Relaxing at Tranquility Bay Resort after kayaking near Trujillo, Honduras.

“Living in the Laboratory of Longevity”

Name: Patrick Robinson

Age: 83

From: Kansas City, Missouri

Living in: Vilcabamba, Ecuador

“You’re out of your mind!” This was one of the milder things people said when I announced that after 30 years of living in the paradise of Maui, Hawaii, I was moving to South America. And at 80 years of age. Alone. Without speaking a word of Spanish.

It wasn’t as if I woke up one morning and said: “I think I’ll move to the Andes of Ecuador and live happily ever after.” Actually, I’d spent the previous four years traveling to some 12 different countries in search of my eventual retirement “ShangriLa.”

So what was I looking for in that multi-country exploration? An entrepreneurial haven without undue governmental intrusion in my life, where taxes and the cost of living were not as onerous as in Hawaii (which boasts one of the highest tax rates in the U.S. and basic living costs that are a minimum of 30% higher than in the rest of the country).

Perhaps most important of all, it would be somewhere that had the kind of healthy environment that would nurture mind, body, and soul. These were the factors that ended up making me ignore most of the world.

Why Ecuador and why the tiny village of Vilcabamba, hidden away in a valley deep in the Southern Andes? Simple answer: Sweet-natured, welcoming people and a place that is said to be a “living laboratory of longevity.” Vilcabamba reportedly has one of the four healthiest populations on earth. As an octogenarian, that was the clincher for me.

Vilcabamba satisfies almost everything I had on my list of “druthers.” The climate is almost equal to that of Hawaii, and the people are just as friendly and hard-working as those I left. Most important, my living expenses are around a quarter of what they were back in the U.S. Okay, not having a shopping mall or a Walmart in the village helps with that statistic. It’s amazing how much one does not need when stuff and things simply aren’t available.

What would I have done differently? I would not have had a container-load of household goods shipped from Hawaii to Ecuador. I could have literally replaced everything at half the cost of shipping. My biggest challenge in moving to South America has been learning the language, which is an absolute must if you wish to fi t into the culture.

There is great beauty and a pleasant formality to the Spanish language. It’s worth taking the time to learn. My full-time Ecuadorian cook/housekeeper ($250 a month…less than I paid for electricity in Hawaii) helps me with my daily Spanish lessons.

Moving clear across the world to a new home need not be a daunting task. But it’s not something to jump into blindly. I took the time to seek out the perfect place for me, which is what I suggest others do. It takes “boots on the ground” to check out the people and place in a prospective new home in making a decision like this. After reading about it in International Living, I visited Vilcabamba three separate times before making my final decision. It turned out to be one of the best I’ve ever made.

My advice? It is never too late in life to take on a new adventure. You just need to find a place that helps you add life to your years and years to your life. For more on my life in Vilcabamba, see here.

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“I Escaped the Boredom of a U.S. Retirement”

Name: Ray Jackson

Age: 74

From: New York City

Living in: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

For Ray Jackson, a former Los Angeles police officer and attorney, the pressing question was how to fill his time in retirement. The answer was life in Nicaragua. Having closed his busy law office as a sole practitioner in Redding, California, Ray’s plan was to do all the things he’d never had enough time to try—play music, write and travel.

Ray and his wife Donna started with a sailing trip. A stop in Nicaragua to visit his son led them to more visits, and on the third trip, the couple bought property. Today they own a bed and breakfast called the Secret Cove Inn, right in the heart of San Juan del Sur, a tranquil fishing village turned must-stop tourist destination. Ray takes legal cases he feels passionate about and is working on an ambitious construction project at his beachfront property.

“Retired life is much more energizing when you’re adapting to a new culture and every day is an adventure,” says Ray, who relishes how busy he is. Whether it’s the minor challenge of obtaining a rare piece of equipment to repair his boat, or entertaining the various guests who pass through his bed and breakfast, Ray admits life in Nicaragua makes him realize how bored he would have been if he’d retired in the U.S.

There’s a thriving expat community to socialize with in San Juan, and cocktails and sunsets to enjoy in front of the beautiful crescent-shaped beach. Most importantly, Ray enjoys the free time he always wanted. That time is spent with family, friends and meeting travelers from around the globe. “I was fortunate because I planned financially for a retirement where I wouldn’t have to work again,” says Ray. “If I’d stayed in the States, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain this lifestyle with my current income.”

