Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
2
If you’ve been searching tirelessly, trying to find THE best place to retire in the tropics...let us save you some time.
There isn’t one.
That is to say, there isn’t ONE community, city, or even country that is right for every would- be expat. The corporate employee who wants to trade his suit and tie for a tropical shirt and his cubicle for a beach-side cabana, for instance, would be miserable in the mountain town of Cuenca, Ecuador, a place that’s cited by many as one of the top places to retire.
Likewise, someone who’s looking for a laid-back lifestyle in a place that’s, literally and conceptually, a world away from
3
what they left in their home country would not fare well in the hustle and bustle of Panama City, Panama. What’s important to realize as you begin your search for the ideal retirement destination is that the only perfect location you’re going to find is the one that’s best suited for you. So, ask yourself some questions.
Am I looking for a hot, tropical climate or a place that has spring-like weather year-round? Do I want a lot of other expats around or almost none at all? What about my other surroundings? Do I want a place that looks like the U.S.? Or one that makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time to the 17th century?
Answers to questions such as these will help you narrow down your search to just one country, or maybe even two. That’s essentially the first step in your search for a retirement destination. From there, you can continue down the funnel, start to look at individual cities in the countries you’ve chosen, and try them on for size until you find the one that fits just right.
While we can’t make this choice for you, we have sized up a few of our favorites to help you get started in the right direction. For each of the countries that tops our list, we’ve addressed some of the strengths and weaknesses that might influence your decision to move there. Things like the climate, cost of living, and crime rate.
These are some general observations, based on our research and years of living here, to help you narrow down which country (or countries) you might want to consider calling home. Once you’ve tackled that hurdle, there are a lot of great options of individual cities within those countries. But, first things first...
5
The rumors are true. If you’re hoping to re-tire and live on less than $1200 a month, without sacrificing your lifestyle, it can be done in Ecuador. Of course, that estimated budget will vary, according to the exact city where you decide to settle.
In more rural areas, you can rent a home for as little as $150 per month. Even in the more densely populat-ed areas, with good amenities and infra-structure, you can find
a furnished 2 bedroom apartment for under $500.
If you’re looking to buy property, you can find a condo in one of the most desirable areas for as little as $40,000. Homes within walking distance of a city center can be had for under $100 per square foot. If you’re willing to take a bus into town, you can spend as little as $70 per square foot.
This affordability is echoed in day-to-day expenses such as food and transportation. Many restaurants offer a four-course lunch for $2. A gallon of gas is $1.50. You can also enlist the
Best on a Budget: Ecuador
6
help of a domestic servant for a mere $10 a day.
More about Ecuador
Although it’s situated on the equator, you can easily find relief from the heat by moving inland and up into the higher eleva-tions, where you can enjoy highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s every day all year. The country’s topography is quite var-ied, with tropical coastal areas like Salinas and Guayaquil, as well as the Amazon jungles.
Ecuador offers plenty of sights to see, from the Galapagos Islands--with their unique species of birds, plants, and reptiles--to the city of Cuenca, the cultural capital of the country--with its museums, world-renowned art exhibitions, and Spanish-colo-nial architecture.
The country has excellent health care facilities in the capital city of Quito, as well as Guayaquil and Cuenca. There are many English-speaking (and often U.S.-trained) doctors, and services are a fraction of the cost (as little as 10-25%) to un-dergo the same procedure elsewhere.
Transportation is good as well. The country has 2 international airports and an interprovincial bus system. However, please beware, as its public transportation is notorious for theft and robbery. In fact, the country’s safety leaves a lot to be desired. Its murder rate is 4 times that of the U.S., and crime is often common in heavily-touristed areas. Likewise, Ecuador’s edu-
Best on a Budget: Ecuador
7
cation system is in the bottom 50 worldwide.
Ecuador offers an attractive retiree benefit program that offers discounts on transportation, entertainment, and even taxes. However it’s only available to those over 65. While a few ar-eas in Ecuador do have established expat communities, it isn’t for those who want to be surrounded by familiar-looking people and sights. Also, while learning Spanish isn’t essential for sur-vival, it’s a big help in Ecuador.
Another Great Bargain: Nicaragua
If you’re looking to retire on a budget, Nicaragua is another good option. You can find a Spanish-colonial hacienda in a place like Granada for as little as $50,000. However, you’ll also want to consider the whole package, as Nicaragua is generally less developed and has a bit more rustic feel. It’s also the saf-est country in the region.
