The small and charming colonial town of Comala in the state of Colima rests at the foot of the active ‘Volcán de Fuego’ volcano.  The region has a subtropical climate with a pronounced backdrop of lush vegetation and flora that provide warmth and color all year round.

Living in Comala, near the state capital of Colima

Comala offers semi-rural living in Mexico, off the beaten path, and ideal for foreign residents seeking a place to live that offers an authentic Mexican experience where you can fully immerse yourself in local culture and cultivate a traditional lifestyle integrated within welcoming and friendly communities.

This countryside idyll is situated just 20 minutes by road from the capital city of Colima; about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara —Mexico’s second largest city— and approximately 90-minute drive east of the commercial port and resort town of Manzanillo—on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

When you’re looking for a place that’s far removed from the usual locations potential foreign residents tend to shortlist, amidst a rural idyll with easy access to urban services and amenities and good transport links, Comala can provide a countryside lifestyle amidst one of the most fertile and colorful regions of Mexico

Discovering Comala and environs

The main town of Comala hosts a population of approximately 9,600 residents with a catchment area of approximately 21,600 around the wider municipality. (2020 Census.)

As with many rural towns in Mexico, the main square in Comala is the focal point and primary meeting space for people visiting and living here.  People arrive in town to enjoy food at the traditional botaneros, a collection of restaurants located on the southern side of the main square, tucked under the arches, where patrons choose from a range of traditional regional “tapas.” The tapas are complimentary with the purchase of alcoholic drinks.

Local beverages and refreshment

Comala is well-known for its traditional beverage, called ponche, a water or milk based alcoholic drink, similar to pulque, that blends a variety of fruits and nuts together to create unique and delicious flavors. You can stroll along the streets and walk into a ponche shop to ask for a free tasting; you can take refreshment of a single drink, or bottles to take home with you.

The state of Colima is also one of Mexico’s coffee growing and producing regions.  Coffee plants are cultivated along the slopes of the volcano, where a combination of dark, fertile soils and higher elevation above sea level combine to produce remarkable coffee beans. Cafés and restaurants in town stock a variety of locally harvested and roasted coffees that you can taste and enjoy.

Sweet bread pastries

Another long-standing tradition in Comala is the baking of sweet pastries, known in Spanish as pan dulce.  The town is home to numerous bakeries, which bake and sell an ample selection of sweet breads and pastries seven days a week.

These are typically eaten with coffee as part of breakfast, or as a snack during the day, and the bakeries tend to get busy in the evenings just before sundown, as families attend to buy a selection of breads for their evening supper, perhaps accompanied with locally produced coffee.

Surrounding areas and elevation

While the town of Comala is the primary focal point for meeting, trade and commerce, the wider municipality of Comala offers much more for visitors and residents to explore and enjoy in the surrounding areas.

If you’d prefer to live in a more temperate year-round climate (at higher elevation) you can consider acquiring a countryside home nearer to the volcano, where the elevation rises, and daytime temperatures cool, making it more comfortable for those who don’t enjoy the subtropical heat that is prevalent here at lower elevations.

Some people who live in the city of Colima have a country home situated on the slopes of the volcano and repair to the house at weekends to enjoy nature, a temperately comfortable climate, and delicious regional food and drink.

Comala’s higher elevation also offers a more temperate climate than that offered in the city of Colima. (The higher you climb up towards the volcano, the cooler the climate becomes—it’s also wetter there during the rainy season).

Undiscovered region, ‘off the beaten track’

Comala (and the nearby city of Colima) are host to a small community of foreign residents; however, unlike nearby Lake Chapala, where the conurbation of foreign residents is quite concentrated in one area, the expats that live here are spread out across the region and are usually integrated into the local communities and neighborhoods where they choose to live.

Most of the foreign residents who choose this region of Mexico to live tend to prefer the gentler and more serene lifestyle of Comala, using the city of Colima for essential services and amenities that are not available in the countryside.

Inconspicuous living in Mexico’s mountains

This region of Mexico tends to attract foreign residents who don’t necessarily want to form part of a distilled “expat enclave.”  Most of the foreign residents living in Comala and environs live quiet and unassuming mountain lifestyle lives amidst the traditional neighborhoods of towns and villages in the area.

Notwithstanding this inconspicuous approach, local interest groups do exist and there are always some foreign residents willing to help and provide guidance and support to newcomers in the area.

Spanish language skills needed

It’s worth noting that as this region has not been ‘discovered’ by many foreign residents, you will need to invest in your language skills to negotiate daily life here: speaking Spanish is essential to get by day-to-day.

Unlike popular enclaves including Ajijic and Puerto Vallarta where English is widely used and spoken (and some foreign residents get by speaking only in English), in Comala and environs you will need to speak some Spanish.

Cost of Living in Comala and environs

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower than it is the USA, Canada, and Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

One of the attractions that Comala offers to foreign residents thinking of relocating to this region is the low-cost of everyday living here. As this region has not experienced a large influx of foreign residents (and foreign capital), prices —including rents and house prices— have not inflated as they have in areas that are popular with foreign residents, and the local economy is very much a ‘pesos’ economy not a ‘dollar’ economy.

Prices for everyday goods at local shops, markets, and supermarkets in Comala are in line with, or in some cases a little less expensive than prices in Mexico generally.

The city of Colima and surrounding areas is well served by local stores, including several Wal-Marts, Home Depot, and within easy access to a wide range of modern shopping amenities including big stores that are popular with foreign residents, like Sam’s Club.

Specialist retailers that stock imported goods are not easily found in the region, and for these types of items a trip to Guadalajara or Chapala will be necessary; although some goods might be available for purchase online, with home delivery available.

Further insight about living costs in Mexico

Connect to resources about the cost of living:

• To learn more about the cost of living in Mexico, download our free Mexico Cost of Living guide from the eBooks Library here on Mexperience.
• Latest articles about money
• Mexico’s currency

Real Estate in Comala and environs

Most foreign residents who come to this region choose to buy a home, although it makes sense to rent something for a while if you are unfamiliar with the area.

House rentals in Comala

The rental market in Comala can be complicated, and although it’s not impossible to find something that may suit your needs, rental options are limited, especially for furnished homes.

Because this region doesn’t have a local market that caters to a constant stream of foreign and other transitory residents (seasonal or full-time), you’ll need to exercise some creativity regarding how you search for and find a home rental here.

Real estate agents can be helpful, although word-of-mouth and forging contacts and allies locally is often a better way to find the best rental properties.  Finding a place to rent in Comala may be a challenge that will require you to exercise patience; you might need to rent something short term in the city of Colima while you search locally in Comala for a long-term rental.

House purchase in Comala

Comala has, for a long time, been a popular ‘escape hatch’ for people and families living the city of Colima; thus, some residents in the capital purchase homes in the nearby countryside to repair to at weekends and during school holidays.

As a result, houses for sale in Comala have always traded at a relative premium to those situated in other parts of the state of Colima.  (Similar to how rents and house prices in Tepoztlán trade at a premium to other parts of Morelos state.)

Over the last decade, land and property prices have increased substantially, especially along to road that leads up towards the volcano—although prices remain lower than sized-equivalents in places like Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, and Manzanillo.

The advantage of purchasing a home in Comala is that the range of available properties is far more plentiful than rental properties.  A local real estate agent will be able to provide a list of current inventory and prices—you can also search Mexico’s main property portals online for currently advertised inventory.

Principal neighborhoods around Comala and Colima City

These are the principal areas where foreign residents typically buy or rent homes in the Comala/Colima City area:

Comala: Nogueras- Suchitlan- Cofradia de Suchitlan

Colima City: The newest neighborhoods, and ones where families and retired couples tend to live, are to be found on the north side of the city; the most popular include: Residenciales Esmeralda, Santa Fé, Las Lagunas, Santa Barbara, and Altozano.

See also: The charms and compromises of living in the Mexican countryside.

Learn more about real estate in Mexico

Mexperience offers lots of local insight about property in Mexico:

• Download our free guide to Real Estate in Mexico from the Mexico eBooks Library here on Mexperience
• Browse all our free eBooks about real estate and property
• Learn about property rentals in Mexico
• Latest articles about property and real estate in Mexico

How to access Comala and the city of Colima

Comala and the capital city of Colima are readily accessible by intercity roads as well as two regional airports.

By Air: The state of Colima has two airports. The Playa del Oro International Airport that offers domestic and international flights, located in the municipality of Manzanillo (about a 90-minute drive from Comala and the city of Colima). The second is Miguel de la Madrid Airport, offering domestic connections and a limited number of international flights—it’s situated about a 20-minute drive from Comala and the city of Colima.

By Bus: The region’s principal bus terminal, the Central de Autobuses is situated in the capital city of Colima and offers transportation by bus to/from major and smaller cities in the country. Colima’s bus terminal also offers connections between the capital city and local towns and villages in the region; however, traveling by bus to Comala requires you to make a change-over to a second bus as there is no direct buses from the capital city to Comala.

By Taxi (or private car): Local cabs are plentiful and affordable.  A cab ride from the Colima airport to Comala costs about MX$500; and MX$300 from the central bus station.  The trip takes 20-30 minutes, depending on local traffic conditions

Healthcare services in Comala and environs

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services are offered through private hospitals in the nearby city of Colima—about a 20-minute drive away.  There are no substantial healthcare services available in Comala, except for local emergency/clinic services that offer limited scope of healthcare assistance.

The city of Guadalajara (about 2-hour drive from the city of Colima) offers the most extensive range of medical services and healthcare specialists in this region of Mexico.

Hospitals and clinics: The area offers two private hospitals, both situated in the city of Colima, which offer “tier 3” facilities (almost all services) with emergencies, lab work and care provided.  You will need to be insured or pay out of pocket to use these.  See this related Mexico insurance options article for details about coverage choices.

Doctors: The city of Colima is well served by doctors. However, there is no guarantee that they all speak English. Finding an interpreter for medical issues is key. These doctors can refer you to local (public and private) clinics, specialists, and hospitals.

Dentists: There are plenty of dentists to choose from in the area; ask locally for a recommendation. You might need to take an interpreter with you.

