Mexico: Retire in Paradise
If you want to retire in beautiful Mexico, join this 8 day exploratory trip to Playa del Carmen, Tulum and beyond and get prepared for life in paradise!
Discover the truly wonderful and diverse food scene of this region - unique restaurants, street food and markets!
Meet and mingle with other retirees who already call this region home through social events and meetups that we've organized just for you!
Explore every possible neighborhood with a local expert so that you find the area that matches your needs the best
Learn about the logistics - local health care, residency visas, taxes and more so that you have all of the vital information you need
Hear about various accommodation options for every budget - apartments, condos, houses, gated communities and shared spaces
Join us for excursions to caves, Mayan ruins, eco-Parks, beaches and historic towns so that you gain a full understanding of what this region offers
Learn how to get around on every kind of transportation, where to shop for all of your needs, how to sign up for various services, what internet and communication options you have and more
It’s time to retire in Mexico!
This trip is specifically designed for anyone who is interested in retiring in Mexico. This trip will take you to the stunning Riviera Maya region that includes the popular and culturally diverse Playa del Carmen, the quaint coastal village of Puerto Morelos, the friendly gated community of Puerto Aventuras and the hip and comfortable town of Tulum.
During this experience, you’ll gain a complete understanding of what it’s like to live in each of these locations. There will be fully guided neighborhood tours and time to check out actual accommodation options. You’ll gain important knowledge about all of the vital logistics – visas, taxes, health care and more – directly from our local experts that work with retirees from the US and Canada. You’ll also learn about transportation options, where to shop and how to set up various services.
But beyond the details, we’ve also set up social events and activities so that you can meet plenty of of retirees who are already living in these places. You’ll have a chance to plug right into the community in order to ask questions, really understand what life is like here and of course, make some new friends right away!
Add in excursions to impressive Mayan ruins, white sand beaches and a gorgeous underwater cave system, as well as partaking in great nightlife and eating some spectacular food, and this trip could not be more complete. And you’ll have our expert tour leader with you to handle all of the logistics and to offer as much advice as possible about moving to, and living in, the Riviera Maya.
We want you to come away from this trip with all of the information, confidence and friends that you need for a smooth transition to life in paradise!
Reserve now!
Choose an option:
- 1Day 1Cancun/Playa del Carmen (Arrival Day)Cancun/Playa del Carmen (Arrival Day)Arrival dayIncluded: DinnerUpon arrival at the Cancun Airport, you'll be met by our private driver. He will transfer you directly to our hotel in Playa del Carmen, approximately 1 hour away. In the evening, we'll all gather for a group orientation meeting followed by a welcome dinner at one of Playa del Carmen's most famous restaurants!
- 2Day 2Playa del CarmenPlaya del CarmenFull tour of neighborhoods, accommodation options, evening social eventIncluded: Breakfast, DinnerToday we'll begin our exploration with a complete, neighborhood by neighborhood tour led by our local expert. On this tour, you'll learn about all of the areas in town, as well as the pros and cons of living in each. We'll visit apartments and condos, and check out houses, in order for you to see what kind of accommodation you can get at various price points. After our full tour, we'll have a late afternoon rest. In the evening, we'll meet up for another great dinner followed by a social meetup with a group of retirees already living in Playa del Carmen. This will be your chance to ask them questions and learn directly from those who have already made the leap! *The meetup will take place at a local outdoor bar/lounge. One drink will be included.
- 3Day 3Playa del CarmenPlaya del CarmenSession with experts, tour of the town, evening social eventIncluded: Breakfast, DinnerToday is the day to learn about the logistics. While it might not be the most exciting, it certainly is important. You'll hear about the process for obtaining a residency visa, what happens with taxes when you move to Mexico, what health care options you'll have access to and more. By the end of our session - which is led by tax and residency experts - you'll know exactly what you need to do to make your move. In the evening, we'll forget about the logistics and focus on having fun with another social event so that you already begin to feel like part of the community.
- 4Day 4Playa del CarmenPlaya del CarmenFree day with optional activitiesIncluded: BreakfastEnjoy a completely free day in this stunning town! Our tour leader will be on hand to help you plan your time, whether you're interested in visiting the beaches, joing a yoga or paddle-boarding session, checking out the cafe scene, bar-hopping through the center, taking a day trip to the island of Cozumel or anything else that strikes your fancy!
