| During the past 15 years, International | | | | Mountains next to Banderas Bay, safely |
| Living magazine has calculated its Annual | | | | protected from Pacific storms coming out of |
| Global Retirement Index; a resource intended | | | | the south. Also, because Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo |
| to assist retirees and future retirees in | | | | is approximately 500 miles south of Vallarta |
| evaluating and comparing the world's most | | | | and Puerto Escondido is 300 miles even |
| popular retirement destinations. It is based | | | | further south, the "high season", or the |
| on a number of criteria, giving various | | | | time during the year with perfect weather |
| weights to each, depending on its importance | | | | conditions, is reduced from 7-8 months to |
| to retirees. Listed below are those criteria | | | | perhaps 6-7 months. A month extra per year in |
| considered with their individual weighting: | | | | Paradise is often considered to be |
| | | | substantial to retirees! |
| • Cost of Living-20% | | | | |
| | | | Using the above logic, it's no wonder why so |
| • Health Care-20% | | | | many retirees have migrated to Puerto |
| | | | Vallarta. This beautiful tourist resort area |
| • Special Benefits-20% | | | | has become home to thousands of North |
| | | | Americans that have traveled the world, could |
| • Real Estate-15% | | | | afford to live anywhere on the planet, and |
| | | | have chosen Vallarta as their winter, if not |
| • Entertainment, Recreation, and | | | | full time, retirement destination. |
| Culture-10% | | | | |
| | | | Located at the same latitude as Hawaii, |
| • Climate-5% | | | | Puerto Vallarta has a perfect climate with an |
| | | | average daily temperature of 73°F from |
| • Safety and Stability-5% | | | | November through May with virtually no chance |
| | | | of rain. With a population of approximately |
| • Infrastructure-5% | | | | 350,000 inhabitants, Vallarta now has a new |
| | | | and growing infrastructure including roads, |
| Believe it or not, until this year, Panama | | | | water treatment plants and distribution |
| had topped the list for the past six years. | | | | systems, power plants and distribution grid, |
| It still has plenty to offer retirees, | | | | airport, maritime terminal, hospitals, |
| however this year, with 30 countries being | | | | university, etc. |
| analyzed and ranked, it fell to fourth | | | | |
| position. Ahead of Panama in third position, | | | | High speed internet, satellite TV, VOIP |
| was Italy with its beautiful cities, its fine | | | | telecommunications, and US newspapers and |
| weather, and of course, its historic sites. | | | | magazines are all available in Vallarta. Most |
| In second position was, of all countries, | | | | of the mega-stores found in the US and Canada |
| Ecuador, which moved all the way up from the | | | | have come to Vallarta including Sam's Club, |
| tenth position last year. Ecuador offers an | | | | Wal-Mart, Costco, Home Depot, Office Depot, |
| extremely low cost of living, great weather, | | | | Staples, and of course, every fast food chain |
| beautiful land, a growing economy tied to the | | | | restaurant imaginable! Vallarta now has seven |
| US dollar, and a stable political | | | | world class golf courses with three more |
| environment. It might be a well kept secret, | | | | either in the planning stage or currently |
| but Ecuador is becoming a land of opportunity | | | | under construction. There are hundreds of |
| and retirees are taking advantage of it. | | | | tennis courts, world class deep sea fishing, |
| | | | and every other activity available that you |
| Now, for the number one ranked country in the | | | | would expect in a city of this size. There |
| world for retirement; MEXICO! Aside from the | | | | are numerous new cinemas, theaters, and |
| fact that Mexico is extremely convenient to | | | | hundreds of fine restaurants. |
| the US and Canada, that Mexico's Senior | | | | |
| Citizens´ Benefits Program offers up to | | | | Due to the explosive growth of Vallarta and |
| 50% discounts on many services to retirees | | | | the influx of North Americans, it is safe to |
| over the age of 60, that the Mexican | | | | say that its entire economy is based on |
| government has enacted many new laws | | | | tourism and the retirement of North |
| encouraging foreign investment, Mexico has | | | | Americans, thus creating thousands of new |
| become an incredible place to enjoy | | | | construction and service related jobs for the |
| retirement, offering the quality of life that | | | | locals. It has also created an atmosphere |