Opticians: There are several optometrists available offering eye tests, treatments and some also offer laser surgery.  Ask locally for details.

Learn more about healthcare in Mexico

You may find these resources on Mexperience helpful:

• Health and medical insurance options in Mexico
• Health and well-being in Mexico
• Travel health in Mexico

Local climate and natural environment in Comala

The climate in Comala and Colima is hotter and more humid than places situated inland at higher elevations, for example, Guadalajara and Chapala.  However, areas around the town of Comala near the volcano enjoy a more temperate year-round climate, especially along the slopes of the volcano which are situated at a higher elevation than the town center.

Annual temperatures

65F / 18.5C (Nocturnal average, year-round); 86F / 30C (Daytime average, year-round). See temperatures in Comala area by month (Google)

Rainy season

The rainy season in the Comala and Colima region typically runs from mid-late June to late October each year.

Hurricanes

Comala and Colima City are about a 90-minute drive from the coast; however, the Sierra Madre Occidental (Western Mountain Chains) helps to protect the region from some of the effects of hurricanes that land on the nearby Pacific coast. Due to its close proximity to the coast, the inland areas of Colima state remain susceptible to the effects of hurricanes—most commonly manifests with heavy rainfall and localized flooding in some areas of the region.

Volcanic region

The Volcán de Colima, also known as the “Volcán de Fuego” is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. This means that periodically, when the volcano goes into a period of activity, there may be occasional ash or vapor exhalations, including occasional eruptions. Historical records from the Spanish colonies indicate that Comala and Colima City have never been evacuated nor suffered any destruction or damages from past large eruptions. The last significant activity of eruptions were recorded between 2013- 2017.

Earthquakes

The entire state of Colima is susceptible to potentially large earthquakes, along with most of the western edge of the North American continent.

Further insights about weather and climate:

• Comala monthly temperatures and rainfall (Google)
• Seasons in Mexico
• Climate and weather in Mexico

Comala & environs essentials

Connect to practical information and gain insights about living and lifestyle in Comala and environs:

Comala articles and guides

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Airports serving Comala

The state of Colima has two airports. The Playa del Oro International Airport that offers domestic and international flights, located in the municipality of Manzanillo (about a 90-minute drive from Comala and the city of Colima). The second is Miguel de la Madrid Airport, offering domestic connections and a limited number of international flights—it’s situated about a 20-minute drive from Comala and the city of Colima.

Comala on the map

Explore Comala and Colima on Google maps

Getting around Mexico

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications in Mexico

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Money and banking services in Mexico

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• Free eBook guide to Money and Banking Services in Mexico
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• Driving and road trips in Mexico
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The lakeside towns of Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec are situated about an hour’s drive south of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city.  These lakeside colonial towns are home to one of the largest concentrations of foreign residents anywhere in Mexico.  Attractions of the location include an ideal year-round climate, easy access to Guadalajara’s amenities and international airport, and a long-established populace of foreign residents who organize a wide range of social and cultural events in the locality.

Living in Lake Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec

Situated at elevation on the shores of Mexico’s largest lake, Lake Chapala, the towns of Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec are home to the largest concentration of American and Canadian residents anywhere in Mexico.  Although the population increases during the winter season, many foreign residents make this their primary year-round home.

Discovering Lake Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec

Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec are small Mexican colonial towns situated on the northern shoreline of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake.  The area is conveniently situated about an hour’s drive from the southside of Guadalajara —Mexico’s second largest city— and is also close to Guadalajara’s international airport.

The ‘Lake Chapala area’ encompasses the towns of Chapala and nearby towns of Ajijic (about a 20-30 minute drive, depending on traffic) and, further west along the north lakeside, the small town of Jocotepec (about a 45-60 minute drive from Chapala) that has begun to experience a higher influx of foreign residents of late.

The area became popular in the early 20th century when Mexico’s former president Porfirio Diaz vacationed here, and famous writer DH Lawrence wrote his notable work, The Plumed Serpent, while staying in Chapala.

After the revolutionary war, transport connections were improved with a train line (now closed; the old station has been turned into a cultural center) and today the area is made easily accessible by road highways that connect the towns to each other and to the nearby city of Guadalajara.  The region’s main airport is conveniently situated 20 miles (about a 30-minute drive) north of the town of Chapala, and offers regular flights to Mexico City and various US cities. Check FlightConnections.com for current routes.

Chapala

Chapala is a popular weekend get-away destination for Tapatios, as people from Guadalajara are known.  The town’s lakeshore district is characterized by it bandstand, scenic pier, and local cafés and restaurants; boat rides depart from here to take tourists to some of the islands on the lake, including Isla de los Alacranes (Scorpion Island) that offers sight-seeing and a place to sit and enjoy a meal.  Chapala is the first lakeside town you’ll encounter as you drive south from Guadalajara and the airport and is also where the area’s principal bus station is situated.  Chapala becomes particularly busy during the weekends as well as during long holiday weekends.

Ajijic

About a 20-30 minute drive west from Chapala (depends on local traffic) is the picturesque town of Ajijic.  This is the best known of all the lakeside towns, and tends to be the one most sought-after by foreign residents considering a move to the area.  Its picturesque streets, cobbled alleyways, pleasant plazas, and agreeable treelined boardwalk along the lakeside offer an environment that is quintessentially colonial Mexico coupled with Anglicized stores and restaurants.  Combined, these two worlds fuse into an attractive environment that provides the picturesque feel of a traditional colonial Mexican town with the comforts and amenities of an American one.

One of the striking features of the town is the proliferation of street and mural artworks that can be found throughout Ajijic.  The presence of this artwork sprang from the 1954 Children’s Art Program at Lake Chapala Society (see community, below, for more information about the LCS).  The town also makes efforts to recognize and celebrate writers and artists which you can discover and read about on local historian Tony Burton’s website, Lake Chapala Artists.

Jocotepec

“Joco,” as it’s referred to locally, is the western-most lakeside town along the north shore of Lake Chapala. Far fewer foreign residents live here than in neighboring Ajijic and Chapala, although as property prices have soared in established neighborhoods, potential new residents looking for lower-priced homes or rents, as well as those who seek a town near to Ajijic but with less concentration of foreign residents, may consider Jocotepec as a potential alternative.  Joco serves as a mid-point between the social and cultural attractions in Ajijic and Chapala and the growing assortment of modern services and stores in southwest Guadalajara, including CostCo, readily accessible from Jocotepec via highways 15 and 80.

Long-established community of foreign residents

The Lake Chapala area, with the main towns of Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec (and smaller enclaves including Riberas del Pilar, La Floresta, San Antonio, and San Juan Cosalá) is the most comprehensively developed of all the popular regions where foreign residents live in Mexico.  Like San Miguel de Allende, the unfolding of this locality as a foreign resident enclave happened over many decades, and was brought about through a series of organic events and situations which, together over time, cultivated a community of people with common interests and lifestyle priorities.  It is this long-established group of foreign residents who have arrived and become actively involved in the care and development of the communities they live among that has formed the Lake Chapala areas as they have become today.

For potential foreign residents seeking a place to live in Mexico, the lakeside villages offer a ‘turn-key’ lifestyle location that combines the idyllic characteristics of Mexico with familiar tones and behaviors of Anglicized culture, including an immediate community people speaking English as their principal or strong second language.

Perfect year-round climate

One of the biggest attractions for foreign residents living in the Lake Chapala area is the near-perfect climate that this region offers.  Situated at over 5,000 feel above sea level and settled alongside a natural lake, the locality offers all of the benefits of living in a mountain climate.

You don’t need to spend money keeping warm in the winter, and unlike living at the beach, you don’t need to spend money on expensive air-conditioning to keep cool during the summer months.  The year-round temperate climate provides ideal living conditions for indoor and outdoor activities.  You can learn more about the climate and weather in Lake Chapala in the section below.

Strong local community

The Lake Chapala area has what is probably the best organized and most highly developed local community of foreign residents anywhere in Mexico.  This has come about through decades of dedication by foreign residents who arrived and took an active interest in the local community and environs.

The lion’s share of the community efforts are spearheaded and coordinated by The Lake Chapala Society, headquartered in Ajijic, with arts and cultural activities led by the Lakeside Little Theatre company.

Residents who come to live in the area tend to become actively involved in social, cultural and altruistic activities, all of which contribute to the growth and strength of the local community spirit that exists here.  For newcomers, the Lake Chapala Society provides an immediate connection to local people, activities and events; and for long-term residents the society serves a foundation and focal point for the ongoing development of local community interests.

Unique and not easily compared

There is nowhere else in Mexico like Lake Chapala; other small towns that aspire to become ‘meccas’ for foreign residents (for the investment and energy they bring) talk about ’emulating the model,’ but the truth is that the Lake Chapala area (and Ajijic in particular) evolved over many decades as people attracted to the locale streamed in naturally and made unique contributions —some significant, others quite small but cooperatively important— in ways that cannot be forced or brought about in short time scales for the expediency of creating a new lifestyle destination.

This is not an ideal destination for everyone who wants to forge a new lifestyle in Mexico, and like anywhere else it’s worth taking time to consider your needs and priorities, but towns around Lake Chapala offer a comfortable and agreeable situation, especially for people who want to combine Mexico’s atmosphere and its physical environment (e.g. climate, food, architecture) with the immediate presence of a familiar Anglo culture that has formed over decades right on the doorstep in the form of social, cultural, and educational events and facilities.  The lakeside area’s proximity to an international airport is also a big pull for foreign residents with family and/or business ties in the US and Canada.

Cost of Living in Lake Chapala & environs

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower than it is the USA, Canada and Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Living or retiring in the Lake Chapala area is more affordable than in the US and Canada and Europe; however, it is among the more expensive places in Mexico to live, in part to due to the steady demand from foreign residents for property and services here, and the fact that some elements of the local economy (especially rents and house prices) are effectively dollarized—see real estate, below, for details.

Prices for everyday goods at local shops, supermarkets, and everyday services like telephony and utilities are in line with prices everywhere else in Mexico.

