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Here’s my standard reply: While I’m happy to share my personal biases, nothing beats doing your own on-the-ground research. If Ecuador is #1 on your list, don’t pass up the opportunity to check it out. A great way to do this is by attending the upcoming Fast-Track Ecuador Conference.

It will be invaluable to you in terms of the validity and amount of information you receive as well as the contacts you’ll meet. (I…and about 50 other “biased” experts…will share our hard-earned opinions. And you’ll be able to make your own firsthand decisions about what’s right for your particular needs.)

While I have the bully pulpit today, let me set the record straight about something. In a recent e-mail, a reader worried that Ecuador’s Pacific Coast was totally flat and uninteresting. “Like Florida,” he said.

I’m unsure where he got that idea, but I could tell right away that he’s not yet been to Ecuador. If he had, he would know that while there are places where the coast is flat, there are far more other areas where the hills come right to the water and form beautiful smile-shaped bays—at least as viewed from atop one of those jungle-covered hills.

(He’ll see this for himself if he takes one of the post-conference tours in August). I suggested he starts in the south and first checks out the beaches of Playas and Salinas. Being close to Ecuador’s largest city of Guayaquil, these towns have more infrastructure of the kind I would want if I were to consider moving there (health care, shopping, accessibility to airport, social life, etc.)

A home in Salinas, Ecuador for less than $70,000

Despite the proximity to Guayaquil, prices along this stretch of coast are still reasonable. You can buy a three-bedroom house on the first row of the beach in Playas for $55,000 to $100,000.

In the more resort-like Salinas, you can buy a brand-new condo overlooking the ocean and world-class yacht club for little more than $65,500…or a newly renovated three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath condo with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean for $135,000—and that’s furnished.

Going north, anyone looking for a lively, youthful beach scene will want to check out Montanita—a surfer town that’s a lot of fun for a night or two, but really not for me. At this point in my life, I’d prefer the more laid-back peace and quiet of a small fishing village like Olon, just around the mountain from Montanita.

Several foreigners have purchased beach homes in Olon—one of the few places in the world with a beach and cloud forest (where you can see jaguars, howler monkeys and exotic birds) in such close proximity. A 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom beach home in Olon is selling for $95,000. (Annual property taxes are less than $200.)

I’ll tell you more about Ecuador’s coast tomorrow. But the bottom line is: to get the inside track on Ecuador, you need to be here. And the Fast Track Ecuador Conference in August will be invaluable in your research. Meet the experts, learn the ins and outs of how everything works in Ecuador, network with fellow expats…and once you’re well-armed with reliable information, go take a firsthand look at the beach town that speaks to you.

Recommended Reading on Coastal Ecuador:

• Beach Life in Ecuador

• Ecuador’s Coastal Secret

• Salinas, Ecuador: Rent From $450 a Month

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The bargain-beautiful Panama International Living has known about for years is alive and well…especially in Las Tablas. A small, colonial town, Las Tablas differs from hot retirement destinations like Panama City or Boquete. It’s in an area surrounded by farms and ranches, and that makes the climate, the landscapes, and the people unique.

The tableños—that is, the townfolk in Las Tablas—are proud of their work ethic and keep their town neat and clean. The climate is hot—it is the tropics, after all—but more ranches and less rainforest mean that Las Tablas is less humid than Panama City. As most visitors will tell you, the humidity influences the “feel” of a place more than the climate. Panama’s average year-round temperature is 88° F, but when the capital is at 80% humidity it can feel 10 degrees hotter.

Another plus: Las Tablas is not on the coast, and that fact keeps property prices low. But what the “prospectors” often overlook is that it’s close to a good selection of beaches—Uverito beach is a mere 10-minute drive from the Las Tablas central plaza. The tiny beach town of Pedasi is only 45 minutes away…and known for its long, “undiscovered” stretches of coastline. With a low cost of living and easy access to the water, Las Tablas is truly a place where one can have it all…even if you’re living in Panama on a budget.

Lay of the Land in Las Tablas, Panama

Driving to this small town on the Azuero peninsula around noon on an ordinary weekday, I was struck by how quiet it was. On the outskirts, I passed the Panamanian version of the Marlboro man…he was on a horse, his hat providing scant protection to his leathery neck.

Entering the town center, Las Tablas greeted me with the last vestiges of Spanish-colonial Panama—houses with red-tile roofs and ornate grillwork. The unpretentious town square is dominated by the simple façade of the Santa Librada church, the golden altar within it the only visible symbol of wealth.

Property prices in Las Tablas

Sure, there are other places in Panama where you can buy a home and lot for $50,000…but I would not want to live in most of them. And, I’m willing to bet, neither would you. Savvy property buyers know, being a four-hour drive from the capital (the nation’s only major city) can be a liability. The trade-offs have to be good. In Las Tablas, they are.

The many festivals, genuine people, and overall authentic Panamanian feel of Las Tablas make it a place that I could truly call home…a home where your nest-egg stretches far.

One property for sale in Las Tablas is a three-bedroom, single-bath home. It’s a simple box construction, like most modest Panamanian homes, but it sits on a lot of nearly 2,000 square feet, so there’s room to expand. Price: $48,000.

Another house is on offer for $67,000. It’s in a quiet part of town, a three-minute drive from the main plaza. The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large terrace. It’s a gated property of about 3,900 square feet.

You’re unlikely to find anything that qualifies as luxury property in Las Tablas (particularly from a “First World” point of view). Still, there are many homes in the $80,000 to $125,000 range that are excellent quality. While cheaper homes are solidly built, they often feature small, closed kitchens and small bedrooms. That’s because for typical Panamanians, life is lived out on the (usually ample) terrace. You know, where you can catch a breeze.

Larger or more expensive homes are what locals call “American style” and may feature larger or open kitchens and better laid-out indoor space overall.

One such home was listed days ago. It is over 3,500 square feet in size and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a studio, large terrace, open kitchen, storage area, and laundry area. Price: $87,000.

There are rental properties in this area…not a lot, but certainly enough to meet the small demand. One three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in the center of town rents for $275 a month. I found another house for rent that has three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a small yard and gated parking space for $325 a month. In these parts, $500 a month gets you an “American style” house, already wired for high-speed Internet or Wi-Fi (a common luxury in Las Tablas).

Las Tablas, Panama: Live Like a Local

For foreign residents, this is virtually uncharted territory. In better-known locales like Bocas del Toro, the expat influence is apparent…signs in English, “gourmet” restaurants and delis, North American-style housing, and expat clubs have begun to pop up. Not so in Las Tablas.

Here, two local pizzerias on the plaza are the most exotic places to eat. For a birthday celebration or special outing, the restaurant/bar Rincon del Faro on Uverito Beach is a must. If you feel like a night of drinking with the locals, head back into town and stop by Royal Gin, an open-air bar, or Cash Casino, quite possibly the smallest casino I’ve ever seen—just a few slot machines and a bar.

