As someone with my own international life in Mexico, I understand it can take courage, dedication, and a great plan to move to another country. The last 18 months have been insanely hard for so many, but you can plan to change your future! I am offering up some inspiration and guidance.

I remember when we moved to Mexico and there were very few resources on how to do it! That was a major inspiration for creating Mexico on My Mind. I wanted to help people avoid some of the pitfalls we experienced first hand.

Over the years there have been a lot more people that have done it and willing to share their experiences and insights. I wish I had this stuff when we made the move!

I was so excited when my friend and expat coach, Melanie Wartenberg told me she was hosting an online expat interview event all about helping people make the move to a life abroad in Latin America. These folks are seasoned experts in living Latin America and they want to share their wisdom with you! She also invited me to participate as an expert on Mexico and Tulum, which I am honored to do!

The series is called:

Spotlight Latin America: How to Create Your Unique Life Abroad.

The live event is happening this Friday, June 25th! You can register for the event now. Even if you can’t catch these speakers live, you will get access to all the interviews. You will be able to watch from anywhere using your phone, tablet or computer.

I have a complimentary ticket for you to attend. You can register with this link.

This is for people who want to know how to move to Latin America, including Mexico!

Experts across Latin America (including me) have all come together in this amazing collaboration to help you learn from our tips, personal experiences, and knowledge of potential destination countries for you. Whether you plan to work as a digital nomad, retire or travel with abandon, this event is for you!

You can register for the free Spotlight Latin America event here!

PS: These interviews are REAL, unedited, short (40 min) CONVERSATIONS packed full of info! IF you cannot watch all the speakers live, sign up anyway and you can choose VIP to get all the recordings and bonuses!

Please reply with any questions you may have.

Stay safe and we will see you in Mexico! Or maybe somewhere else in Latin America!

Ron Burdine
Founder
Mexico On My Mind

To get from Cancun to Tulum, there are several safe and reliable options to choose from. Your transportation selection from the Cancun airport to Tulum should be considered by you, or your group needs and itinerary.

For example, taking private transfers or a shuttle from Cancun to Tulum may make sense, unless you plan to go and explore the area; the cost of tours and taxis for excursions and errands add up-especially if you are in a private home, away from the beach. In that case renting a car may be a better choice.

On the other hand if you plan to stay at your resort on the beach or hotel zone, a transfer service or taxi is perfect! The size of your group, time and convenience will also be factors!  The fastest way to get from the Cancun airport to Tulum is by taxi.

The driving time between the Cancun airport and Tulum, without stops, and average traffic is approximately 1.5 hours. The 4-lane highway 307 is a straight 80 mile trip south to Tulum, with Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Akumal along the way.  The average speed on the highway is 100 KPH or about 60 MPH.

How do I get from Cancun to Tulum?

ADO Bus from Cancun Airport to Tulum

AVERAGE PRICE ONE WAY:$288 Pesos ($14.50 USD)

TRAVEL TIME TO TULUM: 2 Hours 15 minutes – ADD 30 minutes if you are making the connection in Playa del Carmen

BOOKING/RESERVATIONS: ADO Buses Mexico

The ADO busses are modern, air conditioned, well ventilated and comfortable, with plenty of storage for luggage. The ADO bus station at the Cancun airport offers direct transfers from the airport to Playa del Carmen and Tulum.  Buses run from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen at least every 45 minutes, more frequent during peak seasons, it can be as often as every 15 minutes.  From the bus station in Playa del Carmen you can catch another bus from there to Tulum, leaving every 45 minutes.

Direct from Cancun airport to Tulum: ADO also offers several daily scheduled direct express buses to Tulum without stops between noon and 10pm.  To find the ADO bus schedules for Cancun airport (CUN) and Tulum please visit their website here. https://www.ado.com.mx/

Shared and Private Airport Shuttle Services

AVERAGE PRICE ONE WAY – USD: $50 to $80 per person (group discounts and round trip discounts may available from $30 per person for 6 people or more)

TRAVEL TIME TO TULUM: 1 hour and 30 minutes for private OR 1 hour 45 minutes – 2 hours+, with shared shuttle and other passenger stops

BOOKING/RESERVATIONS LINK: Book Shuttle Service Here

From the Cancun Airport to Tulum, shuttle services and van transportation are most common with small and large groups and families headed to the same hotel and plan to vacation together, at the same resort.  A great choice for family vacations at an all inclusive resort or staying in one location.  Most shuttle services are also now including on-board WIFI service.

Things to consider are longer travel times with a shared shuttle, and drop off locations. If it is not a direct Cancun to Tulum hotel transfer service, you will likely still need to take a taxi from a designated drop-off location to your hotel.  Most hotels also work with transfer companies directly and you may have an option to book those through your hotel or resort.

Taxi from Cancun to Tulum

PRICE FOR CANCUN AIRPORT TAXI SERVICE TO TULUM: $1500-$2000 Pesos

TRAVEL TIME TO TULUM: 1 hour 30 minutes

BOOKING: At the Cancun Airport Terminals

Finding a taxi to Tulum at the Cancun airport is not a difficult thing to do, there are hundreds on standby 24/7, and you will be asked if you need the services of a taxi on your way out of the airport multiple times!  As you leave the airport terminals there are a number of taxi and transfer service options there.  ALWAYS negotiate and settle your rate with the taxi before you get in the taxi.

Authorized taxis for Tulum service will be white, and have a red or light blue stripe along the sides and will have an ID# on the side and back of the car.  The red striped taxis are officially Tulum taxis, the light blue striped taxis are from Playa del Carmen, but they can also take you to Tulum from the airport.

Rental Cars at Cancun Airport

AVERAGE DAILY CAR RENTAL RATES-USD INCLDUING INSURANCE:
Small or Compact: From $35 per day, to Van or large SUV $200+ per day

TRAVEL TIME TO TULUM: 1 hour 30 minutes *plus car rental counter add 30 minutes to 1 hour

RESEARCH ONLINE IN ADVANCE

BOOK WITH OUR PREFERRED PROVIDER!

Renting a car at the Cancun airport for pick-up and return at the airport (or nearby rental car office) is the most economical way to rent cars from the Cancun area. Weekly rates are the best. It usually makes sense for convenience and logistics, and for transportation to the airport for your return flight.

The extra time spent at the rental car counter is well worth the time and money saved, with mobility and the return trip! Being mobile can make a big difference in your options for experiences and adventures in the Tulum area.  There are a lot of things to see and do in the area that require transportation or tours to access.

What is the cheapest way to get to Tulum from Cancun?

The cheapest way to get to Tulum is taking the ADO Bus to Playa del Carmen and then find a colectivo van going to Tulum.  The colectivo vans are white with a red or light blue stripe on the sides. There are many around the bus stations in Playa del Carmen.  The bus fare is around $180 pesos to Playa del Carmen and a colectivo van is $50 pesos to Tulum.  Be aware that there is very little room for luggage on the vans, travel light if you go for this cheap option.

How Much is Uber from the Cancun Airport to Tulum?