The Lake Chapala area is well served with local stores, including a large Wal-Mart, and within an hour’s drive residents have access to a wide range of modern shopping amenities including big stores like CostCo and Sam’s Club that are popular with foreign residents, as well as specialist retailers that stock imported goods which are not easily found in Mexico.

Real Estate in Lake Chapala & environs

The Lake Chapala area offers a wide range of home options to suit all tastes and budgets; from small rustic casitas to large homes built into the upper levels of the nearby mountainside offering breathtaking views across the lake.  Most foreign residents who are attracted to Lake Chapala and can afford it will rent or buy a home in Ajijic proper (and a range of price levels exists within the town itself, depending on the locale and type of property); Chapala is the second most popular locale with foreign residents; and Jocotepec, the western-most town on the north shore, is the location in this area with the least concentration of foreign residents and also the town with lower rental and purchase prices.

Principal areas (neighborhoods) around Lake Chapala

These are the principal areas where foreign residents typically buy or rent homes in the Lake Chapala area:

• Chapala itself — most foreign residents have homes situated in the hillsides above the pier and downtown lakeshore area; neighborhoods include Lourdes, San Miguel, Tepehua, La Purisima, La Parota, and Nuevo Chapala;
• as you travel west from Chapala, you’ll find Riberas del Pilar and San Antonio—popular small town/neighborhoods nestled between Chapala and Ajijic; and
• Ajijic — the most sought-after and the most expensive of all the lakeside towns; it’s where the Lake Chapala Society is headquartered and is the focal point for all the social, cultural and educational activities of the area; it’s also the most crowded and with the highest concentration of foreign residents;
• west from Ajijic along the north shore is San Juan Cosalá, an increasingly popular conurbation in the locality that’s attracting significant interest from foreign residents as well being a focal point for property developers; then
• further west are the small conurbations Jaltepec and Chantepec; before you reach
• the westernmost town on the north shore, Jocotepec, that is also the gateway to the highway connecting Lake Chapala with the (growing) southwest side of Guadalajara, including the shops and amenities near Santa Anita.

Ajijic remains the most popular and most sought after of all the lakeside towns. The demand is driven by its picturesque streets and plazas, its role as the focal point for social and cultural activities, and its ample assortment of attractive accommodations. It is, however, the most expensive of all the lakeside towns for property rentals and purchase.

Chapala, Ribera del Pila, San Antonio and San Juan Cosalá are the next most popular (and expensive) areas; as you travel further west along the north shore of the lake, you’ll find lower prices in the conurbations of Jaltepec and Chantepec, and in the town of Jocotepec.

Small properties can be purchased from around US$100,000.  Property rentals in Ajijic and Chapala tend to be quoted in US dollars and start at around US$400 per month for a small studio. Two bedroom homes can rent from US$800 per month.

Lower rents (and rents quoted in Mexican pesos) can be sought in more traditional neighborhoods and in conurbations outside of Ajijic and Chapala proper.  Our Mexico Cost of Living guide contains chapters on property prices as well as links to portal sites where you can browse properties for rent and for sale.

Healthcare services in Lake Chapala

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through private clinics with US-standard healthcare services exist in the Lake Chapala area.

Hospitals/Clinics:  The area offers two local private hospitals, both situated between Chapala and Ajijic, which offer “tier 4” facilities (almost all services) with lab work and care provided lakeside and no need to travel to Guadalajara for treatments.  You will need to be insured or pay out of pocket to use these.  See the insurance options article link, below, for details about coverage choices.

Doctors: Lake Chapala is well served by doctors on call, many of whom speak Spanish and English.  They can refer you to local (public and private) clinics, specialists and hospitals.

Dentists: There are plenty of dentists to choose from; ask locally for a recommendation.

Opticians: There are several optometrists available offering eye tests, treatments and some also offer laser surgery.  Ask locally for details.

The city of Guadalajara (about an hour’s drive away) offers additional medical services and healthcare specialists if these are needed.

Local climate in Lake Chapala

As we mentioned earlier in the guide (see above), Lake Chapala offers a near perfect year-round climate to live in, and it’s this temperate climate that is one of the top attractions to people considering a move here, and as well encouraging those already living here to stay.

The towns along the north shore of Lake Chapala enjoy year-round temperate climates.  In the fall and winter months, daytime high temperatures average around 75F (23C) and nighttime lows average around 42F (6C).  In the spring and summer months, daytime high temperatures average around 85F (29C) and nighttime lows average around 55F (13C).  The rain season runs from around mid-May to mid-October each year, sometimes spilling into November.

Lake Chapala & environs essentials

Connect to practical information and gain insights about living and lifestyle in nearby Guadalajara, Mexico

Lake Chapala articles and guides

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Lake Chapala airport

The Lake Chapala towns are served by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla international airport (GDL) situated about 20 miles (50 minute road trip) north from the downtown pier area of Chapala. Check FlightConnections.com for current routes.

Lake Chapala map

Explore Lake Chapala on Google maps

Getting around Mexico

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications in Mexico

Stay in touch when you’re in Mexico:

• Telephony services
• Internet and WiFi services

Money and banking services in Mexico

Learn about money management and banking in Mexico

• Free guide to Money and Banking Services in Mexico
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Driving in Mexico

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• Driving and road trips in Mexico
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Health and safety in Mexico

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Celebrating the continuity of life

Far from being a morbid event, Day of the Dead emphasizes remembrance of past lives and celebration of the continuity of life.

Day of the Dead is one of the most passionately celebrated events throughout Mexico, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities, although the places to be on Day of the Dead are the colonial town of Pátzcuaro (near Morelia) and Oaxaca City.

Plan your accommodations in advance

Hotels in Pátzcuaro tend to book-up during the summer for this event (some charismatic hotels are booked a year or more in advance), but late availability can sometimes be sought.

Hotel availability in Oaxaca is generally easier to come by (in part because there are more hotel rooms in Oaxaca), although most of the centrally-located hotels will book up early, leaving late-bookers to choose from the remaining rooms further outside of the historic center, or in nearby towns.

Alternative accommodations to hotels, offered by shared rentals in people’s homes, has added to the choice and supply of accommodations in Pátzcuaro as well as Oaxaca, which is especially useful for popular dates like Day of the Dead, although you can expect rates to be higher you might have to stay in a nearby town or village and travel in to the center of Pátzcuaro or Oaxaca for the events.

Planning your transportation

We recommend you plan your transportation options as flights to Oaxaca and Morelia (near Pátzcuaro) and roads (including buses and bus stations) serving Oaxaca and Pátzcuaro become busy on dates leading up to and soon after Day of the Dead.

Getting to Pátzcuaro for Day of the Dead

The ancient highland town of Pátzcuaro is situated in the state of Michoacán, in the mountains west of Mexico City.

By air: If you’re planning to visit Pátzcuaro, the city of Morelia has an international airport with flights from Mexico City and various cities in the US.  Check FlightConnections for current routes.  Pátzcuaro is about a 1.5 hour drive by road to/from Morelia’s airport.

By bus: Morelia and Pátzcuaro can also be reached by luxury bus from Mexico City; the bus journey time 4 hours from the capital and about another hour from Morelia to Pátzcuaro.  Buses to Morelia depart from the capital’s eastern and northern bus terminals. Local buses from run regularly from Morelia to Pátzcuaro, or you can take a local cab or app cab from the bus station in Morelia.

Driving: If you’re driving to Pátzcuaro, tolled highways 15D and 14D will take about 4.5-5 hours to drive from Mexico City, depending on traffic.

Getting to Oaxaca City for Day of the Dead

The capital city of Oaxaca is situated in southern Mexico, about 285 miles south of Mexico City.

By air: Oaxaca City is served by an international airport with flights from Mexico City and various cities in the US.  Check FlightConnections for current routes.  Oaxaca’s airport is about a 30 minute drive by road to/from the center of Oaxaca City.

By Bus: Oaxaca City can reached by luxury bus from Mexico City; the bus journey time is 6-7 hours.  Buses to Oaxaca City depart from the capital’s western and southern bus terminals.

Driving: If you’re driving to Oaxaca City, tolled highways 150D and 135D will take about 6 hours to drive from Mexico City, depending on traffic.

Learn more about Day of the Dead in Mexico

We publish guides and articles to help you discover more about Day of the Dead in Mexico, as well as Pátzcuro and Oaxaca City.

• Articles to discover Day of the Dead in Mexico
• Celebrating life on Day of the Dead
• Meet the elegant Catrinas
• Altars and offerings for Day of the Dead
• Delicious bread and hot chocolate traditions
• The iconic flower synonymous with Day of the Dead
• Children’s Calaverita traditions
• Guides to Pátzcuaro and Oaxaca City

Living in Mérida

Mérida is the capital city of the state of Yucatán, famous for its rich Mayan history and culture as well as some of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites. Mérida is a regional hub of activity and extremely well connected by land and air to other parts of the Yucatan region, to Mexico City and by air to the U.S.A.

Merida At-A-Glance:

Location Type

Colonial City

Population

734,000 (2005 Census)

Altitude

30 feet above sea-level

Time Zone

Central Time

High/Low Temperatures

105F/38C (Daytime, Summer);
64F/18C (Nocturnal, Winter) Year-Round Average 79F/24C.

Rainy Season?

Merida’s rainy season runs from late May to October each year, with heavy tropical downpours occurring in these months

Hurricanes?

Merida’s weather can be affected by hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Caribbean.

Local Economy:

Textiles, Tourism, Agriculture, Commerce, eCommerce

Expat Penetration

Moderate*

Cost of Living

Lower*

Travel Guide

Guide to Merida

*Relative to other foreign expat communities in Mexico

This city portrays a considerable charm and buzz about it brought about by its contrasts: Mérida is cosmopolitan and quaint; Mexican but with a strong Mayan influence everywhere you go.

For those wishing to retire in the Yucatán region of Mexico, the capital city of Mérida offers colonial-era charm, urban vibrancy, and ease of access to the best the region has to offer including art, cultural events, secluded beaches, nature reserves and archaeological treasures.

