Some expats live here, both in the hotel zone and in the mainland city. Soon after, retirees and other expats discovered the charms of living year round on the Riviera Maya.Ĭancún, at the northernmost point of the Riviera, is home to a city of 400,000 on the mainland-the center of government and business in the region, as well as a “hotel zone” chock-full of all-inclusive resorts and shopping malls. They subsidized the building of hotels on the island of Cancún, and that kicked off development up and down the coast, quickly turning it into a popular vacation spot for visitors from around the world. The Mexican government decided in the 1970s to make this region on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula a focal point of tourism. There is something for everybody when it comes to a place to live on this coast, whether you want a seaside village, resort-style living, or a sophisticated city atmosphere. And the Riviera Maya has quickly become a favored area. Mexico is the most popular expat spot for Americans, with an estimated one million in the country. And traditional Mexican culture, from music to food to cultural events, is still very much alive here. Plus, thanks to the region’s prosperity and high level of investment from the government and the private sector, the feel is First World and modern when it comes to infrastructure, services, and amenities. Stretching from Cancún to Tulum, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is one of the world’s premier beach destinations thanks to its white sands, blue Caribbean waters, and warm weather year round.

Costa maya mexico maps