For those thinking of living outside the United States, consider giving Mexico a look. With over a million expatriates now living there, it is far and away the most popular destination for North Americans seeking to live abroad.
Deciding where to live depends on what one is looking for. There are places where individuals can live totally off the grid; conversely, there are cities where an individual can live pretty much the way they have, needing only a bit of Spanish to get by.
Either way, here are seven places to consider when thinking about living in Mexico.
Chapala: At the same altitude as Denver, Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest lake. The surrounding area is home to the largest concentration of US expats in the world. The town is characterized by cobblestone streets, taverns, shops, cafes, street vendors and restaurants. Other considerations are concerts, garden clubs, golf, tennis, hiking, yoga and horseback riding.
Ensenada: A port city, it is a top cruise ship destination and the site of numerous luxury housing developments. Sometimes referred to as the “City of Science,” it also hosts a number of sporting events during the year, such as regattas and the Baja 1000, an off-track race for motorcycles and a variety of cars.
Huatulco: A small town emerging as a major destination, Huatulco is a development planned by FONATUR, the Mexican government’s national trust for tourism. There are about 56,000 residents, with about 1,000 being expats or pre-retirement, part-time visitors who own property. Snorkeling, fishing and diving are popular.
Merida: A Spanish colonial city, Merida is a metropolis of almost 1,000,000 people of which about 4000 are expats. The city is home to universities, major corporations, museums and its own international airport with flights to the US. It is also one of the safest cities in Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta: For the past six decades this expat haven has grown from a small village on Mexico’s Pacific coast to a major international resort with an urban that covers almost 30 miles along the shore of Banderas Bay. Puerto Vallarta offers an almost endless number of activities; its international airport makes flights to the US; and the city has several top hospitals offering state-of-the-art medical care.
San Miguel De Allende: One of the prettiest towns in Mexico, this Spanish colonial gem of 140,000 is home to about 10,000 expats from around the globe. The city features a rich arts & crafts tradition where folks can spend hours admiring – and buying – paintings, pottery, sculptures and hammered tin mirrors and lamps. With its high desert climate, the days are warm and the nights are cool all year around.
Tulum: With its reputation as a spectacular vacation destination and a growing expat population, Tulum offers a Caribbean way of life – warm turquoise water, sparkling beaches and an offshore reef – without the need to travel to and from an island.
Whether one decides to move to any one of these (or other) spots, they are all worth a visit. For more information, visit https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-are-the-best-places-to-live-in-mexico-as-a-u-s-expat-11641419686.