Removed from the glitzy sunshine boulevards of Cancun (although the two are connected by a super highway), Mérida offers residents a piece of authentic Mexico, while also keeping a unique flavor and style that is unmistakably Yucatecan.

Merida is distinct culturally and politically from the rest of Mexico. This is brought about, in part, through centuries of desire for political autonomy, driven by a Mayan inheritance which continues to influence the city, its inhabitants and environs.

You will find “Meridanos” are proud to show you their unique blends of culture which embrace food, art, and music and which are exclusive to this region. Unlike most other colonial cities in Mexico, Merida is a place that is brimming with a diverse variety of art galleries, cultural festivals, as well as cinema and theater.

The principal focal point at center of Merida is the Plaza Grande (the main plaza), that is surrounded by carefully laid out streets showcasing impressive colonial structures which today play their roles as government buildings, cultural centers, museums, and up-scale private residences.

Flanking this architecture you’ll also find peaceful, shady parks lined with laurel trees and color-laden flower beds which provide some respite from the direct heat of the sun. And although tranquil spaces may be easily sought here, Merida is not a sleepy town. Every night of the week you will find some kind of entertainment or event that may include concerts, festivals, art openings, or parades.

The pulse of daily life may be experienced everywhere on Merida’s streets, and particularly in the plazas and courtyards where locals congregate, engage with each socially, trade or watch the world go by. On weekends, cars are prohibited from entering the city center and the street is transformed into haven for strollers, market goers, street artists and tourists.

Tierra Caliente

Merida’s geographical location places it firmly inside the category of “tierra caliente” (hot lands) — and living here means that summer heat and humidity are as much as part of the landscape as the rich colonial architecture.

During the rainy season, that runs from May to October each year, Mérida combines its hot climate with thunderstorms and humidity ensues. The humidity wanes in the dry season, bringing a welcome change of climate to residents and visitors alike. Expatriates who can’t take the extreme heat but who adore the winter climate here, take their winters in Mérida, flock back home in the summer, and return when the season changes again.

Affordable and Appealing Colonial Lifestyle

Affordability and modern amenities are two key factors which call retirees’ attention to the city of Mérida. Expatriates accustomed to comfortable living arrangements and the availability of modern services and amenities around them find living in Mérida appealing because it delivers authentic colonial charm, a lower cost of living than the U.S., Canada and Western Europe, as well as commercial, cultural and medical amenities expatriates often wish to see around their living spaces. Mérida offers many modern-day conveniences and services which Mexican colonial towns and cities of a similar size and standing often lack.

Active Lifestyles

Those who fall in love with Mérida are oftentimes enamored with the whole Yucatan peninsula. Using Mérida as a base, you can explore historical destinations such as the colonial cities of Valladolid and Izamal; visit the vast wealth of the Mayan’s ancient cities — far beyond the tourist-heavy archaeological sites of Chichen Itzá, Tulum, and Uxmal. The region is dotted with dozens of Haciendas; some in ruins, some partly restored and others fully restored into beautiful hotels or fine restaurants. Within a day-trip you can visit white sand beaches and savor the azure-blue waters of the Mayan Riviera; or perhaps spend a night or two at one of the hospitable beach towns there. Yucatan’s natural environment provides an abundance of options for outdoor activities such as bird watching, scuba diving, caving, and hiking; fine nature reserves, including Ka’an Biosphere reserve, are in easy reach, too.

A City Back in Bloom

During the course of the last decade, Mérida has come to popular attention among foreigners seeking affordable and authentic Mexican living in a culturally-sophisticated environment.

Mérida today is a progressive city, indeed, a ‘poster-boy’ example of how a ‘colonial backwater’ can come to reinvent itself. After decades of economic decline following the Mexican revolution of 1910-1917, and subsequent collapse of the sisal plantations and haciendas which took an enormous economic and social toll on this region, Mérida is once again becoming transformed by its people and and adapting itself to the new economies of the twenty-first century.

For expatriate residents, and foreigners considering Mérida as a place for living and especially for retirement, Mérida and the Yucatán region offer an exciting, authentic and promising array of options and prospects.

Cost of Living in Merida

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower in Mexico than it is the USA, Canada and Western Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Cost of Living Report

To learn more about the cost of living in Mexico, connect to the Mexico Cost of Living page on Mexperience.

Regional and geographical cost variations do exist, and this part of the guide shows you how some goods and services at Mérida vary from the average.

See Also:

Banks, Banking and Credit in Mexico | Money in Mexico

Blog Articles:

Money, Banking and Finances

Real Estate in Merida

Information about the real estate market in Merida

Real Estate Market in Merida

Prices of land and property in Mérida, as elsewhere in Mexico, have risen over the last decade, although they still remain at very affordable levels when compared to properties in the popular resort cities in this region.

Foreign retirees have discovered that they can live among a piece of Mérida’s colonial past by purchasing colonial homes and refurbishing them to their former splendor. The central colonias (neighborhoods) of Santa Ana and Santiago contain the greatest concentration of expatriates, but there are plenty of other colonias which attract foreign investors. The further away from the historic center you look, the lower prices become.

While over the past decade the cost of colonial homes has risen steadily, foreign capital can still go a long way here, especially in comparison to prices in the U.S.A. and Western Europe. The recent influx of expatriates as well as wealthy Mexicans, particular those relocating away from Mexico City or seeking investments in Mexico’s provincial towns and cities, have driven the market in recent years.

Property prices continue to be relatively robust for desirable properties and especially those within the historic center of the city. Land development continues to take place here as Mérida’s economic prosperity — brought about through government initiatives as well as domestic and foreign capital inflows — continues to rise.

Most real estate is sold through local realty agents who know the area and the surrounding region, as well as directly through the developers marketing major realty projects, often on prime beachfront locations or on fine golf courses. However, you can also make deals directly with owners who advertise on the Internet or by means of a simple sign on the property reading “Se Vende.”

Property types in Mérida range from land parcels, to colonial ruins in need of restoration (inside or outside the city), restored colonial homes ready to move into, glamorous colonial-era mansion houses, casitas (little colonial style houses or cottages), modern suburban dwelling houses and even specialized properties like haciendas.

Rentals Market in Merida

The rental market in Mérida is quite buoyant. The best prices can be sought when you inquire locally; prices of properties advertised on the internet are usually aimed at foreign visitors on extended stays or vacations, not long term local residents; the prices reflect this.

Most rental properties in Mérida are offered through local realty agents or by individual property owners listing properties on the Internet or local newspapers and magazines as well as signs posted at the property for rent as well as restaurants, cafes and bars near the vicinity where the rentals are situated. Some property developers rent out their units or rent out units on behalf of owners: check with local developers or a local realty agent for details and further information.

See Also:

Guide to Real Estate in Mexico | Home Maintenance | Home Security

Healthcare in Merida

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through private clinics with US -standard healthcare services exist in Mérida. The privately-run out patient clinics available locally are ideal for day-to-day ailments, sprains, broken bones and other health matters which would normally be diagnosed and treated by a General Practitioner of medicine.

In recent years, medical companies have invested millions of dollars in Mérida building and supplying first-world standard private medical facilities for Mérida’s insured and well-heeled classes. This has come about as a result of research showing that Mérida is becoming a top location for foreign expatriates as well as wealthy and well-off Mexicans, many of whom are abandoning Mexico City for certain provincial cities and towns: Mérida is on the list of popular alternatives.

See Also:

Health and Healthcare in Mexico | Travel Health in Mexico

Local Climate in Merida

Mérida’s climate is tropical; hot in the dry season and hot and humid in the rainy season. Prevailing easterly winds, which cool the air on the coasts, do reach the city, but due to its inland position and low elevation, their effect is not as noticeable as as it is at the nearby coasts.

Mérida has, in recent years, recorded an average temperature of 76F/21C, although the summers can and do get much hotter. Winter months can be cooler and nocturnal temperatures may drop to 64F/17C; summer months may reach highs in excess of 100F/37C in May through August especially, accompanied by drenching humidity and torrential downpours of rain in the afternoons or evenings.

Winter Climate:

November through January are the coolest months in Merida; January being the coolest with an average nocturnal low of 64F/17C). Average temperatures range from 74F/22C to 77F/25C during these months.

Spring Climate:

February through April the climate is a continuation of winter: dry and relatively mild. Temperatures begin to rise to the late 70’sF/26C towards the end of April.

Summer Climate:

May through October are the hottest months in Merida, with temperature ranging from 75F/21C overnight, to 95F/35C or hotter in the daytime. The rainy season begins in late May and torrential downpours are common during June, July and August; the high temperatures do moderate during the downpours, but as the rains pour the humidity levels soar. The hottest month is May and the highest humidity levels appear during September.

Autumn Climate:

Temperatures begin to moderate during the latter half of October, the humidity passes and the hot, humid, daytime temperatures climb down from their summer highs. Temperatures in the late autumn months reflect very similarly to those in the winter, ranging from 74F/22C to 77F/25C.

Rainy Season:

Merida’s rainy season runs from May to October, with most of the rain falling in June, July and August. Torrential afternoon rains may be experienced several days a week and, in the peak temperature months of July, August and September tropical storms may feature, too.

Hurricanes:

Hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean can affect Merida. Although the hurricane storms do not affect the city directly (as it is inland) tropical storms and hurricanes on the coasts can cause adverse weather conditions over Mérida and environs.

Sea Temperature in Progreso, near Merida

The average sea temperature in the water off Progreso, a beach side town less than an hours drive from Mérida, is 87F/30C.

See Also:

Weather and Climates in Mexico

Practical Information About Living in Merida

This section contains links to guides where you can learn more about living in Mérida.

Accessibility / Transport

Getting Around Merida

Getting Around

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications

Staying in contact while living in Mexico

Money and Banking

Guide to Money in Mexico | Banks & Banking in Mexico

Practical Matters

Practical Information (Mérida Travel Guide)

Auto Insurance in Mexico

How to insure your foreign-plated car in Mexico

Safety in Mexico

Latest Safety Updates

Key Attractions

Travel Guide to Merida

Mexico’s mountainous terrains

Elevations of 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level are not unusual for cities in Mexico’s colonial heartland as well as those in the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.  Mexico City and Guadalajara are also cities situated at elevation.

