Aging Gracefully in Mexico

Focus on Mexico Learning Adventure in Ajijic, Mexico

The Focus on Mexico Learning Adventure in Ajijic, Mexico provides an in depth look into the culture, history, and society of Ajijic, Mexico for those contemplating retiring there.

Xochimilco Market, Mexico City

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.

Living the American Dream Abroad

Did you know that approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers will retire every day for the next 19 years?

That's a total of 69,350,000 million retirees over the span of 20 years, or what's the same: about a third of the U.S. population. As we all know, Social Security is no longer enough to sustain comfortable lifestyles in retirement and support an ever-protracting lifespan.

"The formalized U.S. retirement communities that many of our parents opted for at this point in their lives don’t exist in the countries that today offer the greatest retirement advantages and benefits." says a new U.S. News Money report.

For that reason, when retirees move abroad, some make the mistake of finding a lovely place but without a familiar support system among other foreign retirees.

“It’d be a very different experience, I think, to move as an expat into an ‘expat community,’ a place like Lake Chapala, Mexico, for example, where you’d be surrounded by other people just like you, other people who’ve already done what you’re doing and who could offer a word of advice when you needed one.”

Mundo Maya 2012 Video

This video is a little hint of what's to come in terms of events, news and things to do in Mexico for Mundo Maya 2012. Mundo Maya 2012 aims to celebrate the Mayan indians, as well as Mayan culture, archaeology and heritage as we get closer to the famed year of 2012.

Pan American Games 2011

Aztec dancers recently performed the lighting of the Pan American Torch ceremony in Guadalajara. After the Aztec dancers performed, the torch started a 9,200-mile journey through every state in Mexico. Athletes are expected to come from 42 countries and will compete in 36 different sports this Oct. 14-30. The Pan American Games 2011 is anticipated to draw tourists to Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzmán, Lagos de Moreno, and Tapalpa.

Snapshot of Today's Baby Boomers

U.S. Census data reveals that even today, a large segment of the U.S. population is comprised of baby boomers -- and their numbers are predicted to dominate population data in the years to come. For example, in 2030, Census data indicates that 57,793,195 U.S. citizens will be part of the boomer demographic. As I've blogged about before, baby boomers are staying active, later in life, with a high percentage of boomers still working. For instance, as per 2006 numbers, the percentage of those unemployed baby boomers was at a surprisingly low 3.3 percent and those employed had reached 74.1 percent. Out of the surveyed, only 22.4 percent reported being out of the labor force. Click here to read more on the seniors for living website.

Mazatlán will host World Tourism Day

Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara recently named Mazatlan, Mexico, as host of Mexico’s 2011 World Tourism Day. World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 all around the world in hopes of increasing cultural awareness among the international community. An annual event, this year’s World Tourism Day theme is Tourism-Linking Cultures. Mazatlán as a city is rich in culture and history -- attracting tourists to Mexico all year around. In a Mexico Today article Secretary Guevara explains that, “Mazatlán is one of the most attractive destinations in our country. The city hosts large events such as Carnaval, it boasts great infrastructure for conventions, and is easily accessible by land and air. That is why it is one of the destinations with greatest potential.”

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.

Retirement Resource: "Retire in Mexico"

If you're looking to retire abroad, here is a great resource that includes monthly updates on the subject of retirement in Mexico. It offers seniors key information before making the big move as well as meet-up dates that provide an interactive, group-setting for those wishing to find out more about what it's really like to live and retire in Mexico.
Already, there are millions of North Americans that have chosen Mexico as their retirement haven, due to the increased value of the dollar there.
Click here to take a better look at this resource for those, like you, considering retiring in Mexico, where you can also sign up for their free informative monthly newsletter.

Glimpse into Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit

I'm always on the look out for original videos of the Riviera Nayarit region. Here is a nice glimpse into Sayulita, the quaint surfer town that is a host to people of all ages due to its friendly people and relaxing atmosphere. I'd love to hear what you think about the video or (even better!) the town itself.

The All Night Festival of Huamantla

In Huamantla, Mexico, a very special event takes place tomorrow as part of the town's annual festivities in August. The event, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, covers miles of city streets with beautiful tapestries made of colorful flower petals and colored sawdust."Each year, the second Saturday in the month of August is the night no ones sleeps in the town of Huamantla, Tlaxcala. For it’s on that night that local artists, working for several hours from sunset, create a magical "carpet" of flowers and colored sawdust over approximately 7 km. of the streets leading to the main church, which will become the path of procession of the Virgin of Charity the following morning."

Chiles en Nogada from Puebla, Mexico

Chiles en Nogada season lasts from July through September, but the month of August is the best time to sample Mexico's national dish in Puebla. Click here for more information about this delicious Mexican cuisine representing the independence of Mexico from Spain.

Garrafón: The Isla Mujeres Reef Park

At the amazing reef park in Isla Mujeres, there are many things that you can do to enjoy the weather and the beautiful scenery of Mexico even more. A picturesque island that is located just 30 minutes by boat from Cancún, Garrafón Natural Reef Park is 'the perfect vacation destination for relaxation and adventure.' Click here for more information, full map, list of facilities and wonderful photo album on the Isla Mujeres Reef Park web site.

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.

Advisory: One Beach in Zihuatanejo Registers Slight Pollution

Via The Associated Press:

Mexican health authorities say two beaches in Acapulco are severely contaminated and one in Zihuatanejo registered pollution slightly above permitted levels. The commission said Zihuatanejo's Principal Beach has bacteria levels of 233 units, slightly above accepted levels. The Zihuatanejo beach is among the most crowded at the resort spot favored by both Mexican and U.S. tourists alike. Gastrointestinal illnesses as well as eye, ear and skin infections could result from exposure to the bacteria.

Although the pollution level is only slightly above the permitted amount, it would be wise to avoid the water until further notice by the commission.

Discover the Butterflies of the Zihuatanejo Area

Via Another Day in Paradise:

"Until recently, only fifty-nine species of butterflies had been formally cataloged by naturalists working in the Zihuatanejo area early in the twentieth century, but thanks to an ambitious college thesis project by Mexico City biology major Ana Luisa Figueroa, that number is up to 155 and still climbing."

"There are but six families in Mexico’s butterfly world, Ana told me, and the most diverse are the brushfoots, one species being the popular Monarch. Zihuatanejo has about fifty kinds of brushfoots. The most entertaining variety I saw were the Gray Crackers, who make a crackling noise when they play with each other in the air."

Click here to read more about the fascinating species of butterflies that inhabit the Zihuatanejo area and see beautiful pictures like the one above.

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.

Bahía at Lake Chapala in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Lake Chapala, in the Riviera Nayarit region is a lake that stretches 60 miles and is framed by towns and villages which in turn are surrounded by what many refer to as 'majestic mountains.' Although the view is impressive, many people flock to the region for retirement due to the temperate climate of the area.