Best on a Budget: Ecuador
9
While a handful of Central American countries offer retirement benefits to its citizens and foreign residents, none compare to those offered by Panama. One of the most welcoming nations in the region, Panama has made crystal clear the fact that they want expats to retire there.
If you qualify, you can obtain Panama’s Pensionado (or Pen-sioner’s) Visa. While described as a benefits packaged for “re-tirees,” you can actually enjoy its discounts and perks at any age.
All that’s required is a $1,000 monthly income from a guaranteed source, such as a pension or annuity, plus $250 for any depen-dent children. The $1,000 can be reduced to $750 per month if
Best Place to Retire: Panama
10
you make a $100,000 minimum investment in Panamanian real estate.
The benefits also include tax-free importation of household goods (up to $10,000) and a vehicle every two years. Also offered are discounts as large as 50% off entertainment and hotels, 30% off public transportation, 25% off restaurants and airfare, and even 10-20% off health care. Medical care in Pan-ama, by the way, is top notch (particularly in Panama City and David), another attractive perk for those of retirement age.
More about Panama
Still another factor that makes Panama such an attractive place to retire is the abundance of established expat communities. In these areas you can easily find many English speakers and modern conveniences, thanks to the large number of retirees who have already paved the way for newcomers. Due to its large expat presence, many areas of Panama do have a very North American feel. However, it still boasts a lot of authentic cultural attractions.
Panama’s climate is basically hot and humid everywhere (but particularly on the coast) with large amounts of rainfall, espe-cially during the wet season (roughly May to December). How-ever, you can find relief from the heat in the higher elevations, which enjoy a more spring- like climate all year long.
Best Place to Retire: Panama
11
While not as cheap as some other countries, like Ecuador, a couple can easily live well for $1500 per month in Panama. This will, of course, vary greatly depending on the area and your lifestyle. Real estate in Panama is also affordable with lots of property tax exemptions and other incentives for foreigners.
Panama has great infrastructure, including good roads and public transit. As if this weren’t enough, the current adminis-tration is investing heavily in this area. Planned improvements include new roads and a large airport expansion.
Panama’s schools are also good, with additional government spending being allocated in this area as well due to the coun-try’s current shortage of skilled labor. It’s also a very safe coun-try, one of the safest in Central America, with less violent crimes in an entire year than New York City has in a day.
Also Worth Mentioning: Belize
While its retirement program has a slightly higher income and age requirement, Belize is another country that offers an attrac-tive package of discounts and tax incentives.
Best Place to Retire: Panama
13
While you can find some really beautiful scenery and a re-laxed lifestyle throughout much of Latin America, it doesn’t get much better than Costa Rica. And, no matter what your desired setting, this Central American jewel likely offers it. Due to its topography, the country has many different microclimates, so you can literally adjust your forecast just by moving slightly up or down the mountain.
Its lush Central Valley, home to the capital of San Jose, is a high plateau surrounded on all sides by mountains. This region enjoys what is arguably the ideal climate, with average tem-
Best Quality of Life: Costa Rica
14
peratures in the mid-70’s year-round. Another beautiful inland attraction is the Arenal volcano and the adjoining 33-square-mile lake that shares its name.
Costa Rica also boasts a variety of coastal areas. The sun-ny Gold Coast, what many picture when thinking about Costa Rica, receives considerably less rainfall than the rest of the country and has what many claim to be the world’s most beau-tiful sunsets.
The Southern Pacific Coast offers miles of untouched beaches, which give way to mountainsides covered in jungles, with no high-rise condos to block your view. The Central Pacific Coast is also beautiful, if you like a beach framed by a few more ca-fes and souvenir shops.
Costa Rica consistently ranks at the top of the New Economics Foundation’s Happy Planet index, due to its high life expectan-cy. Costa Ricans pride themselves on the quality and simplicity of their lives. The phrase “pura vida,” literally translated as “pure life,” can be frequently overheard, often in response to a friend-ly “How are you?”.
More about Costa Rica
One of the most biologically diverse locations on the planet, Costa Rica accounts for only .25% of the world’s landmass, yet contains 5% of its biodiversity. The country is jam-packed with exotic plants and wildlife, such as toucans, monkeys, sloths,
Best Quality of Life: Costa Rica
15
iguanas, and orchids.