No matter where you go, you’re unlikely to spend more than $20 on dinner and a couple drinks, even if you try. At some bars, a heady mixture of rum and cola is still only $1.75 (and breakfast can still be had for $2).

There is a supermarket and various “mini-supers,” Internet cafés, good roads, banks, shops, and clinics…all the basic amenities and comforts…but none of these is geared toward expats. That means that you’ll encounter fewer English speakers, including doctors or dentists, than in, say, Panama City. And you won’t find the range of U.S. products available in Panama City, or lively nightlife.

That’s another reason most things in Las Tablas are still so inexpensive.

This is truly a place where you come to live like a local and enjoy the slow, easy pace of life. When I visit, I feel the city stress ebbing away just moments after arriving.

In the main square, people of all ages sit on benches, greeting each other, eating ice cream…even the ones in business suits looked unhurried.

A word of caution…Las Tablas isn’t “sleepy” all the time. I’m talking about Carnival, when this town bursts into color. There are glittering parade floats, Carnival queens in outfits that put peacocks to shame, and ear-splitting murgas or typical bands. For anyone who likes to party, it’s the best time to be in Las Tablas. For those who prefer to make a buck, it’s the best time to rent out the house and head to Panama City for a weekend of theater, shopping, shows, and more.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Panama and other countries in IL’s daily e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcard and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT — Panama: First World Convenience at Third World Prices.

In the video, you’ll see a beautiful property for sale on the lake in Arenal, Costa Rica. The views from the back porch are of the lake and the volcano at Arenal.

Lake Arenal has an ideal climate—no AC needed, even on the hottest days.

And it has a close-knit community of expats from all over the world (about 400 according to an informal survey by one resident). Many have opened restaurants showcasing their home cuisines. You have German restaurants, Austrian bakeries, American steakhouses, and what many say is the best restaurant in the country at the Gingerbread Hotel.

Its slower pace of life is also a big draw. It’s just downright tranquil. There are never more than a dozen boats on the lake’s 33 square miles. On shore, homes, boutique hotels, and art galleries dot the hillside. And any development melds with the scenery – nobody wants to mess with those views.

Like the most desirable properties in this area, this 1,200 square foot villa in the Turtle Cove Lake & Yacht Club has a lake view. It’s selling for just $195,000.

The 9-foot ceilings, plenty of windows, and open floor plan lets in lots of natural light and allows you to enjoy Lake Arenal from the back porch, living room, and master bedroom window. Even better, because it’s set on a high hill on the lake shore and right next to a greenbelt that will remain undeveloped, the view is totally unobstructed.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Costa Rica and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Why Are Americans Still Flocking to Costa Rica.

96% of readers surveyed in an online poll said they disagreed with a new provision in the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act,” which would allow the State Department to revoke, restrict, refuse to grant, or to deny renewal of the passports of U.S. citizens who the I.R.S. alleges owe back taxes.

Out of the 2112 votes cast, an overwhelming 2032 answered “no” to the question: “Should the I.R.S. have the right to seize your passport and prohibit your travel plans?”

According to International Living editor Dan Prescher, “The results of this poll affirm what we’ve been seeing for several years now at International Living. Americans across the political spectrum appear increasingly frustrated with what they perceive as restrictions in fundamental ‘freedoms’ and they see this latest act as just one more example. People want less interference in their lives, and we’re seeing subscriptions to our magazine, attendance at our events, participation on our website and Facebook pages all go up as more Americans realize that they do have other options.”

“Americans really can find opportunities to live happier, healthier, less-expensive lives overseas. Of course, you need a passport to take advantage of those opportunities, so it’s no surprise 96 percent of respondents want to ensure nothing endangers their ability to have and keep one.”

Results from this poll can be found here: See poll results. To vote yourself, go here: Vote in poll.

The Lake District in Chile was settled by Germans and Austrians in the 19^th century, and you still see this influence in Puerto Varas. Many buildings are Swiss chalet-style, and combined with the green hills and cool summertime climate (60s and 70s F), Puerto Varas and its surroundings feel very like Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

In January and February, vacationing Chileans fill Puerto Varas’s hotels, apartments, and vacation houses. But come March 1, Puerto Varas kicks back and is much more tranquil. It remains popular with outdoor enthusiasts, with available sports including fishing, kayaking, hiking and horseback-riding in the area’s hills and unspoiled terrain, and visits to the area’s volcanoes, many of which are active.

In this video you’ll see a 360-degree view of Puerto Varas, its setting on Lake Llanquihue, and, in the distance, the two snow-capped volcanoes that are clearly seen from Puerto Varas.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Chile and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Chile: Safe, Stable and Spectacular First World Living.

See more videos from International Living here.

–Duane & Rachel Brown, West Virgina

If you wish away the cars and buses and try not to see the youngsters with their stylish hair-dos and piercings (this is a university town, after all), you can sense what this city must have been like, oh…nearly 500 years ago. (Loja was founded in 1548.)

Imagine peering at passersby from the inside of a horse-drawn carriage that whisks you down a narrow cobblestone lane…and through a massive arched doorway and into the courtyard…where the horses are watered and left to graze while you take care of business inside the casa, with its wide wooden balconies supported by huge stone columns.

The adobe walls are nearly three-feet thick, keeping the rooms nice and cool, helped along by giant shuttered windows flung open to catch a welcome breeze.

Not-to-be-missed in Loja, Ecuador

Loja inspires such fantasy, with block after block of buildings such as I’ve just described, and plaza after shady plaza, each anchored by an imposing Catholic church, like San Sebastian.

The cathedral at Plaza Central is one of the largest in Ecuador. Days can be spent exploring these and the many historic district museums—yes, full of lots of “old” stuff.

One not-to-be-missed is the Museo Arte Religioso Madres Conceptionistas. Housed in a convent built in the 16th and 17th centuries—and still in use today—it’s full of gold-gilded, fear-inducing religious art and self-flagellation tools. (Imagination runs wild…)

On a happier note, the Museo de Musica hosts old photos, antiquated instruments, artifacts and tributes to the city’s musical legends. (Loja is known as the Music and Cultural Capital of Ecuador.) You may be lucky, as I was, to eavesdrop on a tutoring session or two. I chanced upon both a marimba lesson and a vocal class.

What to eat in Loja, Ecuador

And be sure to poke into the mustard-colored San Sebastian church built in 1650 in honor of the Blessed Virgin Immaculate of Lourdes. It overlooks Plaza de la Independencia where passionate politicos and zealous citizens rallied to plot their revolt against Spanish colonialists in the early 1800s.

After all this time travel, a treat is in order. From Plaza de la Independencia, stroll down Calle Lourdes. Along this old-worldly cobblestone street lined with ancient adobe buildings painted in rainbow shades of blue, orange, turquoise, gold and pink, you’ll find plenty of shops and cafes—the perfect place to stop for tamales lojano, the luscious corn-meal tamales Loja is famous for.

