Focus On Mexico - Your Guide to Moving and Retiring to Mexico's Lake Chapala

How Lakeside Celebrates Mexican Independence

September 16 is the official celebration of Mexican independence, a big holiday in Mexico similar to the 4th of July in the U.S. and Canada Day. The Grito de Dolores According to Wikipedia The "grito de Dolores" is a historic event that happened on September 16, 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell of his church and issued a call to arms to fight Spanish occupation in the small Guanajuato province town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo). Each year the 'grito' is reenacted in villages and towns throughout Mexico, led by the 'grito' issued by the President of Mexico from the … [Read more...]

Are You Ready to Party?!

This weekend was the Globo festival, an annual Ajijic tradition since 1947. This event unofficially kicks off the next seven months of fiestas and the run-up to 'high season', which is basically November 1-April 1. Here are some cultural tips from local residents, long-term expats, and my own 20+ years of life in Latin America to help you get the most out of your Lakeside visit or move. DO "Enjoy the community and the traditions. Get to know the background and history of the community, the Lake Chapala Society, the children's art program, and the art galleries, which are an echo of the … [Read more...]

Focus Alumni Share Their Experience

Check out this short video of some of our most recent FOCUS alumni talking in English and Spanish about their impressions of attending our 6-day learning seminar! For more testimonials visit the Focus on Mexico YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1VQKKCwo_0 … [Read more...]

Is It Too Late to Move to Ajijic?

There is a lot of current social media buzz about the flood of foreigners moving to Ajijic, rising prices, etc. A recent video by Tangerine Travels points out some of the drawbacks of Ajijic and generated a flood of comments. Additionally, some people say the town is ‘full’ and the expats are ruining the character of the town. So let’s look more in depth at the ‘ugly’ side of Ajijic: Rising Real Estate/Rental Prices It is true that prices for both home purchase and rental are rising. The Tangerine video stated that there is nothing available for purchase in Ajijic for less than $250,000 … [Read more...]

Getting Your Dog or Cat Into Mexico

At our latest Focus on Mexico learning seminar, we were fortunate to have a presentation by a FOCUS alumni who is an accredited veterinarian and moved to Mexico with his pets. He was kind enough to allow us to share this information with you. What are the requirements to bring my pet to Mexico? The U.S. and Mexico have agreements on the movement of many things across the border including pets. Basic requirements that are continually updated can be found at the USDA website. What is an Accredited Veterinarian? An accredited veterinarian is one that has completed training through the USDA … [Read more...]