Overview

This large country, the world’s 14th largest by area, has a population of more than 110 million and is made up of 31 distinct states. The colorful Mexican culture, beautiful landscapes, and warm-hearted people make it a favorite destination for tourists and expatriates alike. In Mexico you’ll find a diverse country with respect to geography, climate, economy, and lifestyle that draws visitors from all walks of life. In this article you’ll find a brief overview of the country with information about sub-regions and their associated climate, economy, tourism, as well as popular destinations for retirees. If you’ve ever considered buying real estate in this fine country, you’ll find all the information you need to narrow your search.

Geography and Sub Regions

At the southern tip of North America, Mexico includes a variety of landscapes from stunning beaches and remote islands, to soaring peaks and active volcanoes. Mexico is bordered by three countries, obviously the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the south.

Two mountain ranges span Mexico from north to south, the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains and the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains (which actually follow the Rocky Mountains from North America). The center of the country is divided by the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, commonly known as the Sierra Nevada. Finally, a fourth mountain range, the Sierra Madre del Sur runs through the country from Michoacán to Oaxaca.

The two major mountain ranges effectively divide the country into three regions with the Gulf of California on the west, the Gulf of Mexico on the east, and create the Mexican Plateau which runs through the center of the country. Coastal states to the west include Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guerrero and Oaxaca. To the west you’ll find the coastal states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula.
Climate
The climate in Mexico is essentially divided into two regions by the Tropic of Cancer. To the north of the twenty-fourth parallel you’ll find a more temperate climate characterized by cooler temperatures during winter months. Yet south of this imaginary divide, temperatures remain more consistent and tropical. In fact, Mexico has one of the world’s most diverse climates as temperatures drop considerably as you reach higher elevations.

North of the Tropic of Cancer enjoys more moderate temperatures. Summer tends to be hot and humid with temperatures reaching as high as 28°C (82.4°F) but the year-round average temperature of the region is around 20 to 24°C (68 to 75.2°F) because of much lower winter temperatures. Moreover, the north experiences a dryer climate than other regions and sees only sporadic rainfall. In fact, much of the north is characterized by desert landscapes and as such some regions like Monterrey, Hermosillo, and Mexicali can have very warm temperatures even in excess of 40°C (104°F).

South of the Tropic of Cancer and at elevations below 3,281ft (1,000m), including the southern Mexican plateau and the Yucatan Peninsula, have a temperature that ranges between 24 and 28°C (75.2 to 82.4°F) and weather tends to be quite warm year round. In fact, summer and winter temperatures on average differ by only around 5°C. Southern regions also tend to be wetter with rain fall reaching nearly 80 inches (2,000mm) annually.

Hurricane season (from summer to fall) affects most coastal regions of Mexico except for northern Baja and the south coast of the Bay of Campeche (near Veracruz and Villahermosa).

Climate in Popular Destinations

Acapulco is renowned for its excellent climate with year-round weather that is ideal for beach life. The rainy season in Acapulco is short and runs from May to September and winters are dry and sunny.

In Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Mayan Riviera on the Yucatan Peninsula, the weather is also quite nice. The rainy season is slightly longer, running from May to October, but the rain comes in short bursts and is very warm. September tends to be hot and humid and temperatures routinely exceed 90°F.

Cozumel is a tropical island just off the coast of Cancun and experiences pleasant day time weather year round. Evenings can be comparatively cool for the tropics and summer brings hot, humid, and rainy weather. Indeed, short tropical rains from May to September are common.

Los Cabos is located in the southern part of Baja California and is flanked by desert and water. August to November brings rain but the region gets nearly 350 days of sunshine every year. Summer months are the hottest but weather is pleasant year round.

