Living in Merida with Kids: 26 Pros and Cons from an Expat Soccer Mom

Living in Merida with kids is a whole different beast than when it was just my husband and I bouncing around the globe without a care in the world. Safety, schools, healthcare, adjusting to a new language, finding community, and making friends were major concerns we had when deciding we wanted to give our son an international upbringing.

Moving from Los Angeles to Merida with a kid, we took a massively blind leap of faith. Especially my son and I — my husband had visited, but the 2 of us moved sight unseen!

We knew Merida had an excellent reputation for safety, but we couldn’t find much on the internet about day-to-day living in Merida with kids. Just lots of tourists passing through and blogging about generic things they think kids visiting Merida like to do. I did find some fairly helpful Facebook forums with some great moms who were happy to connect. But still, nothing compares to putting your boots on the ground.

We had no clue how things would shake out. But here we are, nearly 3 years later. Which means I’m officially an expat soccer mom who’s poised to share all the pros and cons of living in Merida with kids.

Full disclosure: My 8-year-old son absolutely loves it here. We got lucky. He made a gazillion friends right off the bat, pretty much learned Spanish overnight, and loves that the Yucatan Peninsula offers so much to do and explore. That said, we have expat friends whose kids have found adjusting to life in Merida much more difficult, so they’ve returned home. But that’s life with kids — rarely does one size fit all.

In this article, I’m going to cover the good, the bad and the ugly of what it’s like living in Merida with kids. What I wish I’d known before moving, from the downright awful to the pleasantly surprising, and what I know now that I’m here. I’ll also give you some insight on what my son and his friends absolutely love, and what they could definitely do without.

Ready to make an informed decision about whether moving to Merida is right for your family? Read on, friend!

The Pros of Living in Merida with Kids

🤗 Merida is crazy safe

Believe everything you hear about Merida being incredibly safe. It’s 1,000% true. And I’m not just saying that because I’m from Los Angeles, where crime big and small is through the roof. Merida’s got the stats to back it up.

Merida is consistently ranked the 2nd safest city in all of the Americas, only behind Quebec City in Canada. Here is CEO World Magazine’s 2024 rankings for the World’s 50 Safest Cities. The only 2 North American cities named are Quebec City and Merida. You’ll find Merida on this global list at number 30, between two Northern European stalwarts, Helsinki, Finland and Bergen, Norway. Not one U.S. city ranks.

Additionally, Yucatan is considered the safest state in all of Mexico. In fact, my Mexican neighbors joke that they’re the real expats, since so many Mexicans have flocked to Yucatan from places like Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara to give their families security they can’t find elsewhere. Much of Yucatan’s safety is owing to its well-paid police force, headed by Luis Felipe Saidén Ojeda. Saidén, as he’s known, is credited with shielding Yucatan from the cartel violence that plagues other areas of Mexico.

So, what does safety look for kids living in Merida?

Safety in Merida looks like a carefree childhood. Kids can truly be kids here. They can scurry around playgrounds and plazas without parents hawking over them. Play on the beach while you’re lost in a good book. Do a few loops with their friends at the mall while you meander behind.

And bonus. There’s no active shooter training in Merida. Because there’s no horrific endemic of school violence.

Ultimately, I think Merida’s safety helps foster our kids’ independence, while us parents get to breathe pretty easy. Personally, I find there’s a joy and lightness to raising my child in Merida that I had no idea was possible coming from the States.

🤗 There’s tons for kids to do in Merida

Another pro about living in Merida with kids is that it’s got tons of awesome things for kids to do.

Downtown Merida is located about 30 minutes from Mother Nature’s best babysitter — the beach! Progreso is Merida’s closest beach, but it’s not my personal fave. So we often head out to Celustun, Sisal, Chelem, or San Bruno, which are all kiddo-approved by my son and his friends.

If your kids prefer fresh water to salt, the whole region is covered in refreshing underground springs called cenotes. These are often found in beautiful jungle surroundings, and a visit makes for an excellent family funday out.

Merida also has quite a few parks, although many of them leave a lot to be desired, which I address in the cons below. However, the relatively new Parque de la Plancha in Centro is an incredible place for kids. It features multiple playgrounds, climbing and jungle gym equipment, fountain shows, bicycle paths, a huge lake, a food court, train cars for kids to scamper in and out of, and even a public pool. It’s quite an achievement for Merida that your kids will love!