He gives an example: A social evening out with cocktails and appetizers that would cost $50 in the U.S. can be enjoyed in San Juan del Sur for less than $10…and it comes with a much better view. In the early mornings, you may encounter Ray in the local coffee shop and bookstore doling out free advice to travelers.

Often on Tuesdays he’s at the town’s open-mike night, listening to local musicians and to passers-through who bring with them anything from traditional Irish songs to folk music to sing-along covers.

On a practical note, Ray reports that, in his experience, health care in Nicaragua is efficient and affordable. He sees a world class periodontist in Managua who charges $40 for cleanings, and he says English-speaking doctors are easy to find. If you’re interested in retiring to Nicaragua or looking for a permanent move, Ray recommends establishing residency, which he says is relatively easy. “It’s a good life. Come down to Nicaragua, rent a place for four to six months and try it out.” – By Pha Lo

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“What Could be More Idyllic?”

Name: Rosie Thornton

Age: 52

From: Alberta, Canada

Living in: Trujillo, Honduras

I am on the front deck when two toucans fl y by weighed down by their awkward beaks. I’ve only ever seen a toucan on a Froot Loops box or caged in a zoo. I love being in Honduras.

Our house is on a mountainside two miles from the town of Trujillo, Honduras, on the north coast of the Caribbean. We are 900 yards from the beach. Out my kitchen window on a clear day—and they are mostly clear days—I can see the island of Roatan 43 miles away.

Roatan is a prime scuba-dive destination, located at the south end of the second-longest barrier reef in the world. At Trujillo, we enjoy snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, sea kayaking, kite boarding and all sorts of water sports, hiking up the mountain to the waterfalls…and lazing in the hammock.

How did a couple of Canadians from northern Alberta end up in Honduras? The cold and snow at home is why we  ended up in a tropical destination on the warm Caribbean coast. My husband and I bought a one-third-acre-lot in January 2008 for $28,000, and by July 2010 our three-bedroom, 1,440-square-foot house was complete.

In Honduras, homeowners get certified title to their property. Construction of the house, at $85 per square foot, was to North American standards. The temperature is a consistent 77 F year-round and the house is always cool. We first saw our lot in 2008 after hiking high up the mountain through the trees and bushes. We were in awe at the spectacular ocean view. Now we drive up the curving mountain roads to our house. The breathtaking view still leaves us awestruck.

The beaches are white sand and pristine. The only footprints we see are our own. The water is a stunning turquoise and bathtub-warm; the ocean floor sandy. Palm trees wave in the breeze. What could be more idyllic than this? I gaze back up at our house; ocean and mountains are a perfect combination. We’ll follow up an afternoon of swimming and beach-combing by lying in a hammock under the covered deck.

Cool evening breezes signal the end of a perfect day in the Caribbean. The local people are Garifuna (a Carib population of African ancestry), Mayan and Hispanic. They are lovely, warm, welcoming people. The local expatriate community is about 50 strong.

In grocery stores in Trujillo, six chicken breasts cost about $8, a 26-ounce bottle of rum is $4, a five-gallon water jug is $1.25 and a good bottle of wine costs $4. The local markets feature locally-grown produce and fresh seafood. Bananas cost about 10 cents each, and vegetables are equally inexpensive. Cell phones cost about $20 and $5 buys 100 saldos (minutes), except on triple saldo days, when you get 300 saldos for $5.

There is a hospital in town and another one two hours away with additional emergency services to North American standards. Access to Health care is quick, and Canadian users of the local hospitals have had their own doctors in Canada remark that they would have done nothing different in providing emergency or other health services. Costs are a fraction of what you’d pay at home.

Lots of opportunities exist for entrepreneurs here since the area is just beginning to develop. Construction on a double cruise ship port began in Trujillo in April 2011. It’s an extremely deep water port able to accommodate cruise ships that hold up to 6,000 passengers.

The climate, pristine beaches, warm ocean, tropical and exotic flora and fauna, a relaxed pace of life, friendly local people, the strong expat community and entrepreneurial opportunities all drew us to Trujillo. Plus, we feel safe here. And life moves at a slower pace, which allows us the opportunity to stop and appreciate the small things.