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.
Living & Lifestyle insights for September
Insights and tips for better living & lifestyle in Mexico
Mexico celebrates its independence in September
By late August, vendors are out on busy street corners selling flags and other patriotic paraphernalia, heralding that Mexico’s Independence Day, one of the country’s most important holidays, is on the horizon. Mexico’s independence is traditionally celebrated with El Grito on the eve of September 15th and September 16th is a Public Holiday. This year, the 15th falls on Monday and that will likely create an unofficial extended long-weekend holiday for many, colloquially referred to as a puente.
Postal deliveries from Mexico to the United States suspended
Correos de México, the country’s national mail service, has “temporarily suspended” the sending of post to the United States, citing new tariff rules that made the customs-treatment of packages unclear. The SRE, Mexico’s equivalent of the US State Department, put out a press statement about the matter, and various media are running stories. In a related article published by El Economista, DHL was quoted as saying that documents and packages containing personal gifts valued at less that US$100 were unaffected. Check with your local post office or courier if you intend to send documents or parcels from the Mexico to the USA.
Seasonal changes
This year’s rain season, that affects much of the country’s mainland, has been especially abundant, and storms continue to drench the landscape. September tends to be one of the wettest months of the year across the mainland. The autumn equinox this month heralds the seasonal turning point as the halcyon days of summer yield to fall’s changeable climate. Sweltering summer temperatures along the coastal plains begin to moderate, and some living in the mountain highlands may begin to swap summer shorts for warmer attire, especially during early mornings and late evenings that become noticeably cooler starting in October.
Applying for Permanent Residency in Mexico
Several readers who are not retired have recently contacted us asking about applying for Permanent Residency in Mexico. Mexican consulates require that applicants applying for Permanent Residency be of retirement age/drawing a pension to qualify. If you don’t qualify for Permanent Residency right away, you can apply for Temporary Residency first and, after holding that for four consecutive years, you may apply to change it for Permanent Residency.
Learn or improve your Spanish this autumn
When you’re living in Mexico, or if you plan to make Mexico a part of your lifestyle plans in the future, learning or improving your Spanish language skills will give you deeper access to the culture and make your everyday experiences more meaningful. Our Spanish language associates offer online lessons customized to your language-learning goals.
Shopping for food in Mexico
Mexico’s cuisine is varied, colorful, and bursting with flavor, although when living abroad most people at least occasionally enjoy having a ‘taste of home.’ Mexico offers plenty of choice when it comes to shopping for food and other things and in addition to a wide range of open-air markets, big brand retailers, and budget stores, Mexico also offers specialist retail supermarkets that stock fancy foods and goods, including imported items that you won’t find elsewhere.
Applying for and managing your Mexico residency card
If you intend to apply for the first time (or re-apply), our guide to applying for residency in Mexico gives a detailed summary of the process. If you already have your residency card, learn about the renewal rules and process for residency cards. If your residency card has expired, read this. If your card is lost or damaged, read this.
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.
The Monarch butterflies return in the autumn
Mexico is host to the extraordinary Monarch Butterflies that migrate each year from the northern reaches of the continent to overwinter in the Oyamel fir tree forests situated in the mountains west of Mexico City. A visit to the butterfly sanctuaries is a highlight of any visit to Mexico during the late autumn and winter months. The butterflies begin arriving in November, and leave in March. Peak viewing season is between mid-January and late February. Our travel associate can help you to make the most of your visit to see the butterflies this season.
Arrange Insurance for Your Vehicle in Mexico
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.
Residency cards for minors
Mexico has special rules for residency cards issued to minors—legally defined as children under the age of 18 years. The rules are described in detail in this article, although essentially:
- children under 3 years of age are given temporary or permanent residency cards for one year at a time, and these must be renewed in Mexico annually; and
- children between the ages of 3 and 17 years are issued with temporary or permanent residency cards for a maximum of 4 years at a time and must renew them in Mexico; and further note that
- children under 18 years of age holding permanent residency cards must renew these as above. When they turn 18, their permanent residency will become indefinite and the card will no longer expire or need to be renewed.
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
Wind storms and power cuts
Months of seasonal change, particularly around the spring and autumn, can bring sudden wind storms which can appear from nowhere and they, coupled with torrential rainstorms, can cause local power cuts. Our article about dealing with electrical power cuts in Mexico shares insights and practical advice.
Thinking about a move to Mexico?
Regardless of what stage you’re at in your thinking and planning about a potential move to Mexico, Mexperience helps you to make considered choices and informed decisions about moving here, settling-in, and cultivating a fruitful and wholesome lifestyle. Start here, with an introduction to our relocation and lifestyle guides and discover our extensive articles that help you explore options and make considered choices.
Selling a house in Mexico
There are important matters to take into consideration when you intend to sell your house in Mexico, including how to value your home, how to promote it to potential buyers, and the costs & taxes involved. The procedures for selling a house are similar to that of buying one, and you ought to get acquainted with the role of the Notary Public and realty agent.
Property and Real Estate in Mexico
Our extensive and continually updated guide to real estate in Mexico provides insights for buyers, owners, sellers, and renters.
Tips for choosing a home insurance policy. Get an instant quote online.
Learn about working with realty agents and find an agent to work with.
Consider having your property transaction independently examined.
Discover other professional service providers.
Comprehensive guide to living & lifestyles
Our extensive guide to living & lifestyles offers valuable insights when you’re exploring prospects for living, working, retirement and cultivating your lifestyle in Mexico. Get practical advice, incisive local knowledge, and meaningful guidance that helps you to discover opportunities, consider your choices, make informed decisions, and connect to helpful resources. Our guide to living & lifestyles in Mexico is continually updated and, like all guides and articles on Mexperience, it’s completely free to access.
Summertime Leisure Tours in Mexico
Vibrant colors in the Copper Canyon
Summer is peak season in the canyons, as the rains bring growth, color, fragrance, and vibrancy to this most remarkable natural landscape. Take an extraordinary train journey through Mexico’s Copper Canyon to experience dramatic landscapes and absorb breath-taking natural scenery.
Plan ahead for the autumn
For those planning ahead to the fall season, consider arranging your tour to see the Monarch butterflies—that will begin to arrive in Mexico during November.
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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