Riviera Nayarit is a Canadian Favorite

Picture of a fresh water cenote in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula

Recently, Readers Digest Canada praised three Mexican travel destinations as top vacation spots for Canadian tourists. The publication claims that Baja California, Riviera Nayarit, and the Yucatan Peninsula are amongst the world’s most beautiful and culturally enriching Mexican travel destinations today...more on MexicoToday.org.

Retirement Communities Abroad: Top Pick for 2011

And the #1 Pick for Expat Communities Abroad is: Ajijic, Mexico.

Ajijic, and the area of Lake Chapala, Mexico, is a number one retirement haven abroad due to its organization and development, where the retiree can find a host of services like those at home, along with a large English-speaking community that can double as a support system abroad. According to this U.S. News report, the Lake Chapala area hosts the most developed expat community in the world. The Lake Chapala Society reports about that about 4,000 Americans and Canadians reside in Chapala proper. The Mexican government, meanwhile, estimates that nearly 20,000 expats reside full-time in the state of Jalisco, the region where Lake Chapala sits.

In other words, the path has been cut for you. "Moving here, you could slide into a way of life not dramatically different from the life you left behind in the States[...]Retiring to Ajijic, you could make a very comfortable life for yourself in a place that’s exotic, beautiful, safe, and very affordable."

Seniors and retirees who have decided to explore this route have discovered that it's possible to live comfortably on less than $50 per day (U.S. dollars), including housing, food, transportation, entertainment and hobbies. Another reason that retirement havens are so popular is because of the easily accessible, quality medical facilities that give expats a sense of ease.

Inside the Caves of Playa del Carmen: Rio Secreto

Originally known as Pool Tunich, Rio Secreto is the longest partially flooded cave in the Yucatan Peninsula and it's only a few miles from the Playa del Carmen beaches in Quintana Roo. The best part about Rio Secreto is that this century-old cave system is semi-sunken, not underwater like the majority of caves in the Yucatan Peninsula, meaning that in order to explore them you don't need prior specialized training or a special license and active seniors can participate with ease.

Rio Secreto in Playa del Carmen: Underground Wonder

Take a look at these amazing pictures I found on Bald Hiker, an amazing blog that shares beautiful pictures of world adventures. This picture is of a system of caves in the Yucatan Peninsula, near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Rio Secreto was formed from an underground river of pure water that has been active for centuries beneath the surface.

North American Tourism and Retirement in Mexico Remain Strong

The publication Frontera NorteSur recently reported that the American Association of Retired Persons’ top retirement destination for 2010 was Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is anticipated to remain a hotspot for retirees for years to come. Moreover, in the next 14 years, it's estimated that 6,000,000 Americans will retire in Mexico. Due to the impressive economic growth the country is experiencing, Mexico has been able to keep its position as the preferred retirement location for North Americans.

Focus on Mexico: Financial Program

If you're thinking of retiring in Mexico, you'll definitely want to get the right financial information that will give you a total understanding of "how things work" in the country. Before purchasing a property in Mexico, one thing that you'll want to know is how tax is calculated. For that, you'll want to take a look at this website called Focus On Mexico that offers lessons on how to understand and calculate your taxes (and investments) in the country.

Resource for Seniors Looking to Own a Home in Mexico

When it comes to retirement abroad, it's good to have a variety of resources that will help you find your dream home overseas. I came across this website with the name of Top Mexico Real Estate that is especially dedicated to retirement in Mexico and has English-speaking professionals at your disposition to help guide you through the often times intimidating process of buying a home in a foreign country. I checked it out and it provides housing information divided into condos, homes, and rentals, among other categories so it seems like it has something for everyone.

How Can You Tell If You're Saving Enough for Retirement?

As this USA Today article mentions, if you were a bit behind in your retirement savings during large parts of the 1980s and 1990s, it wasn't a big deal.
"Stocks did so well during large periods of time in those decades, remarkable returns could fix many faulty retirement investment plans."
Now however, the stock market and the global economy have changed, leaving little wiggle room for those that need 'a quick fix.' There is hope however, says Matt Krantz, for investors looking to save for retirement, it's just a matter of "getting back to basics."

