Tulum is a great place to visit and stay at in Mexico. While most people are mostly acquainted with Cancun in Mexico, too few people know about the beauty of Tulum. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, this town is the place to go for the adventurous traveler, by offering a perfect combination of tranquility, seclusion and adventure. Exploring the ruins, snorkeling, enjoying the beaches and visiting the nature reserves are only a few of the multiples activities you can do in Tulum. Here are some of the highlights you may want to look into if you decide to spend some times in this beautiful old Mayan town, just south of Playa Del Carmen.

Mayan Ruins

First, Tulum is often associated with the Mayan ruins, and for good reasons. The famous Mayan ruins in Tulum are located on the beachside and offer a spectacular view. The remains of that once big Mayan town are one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites and are certainly a must-see for any traveler. Mayan are known for their remarkable architectural and cultural accomplishments. Some of the ruins are over 1400 years old and are impressively well preserved. Among the ruins, the “castillo”, or the lighthouse, surrounds the city square and was used to guard and watch for any approaching enemy. Tulum appears to have been an important worship site, therefore has many altars, temples and shrines.

Cenotes Park

Of course, Mayan ruins are not everything in Tulum. If you are interested in adventure, try the hidden worlds of Cenotes Park, where you will get experience cavern diving and snorkeling. You might even have heard of the Hidden Worlds of Cenotes if you have seen the IMAX movie, “Journey into Amazing Caves”, which was filmed there. The Cenotes offers you amazing snorkeling or diving in fresh crystal clear waters. Swimming through the underground waters of the park, surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites, this experience will be phenomenal. Guided tours welcomes everyone, including beginners.

Punta Laguna

If you are going to Tulum, make sure to bring some walking shoes to visit Punta Laguna, located at less than a 30 minutes drive from town. The forests lovers will enjoy the 5000 hectare wide nature reserve which Punta Laguna is part of. Punta Laguna is an eco-touristic place where you can observe the nature and wildlife. Throughout your excursion, you will get to watch spider monkeys in the wild, as well as spectacular views of the jungle flora. On the jungle trails, you might see many more wild animals. An excursion to Punta Laguna, is a truly inspiring experience.

Tulum also has amazing coastal landscapes, and the ocean there provides a great diving or snorkeling excursions with the second largest barrier reef in the world, and untouched coral, great coral formations and an amazing sea life with pleasant surprises. The landscapes in and nearby Tulum are very varied and extremely beautiful. In Tulum, you will find a little bit of everything, and something to do for anyone. So this year, enjoy the Caribbean sea and visit Tulum.

Congratulations – you are embarking on an exciting road trip adventure to Mexico. You have your vehicle tuned and all of your gear packed, and now it is time to purchase your Mexican tourist auto insurance. Your Mexican auto insurance coverage decision could be the most important decision you make, but unfortunately it is often one of the most rushed and least researched decisions that many Mexico travelers make. Do not make the mistake of assuming that all Mexican insurance is the same, because the differences in insurance coverages and benefits can vary tremendously between Mexico insurance companies. Even though researching insurance coverage is not very exciting for most people, this article will show you how 5 to 10 minutes of research on the internet could save you thousands of dollars and many frustrating hours if you were to actually need to use your Mexico insurance to pay for a loss.

Use the internet to quote and purchase Mexican tourist auto insurance

The vast majority of Mexican auto insurance is now purchased directly from the internet. There are a number of websites that sell Mexico insurance, and buying your insurance from the internet makes a lot of sense for the customer. Would you rather wait till the last minute to buy your insurance at the border, or would you prefer to buy your insurance from the convenience of your own computer before you leave on your trip to Mexico? Most customers prefer to get their insurance taken care of ahead of time.

The best websites to buy your Mexico insurance from are ones that offer multiple Mexico insurance companies. This allows you to do comparison shopping through one website instead of filling out multiple quotation forms on multiple websites. One good Mexican insurance website with a comparison insurance rater will save you a lot of time and confusion.

Which websites can be trusted?

Before getting your insurance quote, make sure to look for a valid insurance license and contact information. Also, you may want to look for a ‘Surplus Lines Broker’ license number. A surplus lines broker is an insurance broker who has a direct contract with the Mexican insurance companies and is licensed to sell foreign insurance coverage within the United States. A surplus lines broker license is a good sign that the website is run by a company who specializes in Mexico insurance. If the insurance license is not a surplus lines broker license, this means the website is most likely run by an insurance agent who is selling through a surplus lines broker. This does not mean the products on the website are not valid, but you may not receive the same level of customer service as you would from a surplus lines broker who specializes entirely in Mexican insurance. You may also want to look for a Better Business Bureau listing and some sort of internet security approval such as Hacker Safe or McAfee Secure to ensure that your information will be secure during your internet transaction.

Mexico insurance coverage to look for

Once you have selected a website that sells Mexico tourist auto insurance, you will fill out the quick insurance quote form. Within a minute, you should be able to get a firm quote and begin researching the benefits of the insurance products offered. Remember, this will be a much quicker and streamlined process if you use a website that offers multiple competing insurance companies all under one quoting system (a comparative quote rater).

