Protect your personal items and defend against litigation

Although home insurance is not obligatory by law in Mexico (if your property is mortgaged, the lender may insist the property is covered), it’s prudent to factor-in a property insurance policy to your annual budget to protect your assets and, importantly, to defend against third party liabilities.

Third party liability in relation to home ownership doesn’t seem as obvious a risk as it is with driving a car, but in the event of an accident or mishap involving your property, your liabilities as home owner to third parties will become apparent.

Storm damage can leave you liable

Consider the trees in your garden. Trees falling in a wind storm can come down with tremendous force, and will easily cause material damage to your own property—and possibly to your neighbor’s. In acute cases they can cause bodily harm or fatalities.  Mexico experiences stormy days, even in the highlands away from the coasts, and some of those storms will cause trees to fall down.  Garden walls can also be subject to sudden and unexpected collapse, especially during an earthquake, or if they are old or have weakened foundations.

Condo unit ‘bloc’ coverages are limited

A common situation where homeowners unwittingly become exposed to liabilities is when they own a condominium, or live inside a gated community. They think the insurance policy —paid for through their Home Owner Association fees— that covers the building or the estate also covers them personally.  It usually doesn’t.  For example, when a water leak from the kitchen or shower room in your condo causes damage to units below yours, the repair bill becomes your responsibility.

Domestic workers and accidents

Another situation where homeowners can become liable is in relation to the domestic help they employ.  A lot of foreign residents in Mexico hire maids and gardeners.  If your maid falls down the stairs when she’s cleaning, or your gardener hurts himself while working in your garden, you become responsible to them in those situations.  Read this article to learn more about insuring domestic workers in your home in Mexico and how an adequate insurance policy can cover you.

Home insurance as an integral part of  your budget

Home insurance policies are often overlooked and sometimes ignored as an unnecessary expense by foreign homeowners here in Mexico, especially those with homes situated away from hurricane-prone areas. While hurricanes are among the most apparent risks in relation to property, powerful wind storms inland can also cause serious property damage, and give rise to third party liability in relation to events and people related to your home: if for no other reason, you should consider your insurance arrangements to mitigate those liabilities.

Learn more about caring for and insuring your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes extensive information to help you plan and care for your home life in Mexico through guides, articles and free eBooks:

• Free eBook: House maintenance and home security
• Latest articles about property insurance
• Articles about real estate in Mexico

Dramatic storms that put on a show

The storms are usually preceded by gusts of wind and begin with a dramatic show of lightning bolts and sounds of thunder that may rattle windows and can sometimes cause temporary power cuts.

When the winds drop, the rains arrive swiftly and suddenly; if you’re caught out in a storm with nowhere to shelter, expect to become drenched through.  When the rains pour, the temperature falls and the air freshens, taking the edge off discomfort that high summer heat and humidity can bring.

Cool evenings and fresh mornings

When an afternoon rain storm passes, the evening or night air is left fresh and cooled off.  It’s unusual for a heavy rain storm to last more than two or three hours —prolonged rains are usually caused by a tropical depression passing through the region— and most evenings draw in feeling fresh accompanied by lingering sweet fragrances of flora hanging in the air.

Some regions experience a regular schedule of overnight storms during the rain season.  These storms tend to brew during the late afternoon hours with heavy overnight downpours yielding to fresh, often bright, new mornings.

On some days, early morning fog or cloud cover may linger and most days this evaporates by late morning or early lunchtime leaving the day feeling fresh and bright.

The rain season by region

Mexico offers visitors and residents a unique opportunity to enjoy different perspectives during the rainy season which runs, —more or less— from June to October each year.

Copper Canyon and the Yucatán peninsula

This is especially so when you’re visiting areas of outstanding natural beauty, for example, the Copper Canyon. the southern state of Chiapas, and the Yucatán region, as this is the time of year when the flora are blooming, and you can expect to enjoy some wonderful colors and scents that you simply won’t experience during the dry season.  The storms that arrive during this time of year, and which almost always arrive in the afternoon or overnight, also provide a natural break to the day and cool down the air perfectly.

The mountain highlands

The central and southern highlands depend on the rains each year for growing crops as well as to replenish the underground aquifers that provide essential water supplies to these regions through Mexico’s dry season.  Rain storms in these mountainous areas of Mexico tend to be the most dramatic, with lightning shows that cross open skies and thunder that reverberates dramatically through valleys and resounds upon steep mountain cliffs—at times with thunder strong enough to create a spectacular natural outdoor sound show.

Coastal plains

If you’re planning to visit to one of Mexico’s coastal regions during the rainy season, the afternoon storms usually don’t interfere with the process of getting a tan, or enjoying the beach and a swim in the ocean: you simply schedule your day around the afternoon storms and enjoy evenings that feel cool and refreshed after a hot day.