President Calderón Covers Issues Affecting Seniors Living in Mexico

Via AARP VIVA: President Calderón Speaks about different issues affecting Mexicans and seniors living in Mexico, like medical coverage, structural improvements, eradication of poverty, and safety, among others.

Ordinary Couple's Travels to Mexico

Via Mexico Today:

This seniors couple, Mick and Sally Stephenson, drive to Mexico a couple times a year to take in the breathtaking Mexican culture and history only Mexico can offer. Sally has even written a travel diary of their adventures entitled “The Mexican Travel Diaries.” After composing hundreds of diary entries for friends and family and sending them via email over the past ten years, the still unpublished travel guide is sure to be a fascinating read. It all started in 2001, when the couple decided to venture down to Mexico with a few of their friends. They’d always dreamed of taking a road trip south of the US border. They didn’t have an itinerary or a plan. Ever since, Mick and Sally have made one or two trips to see Mexican culture and history each year. Sally states, “we don’t fly anywhere, we’re drivers. It’s the only way to really see a place.”

Good Year for Mexican Wine and Tourism Business

According to a Mexico Today article, Mexican wine production has increased almost 40 percent over the years. Over the summer, the Vendimia harvest festival in Baja California, where 90 percent of Mexico's wine is produced, was a testament to this. At the annual wine festival there were more than 30,000 attendants, 40 concerts, wine tastings as well as fun contests for connoisseurs to participate in. Did you know? Mexican wine consumption has doubled in the past 10 years and Mexico’s National Wine Council predicts it will double again by 2015. Explore Mexico Today for stories on interesting trips to Mexico's best wineries.

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is New Home to Gulf Grouper

For those fish and marine lovers, a new study has shown that the National Marine Park in Mexico’s Gulf of California, has seen the total amount of its denizens more than quintupled in the past 14 years.

A 1.2-meter-long gulf grouper (Mycteroperca jordani) is among the new inhabitants of the park as one of the largest predators that have returned to Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park after a long-time fishing ban. The park has also witnessed Pacific tunas, sharks visiting to dine on the park’s reef fish.

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is situated where the Gulf opens into the Pacific and is a widely-known tourist destination in Mexico, due to its great diving and snorkeling.

Builders Ready to House Growing Baby Boomer Population

"It's a great time to develop senior housing," said Marilynn K. Duker, the president of Brightview Senior Living, a developer based in Maryland that has completed five new facilities since 2008 and has three others under construction. "As long as we can continue to get capital and have the ability to afford it, it's an opportunity and there isn't a lot of competition."

"That kind of financial performance gives banks confidence that senior housing is different from other sectors of the real estate sector," said William Pettit, president and chief of Merrill Gardens, a developer in Seattle. At the same time, David S. Schless, president of American Seniors Housing Association, says "It's certainly not for everyone, but there are companies that really understand the markets and submarkets, and they're very adept at building."

4 Reasons Your Retirement Will Be Nothing Like Your Parents

The face of retirement in America is changing. Whereas older generations seemed to be intent on making dreams of rest and relaxation come true, seniors today are more focused on fun and easy ways to stay active. Here are a few new tendencies in the attitudes of citizens approaching their golden years.

We’ll keep working. Nearly eight in ten (78%) of boomers say they plan to work longer than their parents did. This is driven both by necessity and choice, says Perry, the president of Bankers Life and Casualty Company, a Chicago-based insurance company. “Boomers see things differently.”

We’re staying fit. More than eight in ten baby boomers say that staying physically fit is very important to them. “Boomers realize they’re going to live longer so they’re concerned about keeping active to protect their health,” Perry states. It's also about enjoying retirement more, he says.

We’ll never be irrelevant. Of all baby boomers surveyed, seventy-seven percent think it’s important to keep up with technology in retirement. In fact, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, senior citizens have accounted for the bulk of the growth that social media has encountered recently.

We’ll keep on learning. More than 60% of boomers say it’s very important that they learn a new skill in retirement (just 21% of them think that this was important to their parents though), and more than one in three wants to go back to school.

All in all, the study concludes that “active lifestyle defines the new retirement.”

Michoacan is Mexico's New Retirement Hot Spot

Via Mexatua.net:

Here is a list of reasons why Michoacán is predicted to become Mexico's Number 1 retirement destination. Can you name any other reasons?

