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Most people spend months planning their move to Mexico and almost nobody asks the one question that causes the most expensive problems: how exactly am I getting my entire life down there? Dez breaks down the real shipping rules, Menaje de Casa timing, and the framework for deciding what's actually worth bringing.
By My Deztination Team: Mexicos Trusted Residency + Relocation Expert
If you've never experienced Mexican Independence Day in person, nothing quite prepares you for it.
Puerto Vallarta just marked Mexico's 216th anniversary of independence and the Malecón was alive in a way that's hard to describe until you've stood in the middle of it. Green, white, and red everywhere. Families, tourists, locals, children on shoulders. The smell of elotes and tacos drifting through the crowd. Mariachi competing with batucada drums. And then, at 11pm, the city going completely still for one moment before erupting.
Here's what actually happened and what to expect if you're here next year.
Most people think Independence Day is just September 16th. It isn't. Puerto Vallarta celebrated across four days, September 13–16, with something different each day.
It started on Sunday the 13th with a civic ceremony at Plaza de Armas commemorating the Battle of Chapultepec - a moment that doesn't get much attention in English-language coverage but matters deeply here.
Monday the 14th brought the Charro Parade - Mexican cowboys on horseback moving down Ignacio L. Vallarta Street and along the Malecón, which is exactly as cinematic as it sounds.
Tuesday the 15th was the big night. Ballet Folklórico, mariachi, DJ sets, and live bands building the crowd through the evening toward the moment everyone was there for.
And Wednesday the 16th - the official anniversary - brought the civic-military parade: 366 members of the armed forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard, alongside 1,750 students from 15 local schools.
Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González stepped onto the main balcony of the Palacio Municipal, received the Mexican flag
El Grito de Independencia - the Cry of Independence - is the centrepiece of the whole celebration. At 11pm on September 15th, Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González stepped onto the main balcony of the Palacio Municipal, received the Mexican flag from an Army escort, and led the crowd through the traditional roll call of independence heroes:
Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria y libertad!
Long live the heroes who gave us our homeland and freedom!)
"¡Viva Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla! ¡Viva José María Morelos y Pavón! ¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva Matamoros! ¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva Aldama! ¡Que viva Vicente Guerrero! ¡Que viva Puerto Vallarta! ¡Viva la Independencia Nacional! ¡Que viva México! ¡Que viva México! ¡Que viva México!"
(Long live Miguel Hidalgo! Long live José María Morelos! Long live Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! Long live Matamoros, Allende, Aldama, Vicente Guerrero! Long live Puerto Vallarta! Long live National Independence! Long live Mexico!)
The crowd answered every viva in unison. Then the bell rang. Then the fireworks lit up the bay.
Two giant screens had been set up in front of the Palacio so everyone - even those at the back of a crowd that stretched the length of the Malecón - could follow every moment. After the fireworks, Banda Vallejo took the main stage and kept the night going until the early hours.
It was, genuinely, one of those nights that reminds you why you moved here.
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TAKE THE FREE QUIZArrive early. The Malecón fills up fast after 9pm. If you want to be close to the Palacio Municipal for the Grito, get there by 8:30pm at the latest.
The parade on the 16th starts at 9am. It runs down Ignacio L. Vallarta Street and along the Malecón - find a spot early, bring water, and expect it to run long.
Dress the part. Green, white, and red. You'll feel it more and you'll fit right in.
Bring cash. The street food vendors that line the route are half the experience - elotes, esquites, churros, tacos. None of them take cards.
It's a family event. This isn't a rowdy night out. It's multigenerational, civic, and genuinely moving. Children, grandparents, tourists, locals - all together on the same stretch of waterfront doing the same thing at the same time.
The civic-military parade: 366 members of the armed forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard, alongside 1,750 students from 15 local schools.
One of the questions I get most often from people considering Mexico is: will I actually feel at home here?
Nights like September 15th on the Malecón are part of my answer. Mexico's culture is not a backdrop - it's something you become part of, if you let yourself. The Grito isn't a performance put on for tourists. It's the same ceremony that happens in every town square across the country at the same moment, connecting people to something 216 years old.
If you're thinking about making Puerto Vallarta your home, come for Fiestas Patrias. It'll tell you more about this city than any blog post - including this one.
Thinking about relocating to Puerto Vallarta or somewhere else in Mexico?
🧭 Take the free Mexico Match Quiz — find your city in three minutes.
📋 Download the Move to Mexico Checklist — the full picture before you commit.
📞 Book a free Discovery Call — let's talk through your move.
¡Viva México!
Dez, the founder of My Deztination
Mexico’s trusted relocation advisor. With over seven years living in Mexico, she knows the importance of trustworthy and professional guidance & support. She specializes in personalized consultations, private neighborhood tours, and full-service relocation packages to help clients move to Mexico the easy way.
Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th — but the main event, El Grito de Independencia, actually happens the night before on September 15th at 11pm. This is when the mayor leads the crowd through the traditional cry from the balcony of the Palacio Municipal. Most locals celebrate on the night of the 15th, not the 16th.
El Grito — literally "the cry" — re-enacts the moment in 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo rang his church bell and called the people of Dolores to rise up against Spanish colonial rule. Every year on September 15th at 11pm, mayors, governors, and the President of Mexico repeat this call from public buildings across the country simultaneously. The crowd responds to each ¡Viva! in unison, followed by the ringing of a bell and — in Puerto Vallarta — fireworks over the bay.
¡Viva México! translates directly as "Long live Mexico!" — an expression of national pride and celebration. During El Grito, the crowd also responds to the names of independence heroes: ¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! Each viva means "long live" — a collective honouring of the people who fought for Mexico's freedom.