Look for a chart below or above the insurance prices that clearly explains exactly what the Mexico insurance limits are and what is actually covered. In this chart, you will want to look at the following categories:

Deductibles: The best Mexican insurance policies will offer fixed deductibles, meaning the deductibles will be locked at a set amount regardless of what the value of your vehicle is. Some of the less expensive policies will base deductibles on a percentage of the vehicle value. If the vehicle’s value is less than $20,000, percentage based deductibles may be fine, but when vehicle values get up in the $30,000 range or higher, the percentage based deductibles can get very high. If the website does not specifically list the deductibles, you should not use that website!

US Hourly Labor Rates for Repairs Made in the US or Canada: In the old days, most Mexican auto insurance companies tried to make customers repair their vehicles in Mexico. Repairs made in Mexico instead of the US were often much less expensive for the Mexican insurance companies, and many customers were unwilling to leave their car in Mexico, so the company got out of paying these claims. Today, many of the better Mexico insurance programs allow you to fix your vehicle in the US or Canada if you wish. The catch is that some of the less expensive Mexican insurance programs will only pay a limited hourly labor rate for repairs made in the US (some as low a $20 per hour). This means the customer would have to pay the difference in hourly labor rates out of their pocket. The best Mexican insurance programs will pay very high US labor rates such as $70 per hour or state that they will pay whatever the current US hourly labor rate is. These policies could significantly minimize your out of pocket expenses in the event of a claim. If the Mexico insurance website does not specify if repairs in the US are allowed or what the hourly labor rate is, do not use that website to purchase your Mexican insurance!

Vandalism and Partial Theft Coverage: Vandalism and partial theft (meaning only part of the car is stolen such as the tires, door panels, etc) is typically not covered by standard Mexican auto insurance. In the past few years the higher quality Mexican insurance programs have started to offer this coverage in their enhanced coverage programs. If you want to protect yourself against as many types of losses as possible, you should look for this coverage.

Liability Limits: This is the portion of the Mexican insurance policy that pays for damages you cause to third parties. This coverage is essential when traveling in Mexico. Most people in the industry feel that $50,000 worth of liability insurance is probably the minimum you should consider. Some of the best Mexican insurance programs will go up to $300,000 combined single limit (a lump sum for property damage or bodily injury damages), but it will also increase the insurance premium. Some customers wish to carry these higher limits to work in tandem with their US umbrella liability policies. You may want to ask your US insurance provider if your umbrella insurance will recognize your Mexico auto insurance as a primary coverage.

Medical Payments: This is the portion of the Mexico insurance policy that pays for medical costs for you and your passengers (people inside your vehicle). $2,000 per person with a total of $10,000 per accident is the lowest limit you should consider, but many policies will offer much higher limits. Some of the better policies will also increase this amount if you are hit by an uninsured motorist who is at fault. You may want to check with your US or Canadian health insurance provider to make sure they will cover you for medical costs incurred while traveling in Mexico. If not, you may also want to research an international health insurance plan – but that is a different subject.

Legal Service: Make sure your Mexico insurance includes legal service or legal assistance. This coverage will pay for any court costs, attorney fees, or bail payments that are a result of a traffic accident in Mexico. The service will also dispatch a legal representative to hold your hand through any legal procedures. This coverage is absolutely essential, so do not purchase any Mexico auto insurance that does not include this coverage!

Road Assistance: Most of the better Mexico insurance companies will include some level of road assistance that will cover towing expenses, flat tires, locksmith, and other services. This is a great coverage to have, so make sure this is included with your Mexico insurance policy.

Medical Evacuation: As the market for Mexican insurance becomes more competitive, many Mexico carriers are now bundling in extra special coverages to make their products stand out. When medical evacuation is automatically included with your Mexico auto insurance, it is an incredible value and convenience. This coverage will coordinate and pay for air or land ambulance services in the event of ‘grave illness or injury’. This means life threatening or very serious illnesses or injuries. Purchasing a medical evacuation program on your own will often cost hundreds of dollars per year, and can often have many limitations. The quality Mexico auto insurance programs that bundle in the medical evacuation coverage will usually cover multiple people in your travel group automatically up to four or more people. Make sure to look for how many people are covered by the medical evacuation. If the amount of people covered is not listed in the insurance quote details, you can assume that the medical evacuation may only cover the driver. Other websites do exist that specifically cover 4 or more people in your travel group, so it is highly recommended that you look for websites that offer this broader medical evacuation coverage.

Plane Tickets Home: Another great benefit that many of the better Mexico insurance websites are offering is plane tickets home in the event that your car is stolen or not drivable. This can save you thousands of dollars, and alleviate the nightmare of needing to coordinate your transportation back to your home from Mexico. If this benefit is offered, make sure to see for how many people the policy will provide plane tickets home. If plane tickets home is not listed, or the website does not specify how many people are covered, you should check a different website. A few websites do offer coverage for four people or more in your travel group.

When in doubt, call the website customer service phone line for help

The reputable Mexico insurance websites will encourage you to call their customer service departments if you have questions about the Mexico insurance. If nobody answers the phone, or does not call you back within a few minutes (during normal business hours), you may not want to purchase your insurance from that website! Most Mexico insurance websites are like ATM machines. The website is there for your convenience if you want to write the policy yourself, but you are also welcome to call the website customer service insurance agents and have the agents write the policy for you over the phone.

If you check for each of these insurance coverages and website features while shopping for Mexican auto insurance on the internet, you are guaranteed to purchase the best insurance for your situation. Five to ten minutes of research could save you thousands of dollars and hours, if not weeks, of headaches in the event that you need to file a Mexican insurance claim. Be safe, and have fun in Mexico!

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and is the major political, cultural, and financial center of the country. Mexico City is the federal district with political autonomy within Mexico and is an important financial center in Latin America. This global city has been a major tourist destination and is home to several World Heritage Sites as declared by the UNESCO. 

Mexico City has a number of modern hospitals in both private and public sectors. Many of these hospitals offer high quality medical service at global standards. With many internationally known hospitals, visitors to Mexico City can be assured that their health needs will be properly addressed. All the leading hospitals are provided with service of English speaking staff.

The ABC Medical Center formerly known as American British Cowdray Hospital is the most popular, world class hospital in Mexico City. This service oriented, private health center with an excellent reputation is located at Calle Sur 136, on corner of Avenida Observatorio Col. Las Americas. Two well-known hospitals, the Hospital Americano and Sanatorio Cowdray combined to form this hospital in 1941. It has grown considerably through the years to become the premier health center of the country, which is a favorite in the foreign communities also. This hospital with 200 beds, 10 operating theaters and 7 outpatient surgery units is well known for its service ethics, best possible diagnostic, medical and surgical service, excellent management and possession of sophisticated devices and modern medical technology. This is the only private hospital in the city to attain the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) and General Health Council (CSG) accreditations which assures high quality and standards of hospital’s operations and facilities. More than 1,400 doctors are consulting in the 40 well equipped specialty centers. Some of these are neurology center, cancer center, transplant unit, nutrition, obesity and metabolic center which are particularly well known. The hospital has modern cardiovascular center, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care, advanced endoscopy unit, hemodialysis unit and a lung cancer early detection clinic. The Center also has College of American Pathologists (CAP) approved modern clinical, anatomical and pathological laboratories. The ABC Medical Center has state-of-the-art medical equipment including PET-CT Medical Imaging Unit, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, ultrasound and digital mammography. The hospital has excellent emergency service and heliport. The ABC Medical Center is also a renowned training center and has established another 60 bed hospital at the Santa Fe Campus. Telephone: 5230-80-00: 5515-83-59 (Emergency) 5230-81-61

Medica Sur is another reliable, modern, private hospital in Mexico with national and international reputation. This hospital located at Puente de Piedra 150 Col. Toriello Guerra Tlalpan, D.F. Medica Sur was established in 1982. Today Medica Sur is one of the most well known and best-equipped hospitals in Latin America staffed with many of the country’s most eminent doctors. The hospital is highly ranked for its state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technology. The hospital has well equipped departments in all relevant clinical and surgical fields and their departments of cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology and imaging diagnosis are especially well known. The hospital is popular among foreign patients too and the hospital has established a separate international section for the convenience of expatriate seeking medical treatment. Medica Sur offers very comfortable accommodation in 53 rooms including 12 luxury suites. It also has additional on site facilities including pharmacies, gift shop, bank, restaurant, coffee shops, ecumenical church and internet. The hospital has achieved approvals from many prestigious international organizations like ISO 9001-2000, Federal Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), General Health Counsel and The College of American Pathologists. In addition to the general sections, the hospital operates many special clinics and treatment units like the liver clinic, child/teen obesity, aesthetic surgery, anorexia. Telephone: 5606-60-11, 5606-22-77

Hospital Angeles Pedregal is another leading private hospital in Mexico with international standards and is located at Camino a Santa Teresa 1055 Col. Heroes de Padierna C.P. 10700 Mexico City. The hospital is notable for its outstanding quality, care and technological edge. Hospital Angeles Pedregal is a general hospital with 239 beds in 189 rooms including luxurious suites. The hospital offers high quality clinical, diagnostic and surgical service of global standard in all departments to meet every medical need of patients and employs more than 1,300 eminent doctors. The hospital has different specialized clinics like diagnosis clinic, adult and international traveler vaccination center, integral vascular disease center (CIEV), anxiety and depression clinic, bone metabolism clinic, integral care clinic for obese patients and ophthalmic laser clinic. The hospital also provides modern ICUs, umbilical cord stem cell bank, intermediate therapy unit, physiotherapy and rehabilitation department, respiratory support unit, blood bank, hemodialysis unit, magnetic resonance imaging unit, radio surgery and radiotherapy department and PET-CT0 unit. The hospital’s imaging section with departments in radiology, nuclear medicine, ultrasonography and computed tomography and clinical laboratory are comparable to the best in the world. The hospital has well equipped emergency service too. Telephone: 5449 5500

If you plan to buy property in Mexico it is very important you receive as much information as possible to be well informed in making your decision. Below are some introductory guidelines that can be useful:

Property in Mexico

Financing your Mexican Property

Mexican Law: Property ownership

Ejido (Agricultural) Lands

The Role of the Notary Public in Mexico

Costs and Taxes

Important! The information in this section is provided for outline guidance only. Information, figures and rates change without notice. For updated information please contact us through our Contact Page.
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Property in Mexico
This introductory guide assumes that you are considering the purchase of land or property in Mexico.

