Living & Lifestyle

Mexico Newsletter —
January 2024

New Year traditions; The dry winter season begins; Meeting whales and butterflies, Minimum wage and residency qualification; Calculating living costs in Mexico

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Your monthly Mexico newsletter is filled with inspiration, meaningful knowledge, helpful connections, and tips for better living, lifestyle, and leisure in Mexico.

Lifestyle & Living insights for January

Insights and tips for better living & lifestyle in Mexico.

New Year Celebrations — The festive period known as Guadalupe-Reyes, that began on December 12th, draws to a close early in the New Year.  January 6th, Dia de Los Reyes Magos —Kings’ Day, or Epiphany— marks the close of the festivities, on an evening traditionally accompanied with family, delicious Rosca de Reyes and a mug of hot chocolate.

Residency Qualification — Mexico’s minimum daily wage increased by 20% for 2024 and with it, the income or savings/investments required to qualify for residency in Mexico. Our associates doubt that Mexican Consulates will adopt UMA; if they do, the financial criteria required to qualify for residency would fall sharply.  We’ll update the financial qualification criteria as soon as more information becomes available during January 2024.

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance and practical support with a Mexico residency permit application, renewal, exchange, or troubleshooting—our associates can help.  The service saves you time and helps avoid common mistakes made by applicants.

Our associates offer tele-assistance and accompanied assistance.  Learn more about the services and make a request.

Accompanied Assistance — For many years, our associates have provided tele-assistance to readers who need help with immigration procedures. We now also refer you to associates who can provide accompanied immigration assistance at selected locations including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Chapala, Puerto & Nuevo Vallarta, and Mérida.

Seasonal Changes — The rain season extended well into November this year, and even December was wetter than usual in many parts. As the year unfolds, the dry season is making itself apparent—and we have tips for living well in the absence of rain.

The Monarch Butterfly season is here

The Monarch Butterflies overwinter in the Oyamel fir tree forests situated in the mountains west of Mexico City. Our travel associate can help you plan your visit.

Agreeable Winters — The winter months offer generally agreeable climates in Mexico but cold fronts can bring snaps of cooler or chilled weather especially in the highlands. Learn about places that can get cold in Mexico during the fall & winter, and how to keep your home warm in these months of the year.

Living costs in and out of retirement — If you’re thinking about retirement, Mexperience offers detailed insights about how to retire in Mexico. People often ask about how much money retirees need in Mexico. As well as covering that, we offer guides and insights to help you calculate the cost of living here, whether you’re retired or not.

Discover essential insights into lifestyles around Lake Chapala

Join a program carefully designed and customized for people thinking about moving or retiring to the Lake Chapala area. The program material provides essential knowledge as you make your transition, regardless of where in Mexico you eventually decide to live.

Learn more: Online and Lakeside events starting Jan & Feb 2024

Winter Leisure Time in Mexico

The winter months offer an ideal opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy Mexico’s outstanding natural habitats.

Whale Watching Season — Many dream of meeting a whale and feeling its majestic presence nearby, and this tour opens an opportunity for you and your family and friends to realize that encounter in a way that respects nature and the whales themselves as they frolic in the natural habitat where they arrived to give birth to their progeny.  The Whale Watching season is short, January to March each year and advance planning is essential.

Experience the Monarch Butterflies — The Monarch Butterflies have returned to the Oyamel fir tree forests situated in the mountains west of Mexico City, and if you’ve been intending to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon (or return to see it again!) our travel associate can help you plan your visit.

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.

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

Tips for arranging home insurance coverage in Mexico

Health cover: review your options for healthcare in Mexico

Visiting or living here part-time? Medical evacuation may help

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

Cost of Living | Money & Finances

Health & Wellbeing

Residency Routes to Residency | How to Apply

Managing Your Card & Status

Get Assistance

House & Home Mexico Real Estate Guide—Buying, Renting, Owning, Selling

Home Stewardship | Home Life

Home Maintenance & Security | Home Insurance

Transport & Communications Driving | Auto Insurance

Flying | Buses | Taxis | Getting Around

Wifi & Internet | Telephones

Leisure & Recreation Travel Inspiration | Travel Destinations

Custom Tours

Driving & Road Trips | Car Rental

Learning Spanish Why Spanish? | Spanish in Mexico

PinPoint Spanish Series

Language Courses

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.

Get a quote now and arrange coverage online

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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