As of early 2019 Uber is operating again out of the Cancun airport to Tulum, but we recommend you proceed with caution for this option. There is a tremendous amount of political pressure from the local taxi unions who do not want Uber in the area. Both drivers and passengers have been harassed by local taxi drivers. If you can secure an UberX it should be around $50 USD for a ride to Tulum from the Cancun airport.  If anyone asks, just say a friend is picking you up!

July, 2014: “Right now Tulum is a little pocket of opportunity with an unstoppable path of progress rolling down the coast from Cancun. New roads, bridges, and a government program are designed to more than triple tourist numbers. Unstoppable North American demographic trends mean that more and more baby boomers will want to live somewhere sunny, safe, affordable, convenient, and with First-World amenities south of the border.

Mexico’s fast-growing new middle class is also becoming a serious driver here. Today the young and ambitious choose to stay and build a career or business here rather than move to the U.S. Many of them are being attracted to the Tulum area. They all need somewhere to live.

Permitting regulations mean that Tulum will stay special. It’s attracting and will continue to attract the savvy and sophisticated. Tulum will stay high-end boutique.”

-International Living

Yes, that really did happen and you could say “they called it.”  I could also say, I called it since I got to Tulum in 2007-seven years prior to that article. For me it was more of a “know it,” it was all happening in real time and, I did see it coming when we fell in love with the place back then!  You just knew a place like Tulum would not remain “undiscovered.”

The good news is that if you did invest from 2014-2017 and you decided on a short term flip, with a surging demand driving prices for finished units, you did very well. If you are a longer term investor, now is not the time to sell in 2020, remain calm, Tulum is going to continue to grow in popularity and attraction, still squarely in that path of progress.

Prior to 2014 and through 2017, much of the investment in Tulum properties came from speculative raw land, commercial spaces and pre-construction condo sales, finding a well appointed finished unit was still challenging.  Condo and home investors recognizing that trend made good money with short term build, buy and sell notions.

The bad news for 2014 investors looking for a quick profit and still in Tulum is; in the 6 years since 2014, the “finished home and condo” market in Tulum has exploded and become saturated. Tulum Real Estate in 2020 is a glut of completed commercial real estate projects, new apartments, condos and homes for sale. This kind of inventory and lower demand in a slumping COVID19 economy, keeps the prices down. At least for the moment.

Choosing to cash out on your 2014 Tulum investment in 2020 is bad timing, unless you are simply wanting out and hoping to break even. With few exceptions, home appreciation has been relatively flat in the Tulum since 2017.

There are also plenty of “new” unfinished developments all over the area, offering pre-sale terms and a promise, with more coming. This kind of explosive growth combined with lots of inventory already on the market will keep prices low in the short term. Did we mention the pandemic?

Is it safe to go to Tulum right now?

Yes, despite a recent surge in cartel related skirmishes in the area, Tulum remains a safe destination for expats and tourists.  Common sense will serve you well, as in any other place.  Don’t walk alone at night on dark empty streets, lock your doors when you leave your home and be aware of your surroundings – you will be safe in Tulum. Petty crimes of opportunity are more common if you don’t use common sense. If you want more details, facts and tips for living safely in Mexico, please check out our latest Mexico safety information. I have personally never felt unsafe in 13 years of living in Tulum.

Is Tulum a good Investment in 2020?

Yes, Tulum is a buy now market and savvy investors will be able to find some very good deals. Tulum was under the radar as an off the beaten path place. Cancun and Playa del Carmen took most of the spotlight for the last few decades. Somewhere between 2013 and 2014 that all changed, and the development boom was on in Tulum. The current 2020 market in Tulum is a solid buyers market stuffed with undervalued properties situated within 2 miles of the Caribbean!

The market has changed since 2014…

Many early investors in Tulum properties were enticed with vacation rental income and part time use of property.  I know I was personally attracted to that concept, we built a loft apartment on our home with that idea in mind, we also live in Tulum full time.

The ROI for vacation rental properties in Tulum has dropped considerably with the flood of new finished and furnished inventory to the market, and a lot more vacation rentals out there.  That has driven the nightly rates down by 30-50%+ in the just the last 5 years.  Good news for people coming on vacation, not so great if you are counting on that ROI.

In the 2020 Tulum real estate market, it is about getting into a market when the prices are low.  If you have more modest goals with your ROI, and you plan to get more use than revenue from your home or condo in Tulum, do not delay, this is the market you have been waiting for!!  Tulum is still firmly on the rise as a higher end Mexican destination and will undoubtedly continue to grow in the coming years and decades – Mexico has big plans for Tulum, no doubt.

If you desire more use of your Caribbean home, expect modest annual returns, and likely a longer term investment turnaround, now is the time to dive in!  There are plenty of fish in the sea of Tulum real estate.

 Changing Times in The Tulum Real Estate Market

In 2008 there was a strong push for an international airport in Tulum, which sent Tulum Real Estate prices skyrocketing. Those plans fell flat with an extended bidding process and the world economy slumping.

The international airport in Tulum is still something in 2020 that city planners and politicians alike will tell you is going to happen and it probably will. It’s a matter of timing at this point, as all would agree, Tulum is Mexico’s crowned jewel of the Riviera Maya, and there are still big plans for the future of the once sleepy Mexican Caribbean fishing village and hippie hideaway.

Circa 2005 in Tulum: For a similar U.S. comparison, think Mexico’s version of Vail or Aspen in 1972….Tulum is “special.”

We have seen first hand the very dramatic changes happening since we arrived to Tulum in 2007.  After 2012, I would honestly say the growth felt exponential, year by year.

In 2010 Tulum became a municipal, a city with it’s own growing tax base. We saw the addition of street signs in the town, roads paved, the 2 lane highway become a 4-lane highway, a new big American style grocery store, home furnishing stores, lots of new restaurants, major residential projects, eco-communities and countless new commercial properties popping up all over the place.  We even have a Starbucks now, I have mixed feelings about that. Underground water and power utilities are now being used in most new construction projects and the city has upgraded the water treatment system.

The postcards don’t lie! Tulum’s beaches are intoxicating, dotted with beautiful people and small eco-chic cabana resorts-they are wide, white and powdery, set against turquoise blue Caribbean waters, a setting of truly sublime natural beauty.

Thick lush jungle filled with monkeys, exotic wildlife and tropical birds; Mayan ruins dot the peninsula which is also home to the largest underground river system in the world.  “Magical” is the word most often used to describe Tulum.

Real Estate Investing in Tulum

Buying Real Estate in a place like Tulum offers you a wide variety of options ranging from luxurious beach front homes south of the ruins or north of Tulum on Tanka or Soliman Bays, to condos and casitas in town, golf course living, planned communities and jungle lots off the beaten path.

Options for property in Tulum include Eco-communities off the grid and beach front land in nature preserves where building is restricted to native materials.

Tulum Real Estate investment options are varied and many have inherit risk most foreigners are not aware of. Make certain you know what you are getting into with property in the area.  Qualifying any purchase with due diligence, title research and establishing a legal trust are critical elements for a secure real  estate investment in any part of Mexico, and especially in Tulum.

If you are getting more serious about investing in Tulum Real Estate, and would like to work with Ron on this, please keep reading to maximize your peace of mind and return on your Caribbean investment.