If you plan to experience the Monarch Butterflies you’ll also need to adjust to the higher elevations in the forested mountains where these butterflies gather to overwinter in Mexico; and if you’re visiting higher elevation areas in Mexico’s Copper Canyon you’ll also need to take time to adjust.

Adjusting to being at higher elevations

Many people who arrive in Mexico tend to come from places situated much closer to sea-level —perhaps a few hundred feet above sea-level at most— and so a visit to one of Mexico’s inland towns or cities may leave you breathless in more ways than one, until your body becomes acclimatized to thinner air.

Mexico City, for example, is not only 7,200 feet above sea level (that’s about a mile and-a-half up in the sky), it’s situated in a valley surrounded by mountains and flanked by two volcanoes.  The mix of altitude, heat, and smog can become quite uncomfortable at times, and may leave you feeling exhausted after what may have seemed a normal day’s activity back home.

Mexico’s provinces do not suffer the smog that metropolises like Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo have come to inherit, but the altitude and the heat during summer months may cause you to feel more tired than usual if you are not already accustomed to higher elevation where you live.

Common symptoms felt by people adjusting to higher elevation include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Dizziness or nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeplessness
• Shortness of breath

Advantages of living at elevation in Mexico

Elevation does bring with it some distinct advantages, too.

Being high up keeps the climate at more temperate levels, especially in comparison to the sultry, sweltering heat at the coasts in the high summer months.   During the fall and winter months, the mornings and evenings can be quite cool —even chilly in some places— which creates a welcome contrast to the warmer days and hotter summers.

Tips to help you acclimatize at high elevation

Getting acclimatized to elevation takes some time, and your body will usually adjust surprisingly quickly to the change of altitude given the right amount of rest and hydration.  Here are some practical tips:

Take it easy at first

Don’t plan too much activity for your first few days.  Give your body time to acclimatize to the change in altitude and lower oxygen levels.  Take a short nap in the afternoon if you like, or at least rest a while.

Drink plenty of fresh water

Two liters a day is recommended; keep drinking little and often all day. Staying thoroughly hydrated is really important at high elevations; even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Stay protected from too much sun

Wear a sun-hat and use protective sun lotion, even in the fall and winter months when the temperatures are lower. Keep your skin protected from excess sun even on overcast days as UV rays can penetrate cloud cover.

Moderate your alcohol intake

Wine, beer, and liquor will go to your head faster and the effects will last longer when you are drinking alcohol in places with high elevation; alcohol also dehydrates you, so you may want to consider scaling-back your normal consumption rates and supplementing your alcohol intake with additional fresh water.

Keeping well and staying healthy in Mexico

Within a few days, most people find that their body has acclimatized to higher elevation and the side-effects diminish. It is, however, important to continue to keep yourself well hydrated and watch your alcohol intake even after you have acclimatized.

For more practical information about keeping well and staying healthy in Mexico, read our Mexico Travel Health Guide – it’s packed full with tips and local knowledge.

The sweeping landscape of Mexico’s central highlands (also known as the Mexican Altiplano) is home to some of the country’s most picturesque and agreeable colonial towns and cities which offer an abundance of character and culture—and the benefits of mountain living.

The benefits of mountain living in Mexico

Living at elevation —typically, Mexico’s inland colonial towns and cities are situated at elevations of at least 4,000 feet above sea level— offers several benefits:

Ideal climates

Many places situated at elevation in Mexico offer the benefit of year-round temperate, low-humidity, climates created by a combination of the locations’ latitude and an average elevation around 6,000 feet above sea level which make it a pleasure to live and be outdoors, and an ideal location to enjoy active outdoor activities.

Enjoy plenty of daylight all-year

Year-round and especially during the winter, you benefit from at least ten hours of daylight every day of the year, with no shortage of daylight hours in the winter, and you also enjoy extended light into the evenings during the late spring and summer months.  You can learn about climates through the seasons in Mexico here on Mexperience.

Fresh highland air and breathtaking views

Enjoy crisp, fresh, mountain air which complements the magnificent views from local vantage points, and elevations that can aid your good health and general well-being without being too high so as to become uncomfortable.

Access to good local infrastructure and amenities

Many of Mexico’s popular colonial highland towns and cities offer provincial living with plenty of local fresh food and produce markets, (much of it grown locally), independent shops and boutique traders, with accessibility to popular big-brand stores, outlets, and supermarkets as well as specialized stores offering foods and homewares foreign residents often seek out when living here. Most colonial cities also have adequate-to-excellent healthcare facilities locally; in smaller towns, more extensive facilities are available in larger nearby cities.

Well-connected to transport links

You’ll discover that the highland towns are well connected by modern roads, most are serviced by frequent intercity bus services, and some also have airports nearby. High-speed internet access is available in your home, as well as wireless data over advanced mobile networks which form part of Mexico’s extensive communications infrastructure.

Integrate into genuine local communities

Many of the colonial towns and cities offer you the opportunity to participate and integrate in local communities.  Here you can discover authentic neighborhoods and real local community spirit, and if you choose to, you can integrate with local lifestyles and community groups, and forge long-term friendships.

Considerations for mountain living in Mexico

Mountain living isn’t for everyone.  Some people yearn to be near the ocean with year-round warmth, whereas highland towns tend to be cooler—and may even get cold at times during the winter months.  A very small number of people find that they can’t adjust to living at higher elevations, while others find the mountain towns too remote, rural, or provincial for their lifestyle preferences or intentions.

If you’re unsure, visit for an extended stay

An ideal way to determine if mountain life in Mexico will suit you is to invest in a trial period —perhaps six months to a year— and see how you respond to the experience.  When you take the time to explore, you’ll discover thriving communities where, when you’re prepared to integrate, local people will come to know and greet you by name, you’ll cultivate appreciable relationships, you’ll give and receive value as you trade at the local markets through transactions which feel human and personal… and over time, you become the community you seek.

When you look with care you’ll also find the very best of Mexico in these places—people, culture, climate, food, amenities, and real local communities. For some, Mexico’s highland towns and cities become exceptionally special places to live.

Choosing between urban and (semi) rural settings

Other than Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, Mexico’s highland towns and cities are situated in provincial (rural or semi-rural) settings and we recommend your consider whether living in the Mexican countryside would suit you, as well as giving careful thought to your lifestyle needs as a whole as you short-list potential places to live instead of looking at certain aspects in isolation.

As with other places you may consider moving to in Mexico, you’ll need to plan and prepare for your new lifestyle, you might need to acclimatize to the higher elevation, and you’ll need to be prepared to forge your own story here. Hundreds of thousands of foreign residents enjoy a good life in Mexico; with some considered choices and forward planning, you could as well.

Explore highland towns and cities in Mexico

Here are some of the more popular colonial towns and cities foreign residents have settled in, as well as some which are less well-known and gaining attention in recent times.

Mexico’s colonial heartland

Querétaro, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende for traditional colonial highland cities; Aguascalientes for a more contemporary living lifestyle; and Zacatecas if you’re seeking a mountain city off-the-beaten-track and on the edge of a mountain frontier.

South-central highlands

Cuernavaca, Tepoztlán, and Puebla.  These traditional provincial highland places are situated conveniently close to Mexico City and yet are far enough removed from the congestion of the capital to enjoy a genuine provincial atmosphere and feel.  For a more rustic option off-the-beaten track in this area, consider Taxco.

In the mountains west of Mexico City

The highland lakeside towns of Chapala, and Ajijic are home to the largest community of foreign residents in Mexico; the city of Morelia offers old-world colonial elegance, and the ancient highland town of Pátzcuaro offers an attractive blend of colonial indigenous cultures amidst an intimate colonial setting. If you’re seeking an urban lifestyle at elevation, Guadalajara offers vibrancy, culture, and all the benefits of a large metropolitan city, and is close to Ajijic, Chapala, and Jocotepec—small towns settled along the northern shoreline of Lake Chapala and home to tens of thousands of foreign residents, most from the US and Canada.

Further south, to Oaxaca and Chiapas

Oaxaca City remains one of the most authentic and cultured colonial cities in Mexico; and further south, in the breath-taking state of Chiapas, you’ll find the highland mountain town of San Cristobal de las Casas—somewhat off-the-beaten-track and close to the traditional indigenous mountain communities of San Juan Chamula and Zinacatán.

Discover more places to live in Mexico

Discover interesting and charming locations to live, work or retire in Mexico, and articles with helpful insights about choosing a place to settle here.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Detailed knowledge about planning a move in Mexico
• Insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Detailed insights about retirement in Mexico
• Practical insights for planning your Mexico lifestyle
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

Set in the forested mountains of Mexico’s western highlands, and situated on the southwestern shore of lake Pátzcuaro, this ancient highland settlement carries important historical and cultural roots, and is today a focal point for visitors —and, increasingly— foreign residents coming to this region. Offering a fascinating mix of colonial and indigenous traditions, the town is well connected to the state capital by road and offers unique lifestyle opportunities for people seeking to live in a rural setting amidst traditional local communities.

Living in Patzcuaro

Pátzcuaro (“Pahtz-Kuah-Ro”) is a charming town with a mixed colonial and indigenous feel, located about 45 minutes by road from Morelia, the state capital of Michoacán. Michoacán’s people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming in Mexico.

Since the turn of the century, an increasing number of foreign visitors have been discovering the town’s charm and ambiance, driven in part by its popularity as a base for visiting the Monarch Butterflies, and also Pátzcuaro’s long-standing  reputation as being one of the top places in Mexico to experience Day of the Dead festivities.

Some of those visitors are returning here not only during the holidays, but also for extended stays, attracted by the town’s unusual charms and allure, to explore options for living and retirement off the beaten path and away from the high density of foreign residents that is often characteristic of the popular and established enclaves.

The city of Morelia, some 40km (25 miles) away, is an “aristocratic colonial city,”‘ whereas Pátzcuaro is an authentic colonial town which remains true to its indigenous Purépecha heritage.

