Tell your neighbor you’re considering Mexico as a place to spend time and—unless they’ve been there themselves—they’ll likely go on a rant about how dangerous it is.
But, just like in America, crime is only a problem in certain areas.
Mexico is a giant country.
Comparing a place like Mazatlán to Tijuana is like comparing Malibu to Detroit.
I remind you often, but it bears repeating:
Every place we suggest to you—within Mexico and anywhere else in the world—is safe and peaceful.
And, remember, Mexico is already home to about 2 million thriving American expats, investors, and retirees.
So, what, then, is the big problem in Mexico?
Its sheer size.
For most countries we put on your radar, like Portugal or Belize, you could check out most of the best they have to offer in a few weeks.
You can’t do that in Mexico.
Mexico is not big. It’s gigantic. This is the 13th biggest country in the world, 7 times the size of Ecuador and 26 times larger than Panama.
Mexico has 12 major mountain ranges with peaks as high as 18,500 feet… and, as we’ve been discussing, 5,800 miles of coastline.
Mexico also boasts dozens of authentic Spanish-colonial cities.
I consider these this country’s hidden treasure.
Not everyone dreams of retiring to the beach. Many looking at Mexico prefer the ambiance and brilliant weather of Mexico’s colonial heartland.
I’m talking about places like…Beautiful streets and colorful facades of Guanajuato, Mexico
#1: Ajijic
Ajijic (pronounced ah-hee-HEEK) is a remarkably picturesque and friendly colonial town, a 500-year-old village on the shores of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest. Thanks to the city’s elevation (it’s located at 5,000 feet above sea level), the weather is just about perfect all year.
Ajijic’s narrow, cobblestoned streets are lined with colorful houses, along with more boutiques, galleries, and restaurants than you’d expect in a town this size.
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#2: Guanajuato
Guanajuato is another colonial gem, but it’s less polished and more natural than Mexico’s more famous expat haunts.
I’ve heard it called the “most romantic city in Mexico.”
Instead of Ajijic’s thousands of resident expats, for example, Guanajuato is home to but a few hundred. It’s a large town with everything you need—with beautiful architecture—but it offers a more “Mexican” experience, with less expat influence.
#3: Álamos
Álamos is a small town of less than 25,000 people, but the state of restoration and preservation in its historic center is beyond anything I’ve seen anywhere.
Of the dozens of Latin American cities that bill themselves as a “bohemian town that’s home to artists, writers, musicians, and poets,” Álamos is the only one where I’ve actually met a large percentage of artists, writers, musicians, and poets.
Álamos is also the place where I’ve met many single female expats. In my experience, this is one of best places in the world for a woman moving abroad on her own.
For a small-town alternative to cities like San Miguel, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca, Álamos is as good as it gets.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter
