Huatulco Is Mexico's Hot New Retirement Destination Kathleen Peddicord - U.S. News & World
go to original December 23, 2016

Retirement on the beach can be affordable in some parts of Mexico (Quotesgram)

Huatulco has more of a small town feel than other tourist hotspots in Mexico like Cancún and Los Cabos, making it more appealing for retirees and expats seeking a more authentic experience. The area, situated at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, features a series of natural bays, small coves and 36 white-sand beaches that span 20 miles of Mexico's Pacific coastline.

Huatulco is divided into four districts: Tangolunda, Santa Cruz, La Crucecita and Chahué. Tangolunda (also known as the "hotel zone") is where most of the area's luxury resorts are based. Just inland from the beach areas is La Crucecita, Huatulco's main town, where you find amenities such as grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants. In Santa Cruz, just south of La Crucecita, is a large pier where cruise ships dock and a marina. Between three and six cruise ships arrive per month during the high season. This area also features small shops, restaurants and bars that cater to the visiting cruise ship passengers. Chahué, between Tangolunda and Santa Cruz, is home to the most popular beaches in Huatulco, as well as an 86-slip marina with a beach club that's open to the public.

Huatulco is an extremely eco-friendly community. It was awarded the Green Globe certification as a sustainable tourist area, the first location in the Americas to receive this recognition. Huatulco's energy is wind-driven, and all the hotels, restaurants and nightclubs operate on renewable energy. The area is served by a state-of-the-art water and sewage plant that minimizes the waste and pollutants that find their way to the ocean.

When Fonatur first started developing Huatulco in 1985, the goal was to create another tourism destination similar to that of Cancún, albeit an eco-friendlier version. Huatulco has yet to reach the level of success experienced in Cancún, which is one of most successful tourism development efforts the world has ever seen. However, according to government hotel occupancy statistics released in May 2016, Huatulco has been able to achieve occupancy levels of almost 65 percent, compared with 79 percent in Cancún.

As the Mexican government continues to make the investments in Huatulco, tourism might further increase. This might increase demand for rental units and increase housing values. However, property prices have not yet spiked, and you could own a home in the sun in Huatulco for as little as $150,000.

Read the rest at U.S. News & World Report

Related: 9 Reasons Why Expats Are Still Flocking to Mexico (The Huffington Post)

Related: Quitting Canada: How to Retire in Spring-Like Paradise in the Autumn of Your Life (Financial Post)

Related: Is Mexico Your Perfect Retirement Destination? (InternationalLiving.com)

Related: How Retirement Communities Are Going Green (US News)

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!