Stuffed with pork, chicken, cheese and more, at just 75 cents each, two of these are more than enough for a full meal, and you can wash it all down with a rich, satisfying cup of freshly brewed coffee. Some of Ecuador’s very best export-quality coffee is grown nearby. It’s easy to remember the name—Café Loja.

Editor’s note: Suzan will present the full findings of her recent exploration of Loja at the Fast-Track Ecuador Conference in August. Also on hand will be all our Ecuador experts sharing everything they know (and you need to know) about this country, from valleys to coast to cities to mountains. Registration for the Fast-Track Ecuador Conference 2012 is now open.

Recommended Reading:

• Loja, Ecuador: Where You’ll Enjoy the Best Climate in the World

• The World’s Top Retirement Havens in 2012

Set on a small, protected cove, Herradura is perfect for swimming. And you’ll have the place to yourself as there are no crowds. It’s less than two hours away from the international airport outside the capital, San Jose, thanks to the modern “pista,” or highway that was completed a few years ago. Great for weekend getaways for visitors and residents in the Central Valley.

On the north end of the beach, you’ll find Los Suenos Resort and Marina, a luxury residential development, featuring one of the premier marinas in the country. There’s a Marriott on site too. You can just make out some of the dozens of sportfishing boats at the dock as well as some of multimillion dollar yachts that winter here.

But in Playa Herradura you can enjoy the same view for free. And while real estate is hot in this area due to its popularity with expats, homes in Herradura outside the resort are very reasonable. Recent listings include a renovated 2 bedroom home in a gated community for $99,000 and a three-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot town house for $189,000. And the beach is just minutes away.

Enjoy a cold Bavaria Negra ($2) or fruit smoothie (blackberry, papaya, or pineapple – $1.50) and some fish ceviche ($9) or mahi-mahi tacos ($7) with a view of the water.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Costa Rica and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Why Are Americans Still Flocking to Costa Rica.

There’s more than food to feast on, too. A gallery showcasing works by Irish artists is an unusual find in a pub. As the village has moorings for vacation cabin cruisers, I can see this being a good story for a boating magazine.

Sign up for our free travel writing teleconference

When it comes to travel writing, think local. Unlike outside writers, you’re the expert on your own area. Having insider knowledge is often the easiest way to break into publications. (I go into this in more detail on the upcoming Get Paid to Travel as a Travel Writer Teleconference. You can listen in—it’s free.)

I should take my own advice more often. Although it’s only about 30 miles from my home, it’s 16 years since I visited Tarmonbarry. As I’m about to start writing an article on Shannon villages, my memories needed refreshing. (Just because a place was charming years ago, doesn’t mean it’s the same today.)

On the surface, Tarmonbarry is a typical riverside village where visitors don’t need to look far for a fishing tackle shop. That sparked another idea. Many Shannon communities hold fishing competitions. Why don’t I get a rod and enter one? I probably wouldn’t win any prizes, but I’m sure I could sell a humorous story to a fishing magazine.

Facts-and-figures research is obviously important, but there’s other research you can do to make your stories sparkle. (Something else you’ll learn on the free teleconference.)

Literature and history are a travel writer’s gold-mine. I often go digging to find what Victorian and earlier writers wrote about a locality. I then usually link the quote to how a place has changed—or not.

“A good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub.” So says Leopold Bloom in James Joyce’s classic novel, Ulysses. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s a wonderful opener for a story about Dublin pubs.

Any writer can use quotes to color a story. But for in-depth research, local writers are often better placed. I said Tarmonbarry was a typical Shannon-side village “on the surface”. Great stories often lurk below the surface.

Travel Writing: Think outside the box

Although Ireland is often called the Land of Saints and Scholars, few writers get beyond recounting the story of St Patrick. To me, that’s a waste of some cracking good material.

St Barry, Tarmonbarry’s patron saint, is shamefully neglected. According to legend, he crossed the river Shannon in a stone boat and slew a water monster. If travel writers don’t relate the story, visitors will miss the hidden-in-backroads churchyard where the miraculous stone boat is kept.

At a nearby “holy well” dedicated to St Barry, there’s the remains of a monastic Dark House. An old belief that sleeping at sacred places could cure the mentally afflicted persisted until at least the early 19th century in rural Ireland. At St Barry’s Dark House, they were enclosed for three days and three nights.

As I have a passion for history, mythology and curiosities, I swoon over these kind of esoteric tales. The last time I visited Tarmonbarry it was for an article on Ireland’s holy wells and their associated legends and cures. I sold versions to both The World and I and World of Hibernia.

But the well wasn’t dry yet—I got a check from a less familiar source, too. When researching markets for your stories, think beyond travel publications. Who else might be interested?

My published credits include National Driller: “The No.1 publication among professionals in the drilling and water supply industries”. Somehow I doubt that the editor had ever received a story on Ireland’s holy wells before. I imagine it stood out from the usual submissions about fuel pumps and wastewater solutions.

Use your insider knowledge. Research the less obvious. Find a new angle. This will help to catch an editor’s eye and will make your stories stand out, too.

Editor’s Note: Join Steenie and other travel writing experts in two days as they reveal the secrets to getting paid to travel as a travel writer on a new teleconference. It’s free to listen in.

Recommended Reading:

• Uncovering the Magic of Ireland—For Free

• Hundreds of Reasons to Bring Your Camera When You Travel in Ireland

• A Life Less Ordinary as a Travel Writer

Not me. I went to Ireland to work.

I’m a travel writer and my job is to bring the places I visit to life for everyone who reads my articles. For this particular visit I was looking for a little bit of Irish magic. I found it at the western edge of Ireland in a colorful town called Dingle.

Characterized by hilly streets and brightly painted houses, Dingle still reflects its origins as a walled borough. In the Irish language of Gaelic, Dingle translates as “Daingean Ui Chuis” which means Fortress of Hussey. The Husseys were a Flemish family who settled in the area in the 13th century.

The pubs of the fishing port town are one of its best experiences. It has over 50 to choose from—an incredible number given Dingle’s population of 1,200 year-round residents. Two of the most unusual are Dick Mack’s and Foxy John’s.

Dick Mack’s has attracted celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Sean Connery and Paul Simon. Their names are commemorated with stars on the sidewalk right outside. Think Hollywood Boulevard on a very small scale. Part pub and part leather shop, this former cobbler’s is loved by locals and visitors alike. Stop in for a pint of Guinness and you will likely hear an impromptu ballad, folk song or poetry reading. And, of course you can pick up some leather goods while you are there.

Then there’s the handyman’s dream, Foxy John’s. Half of Foxy John’s is a pub…and the other half is a hardware store. Down a pint or two of Guinness while browsing their selection of hammers. Brilliant.