I am passionate about making sure expats are in trusted hands and make secure investments in Tulum. I would love to help guide you through the process of making your Tulum dream come true, with peace of mind and security!

As a buyers agent I work for you, the buyer. That means I am focused on showing you secure Tulum investment properties that you want to see. Your immediate gain is a dedicated advocate and local Real Estate expert serving your investment needs and interests exclusively.

It also means you have a team behind you for expert local representation and negotiation, delivering market opportunities and insight into fair market value. We are hands on with the due diligence of investment in Tulum.

When you buy Mexico Real Estate, Realtors will usually be there at closing, but for the most part once you have made the decision to buy, your good Realtor will submit and mediate your offer and then provide you a list of attorneys, Notarios and banks that you will need to contact to complete your investment. I have personally bought and sold Tulum properties and have spoken to many expats that have done the same, that level of service is common.

We save you money and time, by handling many of those purchase details for you at a reduced rate.  We are generally about 1/2 the Mexico attorney related services expense. We are engaged with you throughout the process, from showings and your offer, through the due diligence and at closing. We are there with you, to make sure your investment is secure and at the best possible price.

You are going to need those professional services for title research and to get your trust or Fideicomiso established, plus we handle any private contracts between you and the seller and offer translation services throughout the process and your closing.

Buying Real Estate in Mexico, especially with a Trust/Fideicomiso is much different than in the U.S.

With our Tulum Buyers Agent Service…

You Get All of Those Typically “Not Included” Services Included.

We are with you throughout the entire Tulum property acquisition process and will guide you through the sometimes confusing issues before, during and after the sale – when you receive your certified title and Fideicomiso documents.

Our services include an extensive written guide on things to do in Tulum and local resources you will use. We show you the real-life aspects of daily life in Tulum and the surrounding areas.  If nothing else we are passionate about sharing Tulum and are very familiar with the lifestyle options.  I am at your service at anytime, if you have questions about anything Tulum!

As a standard practice, we provide private binding contacts between you and the seller, so that you are always on the same page…literally, terms and timing are clearly spelled out.

Title research, trust, paperwork assistance, translation services, power of attorney and closing schedules are some of the other details we handle for you.

To learn more about how our buyers agent program can work for you click below!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

The Allure of Living in Tulum

Tropical magnetism.  We could go on and on, but to truly appreciate the nature inspired vibration of living in Tulum, you need to go. If you are looking for the best beaches in all of Mexico, you simply must go.  The charm of the community and proximity to the U.S. for a place like Tulum will draw people from all over the world for many years to come.

Tulum living as an expat

The sublime natural beauty of the Tulum beaches, the surrounding ruins and jungle cenotes are a postcard of a tropical paradise. Add in the Maya culture, food, live music scene, plenty of interesting international locals, coupled with spiritual and natural adventures waiting to be discovered-you start to get an idea of what living in Tulum has to offer.

Tulum has also become a mecca for yoga, exclusive business retreats, food and art festivals. It has also become a destination of choice with digital nomads looking for an office with a view.  Tulum has made broadband internet access a priority. There are several major internet service providers in the area in and  around town and the beach hotel zone.

The Tulum beach road and hotel zone south of the famous ruins overlooking the Caribbean, is a social media and hospitality phenomenon.  The beaches of Tulum, the Mayan ruins, cenotes and the bohemian vibes make it one of a kind in Mexico and the world.

The magnetic vibe of this magical place, as it is so often described, can be a little intoxicating and addictive. People tend to come back for more “Tulum time” with a compulsion to return. And it’s part of the reason this sleepy and magnetic Caribbean fishing village is waking up as a fast growing Mexican Caribbean community.

Cost of Living in Tulum, Mexico

Living in Tulum, as most people from Mexico will tell you, is one of the more expensive places to live in Mexico. It is a Mexican Caribbean tropical tourist destination that appeals to both the luxury adventure seeker and the “eco-chic crowd.”  Relative to what we consider as expensive lifestyle locations in the U.S. or Canada, Tulum is still a bargain for what you get in return.  In general you will save 30-50% of your monthly living expenses depending on where you are moving from in the U.S. or Canada.

High end “eco friendly” small hotels and beach clubs south of the Tulum ruins are lined up along the beaches for miles. Nearby golf resorts and all inclusive day parks to the north define the higher end of things when it comes to entertainment.  The famous beach road in Tulum is most certainly “uptown.”

With miles of white sand public beaches, a charming downtown, and lots of amazing places to eat very well and cheap, there are plenty of good reasons to be in Tulum as an expat on a budget! Some of the common attraction elements that most people share is an appreciation for simple luxuries, a quality of life, good food, tropical Caribbean nature and a sense of adventure.

Is Tulum safe?

Safety in Tulum is always one of the first topics to come up for expats considering a move to Tulum. For expats and locals living in Tulum, the largest crime complaint is theft due to “opportunity.” Burglaries and petty theft are the most common offenses. Keep a mindful eye on your belongings, secure your home, and be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine.

Tulum has seen more cartel related violence in recent years-but the violence has been so far limited to between themselves for territory. With growth and expansion in tourism traffic and population, the market has also attracted attention of organized crime.

Tulum is still rated as a safe place for tourists to visit and for expats to live.  I can personally speak for the living aspect, I have never felt like I was in danger in my 13 years of life in Tulum. I hear the same story from many other expats as well-we all feel safe in Tulum. Please review our latest safety in Mexico report for more details on living safely in Tulum and other places in Mexico.

How to get to Tulum

Driving and Border Crossings

Make sure you have gathered up all of your necessary documents before bringing your car to Mexico. Make sure that you have your Mexican auto insurance before you cross the border.  The most simple, and quickest way to purchase auto insurance is on-line as it will be one less thing to do at the border.

With any border crossing you use, it is better to get an early start and cross in the morning hours.  This is just in case you have any hiccups, you will have the day to sort it out and still get to a destination with a decent hotel for the night.  Never drive at night.

Entering at the Brownsville border crossing is the most direct route to Tulum, although there are many points of entry.  I personally went through the Nuevo Laredo entry back in 2007, and yes of course I wrote a story about my personal driving adventure to Tulum!

Flying to Tulum

To get to Tulum, fly to Cancun International Airport or to Cozumel…those are two primary airports you may use to get to Tulum.  The largest, most popular airport is Cancun International Airport. It’s located about 1.5 hours drive from Tulum on Hwy 307. International flights arrive and depart out of Cancun all hours, day and night and so do the cabs, collectivos, buses and shuttle services to take you to your final destination. You may also fly into Cozumel Island and take a ferry to Playa del Carmen and then the highway 307 south to Tulum.

Airports

Most commonly used is the International Airport in Cancun (CUN). Cancun International has hundreds of daily flights to and from 21+ cities in the United States, including Miami, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles Chicago, Newark, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Washington, DC, etc., and to and from seven cities in Canada, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Quebec, Halifax, Ottawa, and Calgary. For most of these cities, there are multiple daily flights giving you a good choice of departure/arrival times.

The Cancun airport is 118 KM or 73 miles north of Tulum, about an hour and half drive on highway 307.

