in lowering medical costs.

As President Calderon stated in an interview: ”Medical tourism is growing dramatically. A group of dentist offices has developed close to the Yuma, Arizona border in order to handle the large American clientele coming for medical care in Mexico."

See the full story here: Mexicotoday.org.

Visitors Get Sand, Surf, Adventure and Culture in Nayarit

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stay in Nayarit on vacation?

As this article puts it, "new activities, culinary offerings and attractions are on tap for visitors headed for the Riviera Nayarit this summer", the resort area on the Pacific coast, close to Puerto Vallarta.

Eco-tours are offered in the forests and jungles of the Sierra Madre Mountains, 30 minutes northeast of the town of Nuevo Vallarta. Visitors scale a device called the Crazy Ladder, zoom on zip lines between suspended walkways and platforms high above the jungle floor and descend via rappels.

Beach lovers will find 192 miles of coastline and small towns from Nuevo Vallarta to Punta Mita, Sayulita and San Blas (will be posting a video in my next blog).

Riviera Nayarit offers a number of galleries, open-air markets and exhibits of traditional Huichol art. The Huichol, the native tribe of Nayarit and one of the few remaining tribes in Mexico that have retained much of their original culture, inhabits central western Mexico, mainly in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit.

If you're in Nayarit, or have been to Nayarit, what are a few activities or sights, you'd recommend to visitors there now?

I hope you'll share your experiences here!

Sweeping View of San Pancho

I've been wanting to give those of you that follow my blog a good look at part of Riviera Nayarit, and I found this video of San Francisco, also affectionately called San Pancho, which I talked about in a post a couple of weeks ago. Watch this video to get a good idea of what one of the most tranquil but interesting towns in Nayarit is like. I think the video is sponsored by a touring company, so if you're in the area they could be a good tour provider.

6 Steps to the Perfect Complaint

AARP Travel expert Peter Greenberg fills us in on his travel secrets quite frequently, but it's not so common for us to hear the steps on how to make a complaint from a travel expert. Many times, taking the right courses of action is the key to getting a problem fixed.

See this article for how to complain in a way that will get any problem taken care of.

Guanajuato, An Alternative to San Miguel de Allende

If you plan to spend time in Mexico and want to look beyond San Miguel de Allende, consider renting a property in Guanajuato, the state capital.

The capital of the state with the same name, Guanajuato was named a World Heritage site in 1988 and has a vibrant feel. The state is located in the North-Central Mexico.
Guanajuato is located between the arid north of the country and the lusher south, and it is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, the Mexican Plateau and the Sierra Madre Oriental. It was initially settled by the Spanish in the 1520s due to mineral deposits found around the capital city of Guanajuato.

With all of the riches this city has to offer, what's the best part? Guanajuato rentals generally cost you less in San Miguel.

Read this article published in International Living about the beautiful city of Guanajuato.

Why is Medical Tourism Gaining So Much Support?

The current in medical tourism is due to the following factors:

(1) Rising health care costs. Rising health care costs in developed countries especially the US are forcing their citizens to seek affordable health care elsewhere. Charges for common procedures such as heart bypass can be $11,000 in Thailand compared to $130,000 in the United States. Knee replacement can cost $40,000 compared to $13,000 in Singapore.

(2) Cross-border medical training. More and more doctors from developing countries have studied and specialized abroad. Mexico, for example, has many doctors trained in the US who speak excellent English and fully understand the medical needs of medical tourists from Western countries. The same is true for India in relation to the US and Australia in relation to Thailand.

(4) Accreditation. To overcome the scepticism of patients, many medical tourism facilities apply for accreditation. Several American organizations conduct inspections, evaluations of and grant accreditation to medical facilities outside the US. One of these is the Joint Commission International (JCI). More encompassing is accreditation by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare which is the umbrella organization for accreditation agencies in many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and Ireland.

History Lesson on the Aztecs

It's well-known that Mexico is rich in history and culture. How much do you know about Mexico's origins? Watch this video of the Aztecs and get inspired to learn more about Mexico's history.

The Real Deal on Retirement Abroad

Recently published on Smart Money.com, this article on Expat Daily News will give you wonderful insight into things to think about when planning to retire, especially if it's abroad. Find out more about what you need to know if you're looking to retire abroad to make your savings go farther.

Common Sense Tips for Traveling Abroad

Whenever traveling it's good to keep in mind that we are in an unfamiliar place and should take extra precautions. If you're thinking of checking out your future retirement spot with a vacation, here are are a few good measures, based on common sense. They will come especially in handy for foreign countries that require a little extra attention and care, but can also be applied to trips in the States.

-Avoid revealing large sums of cash in public places. This can be applied to any city in the world really.

-Don't wear clothing items that scream “tourist.” Also, looking upwards and side to side the entire time you're walking is also a instant give-away that you're just visiting.

-Use small bills whenever possible to pay for purchases, especially with vendors in the street. It's probable that they may not have enough change if you pay with a very large bill, which can create an uncomfortable situation.

-When in a crowd, pay attention to the people around you. No matter where you travel, the people that look distracted are the ones that pickpockets go for first.

-It's never a bad idea to leave important documents, unneeded credit cards, and cash in the hotel safe.

-Be watchful of your belongings and keep bags and especially any electronic devices close to you.

Ken Brandon: A Retired American Living in Sayulita

There are many people that have retired abroad in Mexico. If you'd like to get familiar with the American community in Sayulita, here's an interview with an artist from Seattle, Washington that has been living in Mexico for over 20 years now. First in Chihuahua and later in San Miguel de Allende, he used to visit Sayulita every once in a while, until he fell in love with the little town and decided to move there in 2003. Read his interesting, inspiring story here.

Assisted Living in Mexico: More for Less

 As we all know, assisted living is very expensive and can become a challenge to keep up with as we get older. More and more though, new, lower-cost options are emerging -- especially abroad.  

According to International Living Magazine, "Savvy developers are planning senior communities with U.S. consumers in mind. They’re including all the top-flight amenities today’s seniors expect: on-site medical staff, assisted-living options, hospice care and more. And their First World features come at affordable Mexican prices."

                                                                     Read the entire article here.

2010 Trend: More US Retirees Moving to México´s Coastal Communities

The International Community Foundation did a study of “U.S. retirees over 50 years of age that are residing part-time or full-time in Mexican coastal communities” Residents residing in the coastal areas of Puerto Vallarta, the Riviera Maya, Cabo San Lucas, Rosarito, La Paz, Loreto, Puerto Peñasco, and smaller villages along Mexico’s far-reaching shoreline participated in this survey. The survey singled out the key reasons for why retirees chose to move to Mexico.


The top factors for moving to Mexico for retirement were lifestyle, cost of living, weather, and closeness to the U.S. Another factor for moving to Mexico’s coastline is the abundance of recreational activities available around the water: fishing, swimming, surfing and boating.
More than 70% of retirees can afford a comfortable lifestyle with an annual income over $25,000 which is more than double the average per capita annual income of a Mexican citizen at $11,410.


Read more here from International Community Foundation for interesting insights from into the rapidly growing US retiree - Mexico relationship.

ICFDN: Riviera Nayarit tops the list of communities to move to in Mexico.