The official ceremony takes place at the Palacio Municipal on the Malecón. This is where the mayor leads El Grito from the main balcony. Arrive by 8:30–9pm to get a good spot — the area fills up fast. Two large screens are set up in front of the building so everyone can follow the ceremony even from further back in the crowd. The fireworks that follow light up the entire bay.
No — and this is one of the most common misconceptions. Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) commemorates a single battle victory over French forces in 1862 and is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla. Independence Day on September 16th marks Mexico's actual declaration of independence from Spain in 1810 and is the country's most significant national holiday — celebrated everywhere across Mexico with far greater scale and significance than Cinco de Mayo.
Yes. The celebrations on the Malecón are a family event — multigenerational, civic, and well-attended by locals, expats, and visitors alike. In 2026, the event was managed by municipal and state police, Civil Protection, firefighters, and the Mexican Red Cross. The atmosphere is festive and welcoming rather than rowdy. Common sense applies — keep an eye on belongings in a large crowd — but this is one of the most family-friendly nights of the year in the city.
Green, white, and red — the colours of the Mexican flag. You'll see locals dressed in traditional charro outfits, embroidered blouses, and tricolour accessories. As an expat or visitor, joining in with the colours is welcomed and appreciated. It's a warm night in Puerto Vallarta in September, so light clothing is comfortable — but bring a small bag for your essentials and cash for the street food vendors that line the route.
Absolutely — and it's one of the best ways to get a genuine feel for Mexican culture before deciding to relocate. The Fiestas Patrias celebrations in Puerto Vallarta run across four days (September 13–16) and include a Charro Parade, Ballet Folklórico, mariachi, a civic-military parade with hundreds of armed forces members and local schoolchildren, and El Grito itself. If you're considering making Puerto Vallarta your home, this is the version of the city that shows you what daily life here actually feels like — not the tourist version.
Puerto Vallarta Independence Day guide • Expat experience • Updated September 2026
Applying for Mexican residency can be overwhelming — every consulate has different rules, financial requirements, and wait times. In this guide, Dez explains the step-by-step process for getting your Temporary or Permanent Residency in Mexico, how to prepare for your consulate appointment, and why working with a relocation expert makes visa and consulate support faster, easier, and stress-free.
By Dez | My Deztination: Mexicos Trusted Residency + Relocation Expert
The rental process in Mexico City can feel surprisingly complicated for foreigners.
Unlike in many countries, landlords require extensive verification before approving tenants.
These requirements exist to protect property owners, but they also create barriers for newcomers.
One of the biggest obstacles is the fiador.
A fiador is a guarantor who:
lives in Mexico City
owns property in the city
agrees to be legally responsible if the tenant fails to pay rent
Most foreigners do not have someone who can fulfill this role.
This is why many landlords also require a póliza jurídica, which is a legal insurance policy that protects the owner.
Once you find an apartment, the approval process usually involves:
submitting documentation
income verification
credit checks
approval of the póliza jurídica
landlord review
lease preparation
This process can take two to eight weeks.
We offer expert relocation support that includes neighbourhood tours and expert guidance so you can find your new home with ease.
Whether you're relocating to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, or beyond,
We don’t just help you move — we help you move with total confidence. Explore PackagesMost lease agreements are written entirely in Spanish.
Without strong Spanish skills, tenants may struggle to understand:
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The VIP Experience includes a guided 3hr relocation tour which will be tailored to your needs to find your dream location and dream home in Mexico.
Even after signing the lease, several administrative steps remain.
Tenants often need to:
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open a Mexican bank account
register for an RFC tax ID
Handling these tasks without Spanish or local support can be challenging.
Relocation support simplifies the process dramatically.
This package includes:
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Book Your Relocation ConsultationRenting in Mexico City is absolutely possible.
But it requires:
local knowledge
trusted contacts
negotiation experience
awareness of scams
Spanish communication skills
understanding of Mexican rental rules
Without support, the process can take months.
With the right guidance, it becomes much smoother.
If you’re planning a move to Mexico City and want help securing housing safely and efficiently:
👉 Book your relocation consult here
Or grab my free checklist to stay on track:
👉 Download it here
Dez is the founder of My Deztination and Mexico’s trusted relocation advisor. With over seven years living in Mexico, she knows the importance of trustworthy and professional guidance & support. She specializes in personalized consultations, private neighborhood tours, and full-service relocation packages to help clients move to Mexico the easy way.
Start by thinking about how you want to live day-to-day. Are you looking for walkability? Quiet? Culture? Beach life? Big-city energy? Once you’re clear on your lifestyle goals, the right location becomes easier to spot. My deztination offer personal consults to help you compare cities and neighborhoods side by side—so you can choose with confidence, not guesswork.
It varies depending on the neighborhood and your lifestyle, but I help clients estimate real budgets based on local rental prices, utilities, food, transport, and more. You’d be surprised how affordable comfort can be—with the right guidance. My Deztination relocation packages include location-based budget guidance and cost-of-living comparisons.
Yes! We work with trusted realtors and property managers in all supported cities. My Deztination can help you secure short-term or long-term housing, depending on your timeline and goals. We also offer virtual walk-throughs, photo verifications and relocation packages with real estate support.
Expert content • Reviewed regularly • Last updated: March, 2026
Mexico City has one of the most competitive rental markets in Latin America. With rising demand from expats, digital nomads, and international companies - plus the impact of the 2026 World Cup - finding an apartment has become far more difficult than most newcomers expect. Here’s what’s driving the housing shortage, why many foreigners struggle to secure leases, and how to navigate the process successfully.
Mexico updated the Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) in February 2026, quietly increasing the financial requirements for Mexican residency. If you’re applying for Temporary or Permanent Residency this year, understanding how UMA calculations affect income and savings thresholds is essential. Here’s what the 2026 update means for applicants and why many people are being denied.