You’ll also find plenty of kid-fun places in Merida like go-kart and ATV tracks, trampoline parks, arcades, amusement, skate and sports parks, zoos, and laser tag. There’s also a huge ice-skating rink in the center of the Galerias mall, located in the north of the city. And families will love joining in the Biciruta on Sunday mornings, when the streets in Centro are closed to traffic for bicycle riders.

Family-friendly fairs and festivals also pass through Merida on the regular, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for these, too. My two faves are Feria Xmatkuil, an absolutely massive fair that takes place annually about 30 minutes from Merida. It’s got everything from rides to sticky carnival food to live perfomances to an astoundingly large flea market. There’s also the annual Festival del Globos Maya, a celebration of beautiful lanterns and hot air balloons.

🤗 The region’s rich history and biodiversity are full of opportunities for learning & fun

Living in Merida with kids comes with some mind-blowing and hands-on learning opportunities. Like downtown Merida is only 40 minutes south of Chicxulub, where 66 million years ago an asteroid struck offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, rendering the dinosaurs extinct. Kids can learn all about it at Museo del Meteorito (Meteorite Museum), or by strolling through the Sendero Jurásico, an outdoor educational space filled with replicas of various dinosaurs.

My son and his buddies never tire of scouring the Yucatan Peninsula’s majestic Mayan ruins, like the incredible Chichen Itza and Uxmal. My family-friendly fave archaeological site is Coba, which is 2 1/2 hours from Merida, near Tulum. You can explore the site’s multiple spaces and structures by bicycle, there’s lots of shady areas, and Coba is significantly less crowded than other popular sites.

Kids will also love visiting any number of Mayan museums in the region. The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya in Merida is an excellent place for kids to learn about things like the sophisticated Mayan calendar and hieroglyphics, advanced Mayan mathematics and medicine, extraordinary Mayan building techniques, and ancient sports and games, like Pok Ta’ Pok, the Maya’s favorite. In fact, you can take the whole family to Plaza Grande in Merida at 8 pm on Saturday nights to see spectacular reenactments of this ancient, ritual game.

Another pro of living with kids in the Yucatan Peninsula is that it’s full of protected nature reserves, where kids can learn about the region’s astonishing 7,300 species of wildlife, and 2,300 species of plants. We’re talking everything from jaguars and flamingos to mangroves and coral reefs. Many of the Peninsula’s reserves are on the front lines of fighting against animal extinction and climate change. These places open the door to teaching kids about being environmentally conscious and protecting our precious earth.

🤗 Private schools are waaaay more affordable than in the States

Merida’s schools are a mixed bag of pros and cons. But one super-major pro is that private schools in Merida — and all of Mexico, for that matter — are significantly cheaper than private schools in the States.

My son goes to what I understand is one of Merida’s most expensive private schools. It’s bilingual, internationally-accredited, and boasts teachers and staff from around the world. The current tuition is $11,437 pesos, or $562 USD per month.

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of private elementary school in the States is $12,790. Based on an 11 month calendar, that works out to $1,163 a month. So in Merida we literally pay half the tuition of what we’d be paying for private school in the States.

And that’s based on averages. I guarantee if we still lived in a high cost of living area like Los Angeles, we would absolutely be paying more.

🤗 Pediatricians are super accessible and booking appointments is easy

One of the best things about living in Merida with kids is the attentive and thorough pediatric care. My son has allergies that make him susceptible to respiratory infections, so we’ve seen loads of pediatric allergists and ENTs since moving here. Nearly every single one has managed to get us in the same day that I’ve called, if not the next.

It was the same story when my son recently had some growing pains. We got him in to see a pediatric orthopedist the same day. Same with some recent tooth pain. I found a pediatric dentist in a Merida Facebook group who fit us in at 7 p.m. She gave my kid X-rays and was with him for an hour.

Also, I’d say 75% of the pediatric doctors we’ve seen in Merida have given us their personal phone number, and encouraged us to contact them via WhatsApp. You can also find some pediatricians in Merida that make house calls. Anyone who’s ever had a sick kid wake up with a fever at 3 am knows this is priceless medical access!

I can’t speak for every hospital in Merida, but we live very close to Faro del Mayab, Merida’s newest, state-of-the-art hospital. Whenever I’ve needed to go to Urgent Care for my son, or my friends have gone, there is always a pediatrician on staff.

