Your monthly Mexico newsletter is filled with inspiration, meaningful knowledge, helpful connections, and tips for better living, lifestyle, and leisure in Mexico.
Mexperience is continually updated, and free to access
The monthly Newsletter and detailed articles and guides about living, lifestyle and leisure in Mexico are written by people who know Mexico intimately; they’re continually revised and updated—and are all free to access.
Lifestyle & Living insights for May
Insights and tips for better living & lifestyle in Mexico.
Key dates in May — Labor Day on May 1st is a national holiday in Mexico and this year falls on a Thursday —and is likely to engulf Friday to create an informal ‘long-weekend holiday’— especially by those who work flexibly from home. Cinco de Mayo on the fifth is not a national holiday, but Mother’s Day on May 10th is an important cultural date and unofficial day-off for working mothers—this year it falls on a Saturday.
Seasonal bridge — The month of May is often a bridge between the dry season and the rainy season across Mexico’s mainland. The iconic Jacaranda trees are in full bloom and will soon shed the distinctive purple flowers to redress their branches in elegant green. The seasonal transition is often accompanied by ad-hoc wind storms which may appear suddenly. The rainy season typically returns across Mexico’s mainland from around mid-May, or during June, depending on the year and the region.
Road trips in Mexico — Our extensive guide to driving and road trips in Mexico offers practical advice to help you prepare for your journey, including bringing your foreign-plated car across the border, using toll roads, road safety and vehicle security, vehicle breakdowns, dealing with accidents, and being properly insured in Mexico.
Arrange vehicle insurance for your Mexico road trip
Arrange coverage for your foreign-plated vehicle with our associate—that offers attractive and competitively-priced insurance coverages for your vehicle.
If you have a Mexican-plated car and intend to drive it across the border to the United States, our associates offer Northbound car insurance for your trip.
Permanent Residency — It’s possible to obtain Residente Permanente (RP) without first having Residente Temporal (RT); however: you’ll need to demonstrate to the Mexican consulate that you are ‘retired’; the economic solvency requirements are higher; and if you’re applying as a couple there is a quirk in the rules you should know about. If you have certain defined family connections in Mexico it might be possible to apply for permanent residency that way. If you don’t qualify for RP right away, you may apply for temporary residency and exchange that for RP after four consecutive years.
Applying for and managing your residency — If you’re planning to apply for residency in Mexico, our detailed outline of the process helps you to map out the journey. Our guide about managing your residency in Mexico is filled with helpful advice for existing residents. Our immigration associates offer consultation and practical assistance to help through every stage of the process as you apply for and afterward manage your Mexico residency.
When you need assistance and practical support with a first-time Mexico residency application, an existing residency renewal, visa or card exchanges, and managing your existing residency status—our immigration associates can help.
Learn more about how their services save you time and help to avoid common mistakes made by applicants.
Learning or improving your Spanish — When you’re living in Mexico, or if you plan to make Mexico a part of your lifestyle plans in the future, consider learning or improving your Spanish language skills. Being able to converse in Spanish will give you access to the local culture and people in ways that are not possible through third party interpretation, and help to make your experiences more meaningful. Our PinPoint Spanish series offers insights into the nuances and uses of Spanish in Mexico and our Spanish language associates offer courses with lessons customized to your language-learning goals.
Reminder about filing foreign-issued documents
When you’re filing official documents in Mexico that were originally issued outside of Mexico —for example, Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates— you will need to get these Apostilled and Translated into Spanish by an authorized translator.
Choosing a climate to live in — When you’re considering places to live in Mexico, consider the local year-round climate at the locations you’re short-listing. Typically, Mexico’s coastal regions are sultry during the spring and summer, warm and comfortable during the fall and winter; whereas the highland regions inland tend to offer temperate climates year-round—albeit with cooler and sometimes cold climates in the late fall and winter. Mexico’s territory is vast and so variations and nuances exist; our article about this land of three lands introduces you to the climate zones. See also: More articles for further insights to Mexico’s climates and annual seasons.
Health & Medical insurance options — summary
Long-term residents in Mexico may arrange a local private health insurance plan, known in Spanish as seguro de gastos medicos mayores, or might choose to enroll in Mexico’s healthcare system, IMSS. Some long-term residents with health plans in the US choose instead to buy medical evacuation insurance.
People on (frequent) short-stay visits to Mexico can arrange for medical expenses to be covered during their stays with insurance coverages for short-term trips not lasting more than 90 days.
For extended stays in Mexico up to six months, our article about coverages for extended stays in Mexico provides guidance about getting coverage for emergency medical expenses.
See also: Health and medical insurance options
Enjoying the local flavors — One of the big attractions about visiting and especially living in Mexico is the abundance and variety of foods and flavors available here. Mexico’s climates, its rich volcanic soils and extensive coastal plains provide ideal growing environments for enormous assortments of fresh produce; and local markets, stores, and traders make the produce readily accessible. Learn more about local food shopping in Mexico; including wholesome fresh food options; and if you’re a foodie, Mexico also offers shopping options for those seeking gourmet and imported foods.
Find purpose and spot potential pitfalls in your Mexico lifestyle — Moving to Mexico (or to a new location in Mexico) is often an exciting and rewarding period in your life situations, but when the initial excitement fades, you’re inevitably faced dealing with everyday matters and challenges. It’s helpful to explore the importance of developing purpose and routines to create balance and meaning in your new location and lifestyle; our article also highlights common risks and pitfalls which, left unattended, may become seedbeds that grow discord and undermine original intentions. This article about finding purpose and routines is an integral part our extensive and regularly-updated guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico.
