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Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
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Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Retire in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico?
Overview: Located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre 475 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, picturesque Alamos is one of Mexico's Colonial silver mining towns. The precious ore was discovered here in the late-17th century and transformed the little village into one of Mexico's wealthiest cities for nearly one hundred fifty years. Silver kings built magnificent mansions and huge haciendas, many of which stand today.
Over the years, though, disease, invaders and power struggles took their toll, and by 1850, the silver was gone. For much of the late-19th and early-20th centuries, Alamos was nearly a ghost town, lost to history. Then, in the 1940s, an American bought a dilapidated mansion and turned it into a hotel. The re-emergence of Alamos had begun.
Today the old villas have been restored and house top notch restaurants, delightful shops, cozy cafes, B&Bs and hotels. Narrow cobblestone streets, arched doorways, colorful exteriors, wooden gates, hidden courtyards and a bounty of bougainvillea all add to Alamos' considerable appeal. The city has even been named a National Monument.
Alamos is quiet (even at night) most of the year, although Mexican families come to vacation in the summer, and a music festival in January attracts thousands of tourists. The area is also popular with bird watchers.
Population: 13,000 (in town and in the surrounding hills)
Percentage of Population Age 45 or Better: N/A
Cost of Living: Generally below the U.S. average, although this can vary according to housing choices, trips to the States or Canada, dining out or eating at home, etc.
Median Home Price: $150,000 or so. Prices range from around $50,000 to $800,000. Rentals from around $500 per month.
Climate: Hot and damp in the summer and fall with amazing thunderstorms from July through September. Mild and dry in the winter, with plenty of sun.
Public Transit: No, but there are taxis (arrange the fare beforehand since taxis are not metered).
Crime Rate: Below the national average
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No. Medicare is not accepted outside of the U.S. Alamos has one English speaking doctor with a free ambulance service, and there is a basic hospital.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No
Wal-Mart? No
Public Library? No, but there is a reading salon run by an English speaking woman.
Political Leanings: Conservative
Notes: Alamos has seen an influx of money and tourists, but it is still rustic by most U.S. standards. Cows and donkeys meander through town. The Plaza Alameda (main plaza) has pharmacies, an indoor market, a grocery, an internet cafe and more. There is a small English-speaking expatriate community here, but it helps to know some Spanish.
Is Mexico Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: The U.S. State Department has advisories about traveling in rural Mexico, including areas in northern and eastern Sonora. It recommends traveling to Alamos only during daylight hours along toll road Highway 15 and Sonora State Road 162.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes. Mexico continues to have serious drug-related crime problems, but Alamos remains a safe place.
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