The town of Dingle is the starting point for driving tours of the famed Dingle Peninsula. This mountainous finger of land juts into the Atlantic Ocean and has supported various tribes and populations for almost 6,000 years. Familiar to movie buffs as the location of the movie Far and Away, this remote corner of Ireland is filled with numerous archaeological monuments dating back to the Stone Age.

Along the way, I visited cottages from the Famine period, early Christian landmarks and stone beehive huts once home to hermetic monks. I also took time to soak in the stunning vistas and stroll along the breathtaking beaches.

It’s an enchanting part of the world, but perhaps the most magical thing about my time in Dingle was the cost of my visit. I paid for a few pints of Guinness and some souvenirs from the delightful shops in Dingle, but that was all I spent.

I was given free lodging at the luxurious Dingle Skellig Hotel and Peninsula Spa. As a travel writer, in addition to getting paid for the articles I write, I also receive complimentary or discounted lodging most places I visit. Then I got free personal tours, free meals and free admission to attractions.

It was a remarkable trip, but it won’t be my last. My biggest problem as a travel writer is deciding what part of the world I would like to see next.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• Discovering the Ireland of Old

• Hundreds of Reasons to Bring Your Camera When You Travel in Ireland

• Mid-Life Adventure in Ireland

How strange to be roaming the narrow streets, poking about in the antique-filled museums, resting on a bench in the shady, centuries-old plaza…whiling away three hours on the double-decker tour bus…and being the only gringo.

It’s not like this isn’t a place that deserves notice. It’s exactly what most of us are looking for.

On the edge of the hugely beautiful and diverse Podacarpus National Park, the city is large enough to support a vivid cultural life—with several universities, shopping centers and hospitals. And people live here very affordably and happily. (It’s actually called the “Valley of Smiles.”)

The World’s Best Climate

By the way, this place boasts the world’s best climate…averaging daytime temperatures in the mid-70s every day of the year.

So where am I? In Loja, a manageable city of about 180,000 people in southern Ecuador.

At 6,750 feet above sea level, Loja is at a lower elevation than many of the country’s other major cities perched along the spine of the Andes mountain range. (Popular Cuenca is at 8,200 feet, for example.) Loja is in the Cuxibamba Valley, perfect for growing everything from citrus to coffee, plantains to potatoes.

Loja itself is a treasure trove of Spanish colonial history and influence. In Centro, you’ll find plaza after plaza, each with its own unique statues, frescoes, and attractions. And all are rimmed by massively impressive colonial structures with arched doorways, shuttered windows, and wide, plant-filled balconies supported by thick stone columns.

Music wafts from these ancient windows and doorways, down the cobblestone streets and into the plaza where smiling old men sit on park benches, whiling away the hours in the sunshine. In the afternoon, throngs of young people amble home from school, stopping to chat and flirt, grab an ice cream or dulce de coco, a sweet coconut treat…

Loja: Ecuador‘s Music and Cultural Capital

Some of Ecuador’s most famous musicians hail from Loja so it’s no surprise that the city is also known as the “Music and Cultural Capital of Ecuador.” A saying here is that “Anyone who does not play the guitar can sing a song; the one who does not sing a song can write a verse; the one who does not write a verse reads a book.”

So why haven’t North Americans found their way to this little Andean Shangri-la? Most bypass Loja for the larger Cuenca three hours north, with its well-established expat community, or for little Vilcabamba, about 45 minutes farther south. There, they buy small farms, grow their own food, have a couple of horses, maybe some chickens and goats…

There are, of course, a few English-speaking foreigners living in Loja. One I met teaches English at a Loja university. He pays $70 a month to rent a room in a house close to the university. And he says his monthly expenses are about $500. While he lives a more spartan life than most of us might choose, it would be possible to live well in Loja on $1,000 a month. (Two- and three-bedroom apartments can be rented for $300 a month.)

And if you’re looking to buy, I found a 70-acre property on the edge of the city… with beautiful views, spectacular waterfalls and crystalline rivers…selling for just $150,000. Gringo prices aren’t found here, either…

Editor’s note: Suzan will present the full findings of her recent exploration of Loja at the Fast-Track Ecuador Conference in August. Also on hand will be all our Ecuador experts sharing everything they know (and you need to know) about this country, from valleys to coast to cities to mountains. Registration for the Fast-Track Ecuador Conference 2012 is now open. Remember, this is a popular event and it’s our only Ecuador event of the year.

Recommended Reading:

• The World’s Top Retirement Havens in 2012

Fishing is a big part of life here in Grenada. I approach the men at work and even though most only speak Grenadian Creole, they smile and are happy to share their craft with me. They show me how they repair their nets.

The Local Side of Life in Grenada

It’s my third week in Grenada, but the first time I’ve experienced the local side of life in Gouyave. A lot of tourists come here for the weekly Gouyave Fish Friday, but because it’s an evening festival, they don’t get to see much of the preparation that goes into it. It’s a shame.

My Grenadian driver is enjoying the scene as much as I am, and he’s happy to wait on me while I finish taking photos. He works for the Grenada Tourism Board, who assigned him to take me around the island so I can gather every-day life scenes. Getting images on the beach was the start of my working day.

It’s Easy to Travel Around Grenada

Grenada had been on my travel wish-list for a while, so I eventually decided to travel here solo. Every day I hopped into one of the minibuses to head into downtown St George’s. The Caribbean’s most beautiful harbor (the Carenage), my usual destination. From there, I walked to town for a stroll through the market, admiring the stands stocked with hundreds of spices. Maybe lunch at the Creole Shack, to fill a plate from the Caribbean buffet for under $5.

It was easy to get around the island and explore the beaches and nature parks. Most were a bus ride away. The loud reggae on the buses added to the fun.

Then, three weeks into my stay, I heard from a local friend that the Grenada Tourism Board was in need of new photos for a big website redesign and photo library update. I contacted them, sent in some of my photos and was hired. A week later, I had a driver for a day and a list of scenes to photograph.

After leaving Gouyave that morning, we headed to the center of the island—to the Grand Etang National Park. This is one of Grenada’s most popular hiking areas with a rainforest surrounding a crater lake. The views were breathtaking.

I spent an hour walking around and taking photos and interacting with locals.

When we finally sat down at the end of that day, catching sunset at a relaxed beachside restaurant with a cold Carib beer, I felt immense gratitude. I had just experienced an entire day doing what I love—and getting paid for it.

A Free Month in Grenada

This whole experience came about because I was willing to take a chance. Some people would be reluctant to travel alone, while others would be shy about putting themselves forward as a photographer. But I’ve discovered that when you dive right in, things start to happen for you.

My experiences with the Grenada Tourism Board opened my eyes to the possibilities of earning money from what I love to do – travel and photography. The money I made from that one assignment paid for me to stay in Grenada for another month.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• Chile: A Photographer’s Dream

• Simple Photos Gave Me an Income I Can Take Anywhere

• “My Camera Paid for a Trip to Zanzibar”

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One where employers are no longer interested in giving you a nice air-conditioned office, administrative help, free coffee and lavish benefits.

