People ask me all the time: If I had to pick one place in Latin America to retire…where my social security check (if I ever get one) could go a long way…where I can find decent health care at a good price…and where I don’t need air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter…where would I go?

Just one place? I can think of seven towns where I’d love to retire in Latin America right now:

Retire in Latin America in Cotacachi, Otavalo and Cuenca, Ecuador

There is no better place to stretch your retirement dollar than Ecuador–$2.50 buys you a four-course meal and $10 buys you more fresh produce than you can carry. Even cosmopolitan Quito won’t break the bank. (In the November issue of International Living magazine I wrote about Lee and Peg Carper–who live comfortably in Cotacachi for less than $600 a month. If you’re a subscriber, you’ll find that article here Live in the Perfect Retirement Spot For Less Than $600 a Month.

Let me add little Vilcabamba, in the southern part of the country, to the list too. It meets all my other standards but access to a major medical facility isn’t the greatest.
Retire in Latin America in Sora or Capira, Panama

Panama City may be overpriced and overcrowded but Capira and Sora are neither. Capira is about 40 minutes west of Panama City, and Sora is just a bit farther. In these small towns, the living is easy and costs are low. Both are in the mountains (although it never gets too chilly). And both are conveniently close to cosmopolitan Panama City and all it offers, including shopping, first-rate hospitals, and the international airport. They’re also near some of the country’s most beautiful beaches.
Suzan Haskins
Your Latin America Insider

P.S. Want more information about the places I’ve mentioned here? You can find it in International Living’s Owners Manual series. Learn about the most affordable places to live in Latin America, from sophisticated cities to little-known beach towns to cool mountain hideaways. Stretching your retirement dollar in any of these places is easier than you think and we tell you exactly how to go about it and who to contact to help you make the move. Learn more here: 25% Off Every Resource About How to Retire in Latin America.