The Copper Canyon through the seasons
Seasonally, May and June tend to be the driest months in the canyons. July to November are months when the rains are most abundant and the canyons’ flora show-off their deepest greens. Between December and May, the flora’s colors are in transition between the wet and dry seasons. Read our detailed guide about Mexico’s Copper Canyon. Enjoy the dramatic landscapes and absorb breath-taking natural scenery on a custom tours fully organized by our travel associate, so that you can spend your time absorbing the experience.
Fractional ownership of a property in Mexico — If you want to buy and hold ownership of physical property in Mexico but you don’t have sufficient capital, and don’t want to borrow to buy, you might consider fractional ownership. Fractional ownership can also be used when you want to fold a property into a project with its ownership shared across two or more parties; it’s sometimes also used for estate planning. It’s important to note that fractional property ownership is not Timeshare. Fractional property ownership offers a legally-defined share of a physical property whereas Timeshare offers annual trips to visit defined properties through contracts which may be complex and carry restrictive conditions. For more insights to Mexican property, read our continuously-updated guide to Real Estate in Mexico.
Managing your money in Mexico — We publish and continually-update helpful guides to money, currency, and banking services in Mexico. Get a comprehensive overview of Mexico’s money system as well as the banks and banking services available that help to facilitate the commercial interactions you’ll need to engage with while you’re here. Guide to money, finances, and banking services in Mexico.
Springtime Leisure Tours in Mexico
Walking Tours: It’s the perfect time of year to take a walking tour. Our associates in Mexico City and Ajijic/Chapala offer tours to help you discover these places on foot.
Other tours: Our associates can also help with custom tours to experience Mexico’s Copper Canyon on what is one of the world’s most extraordinary train journeys.
If you’re planning ahead for the fall season, consider visiting one of the natural sanctuaries in the oyamel fir tree forests west of Mexico City to experience the phenomenal Monarch Butterflies.
Benefits of a custom made leisure tour
Whether you’re visiting Mexico for a short vacation or living here and seeking to discover more of the the country you’ve adopted as your home, a custom tour enables you to make the most of your leisure time and absorb the experience of the activity instead of grappling with the details and logistics.
We work with travel partners who know Mexico intimately and craft custom tours that offer a distinctive alternative to the banalities of mass tourism. Our section about Custom Tours of Mexico helps you to discover choices and connect with travel specialists who can help you to craft your customized trip.
Mexico Living Essentials
Guides and updates for everyday living & lifestyle in Mexico.
Roadcraft — Browse our extensive insights about driving & road trips in Mexico. Learn about being properly insured for the journey.
Insights and advice for safe and enjoyable road trips across Mexico
Learn about being properly insured when you drive in Mexico to cover liabilities, breakdowns, and medical incidents while you’re on the road. Get a quote now and arrange coverage online.
Immigration & Residency — Mexperience publishes detailed and regularly updated information about residency in Mexico. Learn about how to apply, and how to manage your residency card and status. Obtain tele-assistance or accompanied assistance to help with the procedures and filing.
House & Home — Our guide to Mexico real estate is the most comprehensive you’ll find. When you buy or rent a home here, learn about how to keep it well cared for with our articles about Home Stewardship. Also learn how to keep your dwelling spaces adequately secured and properly insured.
Home insurance can mitigate the costs of loss and damage
A good home insurance policy can mitigate the costs of storm damage to your own property in Mexico, and also cover you for third party damages—if a tree or wall falls into your neighbor’s house or onto the street, for example.
Learn more about choosing a policy for your needs, and get an instant quote online.
Health & Wellbeing — Read tips & insights for health and wellness in Mexico. Learn about health insurance options. Get a quote for private health insurance.
Money & Banking — Our complete and regularly updated guide to money and banking in Mexico helps you to learn about Mexico’s peso, open and manage a local bank account, make money transfers, use bank cards, and deal with everyday financial matters in Mexico.
Insurance coverages for your lifestyle in Mexico
Connect to our insurance associates and get quotes online for essential insurance services that can mitigate the economic effects of unforeseen events and provide practical support through what are often difficult situations.
What to look for in an auto insurance policy for Mexico
Discover More of Mexico
Mexperience accompanies you throughout your journey.
When you’re looking for a new lifestyle in Mexico, Mexperience is with you at every step—from those first key decisions about moving, to settling-in and cultivating a fruitful lifestyle everyday. And when you need time away for leisure and recreation, we help you to discover & arrange meaningful leisure experiences.
| Topic | Mexperience Sections |
| Mexico Lifestyles | Living & Lifestyles Guide | Lifestyle Planning
Living in Mexico | Retirement in Mexico |
| Residency | Routes to Residency | How to Apply |
| House & Home | Mexico Real Estate Guide—Buying, Renting, Owning, Selling |
| Transport & Communications | Driving | Auto Insurance
Flying | Buses | Taxis | Getting Around |
| Leisure & Recreation | Travel Inspiration | Travel Destinations |
| Learning Spanish | Why Spanish? | Spanish in Mexico |
| Assistance | Connect to Helpful Assistance Services |
| Lexica | Explore Mexico A-to-Z |
Drive properly insured in Mexico
Learn about being properly insured when you drive in Mexico to cover liabilities, breakdowns, and medical incidents while you’re on the road.
Home and property insurance
Whether you own or rent a house in Mexico, a home insurance policy can provide essential support in the event of troublesome circumstances including structural damage, floods, burglary, and events that affect third parties. Learn about insurance policies to protect your home in Mexico.
Home insurance: Get an online quote and arrange instant coverage.
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