Finally, in Puerto Vallarta, summers can be hot and humid and afternoon showers are often a refreshing break to the weather. The rainy season runs from June to October and during the spring and winter evenings can be cool. It’s not unusual to see “locals” both Mexican and Americans wearing sweaters or light coats in the mornings. As I’m sitting having coffee in the mornings in my tee shirt and shorts I smile to myself thinking of what my friends are wearing back home to protect from the wind, rain, snow and freezing weather.

Economy

Mexico has the world’s 11th largest economy and has seen positive growth since a short period of stagnation in 2001. The industrial and service sectors of Mexico are expanding rapidly and the infrastructure of the country is always being upgraded. Currently, Mexico has free trade agreements with more than 40 countries, the most important of which is the North American Free Trade Agreement. The major industries of Mexico include the automotive industry, tourism, electronics, and of course, agriculture.
Tourism
Mexico is annually one of the top 10 world destinations for tourism and as such represents one of the largest tourism industries in the world. Mesoamerican ruins and beach resorts draw millions of tourists every year with peak tourism season in December, July, and August. The blend of Spanish-European and Mesoamerican cultures makes Mexico a particularly interesting country to visit. Tourism from the United States is especially popular as it is the favorite destination for Mexico’s neighbors to the north.

Popular Retirement Destinations

In recent years, Mexico has benefited from a number of burgeoning retirement destinations. Retirees especially enjoy coastal locales for retirement like Mazatlan, Loreto (in Baja), the Mayan Riviera, and Acapulco. Moreover, increasing numbers of retirees are looking for destinations closer to the United States and Puerto Penasco and San Felipe have emerged as favorites.

Mexico has plenty to offer. It is a country with beautiful beaches, an unbeatable climate and economical real estate prices. Mexico, however, has something else to offer as well — affordable health care. With the high cost of medical care in the United States and with so many Americans lacking medical coverage, Mexico’s health care system is becoming more and more attractive to Americans. As a result, medical tourism in Mexico is on the rise, with many Americans becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of crossing the border to seek treatment.

While medical tourism is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, Mexico is the most popular destination for Americans seeking medical care for several reasons. First of all, the proximity of Mexico to the United States is a major factor. Traveling south across the border for a surgical procedure or for a consultation involves relatively short distances and relatively small amounts of time. However, the main reason why more Americans are participating in medical tourism in Mexico has to do with the fact that medical care in Mexico costs far less than medical care in the United States, and yet is generally of excellent quality.

Many Americans who travel to Mexico for necessary or elective medical procedures are pleasantly surprised by the quality of care that they receive. In fact, some Americans who have taken part in medical tourism in Mexico believe that Mexican healthcare emphasizes heart and health as opposed to the monetary emphasis which many believe is the focus of American health care. Yet, even with its excellent quality, Mexican medical care is available at a fraction of the cost of American medical care.

Medical procedures carried out by doctors in Mexico will typically cost one third of what they would cost in the United States. Some procedures, particularly dental procedures, can even cost as little as one fifth of typical American prices. Not surprisingly, these price differences grab the attention of many Americans looking for quality, affordable medical care, including seniors who want to take good care of their health without sacrificing their financial security during their retirement years.

One of the most popular options for Americans with respect to medical tourism in Mexico is the Atlantic Health International Hospital in Mazatlan.

This state-of-the-art facility provides high quality care from US Board certified physicians in a resort setting. With luxurious recovery accommodations as well as outstanding all-around care, the AHI Hospital in Mazatlan provides top-quality medical vacations while still offering medical procedures at a fraction of what they would cost in the United States. Services offered at this Mazatlan hospital include plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, weight loss surgery, physical therapy and radiology and laboratory services.

While a wide range of medical services are available to Americans in Mexico, some of the most common procedures involved in medical tourism include dental procedures as well as surgeries such as knee and hip surgeries. With several high class medical facilities such as the AHI Mazatlan hospital located in the country and with the low cost of both travel and medical care, Mexico is becoming the destination of choice for an increasing number of Americans who are interested in protecting both their health and their finances by becoming involved in medical tourism.