The Baja peninsula

The stretch of land immediately south of California, USA, is Baja California—this is Mexico’s large northern peninsula surrounded by the Sea of Cortés (also called the Gulf of California or Mar Bermejo) on the west, and the Pacific Ocean on the east side.  The weather in this region is characterized by hot daytime temperatures with cooler areas along the coasts. Rainy days are rare outside of the brief ‘rainy season’ that typically runs from August through to early October (September is the typically the wettest month), although tropical cyclones between July and October can bring ad-hoc torrential rains to this region.

Tropical cyclones during the rain season in Mexico

Hurricanes are most likely to emerge between July and October: as the hemispherical temperatures build-up, so do these storms which are born over the ocean with some making landfall on Mexico’s coasts.  It’s impossible to predict how frequent or how hard hurricanes will hit in any given year, although the coastal areas are always on the front-line of a hurricane landing.  Inland, the effect of the storm is mitigated by Mexico’s impressive mountain ranges which break-up storm systems and transmute them into overcast skies and rain, although temperatures usually remain warm.

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climates as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• The rain season begins in May or June.
• The dry season begins around October or November.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Check individual location guides here on Mexperience for climate by location.
• You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.

Many of the principal underwriters (the big companies which cover loses on insurance products) have had a moratorium in place since 2015 pending a review of the data and risks associated with insuring property in the Yucatán region.

Our home insurance associate, MexPro, offers homeowners in Mexico who have residential property situated on the Yucatán peninsula —that includes the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo— residential property insurance quotes for properties in those states.

This is welcome news to the thousands of people who have been trying to get insurance for their property investment in the region, as previously only specialized insurance brokers situated locally would quote for coverages, and then only under less-than-ideal terms.

Learn more about caring for and insuring your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes extensive information to help you plan and care for your home life in Mexico through guides, articles and free eBooks:

• Latest articles about property insurance
• Articles about real estate in Mexico

About hurricanes in Mexico

Hurricanes, like earthquakes, are unpredictable natural phenomena.

More properly termed as Tropical Cyclones, a hurricane is a cyclone of highest intensity when its sustained-wind speed reaches at least 74 miles per hour.  As the storm moves across the sea, it gathers energy and force which dissipate when the storm passes overland. Hurricanes can cause substantial damage to structures and property on or near the coast where it makes landfall, and its residues usually dump drenching rains on affected areas further inland.

Hurricane activity each year

Some years can pass-by with little or no hurricane activity; other years can bring a series of hurricanes in quick succession and of varying force.

Hurricanes can arrive in Mexico anytime from late spring to late autumn, although most years, hurricane-force storms will usually appear later in the summer or early autumn.  It’s impossible to predict precisely how frequent the storms may be, how intense any particular storm may become, or how many will make landfall in any given year. The incidence of hurricane-force storms diminish materially when temperatures cool down from November onward.

Some hurricanes traverse the ocean alongside the coasts without making landfall; however, most do arrive on land at some point.  Strong storms will bring high winds and may cause structural damage along the coasts.  As they move further inland towards the central highlands, the storm’s force is diminished by Mexico’s impressive mountain ranges, although their presence can cause several days of heavy rains or overcast, and noticeably cooler, weather inland.

Being prepared for hurricane-force storms

Sophisticated weather monitoring systems, communications technology, and modern building specifications now mitigate much of the human risk associated with the storms, although the strongest hurricanes can and do cause widespread damage to property, disrupt power and communications systems, and can severely affect transport systems.

In Mexico, tropical and hurricane-force storms are most most prevalent between July and October —the hottest months of the year— with September and October usually the most active months.

People who live and work in hurricane-affected areas are accustomed to annual storm activity and know how to prepare and respond.  Contemporary hotel and home structures in Mexico are built to withstand storms and earthquakes; and while none can be said to be wholly-immune from nature’s forces, construction methods used in the most modern structures have significantly mitigated risks.

Insuring against hurricane damage

Homeowners with property situated in storm-prone areas along Mexico’s coasts can insure themselves against physical damage and loss.  Prior-warning systems and procedures mean that locals and visitors can prepare, or evacuate if necessary.

Discover Mexico’s weather and climates

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climate as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• The rain season begins in May/June and yields to the dry season in October/November
• Check individual travel guides here on Mexperience for climate by location. You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico

Insuring your property in Mexico is an essential service you need to consider as part of your budget planning. Covering your house, personal property, and any watercraft your own will mitigate your liabilities in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Insure your home in Mexico against natural disasters and unforeseen events

Mexperience provides you with comprehensive insights about insuring your home and personal goods in Mexico.  Connect to our articles for details:

• Overview of insurance coverages for your home in Mexico
• Choosing the right insurance policy for your Mexican home
• Practical Checklist for home insurance coverages
• Protecting your home from burglars
• Insurance for domestic workers at your home
• Protecting against major damage to your home
• See all articles about property insurance in Mexico

In legal terms, there is no such thing as a ‘private beach’ in Mexico.  The Mexican Constitution decrees all beaches to be publicly-accessible federal property and as such people have right of access to them anytime.  There are some legal exceptions to the access rule, most notably beaches classed or reserved for military use.