There is also an airport in Cozumel.  If you choose to fly into Cozumel, you will need to take a 30 minute ferry ride over to Playa Del Carmen.  The ferry ride is safe and fun as you will probably see dolphins swimming next to you.  When you get to the dock, you may be another 20 minutes to your destination by cab.

Marine Ports

Puerto Aventuras is the closest marina to park your boat – 25 minutes north on the highway.

Taking Your Pet to Tulum

Re-locating your pet to Mexico is one more thing to prepare for.   Driving into Mexico with your pet is much more simple than flying in with your pet as airlines have very strict guidelines you must adhere to as well as black out dates.

For More Information on bringing your pet to Mexico:  Click Here

Getting around and some things to do in Tulum

Having a car is nice but you have local transportation options that can get you to Playa del Carmen or Cancun via the collectivos and buses. Bike riding or a scooter is the most simple and economical way to get around Tulum and the way a lot of people prefer to travel. Walking in the evenings is the best way to get some exercise, bump into a friend, and burn off the dinner you just ate, walking on the beach or strolling downtown.

Speaking of dinner….Tulum has become world renowned for it’s eclectic and delicious dinning options. This is due in large part to the international mix of locals;  French, Argentinian, Italian, Thai, Mexican, Mayan, Austrian and German. There is an abundance of talented and creative chefs in Tulum and many of them are classically trained or continuing family traditions.

Living in Tulum you will likely be doing most of your shopping and dining out in town, and you will save plenty when compared to the beach zone. The best part is you also have amazing food options and a lot of the same shopping options for less money!  Eating like a local is a not a sacrifice in Tulum, it’s delicious and cheap.

If you are a Tulum local, you have many wonderful activities to participate in, you may have a hard time deciding which way to go. Morning meetings with friends for coffee or tea, yoga, dance, art, jewelry making, beach excursions, jungle adventures and exploring cenotes or nearby towns and ruins, are a few of the more common activities.

With more and more expatriates arriving in Tulum, we are also seeing more expat groups, social networking, clubs and virtual work spaces, there are already several online groups for expats living in Tulum with thousands of members. Walking downtown, running errands, going to the bank or grocery shopping will likely involve an encounter with someone you know.

Yes, Tulum has all the qualities of a charming and bustling small Caribbean town, but it is growing fast. The magnetic pull of the natural beauties of the area and magic energy of the place is something you need to experience and feel for yourself.

Tropical Weather of Life in Tulum

Next to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the consistent warm weather in Tulum has to be one of the biggest draws for expats, especially in the cold winter months in more northern latitudes. The annual average lows in the evenings are in the mid 60’s-70’s F (17-22 C) with average highs in the mid 80’s – low 90’s F (27-32 C). Most days are blue skies with white fluffy clouds drifting by on the steady Caribbean sea breeze. The months of September and October tend to have the most rainfall. The coolest months are January and February.

The hottest and most humid months are June, July and August (90 F days on average or 32 C). Actually not as hot as most of the southern US during the summer! This is also the rainy season and there can be prolonged periods of rain, especially in the peak months of September and October.  Throughout the rainy season you can expect tropical showers.

Hurricane/Rainy season is from June – October with most of the threats coming in October. This does not mean that the entire season brings threatening weather.  Most days during this rainy season are warm and mostly sunny, with always a chance of tropical storms brewing offshore.  It’s amazing to watch them come in from the beach!   Most places are built to hurricane standards and you will typically have plenty of notice if one is coming-know what to do in the event of a hurricane.

Long-term rentals in Tulum

Inventory on long term rentals can be tight-especially heading into the high season (December-April), as owners are more focused on vacation rentals. Things are loosening up a bit in 2020 with a lot of new condos and homes being built and completed in Tulum.  The best time to find a rental in Tulum is during the off season-in the summer. You can find single room studio’s from $5,000- $15,000 pesos a month or 2-3 bedroom, furnished condominiums from $12,000- $40,000 pesos a month. Amenities, furnishings and location will be variables that will affect the rents.

More Cost of Living Details

Tulum Beach versus Tulum Town-Food and Shopping

As you make your way down the famous Tulum beach road, a long line of boutiques, small hotels, restaurants and spas that cater to the eco chic, “Tuluminatis” where prices are closer to what you may expect back home, maybe even more.  But Tulum also has the “once in a lifetime” dinning and shopping experiences you can only find there, more than once!

Especially on the beach where you are a captive audience, you may find the prices one the beach closer to what you are paying back home. But, Tulum is also like 2 towns in 1, there is the beach, and there is the town of Tulum. IF you live more like a local, shopping for groceries and eating at local restaurants in town, you’ll save a lot of money living for about 30% less than you can in the average U.S. cities. You’ll save a lot more if you are coming from places like NYC, Boston, The West Coast or any resort “town” in the U.S.

Depending upon your standards and circumstance, you can live as inexpensively or as lavishly as you desire. The basic commodities are similar no matter what your economic position is. There are many options for rentals and real estate. For Tulum real estate advice click here.

Tulum Daily Expenses, Restaurants and Utilities

• Gasoline (approximately $2.75 USD per gallon)
• Drinking water-usually delivered to your home ($8.00 – $20.00 USD per month)
• Local fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, fish, eggs and pork, are the most affordable way to eat and produce is 50-70% cheaper than US.
• When eating out, you can go to “local” taco joints and home-style family kitchen restaurants called “cocinas economicas” and have a healthy meal including your drink (usually a juice), for around $80.00 pesos or about $4.00 USD.
• Dining on the beach or at a more upscale restaurant in town will be more expensive and the prices range from $180.00 – $350.00+ pesos per entree.

The most expensive utility in Mexico is electricity.  You have to be conscientious of your usage.   The way most people do this is by not running too many electrical appliances at the same time and only using the A/C when absolutely necessary.   When you get your first bill, you will understand the meaning of  “be conscientious of your usage”.  There is a reason many small businesses leave their lights off until a customer walks in.

Average Prices of Real Estate in Tulum

Prices for real estate range anywhere from $65,000-$85,000 for a small 1-2 bedroom home in a more modest local neighborhood, up to $2,000,000.00 + for an oceanfront hacienda.  Modern and newer studio and 1 bedroom condominiums in town start at around $100,000 U.S.D. in 2020 you will find plenty of new condos to choose from if you are buying.

There are plenty of raw land lots of various size and residential development lots – typically 10 x 30 to 50 meters, in the Tulum area for sale. Price ranges for these land properties follow a general rule, the closer you are to the Caribbean, the higher the price per square meter. Generally speaking, the real estate gets cheaper the farther from town and the beach you go.  There are also a number of self-sustaining, eco-friendly, “planned communities” popping up farther inland from Tulum.

Mortgages are available but the interest rates are prohibitive.  Some pre-sale developments offer limited financing options up to 5 years. Cash deals, or private financing is the favorable approach for real estate investment in Mexico.

Make sure that you get title insurance if possible when purchasing a home or land in Tulum and use a Realtor from a trusted name or one who was personally recommended to you.

Click here for more insight on buying Tulum property for sale.