Here’s the silver lining: One segment of the workforce has seen an explosion in growth: Freelancing.

Basically, freelancing is taking your skills and providing them to a variety of buyers instead of working for just one employer.

It’s a much more flexible way for companies to meet their needs and it gives you a lot of options about where you work, who you work for and how you work.

Today many freelancers do that from home. You can actually freelance from just about any place in the world you can get a good Internet connection.

That’s good news for International Living readers because you might be able to speed up your move-overseas plans if you knew you could earn an income from, say, Ecuador and take advantage of the lower cost of living.

One of the largest online freelance networks has exceeded the $400 million mark in freelancing fees paid out. And that one network posts about 50,000 new assignments a month. From simple $25 proofreading gigs to $100,000 consulting roles and everything in between.

This is not to be confused with the old “stuffing envelopes” make-money programs of years gone by. This is doing real work and getting paid when you complete the work.

And these job networks are global. You offer your skills around the world. As an English speaker, your knowledge, experience and skills are in demand for many companies trying to sell products and services to the world’s English-speaking countries.

Most Baby Boomers I speak with in my business grossly underestimate the skills that they might have that could translate to working on these freelance networks.

Also Baby Boomers fear their computer skills aren’t up to the task—but many of the jobs are not computer intensive at all. It could be proof reading a document, providing consulting expertise over the phone based on your career experience or reviewing a business plan and offering constructive comments.

There are even freelancing networks for lawyers, mechanics, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, electricians and plumbers…all providing a way for people with these skills to work online.

And it’s much better for your bottom line…

One of the complaints about freelancing is that you don’t earn as much as you might if you were employed full time for a company or an organization. This is generally true but there are some pretty big economic advantages…

You don’t have to buy and dry clean a work wardrobe, you don’t have commuting expenses which for many means a car, gas, insurance and maintenance, and you can usually get more work done in a shorter period of time because you are no longer dragged into office politics.

If you are willing to educate yourself and invest a little time “learning the ropes,” this can be a very liberating form of income. Because it is from your home, you get to choose how many hours you put in each week and what kind of work you do.

If you use these networks rather than freelancing on your own, you don’t have to build any websites, do mass mailings, go to trade shows to drum up business or spend endless hours on the phone dialing for dollars.

You simply go online and see which of the estimated 300,000 assignments available every day you’d like to tackle.

If this economy is not working for you, and you’re considering a move overseas, consider the advantages a freelancing career might afford you. You might be able to move sooner, lower your expenses, and make the move with more confidence because you have learned how to work in the emerging global economy.

Editor’s note: Winton is behind a special program that shows you how you can use your existing skills to tap into global markets and make money from anywhere in the world. Find out more here.

One of the great things about my job as a photographer is that it gives me the opportunity to interact with other photographers from around the world via the Internet. That’s how I met my Spanish friends.

After traveling in France for three weeks, I took the train to Spain. That adventure in itself taught me a valuable lesson about travel. Never over-pack—I was the crazy American with too much luggage on the train.

Once I arrived, my Catalonian friends welcomed me into their home. Because they were also photographers, we would set out on photo adventures every day of my stay.

They lived close to Costa Brava on the Mediterranean, so we explored many of the region’s white-washed coastal towns on a daily basis. I lost track of the names of many of them, but the beautiful vistas through hazy sunshine remain imprinted in my memory.

We visited several small towns with little coves where locals warmed themselves on the beach before cooling off with a dip in the sea. The area was colorful with rolling green hills, jagged cliffs, turquoise sea, and trademark white Mediterranean houses dotting the landscape. It was exactly how I pictured the Mediterranean in my mind’s eye before I arrived.

Some of the towns we visited had a long history that reached back centuries further than what we would be accustomed to here in the U.S. We wandered cobbled streets, fortresses, stone buildings adorned with colorful flowers. There were beautiful old windows that had shown their wear from years past. These unique places captivated me and my camera the most.

I also visited the city of Barcelona. I wasn’t even there for a full day, but I did shoot some pictures on the city’s street which I later uploaded to an online photo stock website. When a newspaper, magazine, website or advertising company needs images of places, people or things, they go to these sites to buy them. When one of my images gets picked up, I get paid.

I am my happiest when I am traveling. I also seem to produce some of my best work when I’m on the road.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• Discovering the Ireland of Old

• What a Money-Making Photo Looks Like

• Simple Photos Gave Me an Income I Can Take Anywhere

(After all, not everybody wants to buy a two-bedroom beach condo or an apartment in an historic World Heritage city for less than $50,000.)

Fortunately, rental costs in Ecuador are very affordable, too.

In Cotacachi—the sweet Andean artisan village where I live—an expat who has decided to move to the coast, recently sent out this e-mail: “I have an apartment for rent that, for the money, is a great deal. It is a completely bare, one-bedroom place (no fridge, stove or anything else), but for $100 a month it is a great space.”

Of course, an unfurnished apartment means you’ll need to buy furniture. But still, an apartment with a monthly price tag that’s the cost of a fancy meal back home? Not a bad deal.

Admittedly, furnished rentals are harder to come by here in Cotacachi, thanks to the growing number of expats coming to check out the lifestyle options of our quiet little village. Still, we know of furnished rentals available for about $200 a month. And it’s possible to sublet a home or apartment short-term from a fellow expat who’s going back to the States or Canada for a visit.

Rent in the larger cities in Ecuador

In larger cities, like cosmopolitan Quito or popular Cuenca, you may pay more. But not a lot: $500 to $600 a month gets you a furnished three-bedroom apartment in central Quito.

In Cuenca, a two- or three-bedroom apartment or house (maybe near the river) rents for around $400 a month.

In rural Vilcabamba in southern Ecuador…at a lower elevation and therefore warmer than Quito, Cuenca or Cotacachi…an expat couple has renovated a 6,000-square-foot house and is offering fully furnished and equipped apartments for rent. You can rent a room with a shared kitchen for $180 a month or a three-bedroom apartment for $550 a month.

The cost of living is also low in Ecuador

So what are you waiting for? Daily living costs here are so affordable…even more so when you have a kitchen to cook in. At the local farmers’ markets you can buy enough fresh produce for $5 to last you a week or more. Bakeries sell fresh bread hot from the oven for 50 cents or less. Delicious 22-ounce bottles of Pilsener beer sell for 75 cents. You can get your haircut for $3, hire someone to clean your apartment for $5 or +$10, take the bus anywhere in the country for about $1 an hour…

Whether it’s for a month or a year or forever…now is the time to check out Ecuador.

Editor’s note: International Living’s Fast Track Ecuador Conference takes place in August. Suzan will there with our other Ecuador experts to take you step-by-step toward the perfect destination in this country for you.

We expect seats to sell extremely quickly when we open registrations next week.