Buying property in Mexico, whether it is land, a serviced apartment or a house, can offer good value for money in comparison to prices in the US and Europe. Although, prices in some areas have increased dramatically in recent years, care should be taken in assessing a property's true value; Mexico's land costs can be lower, building and maintenance is cheaper and cost of ownership (taxes, utilities) is very low.

The reasons to buy property in Mexico come down to a personal choice, and depend on your individual circumstances. Perhaps you will be living in Mexico for some years and you see long term rental as 'wasted' money, or perhaps you're looking for an overseas property investment that will surrender a rental income, while providing you with a place to stay on a holiday visit …

Property value in México increases year-to-year, as they do in most places. And as with all property, the relative value and appeal of land or property in Mexico comes down to the "Location, Location, Location" factor.

Another important factor to consider when buying property in Mexico is the developed state of local and surrounding infrastructure in the location you are looking at. Not all areas are well developed, and property prices will be cheaper in those that are not. However if, for example, a high speed road is built connecting a previously 'remote' location to other, better developed places, you may see a property investment in that area increase substantially. México is a vast country – at nearly 2 million square kilometers – and not all of it is easily accessible. Road infrastructure is improving every year, with most major places now adequately connected, and work continues to connect the more remote areas, but this will take time.

If you're considering the purchase of property in Baja California Sur you have come to the right professionals. Thousands and thousands of foreigners have successfully purchased land and property in Mexico, there is no reason why you should not become one of them if you want to.

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Financing Your Mexican Property Investment
Historically and in many cases today, most property / real-estate deals in México are cash only. Mexican Banks are now beginning to offer mortgage products for the purchase of real-estate in Mexico, although 30-40% deposits are required and interest rates are not as attractive as those in the US, Canada and Europe.

There are some banks in the US who are now offering mortgages on Mexican Property, but they are usually offered on the back of equity built up in a property in the USA and the rates are higher on the additional loan amount, to reflect the additional risk . Many Americans HAVE mortgaged a house in México using this financial vehicle so it is possible.

Financing inside México is still difficult and relatively expensive, so if you plan to buy real-estate in México you will be well advised to have your own foreign funding available; either through an equity-release scheme or other fund. Some people who are planning to retire to México will sell their house in their home country and use the proceeds to finance property in México; those who want to keep a 'base back home' may release equity from their existing home, rent it out, and use the dual proceeds to fund their retirement home in México.

If you are looking for financing for US or Canadian citizens feel free to take a look at this financing link below:

Finance North America

Real Estate Lending for US and Canadian Citizens

http://www.FinanceNorthAmerica.com

Telephone from US / Canada 1-866-Yes-4Mex (1-866-937-4639)

This applies to finished homes

See also: Payment for your property investment, later on this page

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Mexican Law: Property Ownership

Mexican Law provides for private ownership of land by foreigners, its laws are very specific about the way in which land rights should be transferred from seller to buyer, and also what type of lands are and are not eligible for public ownership. A Notary Public (see below) will guide you through these details, but generally:

Property may be purchased and owned outright for residential use by foreign nationals outside of the 100km restricted land border zone, or outside of the 50km coastal zone.

Inside of the restricted border / coastal zones, foreign nationals may own land through a fidecomiso (a trust) which is set up through a bank and provides for ownership of the land and property in all but name.
The Mexican Constitution previously banned foreign nationals from owning property that was within the restricted border zones. This old law was intended to protect Mexican soil from foreign invasion.

Because the Constitution cannot be altered in this respect, the Government introduced a system of land trusts, so that foreign nationals could invest in property inside of the 'restricted' zones. So now, if you as a foreigner, want to buy a dream home with a Pacific beach view, you can, except that it will be by means of a trust, set up through one of the main banks in México.

The trust holds the deeds to the property, and you and / or other named persons which you specify are sole beneficiaries to the trust (and therefore the property). You have full rights to do whatever you like with your property: it can be developed (in accordance with local planning regulations), rented, leased, sold, or given away. In other words, you own the property in all but name.

The trust enables you to name a beneficiary upon your death, and you do not need to have a Mexican Will in order for your wishes regarding the trust to be executed.

You do not have to be a resident of México to own property there, so there is no need to qualify for resident status under immigration laws in order to have a property investment in México.

Mexican Law on property ownership is comprehensive and provides protection for the seller and the buyer in all property transactions, provided that the law is followed, and you ensure that all necessary documentation is present and that the procedures are adhered to. Your Notary Public (see below) is an important person in this process, and he / she will guide you.

Title Insurance in México:

When you buy real estate in México, you would do well to consider taking out Title Insurance on the property. Title Insurance covers you, should the property you buy subsequently turn out to have liens associated with it. This is especially relevant if the property you are buying has been privatized, having previously been classified as being "Ejido" lands (see below), but even if this is not the case, Title Insurance will protect you if any other previously unforeseen lien or charge is brought against the property before you took possession of the Title Deed. Rates for Title Insurance are around US $ 5-US $ 5.50 per US $ 1,000 of the property's value; pay-able once only at the point of purchase. If you need more information we will advise you further about Title Insurance.

