Hola Mexico-loving friends!

Hola Mexico-loving friends! I'm excited to return to my beloved Baja California Sur this month. It will be the first time I've been back since I lived there in 2021.  It will no doubt have changed enormously, which is one of the biggest reasons I'm returning - my Los Cabos guidebook needs a big update! The update will include maps for the major destinations, a better layout for the paperback version, and way more information for Cabo and San Jose. I've been working my way through all of the feedback and reviews I've received on the book as well as doing a ton of research on the area so that I can visit more new-to-me places while I'm down there. The book will come out just in time for the high season in November (it makes a great Christmas present!). Of course, I will also be making plenty of videos while I'm down there! Be sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel so you don't miss out on those.

Mexico Content from Eternal Expat

It's been very quiet over at Eternal Expat HQ as Google continues to decimate small websites across the internet. Perhaps you have noticed as you plan your travels that search results have changed enormously. Instead of finding travel blogs on Page 1 or 2 of the search results, now you find things like Reddit, TripAdvisor, Rick Steves' Forums, and Expedia articles. While some of the Reddit results have indeed been incredibly helpful and up-to-date, as a small business, I have lost much of my search traffic and have therefore had to allocate my time and effort differently in the past few months. It also meant that I could no longer pay the Mexico-based writer who worked for Eternal Expat and was regularly writing about the Riviera Maya. However, I am going to spend the rest of the year rebuilding my Mexico content on Eternal Expat and updating as much as I can.  I have two trips planned over the next two months. One, as mentioned above, to Cabo, and another to a new-to-me part of the Riviera Maya. I may squeeze in a third trip before the end of 2024 just to make sure all is ready for you guys come 2025! If you are planning a trip to Mexico in the coming weeks, be sure to check the archives of Eternal Expat to assist with itineraries and adventures around the country! You can also check out all of my Mexico YouTube videos here. If you know someone planning a trip to Mexico soon, it would mean so much to me if you shared my website or YouTube channel with them!

Mexico News from Around the Web

I try to stay up to date with news in Mexico and general helpful information that I think is important to those who are considering an upcoming trip to the country.  After a busy start to hurricane season, things have thankfully slowed down. After Hurricanes Beryl and Debby did damage to the east coast of Mexico, things were expected to continue in the same vein. We're not out of the woods just yet. September 10th is expected to be the height of the season, so if you have travel plans for the Caribbean coast or around the Gulf of Mexico in the next few weeks, be sure to keep an eye on the weather and news before hopping on your flight. A few helpful recent articles include this one and this one. Speaking of Los Cabos, the tourism numbers continue to grow despite the fact that costs to travel to this region of Mexico are at an all-time high. I have lost count of how many readers have expressed concerns over the growing cost of living in Todos Santos and La Paz. I am interested to see for myself the rising costs and also to see if, even during the low season, the area is still congested with tourism.  Dengue Fever outbreaks have been reported in Puerto Vallarta recently. If you are traveling to PV or the Riviera Nayarit (Punta Mita, Bucerias, or Sayulita) in the next few months, be sure to pack strong mosquito repellent and cover-up in the evenings to protect yourself from bites.

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 and around Mexico, Susan of Brooklyn Tropicali has been sharing a trip that she is taking around the country, but she also shares off-the-beaten-path Oaxaca content. 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. She also has a great Mexico-specific website called Mexico Insider which you can read 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. She also has a fantastic blog all about Merida here and all about Oaxaca here.  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. Unfortunately, this has been purchased by Mexico New Daily and all articles now sit behind a paywall, but if you are living in Vallarta, then it may be a subscription you want to consider. 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. The newspaper is going through some changes, so I'm never 100% sure whether I'll be able to see a bunch of articles or none at all on a given day, but it seems that if you register as a user (for free), you are able to see more articles at the moment.

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 (updated February 2023!!), 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

Eternal Expat Principal 20 CDMX Mexico