recommend a Mexican location that would be great for a family year abroad

[Anonymous]

We have jobs that will allow us to work remotely outside the country for a year. We have investigated tax implications and visa requirements and I think it’s most likely that we will spend the next academic year in Mexico (i.e. Aug 2025-July 2026). We are looking for recommendations for where to live. We want:

—a school for our 3rd grader. Full Spanish or bilingual would work. Fine with paying for international/private school. Helpful if the school is on the US academic calendar (as many privates are from my initial research). But the calendar issue isn’t a deal breaker.

—beautiful surroundings. Could be ocean or mountains. We prefer a town/village to a big city. We’ve lived in south America (different than Mexico, but I say this as evidence have a sense of what it’s like to live outside of the US).

—no more than 2 hours from an airport.

That’s it really. We just want a small village with one school option somewhere beautiful.

[Anonymous]

There will obviously be a school in nearly every village, so maybe say more about what you want from the school?

[Anonymous]

There’s a pretty big expat community in San Miguel Allende but that may be too big for you.

[Anonymous]

Op here. We don’t have strong preferences re: the school. Just needs to be somewhere we can enroll our non-citizen elementary school aged kid, which I think means private is most likely. Her Spanish is very good.

[Anonymous]

I would find an expat board

[Anonymous]

Check out some of the towns and mid-sized cities in Querétaro state and Guanajuato state. (Check current security concerns in Guanajuato state -- my experience is a couple years out of date.) People like Zacatecas city and Aguascalientes city, too. People like Mérida but it's very hot and humid.

San Cristóbal in Chiapas would be very cool.

Mexican schools are broadly on the same school calendar as U.S. schools, but their summer break is closer to 6 weeks in many schools. So you'd want to plan to be there by July probably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have jobs that will allow us to work remotely outside the country for a year. We have investigated tax implications and visa requirements and I think it’s most likely that we will spend the next academic year in Mexico (i.e. Aug 2025-July 2026). We are looking for recommendations for where to live. We want:

—a school for our 3rd grader. Full Spanish or bilingual would work. Fine with paying for international/private school. Helpful if the school is on the US academic calendar (as many privates are from my initial research). But the calendar issue isn’t a deal breaker.

—beautiful surroundings. Could be ocean or mountains. We prefer a town/village to a big city. We’ve lived in south America (different than Mexico, but I say this as evidence have a sense of what it’s like to live outside of the US).

—no more than 2 hours from an airport.

That’s it really. We just want a small village with one school option somewhere beautiful.

Having family in Mexico, I'd suggest the SW region. Avoid the Yucatan or south of Mexico City, as well as the central highland desert region and Sonoran areas, as they would not be very welcoming to you, plus do not fit what you described.
Gulf coast is also another area, but you might not like the wetter air climate.

[Anonymous]

I'd do Costa Rica instead.

But maybe some people on this board will have good Suggs.

Have fun, OP! Sounds cool to me

[Anonymous]

I would choose a university town.

[Anonymous]

No where.

[Anonymous]

Oaxaca maybe? it's beautiful and a different vibe from Mexico City--or somewhere in the Riviera Maya if you want the beach vibe, but I'm not sure what the school situation is like. But yes, there are expat boards-- (Two Fat Expats is huge, but focuses more on expats to Europe and Asia, but I'm sure you could find another one that is more Mexico/ LatAm focused)

[Anonymous]

Merida

[Anonymous]

With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

[Anonymous]

For a year long stay will need to ensure you meet residency requirements and get that taken care of prior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the current security concerns I would not go to Mexico. I love the people and the food, but last time we went I didn’t feel safe.

I would pick Peru, Costa Rica or Uruguai. Haven’t lived in these countries, but have visited and liked the people.

Mexico is a big country. Just like a lot of people don't feel safe in certain parts of the USA--some areas are safer than others, yet we live here and take precautions.