Best Places for Mature Travelers in Mexico

Last week, my 73-year-old mom asked me where she could go now that she has been vaccinated for COVID and I naturally responded Mexico. When she asked me where to go, I realized that I needed to write this article!

Mexico is an amazing place for mature American travelers. Beautiful weather, delicious food, friendly people, and a prime location just south of the US border have made Mexico a hot spot for spring breakers and retirees for decades.

With few COVID restrictions to enter and a lot of safety precautions being followed, Mexico is a great place to explore! I have chosen these destinations considering the ease of transportation, walkability (all destinations are relatively flat), proximity to cultural attractions or beaches, and the level of English spoken.

What is the best way to travel?

Mexico is very easy to travel around with inexpensive domestic and an extensive network of comfortable (and safe!) buses.  For most of eastern and southern Mexico, I recommend the ADO buses and as you go further north, Primera Plus and ETN are great options. 

To travel between cities and figure out which buses run routes, check out the website Rome2Rio.  It provides direct links to the bus companies and Google translate will work on most of the websites. 

There is normally no need to book more than a day or so in advance; however, you will usually get a discount for booking in advance. 

The buses are extremely comfortable with a ton of legroom.  There are bathrooms on every bus and a secure luggage storage hold.   The nicest buses are equipped with personal TVs but all of the movies and shows will be in Spanish.

 So where should mature travelers go for their Mexican vacation?

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Puerto Vallarta

Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the nearby mountains, Puerto Vallarta is a well-known tourist spot full of gay men and American expats.   With beautiful scenery,  a pleasant climate, and a peaceful Malecon to stroll along,  it is no surprise that this is one of Mexico’s most loved destinations.  The streets are relatively flat and there is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from.  English is also widely spoken.  Although it is a bit more expensive than other parts of Mexico, it is still much cheaper than most US travel destinations. 

Puerto Morelos

Located just a few hours south of Cancun, Puerto Morelos is like another world.  Well-maintained streets, a nice beach, and a collection of charming bars, restaurants, and shops make this a great place to spend a few days.  The town is very safe and quiet and many American retirees are happy to call it home.

San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel is a charming little city just a few hours away from Mexico City.  The cobblestone streets are full of upscale eateries and boutique shops and the heart of the city is the stunning cathedral.  Just outside of the city, you can visit hot springs and wineries making this a great location for culture-vultures.  While San Miguel can get quite warm during the day, the nights can be chilly.  Make sure to book a hotel in the historic center as close to the main square as possible as the streets can get quite steep!

You can easily get a bus from Mexico City airport to San Miguel if you want to skip the hassle of going into the city center. 

Merida

Merida is at the top of many retirees lists’ and there is a reason why.  Known as Mexico’s safest city, Merida is home to around 1 million people and has a large Mayan population.  The historic colonial center is full of theaters, squares, churches, bars, and restaurants and as the city is based on a grid system, it is very easy to navigate around.  English isn’t as widely spoken as in some of the other touristy cities in Mexico but a little bit of Spanish goes a long way with the incredibly friendly locals.

There is an international airport in Merida but flights to US cities are limited. Most people instead arrive at Cancun airport and then take the bus from Cancun Centro to Merida.  The ride is about 4 hours and it is very safe. 

Valladolid

Located between Merida and Cancun, Valladolid is a great location for travelers who wants to see a colonial city but don’t have a huge amount of time.  The quaint historic center packs in a surprisingly large amount of things to see and there are a number of cute little hotels to choose from.   The ADO station is located right in the center of town so you can easily walk to most hotels.

Need help planning your trip?

Hopefully, this list has given you some ideas as to the diversity of safe places that are waiting for you in Mexico. If you still need help, make sure to check out my travel planning services! You can find more information on this service here. After working in the travel industry for 15 years and traveling extensively, I can help you get the best deals and help make the somewhat complicated task of logistic planning seem simple 🙂