For more security in your real estate transactions in Mexico please contact Stewart Title Baja and Stewart Title Los Cabos

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Ejido (Agricultural) Lands
Ejido lands have a long history in how they came into being. Essentially, they are similar to "commons land"; after the revolution, communities and peasants were handed strips of land, in the main, to grow crops on, and they are called "Ejidos". You CAN buy Ejido land, but the sale requires the agreement of the whole community that 'own' it, the process is arduous and risky. Some big property developers may negotiate to buy a big plot of Ejido land, with a view to "fractionalizing" it (usually introducing mains water, sewerage and electric to the land as well), to develop property and / or to sell off the individual plots to small property investors. Under these schemes, the land is often re-classified and made available for private ownership. The process is usually undertaken by professionals who understand Mexican property law intimately and can from a year to several years. The current advice is: double check to make sure that the land you are buying is not Ejido land and if it is, avoid it.

Note: It is advisable to purchase Title Insurance if the property you are purchasing is ex-ejido land (although regardless of the type of property, Title Insurance is a shrewd investment). Read more about Title Insurance under the heading of Title Insurance, above.

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The Role of the Notary Public in México

The Notary Public is the most important person you will deal with when you make a property investment in México. Do not confuse the role of the Notary Public in the US or UK with its counterpart in México: In México, The Notary Public has the power to witness and certify important business documents which require absolute authenticity. The appointment also holds responsibility for the management and secure storage of original records. Notary Publics must be Mexicans of at least 35 year in age, they must have a degree in Law, have 3 years work experience at a Notary Public office and they must pass a stringent exam. Those who pass, in time, are appointed as Notary Public by the State Governor.

Under Mexican Law, the deed to the property must be prepared by a Notary Public. As a buyer, it is your right to choose the Notary Public, and it should be your first port of call – or second after your lawyer.

The Notary Public will ensure that all documentation and permits are in order so that the transaction can proceed.

Everything official to do with your transaction should be done via the Notary Public: We will be happy to contact you with a Notary Public of your choice.
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Costs and Taxes

When you buy property in your home country, you are usually faced with the associated costs like agent fees and taxes. México is no different, although the net value of these costs as a percentage of the property values ​​may be lower overall, but this is not guaranteed as professional fees have risen recently also.

Costs and Taxes: Buying

Acquisition Tax: This Tax is paid on the sale value of the property and is equivalent to about 2%. This tax is paid whether the property is sold, transferred, donated, placed into trust, split off or merged.

VAT (Sales Tax): No Value Added Tax (Sales Tax) is payable on residential property. Commercial Property transactions are liable to VAT at the current rate in addition to the Acquisitions Tax.

Appraisal Tax: The Tax Authority may choose to perform a commercial appraisal of the property after you purchase it. If the appraisal value is more greater than 10% of the price you paid for it, you will be asked to pay 20% tax on the difference between the two amounts. This sum is due within 15 days of the date of the appraisal report.

Registry Fee: In order to have the Public Records updated, a 1.3% fee (based on the value of the transaction) is paid by the buyer.

Public Notary Fees: You will be required to pay fees for services provided by the Notary Public. These are about 1.5% of the transaction value, plus the cost of the official appraisal (as described in Valuation section, for tax purposes)

Bank Trust: If you purchase property within the 50 / 100km restricted zones, you will need a bank to set up and manage a trust for you. Shop around, as prices vary from Bank to Bank. Set-up fees can cost up to US $ 750, with annual service charges between US $ 300-US $ 500. The annual service fee will cover legal obligations (eg the filing of necessary documents annually) by the bank on your behalf.

Lawyer / Attorney Fees: If you hire a lawyer / attorney, you will also need to pay him / her with fees for services they undertake on your behalf. These should be negotiated in advance.

Land / Building Surveys: If you need to undertake any land or building surveys, these will have to be paid for separately. Cost will depend on type, extent and complexity of surveys undertaken.

Foreign Office Permit: Your permit from the Mexican foreign office will cost around US $ 150.

Service Fees: If you are buying a house in a gated community, or an apartment, be sure to check on the annual service fees, and have these put in writing. Service fees can range from US $ 100 a year to US $ 1000 a year, depending on location, number of houses or apartments in the enclosure and amenities offered.

Title Insurance: When you buy property in México, you would do well to consider purchasing Title Insurance. Rates are based on the sale value of the property and are charged at around US $ 5-US $ 5.50 per US $ 1,000 of the value. More Information about Title Insurance.

Lake Baccarac has become one of the preferred destinations to visit on a Mexico bass fishing trip. In 1978, this lake was stocked with a strain of Florida largemouth bass and since that year it has become more and more interesting for anglers from around the World. The 25-miles-long and 5-miles-wide lake is considered one of the best trophy largemouth bass fishing lakes in the World!

Lake Baccarac covers an area of ​​30,000 acres at full pool, and you can be pretty sure you'll find some big fish in such a big area. If you love records, then know that the official bass record was established in 1993 when a man caught a fish of 19.10 lbs! And if you think that's surprising, know that local anglers and other visitors claim to have found even bigger fish, of course not "officially". There is a high frequency of catches, a frequency that was even featured in a specialized TV show, where the host caught bass of 10 lb or more each trip!