There’s also no shortage of things to do. In Costa Rica you can enjoy surfing, visiting numerous national parks and wildlife reserves, or shopping in one of the larger cities. There are also plenty of cultural events, such as concerts, operas, and art ex-hibits. Due to an extremely established expat community, you can even find opportunities to join everything from an expat theater group to expat poker night.
Because it does have such a large expat presence, Costa Rica can often feel very North American (except, of course, for the scenery that you won’t find anywhere in the U.S.). Many areas enjoy first-world amenities, and services such as health care and transportation are top- notch. In fact, its health care system is ranked higher than that of the U.S.
Best Quality of Life: Costa Rica
16
The education system is also good, as the country has a 94.9% literacy rate. Safety can be a concern in Costa Rica. However, for tourists and retirees the main concern is generally limited to petty theft, although there is the occasional armed robbery.
Costa Rica is affordable, by first-world standards, but not the cheapest place to live in the tropics While you can find homes for under $100,000, a decent-sized place with an ocean or lake view could quickly creep up over $200,000. Rentals can range from $600-$1000 per month for two bedrooms. You could easily manage to live on $1500 per month in Costa Rica, but only if you stick to local goods and avoid expensive imported or gourmet items.
Honorable Mention: Panama
With its first-world conveniences, combined with its laid-back lifestyle and peaceful surroundings, Panama is another place you can enjoy a great life as an expat.
Best Quality of Life: Costa Rica
18
When we say that Mexico is the most like the U.S., we mean that in a good way. Meaning, it most closely resembles what the U.S. was like half a century ago, before it became over-taxed and over-regulated. In Mexico, you can get everything you enjoy about life in the U.S.: restaurants, shopping, modern airports, culture, world-class health care, fast internet, excellent roads, and even a soon-to-be-completed high-speed rail system.
And you can get a lot more of it. Because it’s all a fraction of the cost for the same goods or services in the U.S.
Mexico is also home to a larger number of U.S. expats than anywhere else in the world. As a result, English is widely spo-ken. These factors, combined with its sheer proximity to the
Smallest Compromise: Mexico
19
States (which is probably a big contributor to the influx of ex-pats), make the move to Mexico seem like a much easier tran-sition than that of moving to other Latin American countries.
However, while Mexico overall is the most similar to the U.S., that’s not to say that all of Mexico is the same. Because the nation is so large, it offers a lot of different options for reloca-tion. You can find big cities and small communities, mountain getaways and beachside retreats, touristy areas and those that offer authentic Mexican culture. Because it’s like many coun-tries wrapped into one, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for in Mexico.
More about Mexico
Because Mexico is large, its climate is varied, with both tropical and temperate climates. The northernmost portion of the coun-try experiences cooler temperatures in the winter months. By contrast, southern Mexico is hot year-round (between 75 and 85 degrees) and only offers relief from the heat in its higher elevations.
Mexico offers a wealth of attractions from beach hotspots along the Yucatan Peninsula to several ancient Mayan ruins. It’s also rich in biodiversity. The entire country is home to 34 biosphere reserves, 67 national parks, 26 areas protected for their plant species, and 17 wildlife sanctuaries.
While not the lowest in Latin America, the cost of living in Mexi-
Smallest Compromise: Mexico
20
co is still much lower than the U.S. (roughly half the cost). Even in highly developed areas like Puerto Vallarta, you can still get by on $2000 per month and find reasonable accommodations for $700 per month.
Mexico has a literacy rate of 97% for youth (under age 14) and 91% adult, earning it a rank of 24th in the world for literacy ac-cording to UNESCO. However, crime is a big problem in Mex-ico, with drug-related offenses accounting for the largest num-ber of crimes committed. It averages 18 murders per 100,000 inhabitants (vs. a world average of 6.9), and as much as 4% of drug- related murder victims are innocent people. Recent ini-tiatives by the current administration, many in conjunction with U.S. efforts, are seeking to improve these issues.
A Close Second: Costa Rica
With decades of U.S. expatriates paving the way, Costa Rica has become North American in many ways. It’s another great option if you’re looking for a place where you can transition into your new culture as seamlessly as possible.
Smallest Compromise: Mexico
22
If you want a place that isn’t crawling with expats and tourists, then Nicaragua may be more your style. It’s considered by many to be just as spectacular as nearby Costa Rica and Pan-ama, with the same beautiful beaches, wild jungles, volcanoes, and rainforests. And in Nicaragua these areas are even more untouched by civilization.
