Mexico Newsletter —
December 2021

Mexperience Mexico Newsletter — December 2021

December highlights in Mexico

As the final storms of the rainy season peter out, gardeners across Mexico are recommencing their weekly watering routines to keep plants from drying out in the gardens, and on patios and terraces as we enter the dry season.

The fall clock changes have created an exchange from ‘lighter evenings’ to ‘lighter mornings’ although as this article about Mexico’s long daylight hours describes, you’ll enjoy plenty of daylight through the winter and the quality of the light here is extraordinary.  Fall will yield to winter on December 21st.

Christmas preparations are underway. The festivity period known in Mexico as Guadalupe-Reyes will begin on December 12th, Día de Guadalupe, and end on January 6th, Dia de Los Reyes Magos.  This month’s newsletter helps you to learn about preparing for and enjoying Christmas and New Year in Mexico.

Two significant recent developments from Mexico’s immigration institute include a change to the pattern of time granted to visitors arriving in Mexico using a FMM (visitor permit), and the extension of a special program that allows some people with expired FMMs to apply to exchange these for temporary residency.  Further details are shared in the articles and in the updates below.

The Monarch Butterflies are arriving to overwinter in the mountains west of Mexico City, and now’s the time to make plans: learn about the butterflies and contact our travel associate if you’d like to arrange an excursion to one of the sanctuaries.

As the year draws to a close, we’re making preparations to publish the 2022 editions of our Mexico eBooks —all available free— and we’re also at work composing additional titles for the new year.

If you’re driving your foreign-plated car to Mexico this winter, remember to cancel your vehicle’s import permit (TIP) when you leave, and ensure that your vehicle is adequately covered by auto insurance that’s valid in Mexico.

We wish you a very cheerful Christmas holiday season and a New Year filled with joy and abundance.

Mexico lifestyle & leisure

Our guides and articles to living and lifestyle help you to explore and realize your lifestyle plans and we also help you to discover leisure opportunities in Mexico.

Christmas in Mexico

• Learn about preparing for Christmas and New Year in Mexico
• Dia de Guadalupe heralds the start of the end-of-year festivities in Mexico.
• Enjoying Mexican party foods at Christmastime
• Posadas Navideñas are an integral and essential part of Christmas traditions in Mexico.
• Colorful piñatas are an essential component of every Christmas party in Mexico.
• Discover the Mexican Christmas experience and festivities
• How the New Year is traditionally welcomed in Mexico.
• Kings’ Day gifts, delicious loaf, and the baby doll that determines who hosts the tamales party in February.
• Learn all about Christmas in Mexico on our feature section.

Immigration updates

Planning note: Immigration offices in Mexico will be closed starting December 18th and will reopen on Monday, January 3rd.  Mexican consulates abroad will be closed December 24th, (25th), and 31st; and reopen on Monday January 3rd.

• The way visitors are admitted to Mexico is changing in regard to the amount of time granted to stay under auspice of a visitor permit (FMM)
• A special procedure exists that allows people in some circumstances with expired FMMs to apply for temporary residency
• This article about routes to obtaining residency in Mexico describes the principal ways you can apply for residency here
• Our latest articles about residency in Mexico keep you apprised of current situations including financial criteria, fees, routes to residency, procedures, and FAQs
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide encapsulates everything you need to know about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

Locations to live in Mexico

• When you’re short-listing potential locations to live in, our section about places to live in Mexico offers you local knowledge that helps you to discover potential locations, as well as local insights that can help you make informed choices.
• Our Places to Live locations guides offer you insights and practical information about specific locations.
• When you’re seeking to buy a home in Mexico, our Home Finders associates can help.

Living well in Mexico

• When you’re short-listing potential locations to live in, our section about places to live in Mexico offers you local knowledge that helps you to discover potential locations, as well as local insights that can help you make informed choices.
• Mexico offers plenty of year-round daylight—regardless of the clock changes in the spring and fall—and the light here is also outstanding.
• Fall yields to winter in Mexico on December 21.  Our article about winter climates describes what to expect and where to find extra warmth this time of year.
• If you live in Mexico, don’t forget to pay the aguinaldos —the annual Christmas bonus— to anyone who helps you at home, e.g. maids, gardeners, regular delivery people, among others.
• Mexican cell phone plans offer unlimited calling and generous data allowances across Mexico, the US, and Canada—it’s never been more affordable to keep in touch.
• Hot coasts, cool colonial cities: practical advice about short-listing locations in Mexico that offer a climate you’ll feel comfortable living in through the seasons.
• Whether your tap water is drink-able in Mexico depends on several factors; most people use filtered or bottled water, some are confident drinking tap water.
• Our summary of insurance services in Mexico helps you to consider coverages that can support your lifestyle here and mitigate the costs caused by unforeseen mishaps.

