Workation in Mexico

In recent years, there has been a fundamental shift in the way we approach work. Remote working has become increasingly popular due to its ability to offer flexibility, independence, and a better work-life balance. And now, a new trend has emerged, known as “workation,” which involves blending work and vacation. Our Project Manager, Marco, recently had the opportunity to experience this firsthand while working for Visplay from Mexico. He shares his remarkable journey with us.

Why did you choose to work remotely from Mexico?

Since Visplay already had the possibility to work remotely before Corona and we have suitable equipment and the infrastructure, it is possible for me to move this home office to Mexico. The country is huge and impossible to get to know properly on vacation, so I set off in March 2023 to spend a longer time in the country.

And why did you choose Mexico as your destination?

I wanted to get my Spanish to a new level, get new impressions of Mexico and also work on my surfing technique for a longer time. I had already visited Mexico a few times for short vacations and was impressed every time by the cheerfulness and diversity of the country and the people. Also, Mexico is culinary very diverse and discovering good food and new dishes is one of my hobbies while traveling.

What challenges can such a stay bring with it?

The time difference was a bit of a problem. I had to be ready for meetings as early as 7:00 a.m. to meet with colleagues in Germany at 3:00 p.m.. Most of the time I started working shortly after 6:00 a.m., in Germany I started rather around 8:30 a.m..

Where did you spend the most time?

Most of the time I spent in "Mixcoac" a local and very central district in Mexico City. My AirBnB was cheap and in a cultural center with library, dance studio and various rented businesses.

What did you like most about Mexico City?

In Mexico City, I liked the district "Coyoacan" best. It's very green there and there is a lot of art. The houses of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are there.

How did you structure and manage your work schedule?

I have tried working in a variety of places. In my AirBnB, cultural center, cafés, the bouldering hall or while camping. The difficulty is to find good wifi. What is very easy in Mexico City, is more difficult in more remote places and I had to switch to the mobile network from time to time.

Working for Visplay from a cafe in Mexico.

Remote work from the bouldering hall in Mexico.

Where did you find the work to be the 'easiest'?

I have noticed that working in a café and, for instance, at the bouldering hall allows for focused and inspired work. While working in an AirBnB is also productive, these other locations provide a better level of concentration and the added benefit of being among like-minded remote work colleagues. The bouldering hall, in particular, proved to be excellent as I could engage in climbing during breaks, which helped clear my mind and generate new ideas.

What did you get to do in Mexico outside of your work hours?

Instead of going to the beach to surf, I went further north when the volcano in Mexico City was erupting. I had already explored the south many times in previous vacations and so it was interesting to see the north of Mexico as well. It is drier and also hotter, but in the nights partly cooler.

And what were your culinary experiences?

In Mexico as someone who doesn't eat meat it's not so easy. Mexicans love their carnitas and tacos with all variations of meat. But I have found a few places here too that have good vegetarian food. And for breakfast, chillaquilles or gorditas never fail. Mexicans love their papitas and salsas. Nothing is complete without salsas. Chamoy and tajin finishes off the rim of a beer glass and adds a little spice to fruits and anything else you can think of.

Was there a place that you particularly liked?

I especially liked the city of Zacatecas in the north. The historic center and the mountains (or rather hills), the many cafes and vegan restaurants and the possibility to climb made me stay there for a while.

What have you been able to take away from your time in Mexico so far?

What I learned after the first month is that 8 hours of work in Germany is 8 hours of work in Mexico. You work in a different country, but it's still not a vacation. You have to plan your time well and if necessary work in the evening to explore all the museums and sights.