The country’s lack of development equates to poor infrastruc-ture, government corruption, and often run-down cities. (Some notable exceptions are Granada and Leon, two of the most charming historic colonial towns in Central America.) While these primitive conditions are a turnoff for many retirees, they can mean great opportunities for the more intrepid expat.
If you’re the pioneering sort, you could live well in Nicaragua
Best Up-and-Coming: Nicaragua
23
on as little as $1200 per month. Homes can be had for as little as $40,000 or rented for between $250 and $600, depending on the size and area.
Plus, buying property in Nicaragua now could be a great in-vestment. The current administration is actively targeting tour-ists and taking steps to improve the country’s attractiveness to foreigners. As a result, visitors to Nicaragua are expected to increase. For now, though, it’s still relatively unknown and inexpensive.
More about Nicaragua
Among Nicaragua’s attractions are surfing beaches like San Juan del Sur. Its Lake Nicaragua is the largest in Central Amer-ica and home to a freshwater shark, a rare species. It also has some beautiful colonial cities that are rich in local culture. Ap-proximately the size of Alabama, about ⅕ of Nicaragua consists of protected areas, such as natural parks and nature preserves.
Over half of Nicaragua’s population lives in the Pacific low-lands, which are hot and fertile thanks to volcanic ash from several nearby active volcanoes. Its temperate North-Central highlands and milder and rainier, resulting in considerable ero-sion on its steep slopes. This makes it a difficult place to live or farm, although some areas lend themselves to growing coffee. The tropical rainforests of Nicaragua’s Caribbean lowlands, part of the Mosquito Coast, are the largest north of the Ama-zon. This area is home to many species of birds and monkeys.
Best Up-and-Coming: Nicaragua
24
Nicaragua has a strong cultural heritage that’s been influenced by Europeans, Amerindians, and indigenous tribes. This di-verse history is still evident in the country’s folklore, music, and religious traditions.
Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America. As a re-sult, it suffers from high poverty, unemployment, and underem-ployment. Its health care also leaves a lot to be desired, with high maternal and infant mortality rates. The education system is also inadequate. While education is free and compulsory, many areas lack enough schools to accommodate the number of local students. The country’s literacy rate is below 70%.
Right Behind It: El Salvador
If Nicaragua is next to emerge as a top expat destination, El Salvador may soon follow. Current initiatives are pushing it in that direction.
Best Up-and-Coming: Nicaragua
26
Guatemala’s culture is evident in everything from its music to its cuisine. It is a country that is heavily steeped in traditions that date back to the ancient Mayans. What’s unique about this Central American country, though, is that many of its customs have remain virtually unchanged for centuries.
Even the food in present-day Guatemala can be traced back to its Mayan roots. Many dishes that are served are tied to certain holidays, or even specific days of the week. For instance, pach-es, a kind of tamale made from potatoes, are commonly eaten on Thursdays.
The cultural influences of Guatemala are also quite evident in
Best for Culture: Guatemala
27
its health care. The country is home to many traditional Mayan healers, who remain in constant friction with the Western- trained health care providers in the country. Patients ultimately have the option of using their choice of the two approaches.
The Mayan faith is still practiced in Guatemala, as are many other religions. There the deceased are buried almost immedi-ately, so as not to delay their passage into heaven. Guatema-lan funerals include candles and rum. And their dead are buried with their most treasured possessions, in order to discourage them from returning to haunt their friends and relatives.
Perhaps nowhere in Guatemala is its varied culture so clear-ly seen as in the region surrounding Lake Atitlan. This lake, arguably one of the world’s most beautiful, is surrounded by 12 indigenous tribes that live as closely to their ancient heritage as any people you’ll find. Although Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, there are over two dozen other indigenous lan-guages spoken there.
More about Guatemala
In terms of climate, Guatemala has three main regions. Its Pa-cific coast has a tropical climate while the highlands are cooler and drier. North of the mountains there’s the Peten department which, although it’s the country’s largest, has very few inhabi-tants and is suffering from severe deforestation.
The country has a variety of ecosystems, including mangrove
Best for Culture: Guatemala
28
forests, lakes, rivers, swamps, and mountains. These features offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as ex-ploring, fishing, and kayaking.
Although the country has a whopping 14 million inhabitants, al-most half of them live in Guatemala City. As a result, the rest of the country is sparsely populated with a much more laid-back feel than the bustling city.
