Mexico Information

Learn about expat life in Mexico, cost of living in Mexico, real estate tours, best places to live in Mexico, and Mexico tourism.

Cotacachi Ecuador vs Ajijic Mexico (Pros & Cons)

Are you considering a move to Mexico or Ecuador and wondering which expat destination to choose? Both countries have plenty of options, but two towns that stand out are Ajijic in Mexico and Cotacachi in Ecuador.

These two picturesque mountain towns have a lot in common, but also some unique features that may sway your decision. In this article, we’ll compare the pros and cons of living in each town.

Ajijic Mexico Pros & Cons

Ajijic is a picturesque mountain town on the shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake. The town is located about an hour south of Guadalajara and is close to major cities and airports.

The area is popular with expats because of its incredible views, walkability, variety of restaurants, and outdoor activities.

The town is home to a large number of foreign residents, which means there are many perks available to them, but also a few downsides caused by its extreme popularity.

Ajijic Mexico Pros

  • Beautiful, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Lakeside location
  • Comfortable year-round climate with lower elevation at 5,000 feet
  • 30-minute drive to the international airport in Guadalajara
  • Lots of expat amenities and English-speaking locals
  • Great for retirees
  • Plenty of shopping options, including Walmart and grocery stores
  • Nightlife options available

Ajijic Mexico Cons

  • Housing is expensive
  • Very populated and touristy
  • Can feel like “America-lite”

Cotacachi Ecuador Pros & Cons

Cotacachi is a picturesque mountain town located about 90 minutes north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. It has a population of around 9,000 people, and a lot of them are expats. Cotacachi is also close to major cities and airports and has incredible views and a variety of outdoor activities.

Situated between two inactive volcanoes, the town is small, clean, and quiet, making it feel more authentic than Ajijic. The town is also close to world-famous shopping at the Otavalo market and has a supportive group of expats. However, it doesn’t have major medical facilities, and the full grocery store is 30 minutes away in Ibarra.

Cotacachi Ecuador Pros

  • Small, clean, and quiet
  • Located in a picturesque mountain setting with incredible views
  • Close to world-famous shopping at Otavalo market
  • Hiking and outdoor activities available
  • Supportive group of expats
  • One of the most affordable cities in Ecuador
  • Weekly organic market
  • Quito is 1.5 hours away

Cotacachi Ecuador Cons

  • High elevation can be a challenge for some
  • Cool temperatures and rainy climate
  • Major medical facilities are not available in town
  • Airport is 1.5 hours away
  • Longer, more expensive flights back to the US
  • Not many nightlife options available

Conclusion

When deciding between Ajijic and Cotacachi, it comes down to your personal preferences and priorities. If you’re looking for a small community with cooler temperatures, Cotacachi may be the right fit for you. The town is more affordable than Ajijic, and it feels very authentic. On the other hand, if you have a larger budget and want to be closer to the US with a warmer climate and plenty of expat amenities, Ajijic may be the perfect fit.

Watch Our Comparison Video About Cotacachi and Ajijic

 


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This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Are We Moving to Mexico? (and Leaving Ecuador?)

Following our recent trip to Mexico and the videos we shared from that trip, a lot of you are curious if we’re planning to leave Ecuador and move to Mexico.

In this video, we’ll compare Mexico and Ecuador by looking at the factors that matter most to us, and maybe to you, as well. Then we’ll decide which is better FOR US and reveal our decision!

 


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  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
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  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

WE GOT ROBBED!!!

We got robbed in Mexico! After over 4 years of filming in Latin America, it happened. All about how it happened and how you can learn from our mistakes, in this video!

 


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5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
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  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Amazing Rental Homes (Lake Chapala Mexico)

Lake Chapala Mexico is one of the most popular areas to live and retire for expats from the United States and Canada. And Ajijic Mexico is by far the most popular town for expats in the Lake Chapala area.

The weather is about as close to paradise as you can get, and there are lots of activities to keep you busy. It’s also about 30 minutes from the Guadalajara International Airport so you can easily fly back home or anywhere else in the world.

You’ll find a variety of rental homes to fit most budgets and requirements. In this video, Inesa from Chapala Realtors was kind enough to show us 2 rental properties in Ajijic Mexico and one rental condo in San Juan Cosalá Mexico, which is located about 15 minutes west of Ajijic.

Inesa is primarily a real estate agent so she specializes in home buying and selling, but she can help you find a rental, too!

Here’s a link to learn more about Insesa and to access her contact info…

Watch Our Video About Rentals in Ajijic Mexico

 


FREE Weekly Newsletter

5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
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  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Expats Told Us They Love Chapala Mexico!

The northshore of Lake Chapala has been popular with wealthy Mexicans from Guadalajara and expats from the United States for a long time, especially Ajijic.