- 5Day 5Playa del Carmen / Puerto MorelosPlaya del Carmen / Puerto MorelosDay trip to the coastal town of Puerto MorelosIncluded: Breakfast, LunchLeaving in the morning, we'll drive 45 minutes to the quaint, laid-back coastal town of Puerto Morelos. Despite it's small size, some retirees do prefer to move here instead of the much larger Playa del Carmen. This trip will help you decide which is right for you. We'll take a full tour of the town, learn about what kind of lifestyle it offers, meet with other retirees, interact with our local friends and try some of the wonderful local cuisine. By the end of the day, you'll know if Puerto Morelos is the kind of place you'd like to live or if it's the ideal place for a weekend getaway every now and then from Playa del Carmen.
- 6Day 6Playa del Carmen / Puerta Aventuras / TulumPlaya del Carmen / Puerta Aventuras / TulumVisit to the community of Puerto Aventuras, cenote excursion, arrival in TulumIncluded: Breakfast, DinnerAfter breakfast, we'll begin the drive south. Our first stop will be the gated community of Puerto Aventuras. This large residential area sits on a golf course, right along the water. It offers a variety of housing options and has become a popular place for retirees who are looking for a quiet, easy lifestyle in Mexico. After our tour, we'll continue to one of the most impressive cenotes (natural water-filled sinkholes in the jungle) in the area. You'll have a chance to swim and snorkel in this magical destination, knowing that there are hundreds of more gorgeous cenotes to visit once you move down here! In the afternoon, we'll finish our drive to Tulum where we'll check into our hotel and head out into town to get a good taste of the evening scene.
- 7Day 7TulumTulumFull day tour of Tulum, neighborhoods, Mayan ruins, social event with retireesIncluded: Breakfast, DinnerTulum is another popular destination among retirees and other foreigners looking to live near some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. We'll take you on a full tour of this town and all of the various neighborhoods. We'll show you what kind of lifestyle Tulum offers, what you can expect in terms of costs and the good and bad when compared to Playa del Carmen. We'll also stop at the Mayan ruins of Tulum to soak up some history as we tour this picturesque site. Once again, in the evening, after our final dinner together, we have a social event prepared so that you can meet and get to know some of the retirees already living in this town.
- 8Day 8Tulum / Departure dayTulum / Departure dayDeparture dayIncluded: BreakfastToday you'll be transferred to the Cancun Airport in time for your departing flight.
Tour Essentials
Easy/Medium Physical Level
While this trip is not very strenuous, please note that it can involve the following: long days, a good amount of walking, being in the sun in potentially hot temperatures, early morning wake-ups and other similar scenarios.
Accommodation
We’ll stay in 3/4* hotels on this trip. Accommodation is mid-range, with good, comfortable rooms. There are 8 single rooms available. Other rooms will be shared. Solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room in two single beds. (*Please note: If you book a shared room and we cannot find another traveler to share that room, there will be an extra surcharge for having a single room.)
Transport
We will travel between locations in the comfort of a 20 seat minibus. We will also use public transportation, taxis and walking to fully explore each area.
Meals
Breakfast every day, 1 lunch and 6 dinners are included. With included meals, some might be served family style and other times you will be able to order anything you wish from the menu. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated although it might result in a limited menu.
Small group
This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and has a maximum of 14 participants in order to ensure the best experience. With such a small group, you'll be able to gain a better understanding of the region and enjoy more personalized attention from our team every step of the way.
What's included
Included
- Wandering Earl Tours expert tour leader
- Small group (maximum 14 participants)
- Accommodation (7 nights – 3/4* hotels)
- Transportation within Mexico (private minibus, taxis, public transport)
- All included activities, entrance fees and social meetups
- Breakfast every day, 1 lunch and 6 dinners
- Airport transfers (private pickup upon arrival / shuttle transfer for departure)
Not Included
- Flights to/from Mexico
- Passport/visa fees (a visa is not needed for US/Canadian citizens)
- Meals and activities not mentioned
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Other gratuities