The town has successfully blended its indigenous and colonial roots, creating a backdrop that provides a fascinating fusion of culture and social tapestries amidst an authentic and quite charming rural setting. In doing so, it provides an attractive hub for visitors to explore the town and nearby attractions, and also offers one of the most unusual and unique rural communities in which to live in Mexico.

The historic central area of Pátzcuaro, and its immediate surroundings, are the most attractive and often sough-after areas to live in. Picturesque colonial buildings and mansions featuring colorful courtyards with shaded terraces and nooks are built around the fine and elegant main square, the Plaza de Quiroga (also called the Plaza Grande) as well as a smaller, but no less attractive Plaza de Gertrudis Bocanegra—known locally as the Plaza Chica.

Highland mountain town with a serene environment

Patzcuaro is a quiet, low-key town set in the western highlands of Mexico, some four-and-a-half hours by road from two of Mexico’s biggest cities: Guadalajara and Mexico City.

The closest largest city is Morelia, the capital of Michoacán, and the place where most of the foreign residents living in Pátzcuaro go to buy foods, goods and services that are not available in Pátzcuaro.

Artists, writers, sculptors and those seeking peace and tranquility, as well as magnificent natural environments to be in, find Pátzcuaro suits their needs perfectly. Here, they find themselves away from the madding crowd yet close enough to access modern conveniences with efficient road connections, and an international airport about 90 minute away, offering  direct flights to Mexico City and selected airports in the United States.

Although it is a small, semi-remote, mountain town, Patzcuaro offers reliable utilities including high-speed internet connections via fixed phone line or cable. If you want to live more remotely, satellite internet is readily available in the region.

Rural living and lifestyles in the heart of the Purépecha region

Patzcuaro and its nearly lakeside villages are one the country’s underexplored areas by foreigners seeking places to live in Mexico.

This ancient highland town offers residents an authentic character and charm, clean and crisp mountain air, surrounded by forests and lakes often framed by azure-blue skies and set against the backdrop an unmistakably rural environment.

For potential foreign residents seeking a place to live in Mexico, Pátzcuaro offers an opportunity to live and integrate within an authentic Mexican town; one that two decades ago was never on the radar of those seeking living places in Mexico, and which today is being discovered and settled by people who want to live in a mountain environment, relative close enough to modern amenities and far enough away from the commercialism that tends to engulf them.

The current density of foreign residents living in Pátzcuaro and its surrounding villages is low, and growing slowly. Future growth in foreign residency in the area will likely be propelled by the picturesque and charming facets of Pátzcuaro’s character, coupled with a growing interest in rural lifestyles. This rural region is not for everyone—as we have remarked elsewhere, rural living in Mexico is different and carries challenges along with its charms.  If you’re not familiar with the area, a period of home rental to begin discovering its charms and compromises will be essential.

Cost of Living in Pátzcauro

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower than it is the USA, Canada and Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Living or retiring in the Pátzcuaro area is more affordable than the more popular expat enclaves; however, living costs have been increasing in this region and rents and property purchase prices have risen significantly over the last decade.

There are a couple of “mini-mart” supermarkets in Pátzcuaro offering an adequate range of everyday goods, and dozens of small, independently-owned stores and specialist food outlets.

There is a daily street market selling a plentiful supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and poultry as well spices, condiments, and other everyday household foodstuffs.  The market also has a cooked foods section, where you can purchase food to take away or eat at the market stall.

To access a wider assortment of goods and services, including large supermarkets, department stores, and specialist retailers that stock imported foods and goods which are not easily found in Mexico, you will need to travel to the city of Morelia.

Real Estate in Pátzcuaro & environs

A wave of foreign buyers who discovered the town during the early years of the 2000’s created a property price boom in Pátzcuaro—funded mostly by equity they harvested from property inflation in their home countries.

This entire area is primarily an agricultural community that does not supply jobs or earnings which realistically support high property prices or rentals, and so it is the influx of outside investment —particularly wealthy Mexicans seeking countryside homes, and retirees and foreigners seeking a rural home in Mexico— that has driven market prices in recent years.

The historic center of Pátzcuaro remains the most popular area of the town to live in, and as well as being sought-after it’s also the most expensive. Some of the old colonial properties have been restored to their former glory and offer the charms of an bygone era with the amenities of the present-day comforts.

The question of whether to buy something ready to move into or restore an old property is moot, and ultimately a personal choice.

Some foreign expats who move to Pátzcuaro seek to purchase land upon which to to build a residential home. There is plenty of land for sale around Pátzcuaro, and also in the villages and hamlets that surround the lake. However, the days of bargain land prices appear to be over—even here in one of Mexico’s most rural settings.

The location provides a buying opportunity for people who want to make a long term commitment to the area.  Real estate markets in rural Mexico are considerably less liquid (which means that sales turnover is lower and property typically takes much longer to sell than in more popular urban places) so an investment here requires patient capital.

The most traded types of property in the area include land (in the outlying areas of Pátzcuaro town and in the lakeside villages), derelict colonial properties requiring total restoration, older colonial properties requiring some restoration, fully restored colonial properties, and relatively new-build homes in contemporary residential neighborhoods dotted around the town outside of the historical center.

The more desirable properties are those situated on the town’s slopes, offering views across quaint red-tiled roofs, and the lakeside panoramas beyond; as well as colonial properties situated inside the historic center of town which forsake the views in lieu of the convenience of being situated in the heart of this beautifully-kept historic district.

Property is available for sale on some of Lake Pátzcuaro’s islands, most notably, Janitzio, but very few buyers seek this degree of isolation and most foreign residents live choose to live in Pátzcuaro town or one of the lakeside villages.

Our article about assessing house prices in Mexico gives further insights and connections to resources that will help you to gauge property values.

Home rental market in Pátzcuaro

Regardless of where you are planning to live in Mexico, we recommend you rent first to get a feel for the location, unless you are already familiar with it, its local communities, and the local year-round environment.

Finding a long-term house rental in Pátzcuaro can be challenging. Most rentals are vacation rentals, which tend to offer ‘turn-key’ homes, fully furnished and accessorized, primarily for short-term vacation renters—with rental rates that reflect that.

Locally-owned, often simply-appointed, houses offer the lowest rents. To find them, you can check property portals online, but more likely you’ll need to contact a local realty agent, or find other connections locally.

Reasonable rent rates can be sought if you want to rent here long-term and not buy, but you’ll need to make compromises. Talking to locals and cultivating helpful local contacts is a good way of finding the most affordable —and workable— housing for rent.

If you’re on a tight budget, you might find simpler accommodations in the area, of the type that you’ll need to furnish and spruce up at your own expense, but if you’re seeking a turn-key comfortable and efficient dwelling space for rent, you’ll need to search diligently and be prepared to pay a premium for it.

Note about Day of the Dead: Rental prices for vacation homes and short term rentals soar during Day of the Dead week—the weekends before, during, and after Oct 31 through Nov 2 each year.  Pátzcuaro is one of the most visited towns in Mexico during this time; local hotels and Airbnb accommodations are after booked many months in advance, so advance planning is essential.

Our article about assessing house prices in Mexico gives further insights and connections to resources that will help you to gauge property values, including home rentals.

Healthcare services in Pátzcuaro

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through small private clinics with US-style healthcare services.  For larger clinics and hospitals you will need to go to Morelia.

Hospitals/Clinics: There are some small hospitals and clinics run by Mexico’s IMSS healthcare program, including a maternity ward.  Small private clinics that can deal with minor and moderate situations as well as private general doctor practices are also available.

Doctors: Private doctors can be consulted in town, and many will make house calls, too. Some might speak some English, but you ought to speak Spanish or take an interpreter with you on a first visit.  Doctors can refer you to local and regional (public and private) clinics, specialists, and hospitals.

Dentists: There are various dental practices in Pátzcuaro; for more complex situations you may need to visit Morelia.

Opticians: There are several optometrists available offering eye tests, treatments, frames & lenses.  For a wider selection, or more complex situations, you may need to visit Morelia.

The city of Morelia (less than an hour’s drive away) offers additional medical services and healthcare specialists if these are needed.

Local climate in Pátzcuaro

Situated at over 7,000 feet above sea-level, Pátzcuaro offers a year-round mostly temperate climate, with noticeably cooler temperatures in the fall and winter, and warm, comfortable days during the spring and summer months.

The villages and hamlets surrounding the nearby lake tend to exhibit microclimates of their own, and may be a few degrees warmer or cooler than Pátzcuaro town center, influenced by the water and prevailing climatic conditions in the wider region.

In the fall and winter months, daytime high temperatures average around 70F (21C) and nighttime lows average around 39F (4C).

In the hottest spring months, daytime high temperatures average around 80F (27C) and nighttime lows average around 50F (10C). Summer-month high temperatures are lower than the spring highs, tempered by the rainy season that typically runs from May to October each year, sometimes spilling into November.

Pátzcuaro & environs essentials

Connect to practical information and gain insights about living and lifestyle in and around Pátzcuaro, Mexico

Pátzcuaro articles and guides

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Nearest airport to Pátzcuaro

Pátzcuaro and lakeside villages and served by Aeropuerto Internacional General Francisco Mujica (MLM).  The airport is situated about 60 miles (98km) from the center of Pátzcuaro—about 1.5 hours by road, depending on local traffic conditions. Check FlightConnections.com for current routes.

Pátzcuaro map

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Getting around Mexico

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Adjusting to the year-round climate

There’s a significant difference between going somewhere very hot for a short vacation and living in a hot climate all year-round.  Conversely, there are some places that are beautifully warm in the summer and can get quite cool or cold in the winter.  Mexico’s varied landscape offers you choice in climates, and whether you envision yourself living in a hot and humid place, or somewhere more temperate at higher elevation with fresh mountain air, Mexico has options for you.

Temperate climates in places situated at elevation

Most of Mexico’s principal towns and cities away from the coasts are situated at elevation: Mexico City is situated at over 7,000 feet above sea level, and many of the places in Mexico’s colonial heartland are situated at elevations of at least 5,000 feet above the sea.