Health Care

Tulum has 3 small hospitals, 1 public hospital and 2 private facilities, including CostaMed, which is part of a larger network of hospitals in Mexico, all are capable of handling emergency care and all 3 of them have minor surgery facilities. The private hospitals, Tulum Hospital *south end, and CostaMed *north end, both directly on Hwy 307 (main ave.) Tulum, and have English speaking doctors.  The Tulum hospitals are limited in space and equipment, so for anything major, they will refer you to Hospiten in Playa Del Carmen 40 minutes north, or to the hospitals in Merida or Cancun after you have been stabilized.  There are ambulances in Tulum if you need the transport.

There are a number of hospitals and clinics in Playa del Carmen, many with English-speaking doctors. Medical facilities include Playa Med Hospital, Clinica Medica del Carmen, Hospiten Riviera Maya and Buceo Medico Mexicano, which specializes in diving-related medicine and has a hyperbolic chamber and emergency ambulance on call.

In fact, Hospiten Riviera Maya Hospital, which is located on Highway 307, right next to PlayaCar and Sams Club, has a direct billing relationship with many major international and Mexican health insurance providers, including IMG, International Medical Group.  IMG offers private, major medical health insurance to expats who live outside their home country 6 months a year or more.  You can choose to have health insurance coverage in the U.S. and Mexico, or for less money, exclude the U.S. coverage.

If you live in Tulum, you have health insurance options:  Mexico has a Social Security System which is free at the point of delivery for Mexicans as well as foreign nationals with a Residente Permanente status. Foreigners living in Mexico without full immigrated residency status can purchase the IMSS health insurance for about $300.00 US a year.  For more information on IMSS:  Click Here

Tulum Infrastructure and Services

Tulum has grown a lot! In 2010, there were no paved roads, beyond the highway that runs through the middle of town, or street signs.  Today (2020), almost all the city streets have been paved and they all have names.  Tulum now has 3 stop lights along the main avenue from end to end and they are adding more of them around town in 2020. Thankfully “rush hour” is still mostly a matter of staying alert for a mix of rental cars, scooters, pedestrians, taxis and dogs. The downtown zone is still only about 1 mile long, so even in heavy traffic it does not take long to get around Tulum. There is a lot more expat traffic, with a growing number of expats in the community, many of them buying retirement properties.

Tulum continues on the path of progress and Mexico wants to protect this crown jewel of nature. So far that planning and execution has been playing catch up with providing infrastructure improvements in roads, electricity and water treatment.  More infrastructure is being added every day to support this growing Mexican town on the Caribbean.

There has been a lot written about some of the ecological challenges and impacts to Tulum along this steep growth curve, it’s not a great look for Tulum or the environmental and earth friendly image, but the attention is bringing some action.

The city does have issues with water treatment-they continue to expand treatment infrastructure, but it is a game of catch up right now. There are more eco-conscious development projects going now, community recycling is becoming more active but overall infrastructure still lags, new and more modern shopping centers/pavilions with attached residential are also going up and bringing their own infrastructure-this is common in Mexico too.  In 2020 Tulum, the city may get what it needs, time, the time needed to catch up, as things likely slow down for while in a post pandemic world. At least for the moment. Tulum will need to stay focused on their infrastructure to support this newly “discovered” fast developing and popular destination for expats and tourists.

Banking

There are several banks in Tulum including BBVA Bancomer, HSBC, Scotia Bank and other smaller branches. ATM machines are every where that dispense pesos and dollars.

Grocery Stores

Living in Tulum will provide you with all kinds of fresh produce options and has 2 major modern grocery stores, the Chedruai and the Super Aki.  Chedruai is a modern major grocery store chain, that will have almost everything you are used to buying back home, including most US brands of foods.  Super Aki is a smaller chain grocery store, but also carries many US brands and has everything you need for groceries.  In addition to those larger stores, Tulum also has several healthy grocery stores that sell more organic products, including Gypsy Market and CoConAmor.  There are also fresh produce stands found on many street corners in Tulum.

Veterinarians

There are several different veterinarians to choose from.  Ask for a referral from a local neighbor to choose.

Mail Delivery

There is a post office in Tulum but mail delivery is VERY sketchy.  If you live here, you want to go paperless as much as humanly possible and pay your U.S. bills online.  UPS and Fed Ex do deliver here but it’s very expensive to have anything shipped from the U.S. or Canada. Savana, the local “fax, mail, print” shop, will accept a package for you for a nominal fee.  When your package arrives, they will write your name on a board.  Once you get to know the owner, she may call you to let you know your package has arrived.

Tulum Churches

Non denominational Lighthouse Church – English speaking, Christian Church :

• Tulum – 10:00 a.m. Sundays
  Puerto Aventuras – 2:30 p.m. Sundays
  Playa del Carmen – 6:30 p.m. Sundays

For more information: www.lighthousechurch.mx

There are many Spanish speaking Catholic churches throughout Tulum, the largest Catholic church is located behind the main square centro in downtown. There is also a Mormon church on Main Street as well as a Jehovah Witness and others.

Crime Rate

Tulum has low crime rate. but there has been a recent rise in local cartel incidents involving territory battles.  So far, no tourists or expats have been involved in this violence and relative to actual real danger to you, it is a safe community. The largest crime complaint are crimes of opportunity.

As quoted from the U.S. Travel.State.Gov website, July 2013:

“The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality.

Crimes of opportunity are instances such as:  If you forget your wallet in the cab, it is not likely anyone will turn it in for you.  If you take a bike ride and leave your bike unchained for more than a few minutes, your bike may not be there when you return.  If you leave your sun glasses on a table at a restaurant, they may be picked up and no one will have seen who left with them.

Although your possessions may come and go if you aren’t careful, the degree of violent crime is very low.

Please review our latest safety report for Mexico for more details and statistics.  As with any plans to viist Mexico or any other foreign country, make sure you check the US Department of State website for any travel alerts, advisories or restrictions.

Call Your Bank

Call your bank and credit card companies to notify them of your plans to travel or move to Mexico.  It is not necessary to carry a lot of cash, and not recommended, as banks and ATM’s are prevalent in Tulum. Most merchants and restaurants accept U.S. credit cards, however, to avoid a block on your debit or credit card, notify them of your travel plans.  U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere, but you will get a better exchange rate if you use pesos.  All ATM machines can dispense pesos and some dispense dollars.

Calling Tulum

As you settle in to life in Tulum, you will find making phones to a be a bit different with some new numbers to keep in mind! From the US or Canada, to call into Tulum, dial the following sequence: 011-52-984, and then the 7-digit local number. 011 is the code for international telephone connection, country code 52 is for Mexico, and 984 is the area code for Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.  For more details on how to make phone calls in Mexico, check our article here.

Mexico safety is near the top of the list of concerns for relocation to Mexico.  Is it safe to live as an expat in Mexico? The short answer overwhelmingly is, YES! Virtually all the expats living in Mexico are quite safe and comfortable with their cities or towns of choice. Why? Because they have chosen to live in areas that are safe to live within Mexico.

Expats make relocation choices with similar criteria to what you would consider with any move. People decide what they want from their Mexico experience, location, climate, cost of living, a beach, the mountains, culture, safety etc. Expats research the cities and places to avoid, settle on a safe town, a safe neighborhood, and start networking with a community of expats in the area they are headed to. These are some of the primary factors of how and why expats are safe in Mexico!