If you’re new to living in Merida with kids and need resources to help find doctors, I love the Doctoralia app. You can find pediatricians in your area with human ratings, as well as all kinds of specialists, and book immediately. I also recommend searching Facebook for local kids in Merida groups. Use the search feature to find and vet doctors and dentists mentioned in the group. I went this route before discovering Doctoralia. I found lots of moms sharing their personal recs, so its a great resource!

🤗 Kids are welcome everywhere and regularly stay up late

Kids are king in Merida. There’s no such thing as adults only here — or in most of Mexico, from what I’ve experienced. The whole country is notoriously family-oriented. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that children are welcome everywhere in Merida at all hours, including in restaurants, in the streets and plazas, and at parties, festivals and events.

Whenever I’m invited out to dinner, or over to a friend’s house in the evening, I always clarify if it’s an adults-only situation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a sitter only to show up to find everyone else’s kids running around!

Meridianos tend to be night owls because it’s too hot to do much during the day. The cooler hours don’t arrive until after the scorching sun sets at 6 or 7 p.m., so the time for children to play outside naturally starts later. This means that unlike in the States, there is literally nothing strange or disdainful about having your kids out dining with you or kicking a soccer ball in the streets at 10 p.m.

🤗 Merida’s restaurants have play rooms & the malls have ride along toys and jungle gyms

Got antsy kids that won’t sit still at the dinner table? Merida’s got a thing for that. Restaurants with tricked-out playrooms that are staffed with free babysitters. I know!

Originally, we were kind of horrified by the prospect of kids leaving the table to horse around. Especially my French husband, whose culture is all about mealtime etiquette and treating children like miniature adults.

But after my son’s soccer games, us parents got into the habit of taking the boys out to brunch. The boys were still so hopped up on adrenaline that it was impossible for them to sit at the table. So off to the playroom it was. And let me tell you — what a godsend!

Some playrooms feature ball crawls and jungle gyms. Others trend more savvy, with Playstations and air hockey tables. I wouldn’t necessarily leave my toddler alone, but for kids 4 and up they’re a dream come true.

Most of Merida’s malls have jungle gyms that serve this same purpose. You’ll also find ride along toys to rent, and there’s even choo-choo trains you can ride through the Galerias and La Isla malls.

🤗 Birthday parties are epic events

Brace yourself for 5 hour+ kid’s birthday parties. Families go all out celebrating their children in Merida. This could mean anything from a a day of elaborate Disney performances to raucous pool parties with bouncy house water slides on the grounds of a hacienda. I’m from Los Angeles, where parents plan their kid’s parties solely for show on Instagram. It’s the same here, except these Merida fiestas literally go on for hours.

That’s great if it’s a drop off party, ’cause free babysitting! But if your little one’s still too little for drop offs, you’ll be hanging at the fiesta, too. But cheer up! Most Merida kids parties I’ve been to are stocked with plenty of wine and beer for mom and dad!

🤗 Merida offers all the usual extracurricular kid’s activities

If you’re worried about what kind of extracurriculars you’ll find for your kids in Merida, don’t. Schools and facilities all over the city offer the same wide range of after-school and weekend activities that you’ll find in your hometown. Soccer, basketball, tennis, dance, gymnastics, parcour, horseback riding, music lessons, swimming lessons, chess clubs, robotics, computer classes, cooking classes… Expect all the things!

🤗 Your kids will learn all about Mexico and Yucatan’s culture and traditions

It seems there’s a million and one holidays in Mexico. In fact, I’m currently writing this post on Revolution Day, which marks the anniversary of the start of the Mexican Revolution. I had to Google it, but not my kid. He learned all about it in school this week.

In fact, my little gringo and his expat friends can tell you all about Mexico’s holidays, like Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. They’re also in the know about Hanal Pixan, which is Yucatan’s version of Day of the Dead, but steeped in Mayan roots.

With your kids attending school in Merida, and growing up in the Mexican households of their friends, they’ll learn all about Mexico and Yucatan’s rich cultures and important traditions. How cool!

🤗 Merida’s restaurants are kid-friendly

Kids are finicky eaters. Ours was 6 when we moved, so what we’d find on Merida’s menus was a major concern for us.