If you are interested in fishing on Lake Baccarac, I would recommend you to travel between November and April. Fishing is good throughout the year, but in other months it gets difficult due to the rains and the temperature. The lake is reached from Bacubrito, taking a plane flight of 20 minutes. Accommodations are top of the line, provided by the Lake Baccarac Lodge; like other lodges in Mexico it has been constructed to provide visitors the best comfort you can find during your fishing trip. If you are planning to travel during high season, make sure you book well in advance. The lodge has space for 32 anglers and rooms are booked pretty quickly.

Besides the main services and amenities, the lodge also offers a staff of guides with years of experience in the lake that will assist you when you go out fishing, they will put a your disposition one of the new 18-foot Crestliner boats owned by the lodge. By the way, you'll not only find great fishing, but you'll also return from your Mexico bass fishing trip with great memories from the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake. Its location, in the midst of the Sierra Madre mountains makes fishing in Baccarac a truly magical experience.

As an aid to planning your trip, I would recommend you taking a look at current bass fishing reports. There are a couple of specialized sites providing current information.

We know that fermenting was practiced in Mexico dating to several thousand years ago with the extraction of aguamiel (honey water) from certain species of the majestic agave succulent, which when left to ferment becomes pulque. And that agave itself otherwise has a history of being used as a source of nutrition going back roughly 10,000 years. But there's a big difference between (1) allowing fruit, agave nectar or anything else to ferment, inhibiting its decomposition and enabling its imbibers to become inebriated, and (2) deliberate advance planning and the use certain tools, resulting in distillation (ie the production of mezcal).

Perhaps the story of distillation and the history of mezcal in Mexico begins with the arrival of the Spanish during The Conquest in the first quarter of the 1500s. Or with Filipino seamen in the Manila galleon trade who reached the country western shores that same century. Or with indigenous cultures some 2,500 years ago. Mezcal of course is Mexico's iconic agave distillate, often thought of as a generic term, one subset of which is tequila, its more popular cousin.

We also know with a reasonable degree of certainty many specifics about the global history of distillation and styles of still manufacture, all of which aids us in our conjecture. But it must be kept in mind that most is scientific speculation often based on inference, regardless of how adamant our historians, geographers, chemists, biologists and anthropologists might be in their discourse (or me in mine).

The Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula about 711 AD. We have them to thank for the introduction of many food products including rice and saffron, integral in the preparation of Spanish paella. Despite their Islamic beliefs together with a prohibition against imbibing spirits, Moorish influence in Spain is connected with the distillation of mezcal.

During or about the 9th century, the modern alembic, or still, made with a serpentine condenser alongside, arrived in what is now Spain as a consequence of the invention by Arab alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan. Non-Muslims who were already fermenting grapes quickly realized that distillation, for whatever purpose initially intended, could result in production of a high alcohol content spirit extremely agreeable to the palate.

And so when The Conquest began, the Spanish armed with this knowledge came across indigenous populations which were already drinking pulque, and likely baked sweet agave piñas (pineapples, or rather the hearts of the carbohydrate-rich agaves) which had been fermented. The bridge had been gapped. It is this style of still, the two sided alembic, which is frequently used in mezcal production today. It has been suggested however, that the technology had its first application in the distillation of sugar cane which the Spanish imported for rum production.

But throughout various parts of Mexico there is a different type of still being employed to make agave spirits including mezcal. It is a single unit comprised of two or more pieces stacked on top of one another, made primarily of wood, metal and / or clay. It is frequently encountered in Oaxaca, Michoacán, and elsewhere throughout Mexico including tequila country (ie Jalisco and thereabouts).

It has been suggested that this type of still was introduced to what are now Colima, Guerrero and / or Jalisco, during the 16th century by immigrants from the Philippines and the Solomon Islands who established a community for the purpose of developing coconut plantations. Local materials used in their homelands for fashioning small yet effective equipment for making their coconut distillate, principally clay (and likely reed), were available in this new North American environment. In fact, to this day the term tuba, the fermented coconut liquid which was thereafter distilled, is used in some parts of Mexico to describe fermented agave, despite its origin.

Various sources confirm that the beginnings of and motivation for the prohibition era in Mexico (yes, we also had prohibition) were to protect the interests of Spanish brandy importers and rum producers, and to assure tax revenue. Banning production, sale and consumption of pulque, tuba and coconut distillate started the movement which eventually lead to full-scale prohibition. But it was the portability of these small single unit and easily fashioned predominantly clay stills which (together with below ground ovens and stone fermentation chambers) made detection of distillation, including the production of mezcal, all but impossible by the "revenuers."

Epilogue

The 2016 publication of El mezcal, una bebida prehispánica at minimum makes us rethink our understanding of the origins of agave distillation in Mexico. Authors Mari Carmen Serra Puche and Jesús Carlos Lazcano Arce together with their associates from various disciplines spent in excess of a decade researching in Oaxaca and Tlaxcala. They have purportedly debunked all previous theories, having uncovered ovens containing burned stones with runoff stains they concluded after analysis had been created by baked agave piñas. But has literally hundreds of years of research and umpteen publications were thrown to the wind? Certainly not. The foregoing finding in and of itself is not determinative, since it suggests nothing more than converting carbohydrates to sugars, and a reasonable likelihood of fermentation thereafter. It's the unearthing of pre-Hispanic pottery fragments they identified as parts of stills, which is most significant, suggesting pre-Hispanic distillation dating to perhaps 2,500 years ago. Others have previously proposed similar theories, but that of Serra Puche and Lazcano Arce is the most comprehensive and convincing to date.