The cost of living in Guatemala is low, and you could expect to get by on somewhere between $1000 and $1500 per month, depending on where you chose to live. In some areas you can even find a small apartment for as little as $250 per month. Gua-temala’s education system is weak, and many poor children do not attend school. The country’s literacy rate is one of the lowest in Central America.
Runner-Up: Mexico
Mexico is one of the most culturally diverse countries you’ll find anywhere. It has a total of 31 states, and each one is practically like its own individual country with different people, foods, and customs.
Best for Culture: Guatemala
30
Honduras has emerged in recent years as a great place for the outdoor enthusiast to enjoy a variety of adventures. You could go scuba diving off the coast of the islands of Roatan and Utila, where you could explore underwater caves and sunken ships. You could also dive around coral reefs that are part of the sec-ond largest reef system in the world.
It would not be unheard of to find yourself being practically the only sunbather on an otherwise empty stretch of the Honduras coast. That is, until the cruise ships dock and shuttle thousands of people to the island, as Roatan and the surrounding areas have become popular tourist hotspots.
Best for Exploration: Honduras
31
Other adventure options include exploring ancient Mayan tem-ples and spelunking in the caves of Trujillo. You can also back-pack through tropical forests and camp out by a waterfall. The coastal areas also offer deep sea fishing and horseback riding on the beach.
It’s important to note, however, that there’s a striking difference between mainland Honduras and its Caribbean islands, where most of the country’s expats reside. Honduras has a very real crime problem. The world’s worst, in fact, when it comes to in-tentional homicide (82 of every 100,000 people). Use caution when visiting and do some careful research before considering the areas where you’d like to retire.
More about Honduras
Like most of its Central American neighbors, Honduras is trop-ical along the coast and in the lowlands, while its higher el-evations are cooler and more temperate. Due to its varying ecosystems, such as rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, savannas, and mountain ranges, it enjoys a wealth of biodiver-sity.
While the cost of living throughout the country is still quite low (less than $1500 per month), you can expect to pay more on one of the islands where goods have to be brought in by boat.However, you can still build a home in one of these highly de-sirable areas for as little as $60 per square foot.
Best for Exploration: Honduras
32
The country’s education system is fair, with many bilingual and even trilingual (includes German/ Turkish languages) schools and numerous universities. Its infrastructure is primitive, espe-cially away from the larger cities, with poor quality drinking wa-ter and insufficient treatment of wastewater.
Health care is also lacking, with only 57 physicians per 100,000 people. However, again it’s important to remember that medi-cal facilities tend to be more frequent and capable in the more populated areas where expats tend to settle. The country also has a total of 112 airports, although only 100 have any paved runways.
Silver Medal Winner: Guatemala
Despite its more popular areas, like Antigua and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala has miles of undiscovered coastline that are the ideal destination for the avid adventurer.
Best for Exploration: Honduras
34
This smallest Central American nation is still off the radar of many tourists and expats alike. However, that may soon be changing. Many visitors have been turned away in recent years by El Salvador’s stigma as a war-torn country. However, its current government is focusing on ways to grow tourism, and it seems to be working.
Expats are discovering lovely, historic colonial cities that ar-en’t yet overcrowded with foreigners. Several of the country’s beaches are gaining popularity for their excellent surfing. Even many of the country’s war sites, as well as exhibits of its war memorabilia have become of interest to tourists.
Another factor that has El Salvador primed for growth is the
Best Undiscovered: El Salvador
35
existence of some decent-sized cities. Places like the capital of San Salvador offer big-city living with most of the modern conveniences you’d hope to find in a much more developed country.
More about El Salvador
As the smallest country in Central America, it’s the region’s most densely populated. It’s also the only country in Central America that has no Caribbean coast. El Salvador’s climate is tropical with little seasonal variation, other than a wet and dry season. Almost all of the country’s annual rainfall occurs during the period from May to October.
El Salvador has over 20 volcanoes, although only two have been active in recent years. It also has over 300 rivers, yet only one is navigable. The highlands contain many lakes, that help account for more than 120 square miles of water within the country’s borders. Its various ecosystems are home to many rare species, including four of the world’s eight types of sea turtles.
The cost of living in El Salvador ranges, like most areas in Cen-tral America, between $1000 and $1500 monthly. Depending on where you choose to live, you can also likely find a decent home for under $100,000.
