Mexico Update: Is this the year you move to Mexico? Eternal EXPAT Live A Lifetime of Travel

Hi Mexico-loving friends! Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo! I was lucky enough to ring in the new year in Puerto Vallarta, one of my favorite beach towns in Mexico and a wonderful place to celebrate a new year. It was a real joy to be back after being away from the country for over a year and I couldn't help but feel like I'd come home. From the warmth of the people to the warmth of that sunshine (and the warmth of my belly after a few too many spicy tacos ). I spent some time in Mexico City to work on updating my guidebook as well as simply enjoying all of my favorite places that I have missed and catching up with some friends who still live in the city. Then I spent about a week in Puerto Vallarta. We usually stay right in the Romantic Zone or near 5 de Diciembre, but this year we decided to head a little bit out of the city and stay right at the beach.  So we booked an Airbnb (which you can see here - but a video is coming soon with a full tour!) right in Playa Gemelas about 15 minutes south of the center of Puerto Vallarta. It was utter bliss. We barely did more than sleep, sit on the balcony, lay on the beach, swim in the Pacific, and drink a few Pacificos. I miss it already. I finished my trip back in Mexico City where despite living there for over four years, I realized is no longer a city that calls to me. It was a joy to come back to and I know I will return again for more adventures, but when I return to Mexico again for the long term, I think it will be to somewhere else (no one is more shocked about this than I am!).

Moving to Mexico?

While moving back to Mexico in 2023 isn't in the cards for me, I know it's something many people begin to think about at the start of the year. January is the month of the year when I receive the most emails about quitting jobs, retiring, finding a place in the sunshine, renting in Mexico City, finding a place that suits people's budgets, and living a better quality of life south of the border. There are so many resources out there these days, so many people sharing their experiences, it can seem overwhelming. If you're getting these emails, it's likely because you've been to Mexico before, you've fallen in love with it as much as I have, and you either want to continue to return for vacations or because you are thinking about making it your forever home one day (or you already have!). These are some of the resources that I think are most helpful for those that are just starting out trying to figure out how to live in Mexico and where to make your home base. As always, if you ever have any questions about moving to or living in Mexico, hit reply and ask away. Alex of Backpacking Brunette is a huge resource for people who are ready to make the move. Her YouTube channel is packed with information about visas, cost of living, apartment hunting and more. But her biggest and best resource is her Mexico Residency Roadmap and her Moving to Mexico Membership. The roadmap is a self-guided video and text-based guide that helps you get your legal residency in Mexico. The Mexico Membership includes all kinds of great monthly meet-ups and getting your personal questions answered by Alex on video. I have a huge collection of articles across my blog and youtube channel to help people figure out where they believe would be the best place for them to move. Here are some of the most popular. Where to Retire in Mexico Safest Cities in Mexico Best Places to Live in Mexico Best Places to Live in Mexico if you don't want to be hot! Cost of Living in Mexico City Cost of Living in Todos Santos Cost of Living in San Jose del Cabo Mexperience is a long-standing and trustworthy website that I have used frequently over the years whenever I have legal or more serious questions about living in Mexico. They have some of the most up-to-date information about life here and I trust and value the advice that I find here. I know I have often recommended checking out local Facebook groups in the past, and while these can be a great way to get involved in the community once you arrive, I no longer believe that these are helpful or safe spaces for asking questions.  It is always best to seek out people who are experts in the area, have experience with helping others, and who in general you feel you can trust for good information.

News in Mexico

It's likely you've seen the biggest news in Mexico, which is that El Chapo's son, Ovidio Guzman, has been arrested. The arrest involved the deaths of at least 29 people and since the arrest, there has been a lot of unrest and violence in the state of Sinaloa. You can read a little bit more about it here in this article as well as in this article. In Mexico City, another metro accident sees over 20 people injured and one person dead. It's a reminder to many that perhaps staying above ground is still the best option at the moment in Mexico City. They have a wonderful new electric bike network as well as fantastic metrobus system. There are protests around Chichen Itza over the construction of the train that is set to connect tourist sites and cities around the Yucatan. For some time it appeared that Chichen Itza would have to close, but the site remains open despite protestors.  If you are planning to visit in the coming weeks, keep your eyes out for information about road access or opt to go with a tour. I've written about Mexican airlines in the past here and have sampled all of them at one point or another. I am pleased to say that I even had a very pleasant experience recently with Viva Aerobus.  But there's a new airline in town that has been purchased by the government and is set to service areas that are not currently being serviced by other airlines. Maybe we finally won't have to connect through Mexico City to fly around Mexico?

December & January Mexico Content

Eternal Expat's Mexico-based writers have been busy over the holiday season writing some more great content! We've also updated some of our most popular posts to make sure they are as up-to-date as possible for you! Cancun vs Tulum Playa del Carmen vs Tulum 9 Best Restaurants in Tulum 10 Amazing Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta (Just updated!) You can catch up on all of the Mexico content on Eternal Expat here.

Expats & Locals Around Mexico

As always with Mexico, I highly recommend seeking out people who are currently living in the places that you want to visit. Speak to the locals living in those places and find out how you can better integrate. Ask questions, be curious and kind. For updates about Mexico City, as always I recommend following Ubish Yaren on Instagram. You can also follow Anais of The Curious Mexican for updates on the restaurant and food scene in Mexico City and what is back open. For updates about what's going on in Oaxaca, Susan of Brooklyn Tropicali has been sharing her updates of what's going on around the city and state of Oaxaca. Trisha of PS I'm On My Way currently lives in Cabo San Lucas and can share some insights into what is happening there with you. Check out her website here. For regular updates about life in Merida and around the Yucatan, check out Mexico Cassie who has also recently written a fantastic guide about Traveling Yucatan with Kids. Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo also shares her experiences in Merida and around the Yucatan. Her Instagram is a particularly good resource for what she's seeing at the moment. The Yucatan Times is the local English newspaper in Merida that shares local updates and news reports. To keep up with what's going on in and around Guadalajara, follow Alex of the Backpacking Brunette. Vallarta Daily is the local English news there where you can learn about any changes in the situation in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding Nayarit beach towns as well. Riviera Maya News is the local English newspaper there where you can keep up with changes. I believe this is the region that is changing the most in regards to safety at the minute and if you plan to independently travel here (renting a car and exploring without tours or away from resorts), then I highly recommend speaking to someone who is there right now. As always, a great place to keep up to date with news about what's happening all over Mexico in English is Mexico News Daily.

Visiting Mexico Soon?

If you are planning a trip to Mexico soon, I hope you'll have a browse of the different Mexico guides on my blog or have a search through my YouTube videos to help you plan your trip! I also have FOUR extensive guidebooks available for Baja California Sur, Mexico City, Merida, and Guanajuato! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email me by simply hitting reply on this email. Speak soon and safe travels, Laura