Yucatecan cuisine isn’t like what most of us conjure when we think of traditional Mexican food, like tacos, enchiladas or burritos. It’s tangy, citrusy, spicy, and pork and meat heavy, which is like the polar opposite of what little palates want — especially when your kid is a vegetarian, like mine!

Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised to find that most Merida restaurants are very kid-friendly. You’ll find all the usual kiddo-approved suspects like pancakes, waffles, pizza, chicken fingers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and quesadillas with guacamole, of course!

🤗 Theaters play the latest kids movies in English

Merida has a number of movie theaters that screen films in English. Cineopolis is the major chain showing the latest U.S. releases, many of which hit theaters in Mexico at the same time. You can count on finding at least 2 – 3 English screenings a day. Just look for films listed with “SUB” in the description. These will be original English language movies with Spanish subtitles. I’ve taken my son and his friends to see several English movies in Merida, like Minions 2, Super Mario Bros, Inside Out 2, and The Garfield Movie.

🤗 The Merida English Library hosts a children’s story time twice a month

Two Saturdays a month, the Merida English Library (MEL ) hosts an hour long story time in English for kids. Staff work with volunteers to pick out a special book to read, followed by creative activities based on the book’s theme. When we first moved to Merida, I brought my kid here several times, and even volunteered there a bit.

Unfortunately, now we live a little too far from MEL to attend all the time. But if you’re new to the city, I highly recommend attending to help ease your kid’s culture shock. It’s a great way for them to mix and mingle with kids who speak their language, and it’s a great place for you to meet other like-minded, expat families.

Just a side note that MEL also hosts English-language events and classes for adults that are worth you checking out.

🤗 Your family will learn Spanish & possibly a little Maya

Don’t you love it when people state the obvious? Seriously, just in case you had any doubts, prepare for your kids to be bilingual. I’m an old person with quite a few cobwebs in my brain, but my son is a sponge. So while I’m over here choking on gringa Spanglish, my kid has become entirely fluent.

And it’s not just because I’m raising a genius (although he is crazy smart, if I do say so myself). It’s no secret that children’s brains are primed for copious amounts of learning. We have friends who moved here from Canada, and every one of their 5 children (yes — 5!) learned Spanish in Merida, too. It’s wildly impressive!

I’m not sure how all of Merida’s bilingual schools do it, but at my kid’s school 70% of the instruction is in English and 30% is in Spanish. So while my son is definitely getting Spanish instruction at school, I’m certain that the majority of his Spanish comes from interacting with friends, and even his football and basketball coaches.

Along with Spanish, Maya is still widely spoken by Yucatan’s locals. So if you have Yucatecan help in the house, or if your kids go to school with any Yucatecans, it’s possible they might pick up a little Maya, too. How cool!

🤗 Babysitters and household help are ridiculously affordable

In LA, we paid our babysitter a staggering $25 an hour. In Merida, we pay anywhere between $5 – $7 an hour for childcare. It’s so great! Household help in general is a fraction of what it costs in the States. 8 hours of housekeeping might cost anywhere from $20 – $25 a day. Which, to reiterate, was what we paid our LA babysitter hourly.

The Cons of Living in Merida with Kids

😕 Good schools are challenging to find

You’ll definitely need to figure out the school thing when you’re living in Merida with kids. It can be… a lot.

One day, I’ll get around to doing a roundup of Merida’s best schools for expat kids. Until then, I suggest searching Merida’s Facebook groups to see where other expats have their kids. Otherwise, Google will take you down a rabbit hole of decent schools with terrible marketing, or crappy schools with inexplicable marketing prowess.

Merida’s public schools don’t have programs to support non-native Spanish speakers, like an equivalent to ESL programs in the States. So if your child doesn’t speak Spanish, you’ll probably want to opt for a private, bilingual education. In Merida, private school options run the gamut, from Montessori to parochial to IB schools.

You really, really, really need to vet the legitimacy and staying power of the school you choose. I know of several “alternative” private schools in Merida that have shut down out of the blue. Issues with business practices, teacher recruitment, not delivering what was promised, mismanaged money, and general incompetency are some of the reasons these schools shut down.

Keep in mind that if you’re used to a competitive school system (my experience is in the U.S. and Europe), you’ll find schools in Merida have a lower standard of education. According to the World Educator’s Association, Mexico ranks 46th out of the 100 top countries for education in terms of quality, access, innovation, and resources. By comparison, the top 5 slots are occupied by the UK, US, Germany, Canada, and France. My son’s school tells me they work based on the Canadian curriculum, but I have my doubts.