The elevation combined with the mountainous terrain tends to keeps the local climate in these areas quite temperate, in stark contrast to most of Mexico’s sea-level towns and cities which are hot and, for at least a few months of the year, very humid too.

Temperatures at beach locations tend to be comfortably warm during through the late fall and winter winter months, whereas colonial cities situated in elevated mountain areas can get chilly or even cold during some winter months, especially overnight; although it’s very rare for temperatures to plummet and, in any event, fireplaces and electric or gas-fired heaters can take away any cold-edges you may experience.

Homes in colonial cities don’t tend to have air conditioners installed as they are simply not needed here: on hotter summer days, opening windows to allow an airflow through your home, or using a small fan to create ventilation provides sufficient fresh air to stay comfortable.

Winter warmth and summer heat at sea level

Coastal areas south of the Tropic of Cancer, and the low-lying areas of the Yucatán peninsula, tend to have warm and comfortable climates between November and March, which many people find agreeable and thus attract a considerable number of ‘snowbirds’ (winter residents) from the northern reaches of the continent.

However, from April onward temperatures in these places rise steeply and the humidity levels rise dramatically.  Most people living in these areas during the summer months need to use air conditioning to keep cool and as these consume a lot of electricity, you can expect your summer electricity bills to be materially higher if you make extensive use of them to stay comfortable.  Some people in hot regions use their swimming pool as means to cool down and save on expenses.

Choose wisely: the local climate influences us every day

The location you choose will determine the type of climate you experience, and this in turn will influence your lifestyle situations everyday, so it’s worth taking this into careful consideration when you’re scouting potential places to live in Mexico.

By taking some time to consider the climate zones you naturally feel comfortable living in, you’ll be able to short list places which match those and thus help you to settle more easily when you move here.

To get better acquainted with the different climates throughout the year in Mexico see our guide to climates and weather in Mexico, and read our article Land of Three Lands to get further insights.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Complete guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• A library of free Mexico eBooks you can download
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

If you plan to live in Mexico, or visit here on a self-catering or camping vacation, a consideration to take into account is that the elevation (the land’s height relative to sea level) has an effect on food preparation, because water situated at higher elevation boils at lower temperatures.

Calculating the pressure

The science is quite simple.  The atmosphere surrounding Earth creates pressure against all objects within it.  Barometric pressure at sea level equates to a little less than thirty inches of mercury, or 14.69 pounds per square inch.  At this pressure level, water boils at 100 degrees Centigrade, 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, the density of the air becomes thinner at higher altitudes (which is why it’s harder to breathe at higher elevations) and the pressure continues to drop constantly until you reach space, where there is no air, no density, and no pressure.

Water thus boils at a lower temperature because the pressure on the water molecules is lower at higher elevations, requiring less energy for the molecule bonding threshold to be reached—the point at which molecules break away and coalesce into steam.  And so, because less heat (energy) is required to break up the molecules, the water boils at a lower temperature.

Boiling water, cooking, and baking at high elevation

When you’re preparing your food in Mexico and you’re situated at elevation, you’ll need to take into account the effects higher elevations will have on your recipes and timing.

Water doesn’t always boil at 100C/212F

Water will boil at 100 degrees centigrade (212F) at sea level, but its boiling point drops as the elevation rises. For example, at 5,000 feet above sea-level water will boil at 94.9C (202.9F); at 6,000 feet water boils at 93.8C (200.9F); and at 7,000 feet water boils 92.7C (198.9F).  This online calculator works out the figures.

Drinking tea and coffee at elevation

Some tea-drinking connoisseurs argue that coffee is a better beverage option when one is situated at high elevation, because tea requires a high water temperature to “steep” properly.  That’s probably more a matter of personal taste than science, but staying well-hydrated is important when you’re situated at higher elevations.

Baking at high elevation in Mexico

If you’re accustomed to baking cakes and pastries in places situated at lower elevations, you’ll discover that the proportions of ingredients and the timings needed to complete the bake will need to be adjusted. This article shares some helpful tips about baking at higher elevations.

General cooking

In terms of everyday cooking, you won’t experience an energy gain, i.e. use less fuel, when you cook your meals because although the water reaches boiling point sooner, you need to leave your food cooking for longer.

A practical example of this is when you’re cooking a hard-boiled egg.  If it takes five minutes to hard-boil an egg at sea-level it will take proportionally longer at higher elevations; so any gain realized through lower boiling points is lost in the longer while it takes for the heat-energy transfer to take place.

This is another way of demonstrating that there really is no such thing as a “free lunch”—not even in high places.

Learn more about living well in Mexico

Learn more about Mexico’s terrains, its climates and weather, and get practical insights for better living

• Learn about living well at higher elevations
• Browse our Mexico Home Life section to get inspiration to help you create and settle-in well to your home living spaces in Mexico
• Discover Mexico’s climates and weather
• Highlife: discover the benefits of mountain living in Mexico
• Mexico Essentials: practical tips and advice for living and leisure in Mexico

Living in Cuernavaca

Located fifty-six miles southeast of Mexico City, Cuernavaca is a colonial city that dates back to at least 1200 AD, when the settlement was an important agricultural and artisan center. Following its conquest by the Aztecs and later by the Spanish, the city continued to be an ongoing agricultural concern and also became a popular get-away location for wealthy Spaniards living in the capital.

Today, over four centuries later, Cuernavaca continues to be frequented by middle and upper-class chilangos at weekends and holidays, and is a location of choice for many wealthy Mexicans living in Mexico City who keep a home in the provinces.

Mexicans and foreigners alike are attracted to Cuernavaca. They are drawn here by three key attributes that make the location ideal for living and retirement: its proximity to Mexico City; its year-round temperate climate; and its abundance of modern services and amenities.

Cuernavaca’s elevation, averaging at just under 5,000 feet above sea level, bequeaths the city a mild, year-round, temperate climate with a very comfortable annual average of temperature of 70F/21C. Air-conditioning is not required here and, as electricity is one of the most expensive utilities in Mexico, this can translate into annual energy savings compared to living near the coast.

The natural climate here also nourishes a landscape that during the rainy season bursts into life and giving the entire region an eye-catching backdrop of lush and colorful flora.

Art and education

For decades now, Cuernavaca has been a popular city for students and artists. The city is one of Mexico’s principal ‘centers of learning’, boasting more than seventeen universities (including extensions of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a provincial campus of the elite Tecnologico de Monterrey) as well as over fifty language schools. Cuernavaca is considered to be one of the best locations in Mexico to study Spanish as a foreign language.

Popular with visitors and expatriates

The city of Cuernavaca and environs is an important tourist area in Mexico, one particularly well-known for its up-scale and boutique hotels and, notably, destination spas, some of which have attained world-class status.

Cuernavaca also has one of the largest concentrations of expats living in Mexico. Again, its proximity to the capital may be credited with the reason why so many expats come to live here — especially those who rely upon commercial connections in Mexico, or who have simply fallen in love with the capital and enjoy being close to it (if not living there, proper). Due to this cluster of foreigners which have relocated to Cuernavaca over the years, the expat community is extremely well-served by a network of English-speaking doctors, real-estate agents, and service businesses.

Colonial center

The city’s colonial center has undergone some restoration in recent times and this has improved the overall look and feel in the streets and plazas at the heart of the city. Downtown remains a bustling, and often noisy place driven by the presence of several outdoor markets, heavy traffic, and a swell of local public transport vying for limited space.

The city’s landmark museum, formerly the Hacienda de Cortés and now renamed to the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos, has been remodeled and the areas around it spruced-up.

The lion share of colonial-era elegance and charm in Cuernavaca has always been, and remains, hidden away from public view. Behind some of the tall walls are residences with marvelous scenes of colonial-era gardens and architecture.  Some are owned by wealthy local families, politicians, and celebrities; while others have been converted into fine hotels and spas, and/or restaurants offering the public an insight into the botanical and architectural marvels of that bygone era.

Population and real estate

The powerful earthquake that struck Mexico City in 1985 (and again in 2018) had a profound demographic effect on various Mexican provincial cities, as people —by choice or by force— relocated to colonial cities away from the capital.  Those two events, coupled with the advent of Covid that encouraged more people to work remotely, caused Cuernavaca’s population to swell.

The influx of people, and the accommodation demand that they have created, has brought about a local realty market offering a wide array of real estate choices for buyers and renters—as well as challenges.  Demand for property in the city’s most desirable areas (particularly in the northeast quadrant) often outstrips supply, driving up rents and prices in these areas.

Lifestyle services and amenities

As more people have arrived to live here, services like clinics and hospitals, supermarkets, shopping malls, and leisure facilities have opened their doors to fulfill the increasing demand.

Cuernavaca also features several city-based and regional attractions which provide visitors and residents with plenty of options for entertainment and leisure activities.

Cuernavaca is renowned for its many fine restaurants offering Mexican and international cuisine; many of the fancy restaurants are situated inside old colonial residences and haciendas, offering good food surrounded by attractive gardens and an old-world colonial atmosphere.

There are number of ‘green areas’ to retreat to inside the city, including the San Anton waterfall, La Borda city gardens, and Chapultepec ecological park that features springs, picnic areas and a small zoo.

Within a five mile drive of Cuernavaca’s city limits you can enjoy hiking trails, horseback riding, crystal-clear springs and lagoons for swimming, boating and fresh water fishing, and camping. You’ll also find a number of excellent spas with top-class facilities and staff.

Cuernavaca is also surrounded by a number of smaller towns and villages, each offering a unique character and many offering good quality food and artisan markets and stores. Tepoztlán is one such local town, just eleven miles away, within easy reach of Cuernavaca.

Comfortable climate, modern amenities

Mexicans and foreigners are attracted to Cuernavaca’s temperate climate, but also its location close to the capital, and a reputation for being a relaxed and laid-back provincial community that also offers services and amenities which support a modern and comfortable lifestyle.