Since the book's publication there has been a considerable amount of chest beating, a renewed or additional sense of pride that the indigenous peoples of Mexico did not need the Spanish nor the Filipinos to distill mezcal. Of course there is academic significance to the most recent work. But regardless of origins, one can never take away from our Mexican brethren of predominantly pre-Hispanic heritage, that mezcal, the pre-eminent agave spirit, owes its recent and exponentially growing popularity to not foreign interests, but rather to its dedicated artisanal producers , beginning with subsistence lifestyle agave growers, and concluding with expert distillers.

Agave is Mexican. It has been of such importance over millennia that it warranted its own goddess, Mayahuel. Her husband, Patecatl, was the god of pulque. Yet curiously there is no pre-Hispanic deity for an agave distillate. Food for thought.

Vacationing in Mexico and Ajijic travel means packing the important stuff. This is the key to planning a successful Ajijic vacation. Casual dress is the operative word here in Lake Chapala. No fancy duds or dress codes are needed.

The following vacation travel tips will give you the insight for easy packing with fewer pieces of luggage. Today’s travel requires that you to pack light for a hassle free airline experience.

Let the Sun Shine

Bring sunscreen for your face and body, a big hat or visor and sunglasses to sun proof yourself from the mid day sun.

The Lake Chapala and Ajijic area is the same latitude as Maui and is a mile high in elevation. In high altitude the sun is closer and quite intense. Because the temperature is so mild here Ajijic visitors don’t realize that they need sun protection just like they need it at the beach. With over 360 sunny days each year sun burn is a real possibility and not fun on any vacation. So, come prepared to protect yourself even if the weather is so comfortable.

These Comfortable Shoes Are Made for Walking

Cobblestone streets and good walking shoes go hand in hand or, in this case foot in foot. Walking in the village of Ajijic is the best way to see all the secret gardens and find those special shops and galleries. There is nothing more beautiful than a stroll in the Ajijic village including walking down by our beautiful Lake Chapala. Even with the best walking shoes you need to watch where you are stepping on the uneven sidewalks or you may twist an ankle.

Get in the habit of stopping when you want to look at something. Have the mindset to look down when walking so you don’t step in a hole or crevice. Eventually, this will become a normal way of walking and you won’t need to think about it.

On both of my trips to the Copper Canyon I stayed over night at Loewen’s Mennonite RV Park in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. It really was a journey back in time. These are descendants of Mennonites whose heritage started in the Netherlands, then moved to Prussia. In 1786 Katherine the Great invited them to come to Russia where they could keep their religion and culture intact. 1872 the Russian government revoked those privileges. They than moved to Manitoba, Canada. All was well until the First World War when the government ordered them to become 100% Canadians and attend public schools. In 1922, at the invitation of President Alvaro Obregón, 20,000 Mennonites came to Mexico from Canada to settle on 247,000 acres of land in Chihuahua’s San Antonio Valley. Thus the Mennonites arrived in Mexico.

Peter Loewen’s family cooked us a Mennonite dinner. Who would have thought that instead of Mexican food we would enjoy smoked pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, soup and home made bread and butter. While we enjoyed our pie and coffee Peter enlighten us regarding the Mennonites religious beliefs and their culture.

Their lives are structured around their religious beliefs, the freedom to organize their own education system, not participating in government and not serving in the armed forces. The Mennonites believe in following Jesus in their daily lives. Mennonite Churches are actually plain, oblong wooden buildings called meeting houses. During services the women set on one side of the hall and the men on the other.

They tried to fulfill a Christan life with out going to high schools and universities. They built their own schools. Teachers had no formal training, farmers taught part time, reading only the Bible, speaking in German. Illustrative materials were not allowed, and one instructor schooled all ages, with as many as 75 students per class. Schooling ended at age 13 for boys and 12 for girls. Times have changed and now their schools are fully accredited by Mexico, and teachers are college trained either in North America or Mexico.

They still farm much like they did when the Mennonites first immigrated to Mexico. The family garden plot includes vegetables and herbs for their use and to sell to sell outside of the community. The Mennonites farming skills are very apparent when you observe how they turned what was barren land into magnificent apple orchards growing the famous Chihuahua apples. I stocked up for the four day Piggy Back Train ride with the fine cheeses they produce, the homemade garlic beef sausage, and their oven fresh bread and pastries.

Change has been slow for some inhabitants of Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico, but it is coming evidenced by a few automobiles, electricity and yes even television sprinkled around the city.

When in the area take your RV to Loewen’s RV Park and enjoy a wonderful Mennonite family style dinner.

So I have to admit it’s always been our dream to own a hotel on the beach in a tropical country. We both, my wife and I, come from hardworking middle-class families on the East Coast of the United States. We have lived roughly fifty years working the same nine-to-five, and we’re ready to get out.