Michoacán abounds with agricultural richness and is the number one exporter of avocado in the world

Rich in culture and crafts

Great year-around climate for seniors

Morelia, the capital, is less than a five hour drive from Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

The state has a network of high speed highways

International flights serve Uruapan and Morelia

Morelia, the capital, is the place for many cultural events and festivals

The meseta Purepecha is rich in tradition and indigenous culture

At night Morelia is a city of lights with its spectacular XVIth century buildings lit up

Michoacan has its own variety of Mexican cuisine

The village of Paracho produces world class guitars and violins

Paricutin is the volcano that erupted in 1943

There are more than 6,000 extinct volcanoes in Michoacán

Unlike some of the beach areas, there are many affordable properties for sale

9 Tips for Picking an Affordable Place to Retire

This is one of the best articles I've seen on the subject of retirement abroad. I'm always wondering what are the steps to ensure that the place you choose to retire abroad is the right one. Well, here are 9 tips, via U.S. News, that will guarantee that you feel confident in your decision about retirement abroad, and will prevent any unpleasant surprises in the long term. All in all, it really is a process that can be key to a wonderful retirement. For that reason, I leave you with wonderful advice on what to consider before deciding on your retirement spot overseas.

Test it out. You should plan to make several visits to a city before you buy property, or even rent for the first year. Fred Brock, author of Retire on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Planning Your Financial Future, says "Go spend a month at a place that you are considering, and go there during the worst time of the year."

Access to an airport. If you plan to travel long distances during your retirement years, you will need access to a nearby airport or train station. "I don't think most people want to live more than an hour-and-a-half from a major airport. Otherwise air travel becomes very difficult," says Brock.

Locate new medical facilities
Make sure that you locate medical facilities in that area that will be able to attend to your current needs, as well as any conditions that run in the family that could possibly appear.

The weather . It's tempting to move to a retirement spot that boasts a great climate, but you'll have to make sure you're ok with possibly trading high heating costs for large cooling bills.

Proximity to family . Consider how much time you want to spend with your children and grandchildren in retirement.


Local transportation. Consider how you will get around, no matter where you are moving to. Consider the possibilities if you don't want to drive or are no longer able to. Find out what options are available for getting around without getting into your car.

Consider the economy. Make sure that the country and its economic outlook matches what you're looking for. Again, this U.S. News article states, "If you need or want to work during your retirement years, you need to choose a retirement spot where you will be able to find a job. But even if you plan to permanently exit the workforce, it's a good idea to pick a retirement spot where the economy is at least fairly strong. "Unemployment is like a cancer that affects the whole community, including services you enjoy and take for granted such as police and parks and services for the poor and elderly," says Sperling. "You don't want to be the only person who is well off in a community where everyone else is suffering."

Low-cost things to do . If you take up expensive hobbies, you can end up spending more money in retirement than you did while working. The key is to find public spaces and associations or clubs that will allow you to engage with other seniors in your area and enjoy low-cost, group-oriented activities. The added benefit? These types of outings generally lead not only to a fuller wallet, but a fuller, happier social life as well.

Spanish Expressions: Se Me Fue de la Mente

The Spanish expression "Se me fue de la mente" translates to English as "It slipped my mind."

Example: "Perdóname por no haber ido a la reunion. Se me fue de la mente."
In English --> "Forgive me for not going to the meeting. It slipped my mind."

Profile of Sayulita Mexico

Here is a great link to a quick snapshot of what you'll find in one of the Riviera Nayarit's most beloved towns, Sayulita.

Have you ever been to Sayulita? If so, I'd love to hear about it!

Reason to Retire in Mexico #10

After all of the reasons to retire abroad in Mexico, I would love to hear what you consider to be the most important benefits that retiring to Mexico can present seniors with. Please leave me your comments below!

Reason to Retire in Mexico #9

Reason Number 9 to Retire in Mexico: Transportation to and from the U.S.

"All Mexican retirement destinations have close access to at least one international airport, with direct flights to most major North American cities, so traveling to and from the U.S. or Canada is easy and relatively cheap ($400 on average for a return flight, varying depending on distance and time of year, of course). This means that you can go back and visit family and friends and they can come and visit you in your beachfront home. You’ll find that once you own some property on the Mexican beachfront, you’ll become extremely popular with friends, and your family may visit even more often..."