Last updated on May 21st, 2018 at 07:05 pm
Mexico - a popular destination for obvious reasons; the plentiful sun and sand, superbly tasty cuisine, and the genuinely welcoming people.
We totally get why travelers flock to beachfront homes in Mexico, to villas in the highlands, to quaint apartments amidst the country's architectural wonders.
The truth is, there’s something for every kind of traveler in Mexico. The regional diversity is staggering for the overall size of the country. Lush jungles, simmering volcanoes, cactus-strewn deserts and over 10,000 kilometers of sparkling coastline. Mexico is a never-ending adventure for the senses.
There are a few different things that help us decide on the countries and cities we want to learn more about, regional diversity is one of them.
We have a list of priorities as well (low cost of living, house sitting opportunities, ease and affordability to travel to and from, and weather). And then we consider the opinions of others; friends, family, and people we know in the travel community.
Overall, Mexico fits our priorities to a tee.
It has a very low cost of living- According to Numbeo (the cost of living site we use most to compare prices in Canada to other countries around the world), Mexico comes in over 100% cheaper for things like rent and groceries.
It's easy to travel to and from- There is a choice of affordable carriers to travel easily and affordably to and from Canada and other places in the world that interest us.
Also, as Canadians, we can spend up to 180 days in Mexico visa free.
We plan to spend six months traveling in Mexico, here are the places we can't wait to learn more about:
Puerto Vallarta
Located on the Mexico’s west coast, Puerto Vallarta stretches perfectly along the shimmering blue Baíha de Banderas (Bay of Banderas). The city is a real stunner, with jungly palm covered mountains in the back and romantic views of the Bay in the foreground. Puerto Vallarta is sunsets on the Malecon and frenetic outdoor adventure along the coast and up in the hills, all rolled into one!
Why do we want to go?
We’ve had first-hand experience there. We have family that lives in Vallarta part time and when Rob needed some expensive dental work done they recommended visiting to see the dentist there. Getting his tooth fixed in Mexico cost a fraction of what it would have if he’d had had the work done in Canada. While he was in Puerto Vallarta he had the chance to check out different things that make it such a popular destination for tourists and expats alike.
Highlights
- The authenticity that still exists there- A lot of the really popular tourist destinations in Mexico are largely modernized (developed for tourism). Puerto Vallarta is being developed more and more, but right now it still has a lot of authentic Mexican charm. Cobblestone streets, the smell of taco stands, and a plethora of colorful street vendors make you really feel like you’re in Mexico not a place done up for tourists. The great thing is, the modernization of Vallarta is still in progress. It’s 5-10 years away from being as developed as other destinations like Cabo or Cancun.
- The variety of accommodation- A healthy choice of all types of accommodation; something to fit every budget and preference.
- Great scores (via Nomad List) for walkability, safety, and friendliness toward foreigners.
- A bustling city with close proximity to mountains, jungle, and the coast; Puerto Vallarta offers easy access to cultural experiences and a whole array of exciting outdoor activities.
Mérida
Mérida is located on the Southeastern side of the country, It is the capital of the state of Yucatán and the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula. A refreshing departure from neighboring Quintana Roo's rowdy resort towns, Merida is delightfully metropolitan. Picture narrow streets, sprawling plazas, and arguably the best museums in the region.
Why do we want to go?
A few people we know in the travel community have lived and/or spent considerable time in Mérida. We’ve learned that the city is architecturally stunning, loaded with delicious cheap eats, thriving markets, and lively community events happening almost every day of the week. Mérida is hailed as the cultural capital of the entire Yucatán Peninsula, an alluring cosmopolitan city long steeped in colonial history.
Highlights
- The rich mix of cultures. Winner of the prestigious Cultural Capital of the Americas for 2017, Mérida has strong Mayan, Spanish, French, British, and (a dash of) Dutch influences that blend together into something extraordinary. Mérida's rich diversity perforates the incredible cuisine, community events, and local markets that exist throughout the city.
- Mérida offers a lot for a lot of different types of people. Retirees, expats, families with young kids; wealthy jet setters, pensioners, and the extremely budget conscious can all find food, activities, and accommodation to suit their preferences.
- Mérida is a tourist town, but lucky for everyone, it's too big to be a tourist trap! Also, it's architectural beauty and an endless list of cultural experiences draws crowds of visitors but it's safe, and it's neighborhoods are easily walkable.