Where are the safest places in Mexico expats live?

It is estimated as of 2019, there are over 1.2 million expats from the U.S. and Canada currently living in or retired to Mexico. Canadians count for approximately 6,000 of those expat numbers, but there are another 125,000+ Canadians spending at least part of the year in Mexico annually, according to Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. An expat in Mexico is defined as someone who has legal temporary or permanent residency status in Mexico.

If we were to include regular returning snowbirds, the number is quite a bit higher. Americans and Canadians can travel back and forth on a Mexico tourist visa good for 180 days-and do it year after year.  You can even leave the country for just a few days and return with a renewed visa, good for another 6 months. 

These numbers also do not include thousands of undocumented expat residents in Mexico. We are being conservative with the 1.2 million number and it continues to grow every year. Here’s the list of cities and towns with the largest expat populations in Mexico (excluding border towns):

1. Guadalajara, Lake Chapala, Ajijic, Jalisco (the largest per-capita population of expats-around Lake Chapala)
2. Mexico City, DF
3. Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya (includes Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum), Quintana Roo
4. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
5. Merida, Yucatan
6. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
7. Los Cabos and Baja California Sur, (includes Todos Santos, Los Barriles and La Paz)
8. Mazatlan, Sinaloa
9. Cuernavaca, Morelos
10. Ensenada, Baja California

Here is a complete state by state breakdown of the annual reported total homicides in Mexico from 2015-2020. Ranked from most to least by state.  This is also a great link to track general crime statistics by state in Mexico.  The cities and towns we highlight and recommend are indeed safe, there are also parts of Mexico that are not safe, remote regions and known hot spots raise your personal risks as they would in any other country.

What is Mexico safety in lifestyle like as an expat?

First, expats typically have done their homework and hopefully have spent some time in the town or city they are planning to live in. This is the most common route for expats in Mexico, they fall in love with the place, and start looking into issues like safety, cost of living etc. before making those choices of a place to settle in Mexico.

For the majority of expats living in Mexico it is a very rewarding and enriching experience.  Most expats get more from the move than expected, which has been the case for myself and many others I have met over the years.  Most expats are initially drawn to Mexico for the mild climate or beaches and lower cost of living, and Mexico delivers!  What most people don’t expect is to fall in love with the culture and the people!

After some initial culture shock, most expats come to appreciate the “manana” culture and more relaxed approach to life. Although an adjustment, the escape from a hectic life is one of the other big reasons people are attracted to Mexico. A slower pace of life, beautiful people, new friends, amazing food, art and history and less consumerism have been a few things I personally didn’t expect to be positive highlights of our Mexico adventure!

Mexico Crime Stats: Hard truths, statistics, and safe living tips from a 12-year expat resident of Mexico.

It is really going to happen! You have shifted from planning to execution, YOU are moving to Mexico. The vision of your adventure is taking shape. Naturally, you start sharing your exciting plans with friends and family! Then your bubble bursts. Some of the initial feedback you get from your typical media-influenced American or Canadian friends goes something like this:

“You must be joking!” “Are you crazy?” “Have you seen Narcos? You could be killed or kidnapped!” “Mexico is dangerous.”

A cautionary comment somewhere along those lines. We all have concerned friends and family when you share the Mexico move news, right or wrong, the headlines and media coverage show Mexico to be a generally dangerous place! As a full-time resident, like other good people in Mexico, we also cringe at the news of violence, it makes the local and regional news in Mexico in graphic fashion. Indeed, media coverage, non-fiction books, movies and TV have presented provocative portraits of Mexican cartel violence in North America.

If you have been paying attention, this problem is not just in Mexico. Yes, those bad guys are seriously dangerous with little regard for human life.  The proof is shown in the rising numbers and it also coincides with the rise in human trafficking; mostly flowing through Mexico from Latin America.  Refugees and potential immigrants looking for a better life, all must travel through Mexico to reach the U.S. or Canada.

Mexico Crime: Bad News On the Murder Trends in Mexico

The Mexico Cartel Factor

The cartel is an overt (yet rarely openly spoken about) part of Mexican society. Like a big corporation, they are in big business with most of the product demand coming from the US and Canadian markets-they deliver. They also support the local economies in Mexico, where product may come from or passes through on it’s way north. Cartels sell in tourist locations where, again, the demand from foreign tourists is “high.” People on 1-2 week benders, who are doing things in Mexico they would not consider doing at home. See: Popularity of AI resorts – unlimited everything all the time.

“The Cartel” is part of all North American countries; U.S. and Canada included, they are more visible and comfortable doing business in Mexico, where they wield real political influence. There is a much lower-profile north of the border, where they are higher up in the supply chain. 

Violent people who sell drugs, do human trafficking, and carry big guns are dangerous characters to associate with. They also kill each other regularly in territorial skirmishes and all-out turf wars. A lot of the frightening murder statistics come from that category, the crass silver lining.

Sadly, another large part of the casualties come from human trafficking through the southern borders of Mexico. This is now estimated to be a $150 billion annual enterprise for cartels. The murder statistics continue to rise as battles for territory and human trafficking have expanded. That is the harsh reality of murder in Mexico.

Mexico cartels are dangerous, no doubt. So, if you get involved with those folks in Mexico-or anywhere for that matter, well then, your friends may be right, you may be crazy too!

The Good News About Safely Retiring in Mexico!

Before you start looking into another country to move or retire to, let us interject some common sense and reality into these frightening murder statistics. Statistics is an interesting discipline, especially when we segment the data to tell the actual Mexico expat story. When you isolate tourists and expats in the equation, Mexico starts looking safer than traveling to Orlando, Florida or a life in most of American Suburbia. As an expat or tourist with common sense and no connection to illegal activities or cartel affiliation, your odds of being murdered in Mexico fall somewhere between getting struck by lightning and winning the Powerball lottery! The following U.S. State Department graphic and statistics account for any Americans who died in Mexico 2017-18 – not just homicides. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Mexico had more than 35 million US visitors and 238 of them died, 76 of them were homicides. Of those 76 deaths, guess what? According to the U.S. State Department, most of those victims were involved in drug or human trafficking themselves! It is notable that most of them occurred in U.S. border towns. The others include crimes of passion and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. You can get into more details at the U.S. Department of State website. The cartel targets expats and tourists for marketing and sales, NOT violence!  Just like big pharma, they want to keep you, the customer, alive for as long as possible to consume their perishable products.

Make no mistake, common sense and awareness go just as far in Mexico as anywhere else in the world!

8 Personal Safety Tips for Life in Mexico (beyond not signing up with the cartel):

1. Choose a safe neighborhood to live in.
2. Secure your home: CCTV,walls, gates, lock doors and windows, add window bars or a dog if needed-crimes of opportunity are more common than violence in Mexico.
3. Avoid known areas for drug deals and bad neighborhoods.
4. Don’t buy street drugs. Mexican pharmacies actually offer more than U.S. See medical/dental tourism.
5. Do not drive on dark desert highways at night.
6. Get home at a decent hour, not much good happens after 2am. 11pm is late for me!
7. Make friends with other expats.
8. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Bad, random things happen to people all the time in all parts of the world. We can simply do our best to minimize and mitigate risk that comes with life on this planet. From my personal perspective and the vast majority of expats actually here, there are safe places to live in Mexico. It is arguably less violent than the U.S. when you take all violent crime into account.