El Salvador also has a rather high crime rate, and its homicide rate is second only to Honduras. However it’s not a close sec-
Best Undiscovered: El Salvador
36
ond, with 66 homicides per 100,000 versus its neighbor’s 82. Much of El Salvador’s crime is the result of gang activity and juvenile delinquency, and much of the crime remains confined to these groups. It also has a struggling education system with class sizes as high as 50 students, although private schools do exist for those who can afford them.
Just Ahead of It: Ecuador
While Ecuador does have a few established cities and ex-pat communities, its central coast is brimming with opportunity. New roads in the area are literally paving the way for discovery.
Best Undiscovered: El Salvador
38
Just off Belize’s Caribbean coast is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the entire world (behind Australia’s Great Barrier Reef). It contains many cayes, which are islands of coral sand, and offers miles of reefs for snorkeling or scuba diving.
The reef is home to over 100 coral species, 500 fish species, and hundreds of invertebrate species. With 90% of the reef remaining to be researched, scientists speculate that only 10% of all its species have been discovered.
The reef accounts for half of the nation’s tourists and is also vital to its fishing industry. It sits just half a mile off the coast of
Best for Aquatic Adventure: Belize
39
the Ambergris Caye. The island’s San Pedro Town has
consequently become Central America’s biggest diving and water sports hub. Some popular diving spots include Shark Ray Alley, Lighthouse Reef, Mexico Rocks, and the ever-pop-ular Great Blue Hole.
More about Belize
In addition to the reef and its diving opportunities, Belize also offers caves, waterfalls, rainforests, and much more for your exploration needs. It has mostly marshy coastlines and many inland lagoons, as well as mountain ranges including the Maya Mountains.
Approximately 60% of the country’s land is covered by forests, and another 20% has been cultivated for agriculture or de-veloped for human settlements. The remainder is made up of savannas, wetlands, scrublands, and mangroves. Belize has Central America’s lowest population density.
Belize’s rich culture includes, among other customs, many sports. Football, basketball, and volleyball are all popular hob-bies, as is cycling. Due in part to its heritage as Central Amer-ica’s only country of British colonial heritage, it is also the only one where English is the official language (although Spanish is more widely spoken).
Belize has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season. As
Best for Aquatic Adventure: Belize
40
usual, temperatures vary based on elevation. Coastal regions range from 75 to 80 degrees, due to the northeast trade winds
off the Caribbean. Temperatures rise slightly as you move in-land, until you reach the highland plateaus, which are cooler year-round. Rainfall also varies, but is generally heaviest from June to December.
While health care in Belize is not among Central America’s best, it is on the upswing. Initiatives are currently in place to re-form many aspects of the system. Similar programs have been established to improve the quality of the country’s education system, including efforts to incorporate more technology into the classroom.
You can live comfortably in Belize for between $1400 and $1800 per month and rent an unfurnished house for around $400. However, the country does have some attractive retire-ment benefits. With $2,000 per month guaranteed income, you can obtain immediate permanent residency, even if you spend as little as four weeks per year in the country. This Qualified Retired Persons visa gets you benefits such as tax exemptions on everything from capital gains to the import of an airplane. This option is available to those 45 and older.
The jungles and swampy coastlands of Belize have made it an attractive thoroughfare for drug smugglers. The country also suffers from some gang violence, although much less than-neighboring Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It has the 6th highest homicide rate in the world, but over half of those occur in and around Belize City.
Best for Aquatic Adventure: Belize
41
Also Consider: Honduras
Since the barrier reef also extends along the coast of Hondu-ras, it’s another excellent place for world-class diving. You can also probably limit some of your expenses if you’re willing to deal with a few safety concerns.
Best for Aquatic Adventure: Belize
43
So maybe some things about one (or more) of these countries struck a chord with you. Or maybe at the very least you can cross a few off your list that definitely aren’t right for you. You may be wondering about the next step in this process.
Our suggestion is to begin to really dig in deep to learn every-thing there is to know about the country or countries you’re con-sidering. Think about your lifestyle and how those areas would accommodate it. Be specific.
Start to focus on individual regions or cities that interest you. Research each of them and find out what they have to offer.
Now What?
44
Talk to some other expats who live there.
Once you decide on the right town, you’re ready to begin look-ing for actual properties. You’ll also want to reach out to local real estate agents and attorneys who can help you with the buying process.
The thought of retiring abroad can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Just take things one step at a time.
Now What?