Just about every major beach destination in Mexico has stretches of beach which have no hotel or other property development near them.   They are usually frequented by people playing ball sports, relaxing, sunbathing, having a picnic, or just watching the world go by.  Some of them have palm groves or other shaded areas in the immediate vicinity; some also have beach-bars or kiosks selling a range of take-away food and drinks.  These public areas are an ideal way to enjoy the local beaches and the sea if your home is situated inland from the beach front.

When you own a home near the beach, keep in mind that the salty sea air will create more wear and tear on your home than a property situated inland.  Careful choice of materials (if you are building or remodeling your home) and a regular maintenance program will ensure that the structure of your home and any outbuildings remains in good order.  Regular house maintenance prevents you from having to pay for higher repair and restoration costs later.

Summers in Mexico near the beach can be very hot and sultry.  While some people can get by using a ceiling fan, many people find that air conditioning is essential to stay cool during the hottest months (May-October)—and particularly to get a good night’s sleep.  If you’re building your own home near the beach, there are design elements that you can employ to promote natural cooling and air ventilation, and thus reduce your energy costs.  However, you will probably need some form of air conditioning and it’s relatively expensive to run because air conditioners consume large quantities of electricity, so keeping cool through the summer can become a line item on your home budget in these hotter climates.

If the area where you are buying your home is subject to tropical storms and hurricanes, you will need to buy a home insurance policy that covers your property for damage caused by these.  You can learn more about how to protect your home from unforeseen events on our comprehensive guide to Insuring Property in Mexico.

The storm was described by meteorologists as ‘the strongest on record’, but concerns about catastrophic damage and casualties did not come to pass and Patricia was reclassified as a Tropical Storm by the next day as it continued its path north-northeast, with its residues causing heavy rains for affected areas.  No casualties or widespread damage have been reported in any of the states affected by the hurricane.

As a precaution, tourists staying in Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo were evacuated, toll booths on highways in the affected regions were opened-up to allow free passage of road traffic, and four regional airports were closed with all flights cancelled; flight operations resumed the following day.

September and October are the months when sea temperatures in the north Pacific are at their warmest, and so this is the height of the Hurricane Season in Mexico.

See Also: Climates and Weather in Mexico

The weather and climates in Mexico are affected by a combination of the season, what part of Mexico you are in, and what the elevation is there. This guide explains Mexico’s climates and weather by season and region and contains links to relevant articles about Mexico’s climates.

See Also: When To Go Mexico (Seasons & Climate)

Mexico weather and climates Summary

Coasts: Hot and humid; can be subject to hurricanes during hurricane season (see below for details).

Climates inland at elevation

Warm, Spring-like year round, although it can become cooler during December thru March.

The hottest months in Mexico

The hottest months are April & May in the South, and July to September on Pacific Coast (Including Baja), and extremely hot in the Yucatan May to September.  Also read about the dry season, below.

The coolest months in Mexico

Vary by region, but generally December, January, February; the Yucatan can still experience hot weather even in the coolest months.

Rain season in Mexico

Mexico’s rainy season runs (generally) from May/June to October (sometimes extends to November) each year. Most regions south of the Tropic of Cancer (near Mazatlán) are affected. Rain storms usually arrive in the late afternoon accompanied by thunder and lightning, creating torrential downpours before passing and leaving the evenings dry and cooled off.
See also: Mexico’s Rain Season

Dry season in Mexico

When the season rains finish in the late fall the cycle begins to unveil a significant change as the moisture evaporates from the ground and the air becomes noticeably drier.  Learn more about the dry season in Mexico.

Hurricane season in Mexico

June, July, August, September, October (sometimes extends into November): Can affect weather on the Yucatan Peninsula, (e.g. Cancun), as well as weather on Mexico’s Pacific coast, from Baja California southwards, and as well climates along Mexico’s Gulf coast.
See also: Hurricane Season in Mexico

Detailed weather charts for Mexico

The BBC has launched detailed weather charts for Mexico, including satellite images, temperatures, pressure maps and forecasts for 32 cities across the country.
See: BBC Weather (Mexico)

When to go to Mexico

Our detailed guide, When To Go To Mexico explains more about Mexico’s seasons, climates and terrains.

See Also: Autumn Climates, Winter Climates, Spring Climates

Climates by Region in Mexico