The most helpful tips I’ve received come from other expats in Mexico or specifically in La Paz. And the best place to find those expats is on Facebook. Sorry if you’re not a fan of Mark Zuckerberg, but his play fort is where all the expats hang out.
There is a group called Expats in Mexico run by John Garvin. This is super helpful for general information about Mexico. I use this group all the time to come up with ideas for videos, and I often share my videos when they address a current question.
It’s best to use the search bar before posting as many questions have been asked repeatedly and you can find the answers in previous posts. Join the group, then when you are on the page on your smartphone or computer, if you use the magnifying glass and type in your topic, Facebook will only search inside that group.
Also, most expat destinations have one or more Facebook groups focusing on that area. Want to know which hospital is best? Where can you get the best guacamole? A recommendation for a plumber? Search these groups – and if the answers aren’t current (and you think they may have changed) post a question. People love giving advice.
But be prepared for some negative Nellies. They don’t just live in the US – some have moved to Mexico too. But 90% of people on these forums enjoy helping other people.
One rule: stay out of politics – Mexican or American. Unless you are on a forum meant for that stuff (stay out of Mexican politics no matter what as Mexican law forbids foreigners from getting involved.) In La Paz, there is a Facebook group for expat conspiracy theorists, but also forums for the more-sane expats.
There are also groups for buying and selling, for events and for general questions, and there’s a group for Centenario because lots of Expats live in this community. Join before you move down and you’ll learn things like where the municipal water fails most often (and what to do if it happens) or where to get the best coconut shrimp tacos.
Wherever you are moving in Mexico – be sure to join the main Mexico group and the local groups that match your interests. They are a source of knowledge and friends. Some of the groups are focused on Expats so they are mostly in English, but some of the groups are more focused on a community or neighborhood and those are more likely to be in Spanish. But Facebook has a great translate feature.
