Retirement in Mexico

Why, Where, and How North Americans Relocate

By Habeeb Salloum

Retirement in Mexico: Cathedral in popular San Miguel de Allende.

During the cold winter months over 1 million North Americans bask in the tropical warmth of Mexico, with the number rapidly growing (some unofficial estimates put the number of foreigners much, much higher). More Americans move to Mexico than any other country. Some return each spring, while others are year-round residents.

Where to Retire in Mexico?

Some resident travelers head for the hot coastal zones; others prefer the temperate zones, 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level.

For those seeking spring-like weather all year long, Guernavaca and Guadalajara and the nearby lakeside towns of Chapala and Ajijic are the preferred locations. Guadalajara, along with Chapala and Ajijic, is home to 50,000 North American expatriates, the largest colony of retired Canadians and Americans in Mexico. Many more snowbirds travel to the area to spend the winter months. Both towns maintain a small-town and relaxed atmosphere. Ajijic, one of the most picturesque towns in Mexico, offers cobblestone streets, gourmet dining, and excellent shopping.

The nearness to the large and livable city has advantages for retirees, some of whom prefer to live in the city itself, a metropolis filled with Mexican cowboys, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, parks, and plazas.

Other cities becoming more popular for North Americans are San Miguel de Allende, Morelia, and Oaxaca. San Miguel de Allende, declared a national monument in the 1920s, is a legendary town of artisans and poets. It is filled with colonial mansions, terraced cobblestone streets, and flower-filled patios. Its North American expatriate colony of 20,000-30,000 organizes plays and lectures and even publishes a newspaper in English. It is said to be the perfect town for English-speaking retirees in Mexico who are looking for ties with North American social groups.

Near a Yucatan beach: One of many locations North Americans choose to retire.

Morelia is the capital and the cultural and political center of Michoacan, a state renowned for its natural beauty. Its friendly inhabitants, along with its Spanish colonial and indigenous heritage, make it ideal for someone interested in Mexican culture. It is home to dozens of artists, poets, and writers and a small community of Canadians and Americans. Retirees come to Morelia because of its low real estate prices as well as the ample opportunities of interaction with the local inhabitants.

Oaxaca, located on a 5,000-foot-high plateau, though not as yet the most popular destination for North Americans, entices by its climate, cuisine, handicrafts, and history. Its downtown streets are lined with impressive Baroque colonial architecture. The city's pace is relaxed and the people are friendly. Oaxaca is becoming another important Mexican destination for North American retirees.

HABEEB SALLOUM lives in Toronto, Ontario.