Mexico Crime Stats vs USA

Fun Fact!  The United States has 88 guns per 100 people.

Suffice it to say, “nobody’s perfect.” Clearly there are dangerous places within any country in the world. Where you decide to live, the social groups you spend time with, and the areas you visit frequently in those countries will determine how safe you are! The same holds true for the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Asia and Mexico. For example, as an American,  I am not going to cruise the south side of Chicago after midnight or take a shortcut down a dark alley in New Orleans.

Mexico has over 761,606 square miles and the majority of that territory is peaceful territory where locals and expats live and tourists visit.  In fact, Americans and Canadians are less likely to face violence in Mexico than a lot of U.S. cities, especially in Mexico’s most popular travel and expat destinations. See my safety tips for Mexico-above, use them, choose a safe place to live and you will be as safe in Mexico as any other safe part of other countries!  I hope to see you on the safe side of Mexico! Get our free guide to living in Mexico here.

IN THE MEANTIME: Please ALWAYS refer to the U.S. State Department for the most current safety conditions and travel warnings in Mexico. US State Department Travel Advisories for Mexico. Make Mexico Happen!

Article resources:

1. México Safety BBC article
2. NYT 2018 Maya Riveria Safety
3. Mexico Crime Reports 2020
4. Mexico vs USA Crime Stats
5. Mexico Tourists Dangers
6. Newsweek Human trafficking in Mexico
7. Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

You may be considering some hard choices if your candidate didn’t win the election. One thing that won’t solve any issues is complaining. To be happy you need to adjust your perspective and take action!

First, you can stay in the soon to be “great again” USA, move forward and conclude that the office of President of the United States is, just an “office” and a president will not be able to significantly change your daily way of life! There is also power in acceptance.  Move forward.

You have 4 years to vote again if Trump does a bad job, vote again, that’s the way democracy works. Or if you are just need, “a little time away,” perhaps go for a change of scenery for a few years, and maybe move to Mexico.  Lay low, south of the border.

Possibly permanently?…maybe Mexico IS calling your name?

For those of you considering the option of heading south of the border, here’s a few things Mexico (the country on the other side of the wall) has to offer!

• The Climate is Beautiful. Most places in Mexico offer a very mild to warmer climate. If you are tired of scraping windshields and shoveling snow, Mexico is the place for you!
• The Cost of Living. On average (depending on where you live in Mexico) the cost of living is 50% less than it is in the USA. Produce alone is nearly 1/3 the cost. Exceptions are autos and electronics. Your dollar is going a very long way right now due to the big drop in the peso.
• Slower Pace of Life. If you are done with stress, worry and being on a schedule constantly, Mexico could be for you! The relaxed lifestyle will have you adjusting to the manana culture in no time. Relax and remember, you relocate here to get out of the “rat race”.
• It’s a Good Investment. Choose a spot that is popular with expats and tourists or in the path of progress and you could do very well on Real Estate investments in Mexico. Where I live in beautiful Tulum is a perfect example of expats cashing in on paradise while enjoying a new lifestyle. Property values are on the rise, taxes are cheap and you can often do vacation rentals to supplement your income.
• Cheaper Medical Care. With an international health insurance plan you can typically expect to pay less than ½ what the typical U.S. individual premiums are (non-employer sponsored). There are many modern hospitals throughout Mexico, particularly in areas popular with expats, the care is very good. If you are already on Medicare, there are affordable travel policies that work abroad as an international supplement.
• Mexico Residency is Easy to Get. Mexico loves Americans, both republican and democrats, and Canadians too, they want us all to move to Mexico! Why wouldn’t they? We spend our money there and support their local economy. The retirement income requirements for temporary and permanent residency are reasonable.
• Removed from The Media. It’s much easier to get away from the constant stream of media and advertising in Mexico. It’s like a different planet! The issues of the USA are not the same for Mexico and easy to leave behind.

In a free society, those outside of ourselves, do NOT determine how are lives are lived or how happy we are. True happiness comes only from within.

If you are handing that over to a politician, good luck. Keep in mind that whoever is president does not effect YOUR decision to be happy…wherever that may be!

Bienvenidos to your new happy place. Make Mexico Happen!

Click here to contact me and we can set your plan for relocating to Mexico, no matter where you are at on the decision-making process! I offer inspiration, advice and action plans. ~Ron Burdine

“ GUELAGUETZA, A GLANCE AT TRADITIONS”

Guelaguetza Dancers

The “Guelaguetza”, is a celebration that takes place in the city of Oaxaca during the two Mondays following the second weekend in July, this year the festival begins on July the 16th, 2016. It gets its name from the Zapoteca word “guendalizaa”, which means “exchange of gifts and services”, and symbolizes the act of participation, or sharing, without manifesting any obligation besides reciprocity. The intention behind this celebration is to reinforce the relations between the members of the communities and to create a cooperation network between the different regions and municipalities.

This celebration has its origins in the pre-hispanic festivities related to the Mexica Corn Godess “Centéotl”, and was based on the offering of goods from all different communities around the region in order to please this goddess. After the Spanish conquest and evangelism, catholic intentions were integrated into this celebration; however the timing of the celebration remained related to the harvesting of the corn. This colorful festival has been celebrated year after year, ever since that time, and still takes place in the same hill where it first started; now in an auditorium specially designed for that purpose.

The Guelaguetza has become a celebration of culture, where each of the 8 regions of the state (Los Valles Centrales, La Sierra de Juárez, La cañada, Tuxtepec, La Mixteca, La Costa, La Sierra Sur, and Istmo de Tehuantepec) has an opportunity to display through dance, music, gastronomy, garments and crafts, the richness of their customs and traditions; the festival highlights the differences of each of the cultures and communities, as well as their complimentary relationships.

As a festival, The Guelaguetza is divided in 4 stages, each of them shows a different time in its history: 1) The Prehispanic period: during this part of the event, you can see, through visual representation and performances, the Azteca domination, the royal festivity, the choice of the virgin and her sacrifice in the honor of Centéotl; 2) The colonial period: shown Through the dances which were performed by the Mexicas for pleasing their gods, all the way to the time of the Spanish conquest; followed by a procession in honor of the Virgen del Carmen; 3) The Independent Mexico period: shown through a wide variety of different products and offerings from each of the regions as well as “Catrinas” in their colorful dresses; and finally, 4) The contemporary period: which shows the different garments of each of the regions and a poems dedicated to Oaxaca, as well as a fireworks show.

Special thanks to  www.visitmexico.com/es for the use of their photography in our post on “La Guelaguetza, A Glance at Traditions”.

I will never forget my first trip to Merida, Mexico in October of 2007, one of the most majestic and best places in Mexico to live or visit. I had been living in Tulum, Mexico for about a year and figured it was time to get serious about learning Spanish. I registered at Institute of Modern Spanish and was SO EXCITED! I would live 2 weeks with a Mexican family who would provide my meals and I would attend school 20 hours a week. It was quite affordable.