Today is your last chance to register early and guarantee your place. Simply sign up for the “First in Line” list. You’ll have plenty of time to find out what’s on the Conference schedule…even contribute to it, if there’s something specific on Ecuador you want covered. Review the details, check your travel plans…and, if you choose, get an advance seat…all before most people are even allowed to register.

This “First in Line” service is free. All you need to do is let us know you’re interested.

Recommended Reading:

• Your Best Chance to Visit Ecuador

• Beach Life in Ecuador

• The World’s Top Retirement Havens in 2012

Killarney also comes with bags of small-town charm and friendly locals eager to make visitors feel at home. After spending some time browsing the quirky shops and pubs that run along its narrow streets, I set off for the nearby Killarney National Park. Here, dramatic mountains, lakes, woods and waterfalls are stretched out under ever-changing skies.

All but about 1% of the ancient native oak forests that once blanketed Ireland are gone—but Killarney National Park is home to one of the few remaining tracts. This fairytale woodland hides rare species like the native red deer and red squirrel that skip across a forest floor blanketed by delicate white and blue seasonal flowers.

Locations like these present an opportunity. You see, I’m a photographer—so I take my camera with me on trips like these. It gives me an income that not only covers my costs, but also allows me to earn money from my travels. So, I spent a whole day snapping pictures of primeval oaks, pretty bluebells and shy animals.

After touring the stunning Irish coast, I visited the Kerry Bog Village. This small hamlet gives visitors a taste of what life was like for the rural Irish in centuries past. Here, giant, brooding Irish wolfhounds wander between thatch huts while Kerry Bog ponies peer over dry stone walls from their pastures.

Killarney holds a dear place in my heart…and a profitable spot in my portfolio.

Later that day, luxuriating with a chocolate whiskey ice cream in a picturesque café in Killarney town, I thought about what a great life photographers have. It amazes me that more people don’t at least give this career a try. Maybe they don’t realize just how easy it is…

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

1. Roatan is beautiful. It’s not densely populated (neither are the other islands)…and everywhere you look you’ll see beautiful shades of blue from the ocean and land that is deep green and punctuated with flowers. The water is clear and warm and the beaches are white-sand. The world’s second largest coral reef lies just offshore, making the Bay Islands a favorite with divers, not only for their beauty and abundant facilities, but for their ultra-low cost.

2. It’s affordable and a great place to retire. There are not yet crowds bidding up prices here, although that may soon change. In 2011, Islands Magazine named Roatan the #1 island in the world to retire to and Kiplinger.com listed it as among “8 great places to retire abroad.” With hundreds of thousands of new cruise ship visitors arriving here each year, and countless others taking virtual real estate tours on House Hunters International, anything left of the secret is long gone.

Because it’s a tourist destination, you’ll find a variety of good restaurants offering everything from sushi to Thai to steak houses. And the large expat community is now supporting four modern supermarkets with almost everything you can buy at home, and some that you can’t.

Retiring in Roatan, Honduras

3. Getting residency is easy. You can get a retirement visa, for example, by showing an income of $1,500 per month, and you can own title up to ¾ acre of land in your own name or an unlimited amount through a corporation. Property taxes are a fraction of that in the U.S., and foreign-earned income is not taxed at all.

4. Roatan is easy to get to. Honduras is 2.5 hours by plane south of Houston and is served every day by several major airlines. We have been traveling back and forth to Los Angeles every few weeks for three years and we are glad each time that our home is in Roatan and not Rarotonga.

5. It’s a good time to buy property here. Real estate in Roatan has long been tied to the economies of the U.S., where most of the large community of expats and second home owners come from. Just as now is a great time to bargain-hunt in that market, so it is in Roatan. Sales are just now starting to show momentum after a two-year slump, beginning with the lowest priced properties selling at a discount. As in the U.S., the recovery has some distance to go, but when it’s over, it’s over.

You can get everything you need in Roatan, Honduras

Honduras is not lacking in challenges. When our friends in the “old country” ask us skeptically what we do there, we don’t tell them about the great restaurants, the world-class beaches or that it’s like being on vacation full-time. They would be too jealous. Rather, we say, it’s at first like joining a scavenger hunt. Everything you want is here, you just don’t know exactly where. The diet pomegranate juice you bought last week at the supermarket has disappeared, but it might be at another market. You can ship in things you just can’t find at reasonable rates from Miami or New Orleans. But frankly, getting out and greeting your friends in the stores is part of the fun of this place.

In the end, when choosing a country to retire to you can only go so far with a checklist. You’ve got to go there and ask yourself: “Does this place feel like home?” For us it did. Put Roatan on your list and check it out.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Honduras and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for IL’s free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE HONDURAS REPORT: Island-living at an affordable price in Honduras.

You can enjoy dinner out for $2.50. A taxi ride in the capital, Quito, costs $2. Get a 60-minute massage for $25. If you’re a retiree, you even get 50% off international airfares.

If you like the outdoors, have dreamed of owning a Spanish colonial home in a colonial city, or want to spend hours strolling on an undeveloped beach, then Ecuador should be on your short list. (I’d argue that Ecuador should be the entire list…with your only decision being which town you want to call home.)

Everywhere enjoys Ecuador’s equatorial sunshine. You simply choose the spectacular mountain, high plains, jungle or coastal setting that suits you. (Don’t forget that a couple can live well here on $800 a month.)

That’s why we expect seats at the Fast Track Ecuador Conference in August to sell extremely quickly when we open registrations next week.

But if you want a chance to register early and guarantee your place, simply sign up for the “First in Line” list. You’ll have plenty of time to find out what’s on the Conference schedule…even contribute to it, if there’s something specific on Ecuador you want covered. Review the details, check your travel plans…and, if you choose, get an advance seat…all before most people are even allowed to register.

This “First in Line” service is free. All you need to do is let us know you’re interested.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Ecuador and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Ecuador: Live Like Royalty on Half Your Social Security.

I got to see them up close recently—but I wasn’t there just to admire the sights. These massive waterfalls, combined with the lush subtropical vegetation and varied local fauna, makes this UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site a top-tier photo destination.

After a little research, I decided to schedule a trip. If I could get some good images, I could cover the costs of my journey and make some money by selling the photos to a magazine afterwards.

Both Argentina and Brazil have national parks on their respective sides of the falls and both parks feature well-developed facilities such as visitor centers, tours, trails, restaurants, and lodging. Having a wide selection of options when preparing for a photo trip means I will always find choices to fit my budget. I decided to stay on the Argentinian side—in a hotel near the park’s entrance.

My favorite set of falls along the river has to be the Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat). This massive, U-shaped cataract can be seen up close and personal from an observation deck. I was able to photograph the waterfall between the gusts of wind and spray that periodically blew across the deck.

I used the “wet” time to set up my next shot and chat with friendly local and foreign visitors. I found myself chatting with a young couple from Spain, David and Toni, and we shared our travel experiences.

