The State of Yucatan is the center state on the Yucatan Peninsula. On the north, you will find the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. To the east and west, there is the major portion of what is called the Convent Route, with many archaeological sites, complete with Mayan pyramids, and colonial churches. To the east is cattle country, the land of cenotes, and Chichen Itza, one of the New Wonders of the World. In the southern cone of the state, there is lush farm land with cities growing out of what were once small villages. The capital city of Yucatan is Merida, a city that was already ancient when the Spanish arrived. Today, Merida has not only regained its colonial splendor, but has exceeded all expectations in its modern growth and development.
Much is made of the term certified retirement community these days. In order to qualify as a certified retirement community in the United States, a city must demonstrate that it has a low crime rate, excellent health care, sufficient shopping to more than meet the needs of residents, and cultural, recreational and volunteer opportunities. The State of Yucatan has all of those things and more.
Yucatan is the safest state, with respect to crime, in all of Mexico. This is due, in large part, to a unique characteristic of the people of Yucatan. Yucatecos, whether they are Maya or not, simply do not want crime in their state and will not tolerate it. In a world that is beset by a rapidly growing crime rate, it might seem odd that an entire state can remain virtually free of serious crime simply by declaring that tranquility will flourish there but, amazingly, it seems to work. With this tranquility comes the freedom for business to develop and for the people to consistently improve their way of life. Merida holds the honor of being one of the 100 United Nations Cities of Peace in the world and Progreso is Mexico’s only United Nations Port of Peace.
Yucatan has the best health care in all of southeast Mexico and people come from many other countries throughout the Americas and Europe to avail themselves of the services of specialists in every field. Merida has Star Medica Hospital, one of the newest and most modern hospitals in North America, and it also has O’Horan Hospital, which has just been designated as a transplant center for corneas, kidneys, livers and hearts. The Red Cross International Cancer Center is in Merida and there are several other general and specialty hospitals throughout the city. However, Merida is not the only city in Yucatan with new and modern health care. There are new general hospitals currently opening and being built throughout the state, as well as one hospital devoted totally to traditional Mayan medicine. Yucatan can also boast of its excellent equine therapy program, as well as other health care programs for disabled individuals. Excellent dentists and ophthalmologists round out the health care community in Yucatan.
The cultural offerings in the State of Yucatan are amazing. There are non-stop performances throughout the state seven nights a week and all day on Saturday and Sunday. One of the nicest things about the State of Yucatan is that fine performances in the city are taken to rural towns and villages as well. For example, if the Symphony or the opera performs in Merida, a small admission is charged. Then, that same Symphony or opera performance is taken to small towns and villages, where admission is free. This comes from the people of Yucatan insisting that every Yucateco will have an opportunity to benefit from the arts and humanities, and it is a mindset that contributes to the State of Yucatan being one of the finest places in the world to live.
In the end, it is security and the opportunity to build a rich, full life that brings potential residential and commercial property owners to Yucatan. It is the sheer pleasure of day to day living in Yucatan that keeps them there.