Cuernavaca is not Mexico’s most picturesque nor most quaint colonial city. But for those who want to live in an authentic Mexican city with a temperate climate, perfectly located to explore the rich history and heritage of southern colonial Mexico, offering an extensive range of modern-day services and amenities, or want to (or have to) be close to Mexico City without living in the capital proper, Cuernavaca ought to be on the short list of locations for consideration.

Cost of living in Cuernavaca

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower in Mexico than it is the USA, Canada and Western Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Cost of living guide

To learn more about the cost of living in Mexico, connect to the Mexico Cost of Living page on Mexperience.

Regional and geographical cost variations do exist, and this part of the guide shows you how some goods and services in Cuernavaca vary from the average.

See also:

Banks, Banking and Credit in Mexico | Money in Mexico

Blog articles:

Money, Banking & Finance

Real estate in Cuernavaca

Information about the real estate market in Cuernavaca

Real estate market in Cuernavaca

Prices of realty in Cuernavaca have risen over the last decade, although prices here remain tempered in comparison to Mexico City and also the nearby popular expat enclave of Tepoztlán.

Cuernavaca’s proximity to the capital means that this is a primary ‘short list’ location for people who want to relocate away from Mexico City, or work remotely while remaining close to the capital.

Cuernavaca remains a popular destination for foreign residents buying and renting homes here, but much less so than it was in the 1960s and 1970s.  The expat population here is not as concentrated as it has become in places like San Miguel Allende, Chapala/Ajijic, and Puerto Vallarta.

Cuernavaca’s realty market is diverse. Most expatriates on limited budgets seek to find a comfortable casita with some outdoor living space to take advantage of the near-perfect climate here; while those with higher budgets may consider a contemporary condominium situated in a gated community that may include facilities like a gym and swimming pool.  At the top of the range you can find elegant private residences with their own grounds and gardens and colonial villas (or haciendas).

Most real estate is sold through local realty agents who know the area and the surrounding region, as well as directly through the developers marketing major realty projects (usually condos).

Rentals market in Cuernavaca

Rental properties in Cuernavaca are offered either through local realty agents or by individual property owners listing properties online. Read our guide to renting property in Mexico for information and tips about renting property here.

See also:

Guide to Real Estate in Mexico | Practicalities of finding a house rental in Mexico

Healthcare in Cuernavaca

In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through private clinics with US -standard healthcare services exist in Cuernavaca. The privately-run out patient clinics available locally are ideal for day-to-day ailments, sprains, broken bones and other health matters which would normally be diagnosed and treated by a General Practitioner of medicine.

See Also:

Health and Healthcare in Mexico | Travel Health in Mexico

Local climate in Cuernavaca

Alexander von Humboldt, a 19th Century naturalist, once described Cuernavaca as “The land of eternal spring,” and since then, this phrase has been used extensively to market the city’s temperate climate. While the climate is generally agreeable, temperatures in Cuernavaca can soar in the late spring and early summer months, and days can feel quite hot and aggressive, especially so in April and May, before the rainy season begins properly. Most of the year, the climate is warm and temperate, and air-conditioning is not needed nor recommended. For hotter days, a fan-cooling system, or access to a swimming pool, will suffice for most people.

Winter climate:

December thru February are the cools and driest months. Temperatures range from highs between 75F/23C to 80F/26C and lows of between 50F/10C and 60F/15C.

Spring climate:

Temperatures begin to rise in March, and April and May are the hottest months, due to the heat and dryness. Highs can exceed 90F/32C and lows range from 65F/18C to 75F/23C.

Summer climate:

The rains will begin to fall around late May (or early June, depending on the year). June, July, and August offer pleasantly warm days cooled down by near-daily monsoon rains, which tend to arrive late afternoon or overnight, afterwards leaving the climate cooled but dry. Highs reach 75F/23C to 85F/29C and lows dip to a range of 65F/18C to 70F/20C.

Autumn climate:

Autumn starts in September, although the rains will linger through October. Temperatures moderate and, even after the rainy season ends (which is usually by no later than the end of October), temperatures will continue to feel spring-like with highs of 75F/23C to 80F/26C and lows of between 55F/12C and 65F/18C.

Rainy season:

Cuernavaca’s rainy season runs from May to October, with most of the rain falling in July and August. Torrential afternoon rains may be experienced several days a week and, in the peak temperature months of July, August and September heavy thunderstorms may feature, too.

Hurricanes:

Cuernavaca is an inland colonial city not directly affected by hurricanes. If hurricanes land on the Pacific coast near Acapulco (less than 190 miles away by road), inclement weather may be experienced inland, including in and around Cuernavaca.

See also:

Weather and Climates in Mexico

Practical information about living in Cuernavaca

This section contains links to guides where you can learn more about living in Cuernavaca.

Accessibility / Transport

Getting Around Cuernavaca

Getting Around

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications

Staying in contact while living in Mexico

Money and Banking

Guide to Money in Mexico | Banks & Banking in Mexico

Practical Matters

Practical Information (Travel Guide)

Auto Insurance in Mexico

How to insure your foreign-plated car in Mexico

Safety in Mexico

Latest Safety Updates

Key Attractions

Travel Guide to Cuernavaca

Chapala isn’t just a retirement haven

Since the 1940s, the ‘lakeside’ area of Chapala has been a magnet for foreign residents, particularly retired Americans and Canadians who enjoy a comfortable retirement here.  Some make their home at the lake year-round, while others arrive in the ‘high’ winter season between November and April and return to their homelands for the other half of the year.

Although the majority of residents in the area are retirees, in recent times Lake Chapala has also come to the attention of people exploring places to live and work in Mexico.  Lake Chapala has good transport links and internet services, making the location viable for remote or home-working arrangements.

A ‘turn-key’ location in a thriving local community

This lakeside area is the most comprehensively developed of all the popular regions where foreign residents live in Mexico.  The unfolding of this locality as a foreign resident enclave happened over many decades and was brought about through a series of organic events and situations which, together over time, brought people together with common interests and lifestyle priorities.

The towns situated around the lakeside offer a ‘turn-key’ lifestyle location that combines the idyllic characteristics of Mexico with familiar tones and behaviors of Anglicized culture, including an immediate community people who speak English as their principal or strong second language.

Cost of living in Lake Chapala

Ajijic is the focal point of the lakeside’s social and cultural scene, and thus the most popular (and most expensive to buy property in); while nearby Chapala and, a little further afield, Jocotepec, offer more choice and lower property prices.  Living and retiring in the Lake Chapala area is more affordable than the US, Canada, and Europe; however, it is among the more expensive inland places in Mexico to live—in part to due to the steady demand from foreign residents for property and other services here.  Our guide to living in Lake Chapala shares more details about this and you can download our guide to the cost of living for further insights (see links below).

Benefits of Lake Chapala for living, working and retirement in Mexico

When you’re short-listing potential places for living and retirement in Mexico, it’s worth exploring this lakeside area, underpinned by the three anchor towns of Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec; each one featuring a selection of charismatic local neighborhoods and conurbations.

In addition to the long-established community of foreign residents who live here, the area offers a range of benefits to residents including an ideal year-round temperate mountain climate, one of the strongest and most active local communities of foreign residents, and ready access to a wide range of amenities and services including shopping, culture, entertainment and healthcare facilities.  A major regional airport is just 20 miles away offering flights to Mexico City and internationally (Check FlightConnections.com for current routes).

Living in the lakeside towns around Chapala

Discover the lakeside area around Chapala and explore the opportunities it offers; we offer you insights, local knowledge and contacts to help you:

• Connect to our guide to living, working and retirement in Lake Chapala & environs that includes details about the different towns, features and benefits of the area, the real estate market, services and amenities and the cost of living.
• Read our latest articles related to the lakeside area
• Connect to our associate in Lake Chapala who can help you learn more and make the move
• Download free Mexico eBooks that help you consider key aspects about moving to Mexico including the cost of living and real estate in Mexico.

The book narrates the experiences of Tony and his wife Masako as they serendipitously discover San Miguel de Allende in the 1980s, and soon afterwards spontaneously decide to leave their highly-strung life situations in Los Angeles and move to live in San Miguel.

Cohan’s chronicle is a blend of personal observations about a Mexican culture that is at once alien and alluring to the new arrivals, with narratives that describe some everyday experiences and sentiments foreign residents often pass through as they establish their presence here and begin to settle into their routines and surroundings.

The memoir traverses a 15-year interval of the couple’s life together, which begins around the time of the 1985 earthquake that rocked Mexico City and concludes around the time of the book’s publication date in 2000. The narratives illustrate Mexico as it was in that era, and if you had read this book at the turn of the century, you would have recognized the continuing presence then of what Tony Cohan describes, while also mindful that Mexico was on the cusp of significant change.

To anyone who’s lived in Mexico for a good while —reading this memoir today while reflecting on 35 years of changes— it’s immediately apparent how some things have moved-on and none so much, perhaps, as their constant struggles to keep in touch with family, friends, and associates using the old long-distance telephone kiosks, and the difficulties they encounter trying to get a telephone line working at the house they buy: matters which have been consigned to the annals of history with services like cellular telephony and widespread internet access.

Some aspects of the narrative describe a San Miguel that is now long-gone—and a San Miguel which the original foreign artists who settled there in the 1950s had asserted was gone by the time Cohan’s memoir was published.

The city has changed from being a bohemian sleepy backwater town where artists mustered to cultivate their work, to one of the most popular locations in Mexico’s history; sought-after by wealthy foreigners and Mexicans buying weekend homes in the historic district, and visited by tourists from across the world.

Tony Cohan and his wife purchased their old colonial home in the central historic district of San Miguel for US$65,000—a sum that would not cover the closing costs in today’s market, where property prices easily compete with Mexico City’s most trendy neighborhoods.

Although the story describes a Mexico of three decades past, one of the remarkable aspects of the memoir is that Cohan’s descriptions of now long-gone ways and means blend with those which continue to remain firmly present in the realms of everyday Mexican life and, in that sense, the book today serves as an account that describes Mexico on its own passage through Mexican time.

The book is published in hardback, paperback, and audio versions. It’s also available as an eBook. See the Author’s website.