If you can’t face another cold winter, why not spend the winter in Mexico? Mexico has it all — beautiful beaches, one of the most rich and varied cultures in the world, delicious food, and the chance to explore ancient ruins. But, most people will tell you that they come to Mexico in the winter for the weather.
With an average temperature of 75 degrees F in the winter and with little or no rain, would you rather be scraping snow and ice from your windshield, buried in layers of clothing or relaxing on a white sandy beach in Mexico with a good book in one hand and an ice cold margarita in the other?
From snorkeling or kayaking, or just spending a lazy day at the beach to enjoying the thriving art scene and colonial-era architecture in San Miguel de Allende to exploring the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Mexico is a great choice for your winter vacation this year.
Have you thought about where you’d like to spend your retirement? With warm weather, fabulous beaches, a lower cost of living, and close proximity to the U.S., Mexico has become a very popular country for U.S. retirees.
Celebrate the holidays in style
If you’re thinking about spending the winter season in Mexico, consider coming in December. Christmas in Mexico is one big fiesta. During the week between Christmas and New Years, there are huge celebrations. Even the smallest towns pull out all the stops when it comes to their Christmas and New Year’s parties
New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks, great food, toasting the new year with your favorite drink, and dancing, sometimes until the sun comes up the next morning.
However, to truly ring in the new year in Mexico like a local, you need to know about some of the traditions that Mexicans follow that make New Year’s Eve such a special night:
- Have a late dinner
- Put a gold ring in your drink for added good luck
- Watch the fireworks
- Make a list of all your negative thoughts and bad deeds from the previous year, and burn it
- Put some money in your shoes or hold money in your hand while the ball drops
- Sweep your house to get rid of bad vibes and negative energy
- Eat 12 grapes and make 12 wishes during the 60 second countdown to midnight
Don’t forget the food
You can spend the winter in Mexico and never tire of the food. From Mexican street food to iconic regional dishes, the cuisine of Mexico has been influenced by a variety of cultures — Aztec, Mayan, Zapotec, Spanish, and European. It is a food that is rich, not only in taste, but also in its history.
Try some traditional Mexican dishes such as pozole, elote, mole, and, for breakfast, chilaquiles. You may find that some of your favorite meals while on vacation can be had on the streets of Mexico. And, don’t miss out on some of the best desserts you’ll ever eat.
Of course, no discussion of Mexican food would be complete without talking about chocolate. The history of chocolate can be traced back to the ancient Mayans. The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma, drank as many as 50 cups of Xocolati, a chocolate beverage every day. Check out Moctezuma’s Xocolati recipe, the “divine drink of the gods.”