- My spouse and I decided to retire in Cuenca, Ecuador, yet we often found ourselves curious about alternative retirement destinations.
- We dedicated some time to explore Cancún and Playa del Carmen to understand why numerous Americans choose to live as expatriates there. retire in Mexico.
- We found ourselves delightfully astonished and captivated by the weather, stores, and various aspects of every location we visited.
In 2010, we departed from the United States and retired abroad to Cuenca , Ecuador.
Even though we're blessed with an incredible retired life overseas, we often wonder if there might be a more perfect spot for us somewhere else.
Thus, after over ten years, we embarked on a journey lasting more than 24 months to investigate various global locations for possible retirement retreats to discover our ideal spot.
Our adventure began in Mexico, favored destination among retired Americans partly because of its closeness to the US, typically more affordable living expenses, and its pleasant climate.
During our stay, we dedicated two weeks each to Cancún and Playa del Carmen, which are two of the nation's prominent destinations. popular Caribbean vacation spots .
Even though we selected popular tourist destinations, we made an effort to experience everyday life by lodging in districts away from the primary vacationer and hotel zones.
We were delightfully taken aback by Cancún.
Situated on the northeast coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula, Cancún Cancún is a significant tourist attraction in Mexico. However, it features a "hotel district" situated along the coastline, which is located several miles away from the actual city center.
Many travelers (similar to our experience on an anniversary trip years back) land at the airport, board a shuttle to reach their accommodation, and seldom venture beyond the surrounding area until they depart for home.
During this journey, we opted for an Airbnb in a residential area of downtown to get a feel for what living there would be like.
We discovered that downtown Cancún differs significantly from the extensive chain of luxurious resorts, boutique shops, and restaurants located in the hotel zone.
While strolling through the area, we encountered many humble one-story houses along with various family-run stores and eateries. The convenience of having all our everyday needs just a short walk from downtown was quite appealing to us.
Moreover, the region featured several well-known American franchises such as Walmart, offering an unexpectedly extensive range of budget-friendly items and groceries.
Moreover, a large international airport is only 20 to 30 minutes away from downtown, which is perfect for American expats Who wants to go back and see their family?
Although our apartment was far from the shoreline, an affordable bus trip made reaching the coast quite easy. Nonetheless, upon arriving at the extensive public beaches, we found ourselves let down by the limited number of accessible entry points.
It was harder to enter the beach than we expected, especially since we'd been used to walking from an oceanfront hotel directly onto the sand when we'd stayed in Cancún as tourists. This was definitely a drawback, but not an insurmountable one.
Overall, though, we were pleasantly surprised at how similar downtown Cancún felt to our current neighborhood.
Playa del Carmen seemed to offer the best of both worlds for American expats
Situated roughly one hour to the south of Cancún lies the seaside town of Playa Del Carmen Unlike Cancún, Playa del Carmen lacks a segregated hotel district apart from its residential zones.
The city boasts beaches, with the renowned Fifth Avenue just a few blocks away, followed by local residences and enterprises extending up to the main highway that stretches from Cancun through Tulum.
I liked that nearby neighborhoods could easily access the beach and popular spots like 5th Avenue. The lively area felt like Mexico's version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, filled with tourists, vendors, and live music. This was fun, though I worried it could eventually be annoying to navigate while trying to do chores and run errands on a daily basis.
Even so, the area felt overflowing with outstanding food and shopping options.
In addition to local offerings, we found popular American chains like Walmart, Sam's Club, Office Depot, and many familiar chain restaurants in the area that US expats missing home would surely enjoy.
Although Playa del Carmen doesn't have its own international airport, the one in Cancún is only about an hour away.
In general, it’s clear why retirees might opt for one of these locations.
It was thrilling to discover what else exists out there for others. U.S. citizens planning to retire overseas .
We admired the beauty and walkability of Playa del Carmen and Cancun, along with their convenient airport accessibility—ideal features for those relocating far from their families as retirees.
We can easily see why the pleasant climate, sandy shores, and various attractions might draw expatriates to either location.
As mentioned, we also recognized that the region's typically higher temperatures were not entirely suitable for our preferences. Nevertheless, for the time being, we continue to consider Cuenca as our residence.
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