Forums > Areas > Southern Mexico

bethlattimer

Jun 3, 2005, 5:56 AM

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Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Due to the recent announcement of United Airlines terminating it's pension plan, my husband and I are considering retiring from the FL Keys to Mexico's Carribbean coast to make the lesser $$ hopefully go further. Would love to hear from anyone familiar with Carribbean coast living to point us in the right direction on desireable locations...we would like a waterfront condo and due to owning a 50' boat we will need marina facilities in the area, good medical facilities due to the fact we are all getting older..we don't speak Spanish so some gringos would be wonderful!! Any help on areas to zero in on would be much appreciated. Also, maybe we are living in a dream world thinking we can live cheaper in Mexico, so any comments where you "tell it like it is or shoot from the hip" would be appreciated. Thanks so much!!

LisaO

Jun 3, 2005, 6:18 AM

Post #2 of 14 (2584 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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You might check into an area called Playacar. It is just south (I believe) of Playa del Carmen. If I'm not mistaken there is a small marina there, along with condos, homes, and a golf course. It is not that far from Cancun, where you would be able to find excellent healthcare.

bethlattimer

Jun 3, 2005, 6:21 AM

Post #3 of 14 (2581 views)

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Re: [LisaO] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Thank you Lisa...we will be doing an exploratory trip 6/12 to the Cancun area and we will check it out.

sfmacaws

Jun 3, 2005, 1:02 PM

Post #4 of 14 (2546 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Puerto Aventuras sounds like what you are interested in. It is south of Playa del Carmen but before Akumal. It is a town created around a lagoon and the caribbean beach with many different types of housing. There are lots of well designed condos, hotels, and private homes. The lagoon is surrounded by walkways with restaurants and other stores. It has become a very successful small town centered on the marina and the beach.

Whether it would be cheaper than the Florida keys or not, I don't know. I'm not familiar with the keys but Puerto Aventurtas is a high end development with costs higher than in other parts of México.

A bit less developed is the town where my condo is, Akumal. There is anchoring for private boats in the main bay and many condos and private homes stretched along the adjacent bay, Half Moon. You might still need to anchor your boat up in Puerto Aventuras for more safety from storms and more security.

Playacar, mentioned in a previous post, is another development and is just south of Playa del Carmen. It has private homes, hotels and condos as well but I don't know about a marina. The homes I've seen there are off the beach in a development and it looks - just from driving through - that most of the beach front is occupied by the hotels. I really haven't investigated though, my spanish teacher lives there but a couple blocks back from the beach. There is also a very nice bird sanctuary there that I visit frequently.

The whole Mayan Riviera is a tourist destination and is multi-lingual with english the most common second or third language. You will not have a problem living comfortably without any spanish. You will miss a lot, pay more for some things and you will need to get translation assistance at times but it can be done fairly easily in this area.

Costs are hard to estimate and vary for everyone but since you are relating this to living in the Florida Keys where I imagine costs are very high, it may be cheaper for you. Coming from California, I find that I can live in this area cheaper than I could on the coast in Calif. If I were coming from a less expensive part of the US, I think the costs would shock me.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

bethlattimer

Jun 3, 2005, 2:22 PM

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Re: [sfmacaws] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Thanks Jonna for taking the time to share the info..much appreciated!

bethlattimer

Jun 3, 2005, 2:24 PM

Post #6 of 14 (2536 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Thanks for the info...anything nice north of Cancun??

Gringal

Jun 3, 2005, 3:35 PM

Post #7 of 14 (2530 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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It's a real shame that the pension you've been counting on just got whacked. It looks like you are now members of a large club of retirees who have had to change their plans to fit their means. I'm over in the colonial heartland area, love it, and it has made a substantial positive difference in our lifestyle to move here.
I don't have any information about how costs on the Caribbean coast compare to other areas of Mexico, but I can suggest a book that covers most of the areas where people like to retire throughout Mexico, including both coasts. It also contains a lot of valuable information about banking, investing in real estate and general coping. Very popular and easily available: "Choose Mexico", by John Howells. Be sure to get the latest edition, since much has changed since the earlier ones were written; primarily the information about bringing appliances. For good or ill, we are now in a Costco, Home Depot and Walmart world, usually within driving distance.

For learning Spanish the easy way, I recommend Visual Link Spanish, an interactive audio-visual course that sets up on your home computer. We have found the lessons very helpful.
Best of luck to you.