So no matter how high-quality the private school you choose in Merida, there are bound to be differences in what you’d expect from your child’s education back home.

The moral of this story? Temper your expectations and vet, vet, vet!

😕 Merida’s sidewalks and streets are in bad shape

If your kids like to skip and hop along, or you have a stroller to push, Merida’s dubious infrastructure is a major con. In many neighborhoods the sidewalks are in woeful disrepair — assuming sidewalks exist at all. If they do, they’re inexplicably narrow, uneven, and riddled with random obstacles like missing chunks of concrete, and thoughtlessly placed power poles. Definitely not the place for jump rope or hop scotch.

The streets are no better. They’re full of potholes and topes, which you’ll get to know as some of the most punishing speed bumps on earth.

Sure, you can always take your kids to the park. And to be fair, there are a lot improvements currently going on Centro, with streets, plazas and sidewalks being built and/or repaved.

But some of us appreciate the safety and curb appeal of a well-paved neighborhood. If this is you, the north of Merida is home to several gated communities with well-maintained streets and sidewalks. Many of these communities even boast private parks where kids can run freely and play.

😕 You’ll see neglected, homeless and deceased animals everywhere

Merida has an outsize problem dealing with its large stray animal population. You’ll see dogs and cats running amok in several areas of the city. Many are in a state of mange or starvation, and they’re frequently killed by cars, so roadkill is a common site in the city. I swear I see at least 1 animal corpse a week.

I cannot wrap my head around the shameful and heartbreaking neglect and treatment of animals in Merida. Nor can my child or his friends. Not to mention, it’s a public health risk. We know children who’ve been followed and bitten by wild dogs, and neighbors who’ve had their dogs attacked. Sometimes we won’t let our son out to play because rabid dogs are on the loose in our neighborhood. It’s a crazy and unfortunate situation.

So, obviously, living among the blatant and normalized mistreatment of Merida’s animals is a giant con.

😕 Learning the language and making friends can be tough

When my son first started school in Merida, there was another American boy in his class we’ll call Thomas. Thomas’s mom was thrilled when my son showed up. Thomas had been in Merida for nearly a year, and he’d only made 1 friend.

While my son flourished learning Spanish, Thomas didn’t. This left him feeling isolated in the classroom. Because his classmates shared a common language, Thomas felt like they were best friends intentionally leaving him out. So he showed no interest in learning Spanish, and became pretty despondent. Eventually, his family moved back to the States.

Integration is challenging. Especially for young children who don’t speak the language and have never left home before. In my experience, I see expat children generally thrive in their new environment, so Thomas’s case isn’t the norm. But take it as a cautionary tale.

Help your child integrate by getting their Spanish up and running as quickly as possible. Don’t just rely on the Spanish teachers at their bilingual school. You can do things like hire a tutor, arrange a language exchange, download language apps, or have a “Spanish-only” cartoon rule.

😕 Merida is a furnace

Some days it literally feels like Merida is the hottest place on earth. My son plays soccer, and I worry about heat stroke all the time. Whether his matches are scheduled at 8 a.m. or 8 p.m., it feels like the heat and humidity here never stop!

Merida gets some relief between the months of December – April, but the rest of the year it’s sweltering. This can be pretty prohibitive for kids used to playing outside during the day. Some days is just not even healthy to leave your air conditioned house. And if you do, you’d best slather your child in the highest SPF you can get your hands on.

The good news is that Merida’s backyards are full of pools, the beach is just 30 minutes away, and Merida is surrounded by tons of cenotes. So rest assured that there’s always somewhere to take a dip and cool off.

😕 The playgrounds are concrete and steel jungles

Remember those metal slides that used to burn your ass on the playground when you were a kid? Well, they’re still alive and well here in Merida. Along with swing sets held together by metal frames and chains. Parks with accommodating green space are also hard to come by. Some have wild, overgrown grass, but nothing manicured you’d want your toddler running barefoot through. In fact, most parks here feature more concrete than grass.

There are, of course, a few exceptions, like the large and lovely Parque de la Plancha I told you about above. It has much friendlier playground equipment, and even large shades covering the playgrounds to protect kids from harsh sun. I’m hopeful that other Merida parks will be upgraded in due time.