I arrived on Thursday and went to the town center and rented a room in a historic hotel to see what life in down town Merida was all about! What I found, I really liked. CULTURE! MUSIC! FOOD! It seemed almost every restaurant; even taco stands had at least 2 singing guys and a guitar!

Every Saturday Night for many generations they have been closing the main part of the center of town from car traffic and setting up stages, tables and chairs in the middle of the streets for people to dance and have a good time. FOR FREE! This goes on until the wee hours of the morning. I realized as I looked around, this was for the people of Merida more than for tourism. That night I saw only a handful of tourists and hundreds of locals. I was pleasantly surprised that the festivities continued on Sunday, with the streets remaining closed, now filled with booths for food, handcrafts and stages for cultural presentations. Many Meridians were walking their dogs and riding their bikes on the now safe streets. What a fun weekend that was!

This is one of the reasons I think so many American and Canadian people are flocking to Merida to live at least part of the year, it is so RICH with Culture! With music, museums, architecture, sports, galleries and shopping, you could NEVER be bored! And there is more to discover in the surrounding areas. All that and it feels safe too!

There is an international airport, so it is easy to get to and from Merida. There is some of the best medical care in Mexico, as it is a regional center for the entire Yucatan Peninsula. It has Universities and Community Colleges as well as many public and private schools for children. Merida has Consulate offices for many countries including the US and Canada. As it turns out, it really is safe in Merida! The state of Yucatan has been declared the safest state in Mexico and Merida received the City of Peace Award in 2011. We all know how important safety and access to good medical care is in making the decision to visit or call a place home!

Merida has about a million people, so there are all the conveniences of shopping, industry, and mass transit that come with it being a real city. The downtown area is very historic and then thins out into many “colonias” that go on and on and then into the country side that is full small roads that wind around to Mayan Ruins, small Mayan towns, old plantations and working farms, birds, wildlife, caves and swimming holes as well as beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

Because the Yucatan Peninsula is separated from the rest of Mexico, it has a culture, language and history very different from the rest. Merida itself has such a mix of cultures, a colonial city with ancient and modern Mayan influences everywhere. 60% of the people who live there are of Mayan decent! Some of the rest consider themselves Yucatecán rather than Mexican. The food, dance, style of dress are all very unique.

The Spanish “discovered” this area in about 1542, and built their main city on top of the Mayan city that was already there. Of course there is a rich history of the Mayans vs. the Colonialists and many historic places to visit that show this both inside the city and in the surrounding area.

The architecture is a very wild mix of very old, very modern and everything in between…most of it is well preserved. One of the oldest churches in Mexico is here. The feel of Merida is very colonial with the central square, narrow streets, giant old trees, homes and public buildings with the amazing gardens walled in off the street. Then there are the mansions! WOW!

You see, around the end of the 1900’s, many Meridians got RICH! They developed big plantations of a type of agave plant called Henequen from which they made rope and burlap that they exported to all over the world! At the time, Merida was said to have the largest concentration of millionaires than any other city in the WORLD! These newly rich developed a love of anything European and they brought over many French architects to build what I call wedding cake houses as they are several stories high, mostly pastel colors and have columns, gargoyles and other ornaments all over them. These line the streets of The Paseo de Montejo and are now museums, banks and cell phone company offices.

The Plantations are no longer in operation, however many are open to the public either as museums, hotels or restaurants. I went to one where a horse drawn buggy along a railroad track took us to 3 big and very private Cenotes for swimming! I was at another one that has it’s own Mayan Temple in the back yard! So much to explore in the surrounding area.

Summers are VERY hot in Merida, so even the Meridians have places on the nearby beaches to escape to. Just 30 miles away by car is the town of Progresso. It is right on the ocean and looked like a movie set when I was there in October, but another time when I was there in February, it was packed with people having a good time. Not much farther away is Celestún, where you can see flamingos and hundreds of other species of birds. Ducks Unlimited has a base there.

Many Snowbirds from US, Canada and other parts of the world call Merida home in the winter. I was in one apartment complex in October that had exactly 3 people staying there, but the owner assured me that come January there would be over 300 people, many of them who come year after year and stay for months.

Real Estate prices remain relatively inexpensive. Where in the US could you buy a 450 year old colonial mansion for any price?! Many people come to Merida, buying a run down old property and turn them into a gorgeous B and B, hotel or other income producing property. So many amazing antiques to furnish these places around Merida! Great places to stay too!

So, if you have had Merida, Mexico on your mind, it’s time to go and see what so many are finding so appealing about it. Compare Merida with our other best places to live in Mexico to see how it adds up to It might be a good fit for your vacation, living or retirement options. Salud!

This is the first in a series of articles discussing this area of Mexico. It’s an area we have spent many years exploring and we have seen many of the changes first hand.

From the Yucatan’s historic Merida to up and coming Mahahual on on the southern tip of Mexico’s Caribbean; the area offers a diverse mix in lifestyles with no shortage of things to do. The infrastructure is supporting a modernization of transportation, expansion of tourism and foreign investment.

A Few Reasons why the Yucatan Peninsula is Mexico’s most popular destination for expats and tourists

1. The Beaches: From Cancun to Tulum and south to Mahahual along the Caribbean to Progresso, Celestun and Isla Holbox on the Gulf of Mexico side, these are arguably the finest beaches in the country.
2. The Culture: The diversity in cultures between the historic and well known Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum to the Spanish colonial architecture of many of the towns and cities, the area is rich in history and cultural experiences. If learning a second language is on your bucket list, there are plenty resources through the numerators universities and private courses.
3. It’s Close: The Yucatan’s proximity to the U.S. and Canada make it a quick and direct flight of 4 hours or less from most North American cities.
4. Exploring Nature: Beyond the beaches the natural wonders of the Yucatan are numerous and impressive. The worlds largest underground river system lays just beneath the porous limestone surface of the Yucatan Peninsula, it is a cave divers dream and a delight for novices. Hidden lagoons, jungle adventures, wildlife, world class fishing and sailing are a few more of the options to connect with nature.
5. The Food! If you thought visiting or moving to Mexico meant that you would be subject to tacos, rice and beans during your stay…think again. This part of Mexico offers some of the finest food to be found anywhere in the world. It is truly a world class experience to discover. The popularity of the area has drawn expats from all over the world, many of them opening authentic restaurants.
6. It’s A ‘Safe’ Investment: With the state of Quintana Roo, the Riviera Maya specifically growing at lightning pace, investments are a no-brainer in most regions. Specifically beach-side towns like Playa del Carmen and Tulum are booming quickly. This makes it a quickly appreciating investment and the towns themselves have very low crime and are very safe for tourists. We have lived in Tulum for eight years and have never felt nervous about our safety. This is a very peaceful, relaxing and tranquil place to call your home away from home!

In the coming weeks we will be exploring some of these reasons in more detail and looking into some of the places specifically.

It’s not difficult to see why this region of Mexico is truly becoming the preferred destination for expats. If the variety of things to do and see is not enough of a draw, it is also a wise investment based on these trends. The influx of foreign capital does not appear to be slowing anytime soon and the Mexican government continues to support expansion of services and infrastructure that look a lot more like first world standards.

Stay tuned for more focus on the Yucatan. We’ll see you in Mexico!