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is located in the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. Known as a Mexican Disneyland for foreigners, some say San Miguel has a bit of a fairy tale ambiance. Sounds pretty interesting to us! like Mérida, it has remarkable architecture and is overrun with excellent restaurants. Its markets are brimming with quality Mexican handicrafts and regular festivals, fireworks, and parades add to the amusement park feel.
Why do we want to go?
Friend's we have in the travel community have spent time and/or lived in the city. What we've learned about San Miguel is, it's home to a large expat community. A year ago, that would have have been a bit of a turn off for us but now we find that prospect interesting. Access to an engaged expat community would be a refreshing change to trying to figure out the nuances of a potential long-term location for this expat experiment.
Highlights
- San Miguel de Allende ranks high in cities that are great for digital nomads to get work done. Access to great places to work, the friendliness to foreigners, and overall ease to just get things done makes San Miguel really appealing. San Miguel has most of the things we look for (at first glance) in a potential long-term destination.
- The abundance of authentic cultural experiences despite the large expat influence.
- The temperate climate. San Miguel has a milder more consistent climate due to its central location.
The bottom line on Mexico
Mexico has never been a consideration for a long term stay for our expat experiment. After over 1000 days exploring and 13 different countries, our preferences have changed. Now Mexico meets the mark on a lot of our priorities. The three cities listed above are not set in stone but all of them seem like great places to start our research.
Do you have opinions on Mexico? What cities do love, and why? please, share your feelings in the comments below.
Featured image: Photo- View Of Guanajuato From The Street by Bud Ellison via Flickr (Attribution 2.0)
Important Things Families Should Understand Before Leaving to Travel Long Term
Yes. Yes. Yes. I’d love to live in Mexico one day. Being in San Diego, I get to visit Northern Baja often but I love the interior, the beach towns, and mountains. Not to mention that there’s a regional cuisine for each.
You have amazing plans, 6 months in Mexico sounds great. I haven’t been but it is on my bucket list .I would love to Puerto Vallarta as it is a safe place to stay and has many things to do around it.
Completely agree Mexico is such an attractive destination for expats. You should take a look a Mazatlan. There are lots of Canadians there and the food is amazing. Plenty of affordable delicious seafood.
Thanks for the recommendation Sue! We will take a look at Mazatlan. It sounds delicious, hahaha:)
I have only ever visited Mexico on a cruise so does it really count? Ha Ha! Plus I only saw Cabo San Lucus so thank you for these incredible tips on amazing places. and I can’t wait to visit Puerto Vallarta :-)!
That’s our only experience to Lauren. We visited Cozumel on a cruise we took for our honeymoon back in the ’90’s. I don’t know why we haven’t been back since but we’ll make up for that now!
Hi Tracey! As a Canadian too, Mexico was always the place to party when we were growing up, but clearly there is alot more to it -which I knew but you convinced me to relook as a place to live. thanks!
We always thought of Mexico that way, as more of a party destination. I think that’s one of the reasons we haven’t spent much time there. Our opinion really changed after Rob visited to fix an expensive (in Alberta) dental issue. He found that there is the party side in Puerto Vallarta, but he had the benefit of getting to see the local side because he stayed with family we have that lives there. He was pleasantly surprised about many things so we think it’s time to take a more in-depth look.
Never been to Mexico but always wanted to go. Thanks for adding to my intrigue.
For us Dutchies it’s quite a bit further flying and as far as I know, most people will go for the beaches. But as you said there’s something for everyone there and happy to hear that you are going to experience 6 months there!
Thanks Anto! I hope we find out a lot of helpful information! Maybe it will be so good you’ll want to make the trip and check it out yourself:)
Mexico has so much more to offer than what the Media tends to favor! Six months in the country sounds great and will really let you experience the different facets and cities. And it’s great that is so cheap in comparison to the cost of living north of the border!
Merida’s architecture looks stunning. I’d love to head back to Mexico and spend time there. The cost of living really makes such a difference, especially when you’re planning an extended visit. How about Mexico City? The food and art scene looks quite vibrant. I also enjoyed the Mayan ruins, too, and would highly recommend exploring the area outward from Merida.
Mexico City is also a consideration. Actually, nothing beyond Puerto Vallarta is set in stone for us right now.
Six months in Mexico sounds great. I think you are picking some great places to explore. Merida and San Miguel de Allende look very picturesque. I love that the cost of living is low this is great for travelers. Cant wait to hear more about these destinations once you visit.
Thanks Joella! We put a lot of time into deciding on destinations we want to research and all three of these cities look like places we can live well for a lot less than we can in Canada. The true test is to come with our 6-month stay!