As a result, the housing and restaurant costs in Ajijic have gone up significantly over the past few years so you may be looking for a more affordable place to live, but with similar amenities.

Thankfully, you don’t need to go far! The city of Chapala is located about 15 minutes east of Ajijic by car. It has a nice, new malecon with lots of restaurants and housing options, a Soriana Hiper (supermarket), a mercado, a bus station with transportation to the airport and Guadalajara, and more.

Plus, it’s far more affordable than Ajijic!

You may also want to check out Tlayacapan, San Juan Cosalá and Jocotepec, which are also located on the northwest shore of Lake Chapala.

Watch Our Video About Chapala Mexico

 


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5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
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  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Shocking Homes For Sale on Lake Chapala Mexico

Lake Chapala and Ajijic Mexico is one of the most popular areas to live and retire for expats from the United States and Canada.

The weather is about as close to paradise as you can get, and there are lots of activities to keep you busy. It’s also about 30 minutes from the Guadalajara International Airport so you can easily fly back home or anywhere else in the world.

You’ll also find a variety of real estate to fit most budgets and requirements. In this video, Inesa from Chapala Realtors was kind enough to show us 5 properties in Ajijic and San Juan Cosalá, which is located about 15 minutes west of Ajijic.

Whether you want to buy a condo, a townhome or a single family detached home in the Lake Chapala Area, Inesa can help!

Here’s a link to learn more about Insesa and to access her contact info

Here are links to more info about the properties we toured:

ITZIA CONDO 101

ITZIA CONDO 203

ITZIA CONDO 401

Casa Colores

Casa Elegante

Watch Our Video About Homes For Sale on Lake Chapala

 


FREE Weekly Newsletter

5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
  • The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Ajijic Mexico was NOT what we Expected!

After a few days in what we think will be Mexico’s NEXT expat hotspot, we ventured out of the city to visit what may be Mexico’s most popular place for expats from the United States and Canada: Ajijic Mexico.

We were shocked by the number of expats in this area! While it was a beautiful place with lots of amenities that will appeal to retirees, it wasn’t at all what we expected.

Coolest Neighborhood in Mexico (and the WORLD)!

AirBnB in Ajijic

Watch Our Video About an Expat Hotspot in Mexico

 


FREE Weekly Newsletter

5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
  • The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Colonia Americana: Coolest Neighborhood in the World! (Guadalajara Mexico)

This is the start of a new era for our channel! And we’re very excited about it!

Ecuador will continue to be our home base and we still plan to apply for citizenship next year when we’re eligible, but we’re taking our brand of expat edutainment on the road for future videos.

We already have several trips planned to other countries! This will allow us to gather more boots-on-the-ground information and do better comparisons between the various popular expat destinations.

In this video, we visited the neighborhood of Colonia Americana in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was recently named the “Coolest Neighborhood in the World” by TimeOut.

We’re not sure it’s the “coolest” neighborhood, but it was really cool. It has lots of restaurants and nice housing options. There are several universities in the area so it has a young, energetic vibe.

We really enjoyed our time in Col Americana and plan to visit again!

AirBnB Condo

Watch Our Video from Colonia Americana

 


FREE Weekly Newsletter

5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
  • The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

What We Got Wrong About Mexico

Amelia and JP VLOG 279: We made a mistake in our last Mexico video about visas and wanted to correct that in this video. Plus, we respond to several other comments that we received on that video.

In case you missed our last Mexico video about why we think Ecuador is a better choice for expats than Mexico, here’s the link.

Please read Factfullness by Hans Rosling for a better understanding of the world as it actually is, instead of what we’ve been led to believe by the media and outdated educational information.

 


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5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
  • The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.

Why Ecuador Is Better than Mexico for Retirees & Expats!

Amelia and JP VLOG 274: After hearing about the Mexico perpetual tourist visa changes from several people who live in Mexico, we wanted to share why we think Ecuador might be a better option.

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t qualify for a Mexico temporary residency visa, you may want to consider Ecuador, instead.

The monthly income requirement for an Ecuador temporary residency visa, as well as a permanent residency visa is only $400 (as of 2021) with no additional savings requirement. That means most expat retirees living on social security will qualify for a visa in Ecuador.

CORRECTION: The Mexico residency visas require monthly income OR savings. Not both. We’re not Mexico visa experts and we made a mistake. Lo siento mucho! However, this doesn’t change the fact that a lot of retired expats won’t qualify for a visa in Mexico, while Ecuador only requires $400/month in income for the pensioner visa.

Here’s our last Cost of Living video showing you what your quality of life will look like on the average social security check.

Planning a move to Ecuador? Check out our A-to-Z Expat Fast Track eCourse!

 


FREE Weekly Newsletter

5 Countries Report CoverSign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

  • The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
  • The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
  • Discount Codes for our eCourses
  • And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.