😕 The humidity can make allergies worse

If your kid has allergies, moving to Merida might make them worse. My son has a simple dust mite allergy that’s through the roof here in Merida. Whenever we travel anywhere drier, it miraculously goes away. The way my son’s allergist and ENT explain it, the humidity here conjures up all kinds of fungus, bacteria, pollen, and dust. The sheer concentration of these can heavily aggravate allergies that might be mild in drier climates.

😕 The produce stinks

Making my kid’s lunch every day has been one of the more challenging aspects of adjusting to Merida. Merida’s extreme heat spoils produce quickly if it’s not well-refrigerated during transport, or immediately upon arrival at the grocery store. That means Merida’s store shelves regularly display fuzzy strawberries, brown carrots, soft apples, and rotten grapes. You know — all the easy, healthy foods that make for a great school lunch!

My best tip is to either find a reliable, local grocer who deals in small batches, or to shop your produce at Costco. Costco has super strict refrigeration requirements for their transport trucks, so I’ve had the best luck shopping produce there. Some people swear by the markets downtown. But honestly I’ve had the same disappointing experiences there.

😕 Sugar is everywhere

Mexican families are a lot more liberal when it comes to giving their kids sugar. I mean, Mexico gave the world chocolate, invented the piñata and Mexican dulces (candies) are a huge thing, so it’s to be expected that there’s lots of cultural pride wrapped up in sugar.

But it isn’t just the candy. My son’s friends love sugary drinks like Coca-Cola, Gatorade and Mountain Dew. And unfortunately, many of them have the cavities to prove it. Soda addiction is a real thing here. In fact, the state of Chiapas in Mexico not only consumes more Coca-Cola than water, but they down more of it than anywhere else in the world. Yikes!

While you might not keep a sugary home, the sweet tooth of our kid’s friends can wield major influence. So if you’re living in Merida with kids, be prepared for a little battle the sugar monster.

😕 Your children will shower daily in mosquito repellent

Mosquitos are a fact of life in the tropics, and a major con of living in Merida for kids, and adults! Enflamed, itchy skin and dengue fever are real threats in Merida, and your best bet at combat is an ample coating of mosquito repellent. In Merida, OFF is our second skin.

In my experience, many of the “environmentally friendly” mosquito repellent brands just don’t work as well as OFF, or others containing DEET. It’s my understanding that this chemical has a dubious history, so you might not be comfortable spritzing it all over your kids. I suggest you Google DEET, and also talk to your pediatrician about it.

Hopefully, your pediatrician might have some more natural recommendations that work. Regardless of which route you go, if you live in Merida with kids, your child has to use a daily mosquito repellent.

😕 There’s no English language bookstores

Merida has an English language library, but no English language bookstores. We had one for a few years called Between the Lines, but the owner packed it in last winter.

There are, however, a few Spanish language bookshops that have a children’s English language book section. The best I’ve found is Libreria Gandhi. There are a few locations in Merida, and I usually go to the one in the Galerias Mall. It’s not the most comprehensive selection of English children’s books, and they don’t get new books in often, but it’s decent enough to browse with my son every so often.

Otherwise, thank god for Amazon!

The Wrap

I hope you’ve found my rundown of the biggest pros and cons of living in Merida with kids helpful! As I said above, there’s so much I wish I’d known about life with kids in Merida before I made the move. I don’t know if we would have decided to do things any differently, but I definitely would have had a few less surprises!

Overall, my son is besotted with Merida. For him and his friends, it’s paradise. He has freedom to explore and make new friends, and there’s tons of great things for kids to do and discover both in Merida, and throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. When my son is sick, the healthcare situation here is so easy to navigate. And it’s insane that my son is now fluent in Spanish! As a mom, there’s so many enticing pros to living in Merida with kids that it makes parenting so much easier.

As for the cons, I might not be able to raise the bar for Merida’s schools, but my son is enormously happy to wake up and go every day. Unfortunately, things like the heartbreaking animal neglect and awful mosquitos are sad facts of living here. When I’ve had enough, we’ll move on.

For more great info on what to expect moving to Merida, check out some of my other articles — 10 Ways Moving to Mexico Saved Us Thousands of Dollars, How to Make Mom Friends Abroad and 12 Things That Inspired Our Move to Merida, Mexico.

As always, inspired travels Amiga! 💜

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