| North Americans are accustomed to with | | | | where speaking English has become a |
| numerous extra benefits. | | | | prerequisite for a decent paying job. |
| | | | Therefore, most of the younger Vallartenses |
| (As a side note, a few years ago when the | | | | are now becoming quite fluent in English. The |
| Canadian dollar was at its weakest, Canada | | | | inability to speak Spanish is certainly not |
| ranked in the top ten. However as the loonie | | | | an obstacle to retiring in Vallarta! Also, |
| has strengthened, Canada has slipped well out | | | | because the economy is based on the North |
| of the top ten this year. For reference sake | | | | American dollar, safety is of prime concern |
| only, the US ranked 19th this year!) | | | | to the locals. You will not find a safer, |
| | | | more hospitable city of this size anywhere. |
| The major Mexican inland retirement | | | | In fact, this was clearly revealed in a |
| communities are located in San Miguel de | | | | survey taken by Conde Nast magazine, where |
| Allende, Guanajuato, and the Lake Chapala / | | | | Puerto Vallarta was ranked the friendliest |
| Ajijic area. For the most part, these inland | | | | resort destination in the world. |
| retirement communities are located in | | | | |
| beautiful colonial cities with moderate | | | | Now, let's return to our quest for the top |
| temperatures year round. Most of the modern | | | | retirement haven in the world. If we can |
| amenities and activities are available to | | | | accept what the latest surveys, polls, and |
| retirees in these retirement cities with a | | | | indices suggest, Mexico is the country and |
| very attractive cost of living. Being located | | | | Puerto Vallarta is the city. |
| inland, these retirees can purchase and own | | | | |
| real estate with title as they would in the | | | | We've owned property in Vallarta for almost |
| US or Canada. | | | | 25 years and have lived here as permanent |
| | | | residents for over ten years and can attest |
| For those desiring magnificent ocean views, | | | | to its magical characteristics resulting in a |
| the Pacific coastline offers many advantages | | | | quality of life that can't be surpassed |
| over the Gulf of Mexico coastline; the major | | | | anywhere in the world. The growth that we've |
| one being protection from storms. The entire | | | | witnessed since 2000, when the PAN |
| Yucatan Peninsula area, including the Cancun | | | | administration took power, has been truly |
| and Cozumel areas are great for vacations; | | | | amazing; so much so, that the head of the |
| but due to its exposure to hurricanes, it is | | | | local Chamber of Commerce has projected the |
| not considered by many to be ideal for | | | | population of Vallarta will reach 600,000 by |
| retirement. On the other hand, the Pacific | | | | the year 2015. There are currently more than |
| Ocean coastline seldom sees troublesome | | | | 7,000 new condos currently under construction |
| storms and offers more than a thousand miles | | | | with well over 20,000 more planned in the |
| of incredible Pebble Beach like views with a | | | | future by Fonatur, the Mexican Tourism Board. |
| climate similar to that of Hawaii. | | | | Because real estate sales in Mexico are |
| | | | generally done on a cash basis, this economy |
| Pacific Ocean coastal cities such as | | | | has not been affected by the mortgage related |
| Mazatlan, Manzanillo, and Acapulco are | | | | problems seen in the US. Real estate values |
| somewhat popular for tourists, but have | | | | have tripled since 2000 and continue to |
| become quite industrialized and | | | | appreciate daily. Owning property here has |
| commercialized and therefore not really | | | | surely been an investment of a lifetime for |
| considered as ideal retirement cities. The | | | | us. |
| most desirable retirement locations from | | | | |
| north to south along the Pacific Ocean are La | | | | If you're a baby boomer, either recently |
| Paz and Todos Santos in Baja, Puerto | | | | retired or about to retire, you owe it to |
| Vallarta, Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, and Puerto | | | | yourself; make PV your next vacation |
| Escondido. | | | | destination and consider all the qualities it |
| | | | has to offer. You'll definitely be impressed |
| La Paz and Todos Santos in Baja, Ixtapa / | | | | with this glorious Paradise along the Mexican |
| Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Escondido are more | | | | Riviera and will probably agree, Puerto |
| exposed to the elements than Puerto Vallarta, | | | | Vallarta is the best place in the world to |
| which is tucked behind the Sierra Madre | | | | retire. |