(This post was edited by Gringal on Jun 3, 2005, 3:38 PM)

bethlattimer

Jun 3, 2005, 3:45 PM

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Re: [Gringal] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Thanks so much Gringal for the info...will go to amazon.com to order it now.

sacc3850

Jun 4, 2005, 8:17 PM

Post #9 of 14 (2485 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Date: June 4, 2005 10:00 PM EDST
Hola, bethlattimer. Got back in March from 7980 mile drive from Virginia to Yucatan peninsula and back. Got to see plenty of the Caribe coast, and will be snowbird from now on. There are some nice spots for a couple with sloop. Suggest looking at Puerto Morelos, some 40 minutes south of Cancun. Great harbor, and not near reefs. Further south is Puerto Aventuras, with many slips, and very upscale. See the website: www.puertoaventuras.com. There are some very nice condos to rent and this is off season. The prices should be right, and they have them for short term rentals.
Playa del Carmen is my last choice. Fastest growing city in
all Mexico, and who needs it? Akumal and Puerto Avenuras and
Puerto Morelos all would be better choices. Cozumel has great harbor, but is an island, though a large one. For sailing, the Caribe is ideal. Always a nice breeze. Suggest that your husband check with the Port Capitain in any Caribe
town that you would be interested in. With a fifty footer, you could live aboard. Have traveled to Mexico over a dozen times in the past thirty-five years. This past one, the best that I have ever enjoyed. Get a good guide book and try
the budget hotels. Most are very clean annd have hot water and very hospitable owners. Try the "Posada Amor" in Puerto Morelos. Nice young American couple are owners and a room is less than $ 30 USD. Eat at "Los Pelicanos" there on the waterfront for the best seafodd that you will ever eat at very reasonable prices. North of Akumal, but south of Puerto Aventuras, is Xpuha. Forget the Xpuha Palace at $175
a day. Go south from there on the access road(a dirt road), which is a bit below the level of the highway, Route 307, and drive past the various entrances until you get to the one marked # 6, "Xpuha"(Bonanza). They have RV spaces, camping, and about six or more masonry rooms to rent on two levels. At less than $ 25 daily, you will get the same lovely Caribe sunrise and the same lovely sand and seashore as the suckers in the Xpuha Palace. Two double beds, private bath with toilet and shower, and large concrete utility sink for your ice chest. Very popular with Mexican families. Maid service daily. Watched the Super Bowl on sattelite TV in a "palapa" there. No hot water, so shower in the afternoon, and you will find the water a good bit warmer than in the morning. Plus, you can drive up to Puerto Aventuras, or down to Akumal from there, and eat in some fine restaurants at reasonable prices. Food in Mexico is much cheaper than the U.S. So are hotels and homes and apartments. For land, the Caribe is much more expensive, but there is only ONE Caribe. Phone service is much higher, and gasoline is about the same. Cabs are dirt cheap, as are buses, both first class and "lujo"(luxury). On a rating scale from one to a hundred, I rate the Caribe a 95, and Florida about a 30. Buen suerte. Spanish is an easy language to learn, and you have over 100 million Mexicans who will be pleased to teach and correct you. You will love it. Most either love it or hate it. I know you both will love it. Buen viaje! sacc3850

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bethlattimer

Jun 4, 2005, 9:32 PM

Post #10 of 14 (2475 views)

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Re: [sacc3850] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Wlw..what a tour...thanks so much for your time in providng all the details. GRACIAS!!

smokesilver

Jun 6, 2005, 10:04 AM

Post #11 of 14 (2444 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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I have visited all of the places mentioned in the postings and, in some cases several times. This coastal area is one of my favorite places in Mexico. A few facts: A house cannot be bought in Puerta Aventuras for less than $350K. Great condos are abundant. The golf course at PA is a 9 hole & costs $100 per round(2 rounds 0f 9). The hook-up charge for boaters (includes electricity) is $8 per day. Many boaters at the PA marina live aboard their boats & they come from all over the WORLD including the USA. There are so many places to see & things to do in this area an exploratory visit is necessary prior to any decision on where to settle.

bethlattimer

Jun 6, 2005, 10:09 AM

Post #12 of 14 (2441 views)

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Re: [smokesilver] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Thank you Smokesilver..Port Adventurus was on our list. Marina charge sounds very fair. Gacias for the info!! BETH

karenscott

Jun 8, 2005, 6:13 PM

Post #13 of 14 (2396 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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Try Puerto Morelos -- they are building a new marina called El Cid -- specifically for larger boats from Florida. It also has lots of xpats from Canada and US -- it is a great little town and only 20 minutes to the airport and 25 minutes to a great hispital in Cancun

test

Jun 9, 2005, 2:20 PM

Post #14 of 14 (2369 views)

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Re: [bethlattimer] Retiring on Mexico's Carribbean coast

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i would google Puerto Aventuras. it is 15 miles south of playa del carmen and has a deep marina also go to locogringo.com and look at overhead photos of the entire coast

I hope this helps

ps we really like the keys and that statepark Honda or hondo just after the 7 mile bridge