We visited Mexico for the first time in the late nineties when, ironically, American Airlines offered a very inexpensive flight there for a span of about two weeks. We jumped at the opportunity, both requested a short leave from work, and flew down to Mexico merely on a whim. After seeing the people, the culture, and the natural beauty of the country, or fascination quickly turned into an obsession.

We have continued to go to Mexico since then and usually aim for a small town called Tulum which sits near the glorified Cancun. We tend to like Tulum for a number of reasons, primarily because the white sand beaches are among the best in Mexico and very rarely do you see anyone on them. The small, luxurious hotels that line Tulum’s coast are the perfect fit for us.

So it was only recently, during one of our visits to Mexico that we noticed a sign on one of the resorts that read, in English, Hotel for sale Tulum. Seeing this sign might have been the best thing that ever happened to us. From that moment forth, my wife and I became intoxicated by the idea of becoming hotel owners, more specifically, ‘hotel for sale Tulum’ hotel owners.

We inquired from the Hotel for Sale Tulum sign and spoke with a nice man from the United States who listened as we gave him our story. “So we were walking down the beach,” we said, “and the sign, ‘Hotel for Sale Tulum’ just popped out at us.”

Anti-climactically, the hotel for sale Tulum was far out of our price range at a mere five million dollars. But that didn’t stop our search as we looked far and wide, during many long walks on the Tulum beaches, for a new Hotel for Sale Tulum sign of our own.

And then alas, just last May, we found it.

My wife and I decided to quit our jobs, having saved up a decent amount of money selling many of our once-material things that we loved: our cars, our small boat, our second home. We sold it all in the name of that sign: Hotel for Sale Tulum.

We moved down to Tulum for good, just five months ago to start our new lives as Tulum hotel owners. The feeling is one of liberation and excitement, every day we wake up and see the waves crashing near the hotel steps. We take absolute comfort in meeting new guests every day and relaxing with them by the hotel pool.

Tulum isn’t for everyone, but for us it was a blessing. The Hotel for Sale Tulum sign certainly changed our lives: as we’d probably still be in the grind without it.

“There are only twenty million of us!” a friend of mine from Mexico City said to me one day not long ago. That number — which is still rising — puts Mexico City among the great cities of the world.

Mexico City has enough tourism sites to keep you busy indefinitely! Museums, art galleries, sports teams of all sorts, great shopping, a beautiful historic downtown area, wonderful parks… there is no limit to the things you can do in Mexico City. Here are a few:

The Museum of Anthropology is famous worldwide for its extensive collection on Mexican archaeology and history.

The Bosque de Chapultepec is a huge park in the city, with many things to do within it: museums, cafes, etc. And the people-watching is great.

In the downtown area, the Zocalo is one of the largest plazas in the world, with the cathedral, the presidential palace, and much more in the vicinity. Beautiful historic buildings!

The floating gardens of Xochimilco

Art, including great murals and paintings of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and many others

Before you pack your bags for a vacation there, do consider pollution, congestion, and crime.

Pollution: The air quality is terrible, as the geography of the valley that Mexico City sits in combines with the heavy traffic to create a thick stew instead of the air your lungs would prefer. At about a mile high, the city’s air is thinner to begin with anyway.

Congestion means that travel around the city is slow and tedious. The traffic is so frustrating, and parking so difficult, that rental cars aren’t generally recommended. See more on the page about travel to Mexico City and within it.

Crime: In the 1990s, Mexico suffered economic problems that left many of its people destitute. Some of these people used a lot of ingenuity in figuring out ways to separate richer people from their goods. Today, tourist guidebooks on Mexico generally explain the situation in detail. Here are some general guidelines: Carry little cash with you, and be very alert to your surroundings. Stay out of places where there are few people. Don’t necessarily trust the police, as in some cases they are involved in crime too. Don’t hail a taxi on the street, as some of the roaming cab drivers are involved in robbery. Taxis at your hotel or in official cab stands are much better. While other parts of the country may have seen some increase in crime, it’s in Mexico City that it’s reached the highest levels. All in all, a hefty dose of thoughtful preparation (making photocopies of your passport, leaving your fancy jewelry at home, that sort of thing) and vigilant common sense are called for.

But do these drawbacks mean you should avoid Mexico City as a tourism destination? It all depends on what you want. Many people love the vibrancy of the city. There may be something you particularly want to do or see there. You may love big cities and want to experience the unique flavor of this one. But if you are just looking for a laid-back, relaxing vacation, you will be happier somewhere else in Mexico. People go to Mexico City for business. With about a quarter of the entire population of Mexico, and with government and industry offices centered there, “the city” (la ciudad) as it’s called, is where a lot of things happen. Many of the hotels in Mexico City offer suites for business travelers to use as offices while they conduct their business.

If your business takes you there, or if you decide to live or retire there, you will do the same thing that most of the other twenty million do: make the best of any drawbacks and enjoy the many wonderful aspects of the city. If you might be there for a long time, see the page on real estate in Mexico City.

I’ve been there several times, and I have happy memories of fascinating hours in the Anthropology Museum, international restaurants, staying in ultramodern hotels and in intimate little places, the friendliness of people I met, and much more. I will spare you my unhappier memories, but none were really bad. It’s unlikely I will return, as nowadays I like my cities on a smaller scale. But everyone’s tastes are different, and you may love it. It’s truly a phenomenon, Mexico City!