I find that my tripod, though cumbersome at times, not only yields tack-sharp images but also attracts attention. Most people are curious about the tripod (“no, I don’t work for National Geographic“), and because of it I have made many friends during my travels.

One of the locals I met was Osni, a bird photographer and guide from Brazil, who happily shared his knowledge about bird species over lunch one day.

Because the best light for photography is usually during breakfast and dinner, when I’m traveling I try to find local foods that are easy to carry in my pack. That way I can sample cuisine even if I can’t always enjoy a sit-down meal. In Argentina my go-to favorites were empanadas (half-moon-shaped pastries filled with meat, chicken or other ingredients) and alfajores (two soft cookies forming a sandwich of dulce de leche).

When I did find time to eat a relaxed meal at a restaurant, I discovered a delicious pasta dish with a local twist; Bife de Chorizo a la Pimienta (pepper-spiced roast beef). Because many Italians emigrated to Argentina, Italian food in the country is fantastic.

During my three-day visit to Iguazú Falls I was able to photograph both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the border. I also got a wide variety of shots and met lots of interesting people along the way.

Once home, I picked out some of my favorite images from the trip. Next, I sent them out to publications I thought might be interested. After a short wait, I got the result I was looking for. A photography magazine emailed to say they wanted to pay me for my shots.

But this trip was no one-off. In fact, photography has taken me all over the world.

I love having the travel-rich lifestyle of a photographer and I recently spoke about my experiences at a photography workshop in Phoenix run by the AWAI (American Writers and Artists Inc). At the event, I revealed all my best tips and secrets to the people who had gathered to hear them. Now they are equipped to start their own journey as a paid photographer.

Don’t worry—you haven’t missed your chance to be one of them. You can listen to a recording of what I had to say, here.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Then, word spread among Europeans—mostly from France and Italy—about a place with stunning waterfalls cascading down from lush green mountains, and shady woodlands touching on miles of palm-fringed, white-sand beaches.

Since then the only changes have been for the better. By the time Susan Miller and her husband Stephan discovered Las Terrenas four years ago, there was a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere.

“It has the sophistication of St. Bart’s or the French Riviera mixed with the friendliness, music and laid back attitude of Dominicans.” says Susan. “And nowadays, it only takes 30 minutes to drive here from the new international airport at El Catey.”

Susan and Stephan had been living in Louisville, Kentucky. “We loved Kentucky but as we approached retirement I knew I couldn’t spend one more cold winter in Louisville. So we decided to find our dream home in the sun with the aim of splitting our time when we retired; six months in Kentucky and six months overseas,” says Susan.

“At first we checked out Panama, but we returned home without committing and then two months later we saw an article in International Living about Las Terrenas so we went to explore,” explains Susan.

Their original plan was to have a look at the area, then move west and investigate the rest of the north coast. But things changed when they arrived in Las Terrenas. “We knew we had found our piece of paradise. We wanted to live near a beach, and the beaches in Las Terrenas are beautiful, but what really grabbed our attention was the immediate friendliness. I had never met such friendly people before. And the fact that we didn’t speak Spanish wasn’t a problem.”

The couple quickly found and bought a villa to the east of town for $170,000. “With two bedrooms it was perfect for us. Just 300 yards from the beach and only a 10-minute walk into the town. It has a lovely yard and a private swimming pool, too. It was important to us that it was close to all amenities as I didn’t want to have to buy a car and I love walking. Plus we wanted to rent it when we weren’t using it, so proximity to the town and the beach is paramount,” says Susan.

She continued: “Daily life here begins with sunrise when I take my dog for a walk on the beach, followed by yoga in the garden and then I trim the flowers, and pick the almonds off the tree. We make sure we get down to the beach before noon to buy some fresh fish from the fishermen, which Stephan will barbecue for us. We often walk into town for happy hour with other expats before coming home for dinner and star gazing beside the pool.”

Editor’s note: The Dominican Republic is where the International Real Estate Investment Forum 2012 is taking place next month. Whether you’re looking for a second home in the sun…or a straight-up profit play…this is the place to find it.

Recommended Reading:

• The World’s Best Real Estate Markets in 2012

• A Caribbean Beach House That Pays for Itself

• Dominican Republic: Sea Views, White Sand, and a Secret Beach

The best thing about being a freelance writer is that you can work from anywhere—so I packed up and moved to Costa Rica. It might seem like a brave move, but it was also a sensible one. The cost of living is low here—so paychecks go a long way. Plus, my family gets to experience another culture.

Talk about a dream job—IL pays me to explore this remarkable country. Take my recent trip to the Lake Arenal region of Costa Rica.

The nearby volcano has been drawing tourists for many years and just like any tourist, I checked out the famous volcano-fed hot springs…hike the national parks with naturalist guides…and stay in hotels with fabulous volcano views.

But as a travel writer, my trip was slightly different (and not just because my expenses were paid). With my travel writing hat on, I needed to approach things from a different perspective. I’m acting as “boots on the ground” for thousands of readers, so I dig deeper when on assignment.

As it turned out, one of the hot springs is tour bus central. I found another which was altogether more Zen-like—not to mention cheaper. The region is famous for its bird-watching and I discovered that one of the best vantage points is actually on a dirt road that runs alongside the national park.

Of course, I was also obliged to check out that perfect sunset spot I’d heard about, just 20 minutes off the main road but unknown to most people.

Getting these details benefits the reader—but it also means I have a much richer travel experience myself.

As I explored the countryside, I enjoyed the perfect weather (75 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze) and vistas of verdant green hills leading down to the brilliant blue lake.

I met artists, B&B owners, real estate agents, fishing guides, and others. Because you have an obvious interest in their way of life, people quickly warm up—expats and locals alike.

In the name of your story, you try local delicacies—the tropical fruit tarts at Café y Macadamia on Arenal’s western shore are to die for. You also sometimes need to get outside your comfort zone. On one hike I found myself on a swaying suspension bridge 150 feet up—but it was well worth the view. And you end up talking to the most interesting-looking people in the room because, well, they’ve got to have something to say.

Immersing yourself in a whole new way of living…that might be the best part of being a travel writer.

I don’t trade positive coverage for freebies but I’ve noticed something magical happens when a front desk clerk or restaurant owner finds out what you do. That lake view room suddenly becomes available, and it’s the same price as the standard. And the bartender makes sure you never see the bottom of your glass.

Not a bad reward for a day’s work.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

“We can hear the ocean at night and we love to watch the sunset over the water in the evenings.” It’s easy to get the feeling that you’re a million miles away from the rest of the world in Canoa, on Ecuador’s northern coast.

In the past few years, though, newly-paved roads and a bridge across the bay between neighboring San Vicente and Bahía de Caraquez have opened up this idyllic beach town.

“When we first arrived there was a dirt road to get here and now there’s a four-lane paved highway,” Cynthia says. “We used to have to come across the bay on a little boat and now we drive across a big bridge.”