Property matters

• Often overlooked, third party liabilities related to your Mexican property can be mitigated with adequate insurance cover.
• When you’re seeking to buy a home in Mexico, our Home Finders associates can help.
• Download our comprehensive free eBooks to Real Estate in Mexico and working with Realty Agents in Mexico.

Your leisure time

• The Monarch Butterflies begin to arrive in Mexico this month.  Peak viewing season is mid January to late February, and the butterflies begin to depart in early March.  Learn about the Monarch Butterflies in Mexico. Our associate can help you to visit one of the butterfly sanctuaries on a custom tour.
• Wherever you stay in Acapulco, some exploration around the old part of this port city is worthwhile, and reveals why it was so popular in its heyday.
• Christmas and New Year is one of the most important holiday periods in Mexico.
• December 25 and January 1 are public holidays in Mexico. December 12, Día de Guadalupe, is an important festivity day, but not a public holiday.

Driving in Mexico this winter

• Mexperience offers a wide range of articles and resources that will help you to plan your road trip in Mexico.
• Our article about bringing your foreign-plated car to Mexico covers key points you need to know, and our article on Temporary Import Permits (TIPs) shares valuable information about ensuring your vehicle remains legal here.
• Don’t forget to insure your vehicle before you cross the border as your US or Canadian policy won’t cover you for third party liabilities.

Spanish language study

• Spanish has three different words for “but,” and learning how to apply each one in different situations gives you additional flexibility in your conversations.
• Our insightful PinPoint Spanish series helps you to get acquainted with the nuances of Mexican Spanish in everyday situations.

Mexico Assistance Services

Connect to helpful Mexico Assistance Services that enable you to realize your Mexico plans.

IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE

• When you need help applying for residency, or help renewing your existing residency permit (or working through a ‘regularization’ procedure after a mishap), consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service, that offers detailed consultancy, personalized advice, and practical help through the process.

MEXICO EBOOKS LIBRARY

• Our Mexico eBooks Library offers you a collection of carefully composed eBooks with helpful insights and local knowledge about Mexico—all titles are offered as free downloads.

INSURANCE COVERAGES

• Learn about the range of Mexico-related insurance services that exist to mitigate the effect and expense of unforeseen events and mishaps when you’re here including auto, home, health and trip coverages.
• Our extensive guides and articles about insurance help you to make informed choices.

REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE

• When you’re seeking to buy a home to buy in Mexico, our Home Finders associates can help.
• Mexico Home Life highlights remarkable residential properties for sale in Mexico.
• Learn about insuring your home in Mexico.
• Help with closings on your Mexican property.

LANGUAGE STUDY

• Improve your Spanish conversation capabilities with this online course tailored to current skill level and goals.
• For an immersive experience, attend a Spanish school in Mexico, where small classes and personalized attention will boost your learning.
• If you want to improve your Spanish specifically for living in Mexico, this language for lifestyle course can help.

LIFESTYLE ASSISTANCE

• Find services that help you to discover, plan, and arrange your living & lifestyle plans in Mexico.

LEISURE ASSISTANCE

• Find services that help you to discover, plan, and arrange leisure & travel experiences in Mexico.

More Mexperience

Explore Mexico beyond the cookie-cutter and find experiences to enjoy that reflect the true spirit of Mexico.

Discover Mexico through articles and features written by people who know Mexico intimately.

When you’re considering Mexico as a place to live or retire, the knowledge we share helps you to create a plan, and we’ll connect you with helpful lifestyle services and property choices.

When you want to discover Mexico on leisure a trip that’s defined by authenticity, we highlight choices to explore and we can help you to plan your trip.

Matthew Harrup is founder and editor of Mexperience