Seven Reasons to Retire in the Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya, Mexico¹s stunning Caribbean coastline, is one of the top destinations for foreigners to find their happily ever after — and it’s one of the region’s top retirement destinations. To learn more, Caribbean Journal talked to Riviera Maya Property Consultants, an expat-operated real estate and architectural firm located in Tulum, the in-vogue destination for North Americans and Europeans. The company is basing a big portion of its target clientele on snowbirds and retirees from the U.S. and Canada. The company provided us with seven reasons that explain why foreigners are so in love with Tulum and Mexico in general — and why you should join them in your retirement.

A Strong U.S. dollar against the Mexican peso. The exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Mexican peso keeps growing in favor of American dollar, and this has been a steady trend throughout years, meaning your dollar will most likely have more and more value in Mexico over the years. There were small fluctuations, but the trend remained the same throughout the years, according to Trading Economics report and multiple other sources. At the time of writing, the rate is 18.81 MXP to 1 USD.

A Relaxing, laid back lifestyle. Tulum has a relaxed lifestyle, incredible beaches, delicious food and a growing expat community. The vibe of Tulum could be described as relaxed but sophisticated, without busy nightlife and traffic.

Plenty of activities to stay active and healthy. The retirees can enjoy a healthy lifestyle in Tulum, with many options to choose their favorite activity ­ biking, beach walking, yoga, swimming, diving, or Spa relaxation. It¹s hard not to be healthy in Tulum, since most food in stores and restaurants is locally grown and fresh juices are offered everywhere.

Entertainment and dining. As a place to retire, Tulum provides with all the services that you might need. There are vegetable markets, a couple of large supermarkets, pharmacies, grocery stores and excellent restaurants, both in the hip beach zone, as well as local and laid back ones in town. The town is also attracting a growing number of top chefs.

The beach on the Riviera Maya in Puerto Morelos.

Affordable healthcare. Health care is much more affordable than in the U.S., and has high international standards. Tulum has three small hospitals, and for more sophisticated care, modern hospitals are located 40 miles away in Playa del Carmen and 80 miles away in Cancun.

Real estate opportunity.  At the same time, Tulum is also an emerging boomtown, where investing in real estate is likely to bring additional value to your second home over the next years. Luxury 602-square-foot suites in Tulum were sold from $127,000 in 2009. Now they are listed for $265,000, which is a $138,000 increase. Monthly rents for a two-bedroom, furnished condo range from $550 to $1,200 a month. You can still buy a lot in a developing residential neighborhood for $30K USD and then build your own house as you want it.

Culture. Mexico is very culturally rich, and each region has its traditions, food, folklore, and temperament. The Riviera Maya and Tulum is a Mayan land, dotted with ancient Mayan cities, such as Tulum¹s Mayan ruins, perched high on a cliff, overlooking the Caribbean Sea or Cobá, an ancient city with the tallest pyramid in Yucatan. Merida, 4 hours away, is a fascinating tropical Mexican city that blends rich Mayan heritage with colonial Spanish culture.

Whether your retirement is approaching or it is still far away, it’s nice to dream about that day when you will kick back, relax and enjoy the best that life has to offer. Mexico greets all foreigners with open arms, no matter where they come from.