Cynthia and her husband Ron are part of the growing community of expats enjoying the low costs and laid-back lifestyle of one of the finest stretches of Pacific beach you’ll find anywhere.

“Canoa is not like in the U.S., where all the houses look the same. Everybody creates their own dream here. They have an idea about what they want in a house and what they want their lifestyle to be and they create that,” says Cynthia.

For Cynthia and Ron, the dream started after a trip to the Galápagos Islands. “We hadn’t planned on visiting the mainland but we liked the people so much that we decided to change our itinerary,” she remembers.

Buying property for a vacation home wasn’t part of their plan, either. But after falling in love with the town’s laid-back atmosphere and being blown away by the low cost of living, they started to consider the possibilities.

When they came across a beachfront property offered at a bargain price, they decided the opportunity was too good to pass up. Once the planning was complete and work began on their home overlooking the Pacific, they were overcome with excitement. They moved in before the construction was even finished.

Now, in addition to the one-bedroom house Cynthia and Ron live in, the property features a two-bedroom guest house, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, a garage/office, and a bamboo yoga hut with a grass roof.

“We could never have afforded to build a home right on the beach in the United States,” says Cynthia. “Now we’ve about four acres and this year we have papayas growing in the front yard.” They also have banana trees, coconut trees, a variety of tropical flowers, and two happy dogs with ample room to roam and play.

“We buy the rest of our produce fresh from the market, where a sack of veggies costs just $5. The flavor is superior to anything you can find in the U.S. I think it comes from being picked ripe instead of picked green and then shipped,” she says.

“And if you know where to go, the selection of fresh meats can be just as rich as the fruits and vegetables that come to town fresh from the countryside. We get our meat from Manta, from a guy who raises his own cattle, and I get my chickens from a woman who raises her own chickens. I can’t get chicken that nice back in the U.S.”

It isn’t just groceries that are low cost in Canoa…

Editor’s note: In the current issue of International Living magazine, this Ecuador article goes on to give costs for what you might expect to pay in Canoa for things like restaurants, maid service, hotels and more. You can get instant access to this article when you subscribe to IL magazine with this link.

Recommended Reading:

• Ecuador’s Coastal Secret

• Salinas, Ecuador: Rent From $450 a Month

• Beach Property Bargains in Ecuador

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Ever since settling in the Toledo district of the country in 2005, Chris and his wife Sue have been surrounded by a tropical wonderland of flowers, trees and animals. Life is simpler in Belize. Unobtrusive government, healthy food, a friendly, laid-back population, and a cheap standard of living make life easier all-around, says Chris.

“A traffic jam here is just three cars in a line. And we have the sea in front of us and forest behind. We found a stunning climate and world-class fishing. Belize was laid-back, easy, and come-and-go-as-you-please. This country is one of the few unspoiled places in the world,” he says.

Life-long sport anglers, Chris and Sue first visited in 1999 on a fishing vacation. Even though they hadn’t been looking for real estate they bought some beachfront land. Building on a remote beach only accessible by sea was tough. But their efforts paid off and they had a 2,300-square-foot main house for themselves, a staff house, and two guest cabanas.

Since moving to Belize, their eating habits are better, partly because they have time to thoughtfully consider what they put into their bodies.

“We eat fish and lobster and conch. I catch snappers off our dock whenever we need them. We grow herbs, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, papayas, coconuts, and bananas. And we have chickens and ducks for meat and eggs and to supplement the local market. Our oranges are wonderful, so we have no shortage of fresh OJ,” says Chris.

“We are in a secluded place, but not isolated,” Chris explains. “We suspect we have shown some that living off the grid is in fact, pretty easy, and that our lifestyle encompasses most of the good things in life.”

Their next project is a 15-acre farm in the country’s interior, where they intend to build a sustainable home for themselves.

Editor’s note: Right now and for the next 24 hours you can get 30% off our top country resources…including Belize: The Owner’s Manual. Find out more here.

A worrying new bill just passed the Senate on March 14, 2012.

It’s called the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.” (MAP-21).

And it could give the I.R.S. the power to take your passport and prevent you from traveling outside the U.S. if they claim you owe money on your taxes…

The I.R.S. wouldn’t have to prove you owe the tax. Simply alleging you owe would be grounds enough to revoke your passport.

This stealth provision was stuck into a bill intended to reauthorize funds for federal highway and transportation programs.

Giving the I.R.S. this power opens the door to even more restrictions on your liberty and freedom to travel.

Should we stand by and give the I.R.S. this power? Cast your vote here now and let us know where you stand!

Once out of bed, I slipped into my swimsuit, cover-up and flip-flops and checked out of my room at a hotel I was staying in at the mouth of the Rio Dulce in Livingston, Guatemala.

I met Chris and Hugo at a little cafe—they would be my boat captain and guide. We sat out on the veranda overlooking the Bay of Honduras and savored a leisurely breakfast of cheese omelets, black beans and freshly squeezed juices.

Then, we boarded a canopied Mexican skiff—our transportation for the day.

We boated up the Rio Dulce alongside fishermen in wooden dugout canoes…past thatched-roof huts displaying colorful flags of freshly washed laundry on clotheslines…and through majestic limestone canyons topped with lush vegetation.

Lily pads covered the water at one point and we slowed to absorb the serenity of the scene. Pretty young Guatemalan girls in wooden canoes paddled up to the side of the skiff to offer us their handicrafts. I purchased a coconut shell purse for my young granddaughter and took a snapshot of the girls to give her a glimpse of another culture.

From there we continued into Lake Izabal, where we watched as a flock of black-bellied whistling ducks take flight as they hooted their cheerful namesake tune.

We passed San Felipe – a Spanish fort built around 1604 under the order of King Philip II of Spain in an effort reduce pirate activity along the waterway. Lake Izabal is the largest lake in Guatemala. It was a key route for transporting goods during the colonial era but today, it’s used as a hurricane-safe waterway. As a result, it’s dotted with rare, treasured vessels from all over the world.

The first part of my work day ended with a visit to Finca El Paraiso—translation, “Paradise.” We tied the skiff to a dock and climbed onboard a tractor which took us on an entertaining, if bumpy, ride to a hot waterfall.

Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the thermally-heated water cascades over rocks into a cool river creating springs both hot and cold. I slipped off my cover-up, left my flip-flops on a rock and plunged in the cooler waters. The water temperature increased gradually until I reached the falls. Then, I stood under a powerful hot shower.

On the short hike back to the tractor I was joined by several Guatemalan children selling fresh banana bread baked with fruit harvested from trees in the surrounding rainforest.

We rounded off the day with a lunch of carne asana, refried beans and corn tortillas washed down with a bottle of Guatemalan pale ale back in our boat.

I realize it does not seem like work, but as a travel writer, boating…hiking…swimming…tractor rides…cultural exchanges…lunches in open air restaurants overlooking the water—it’s all just part of my work day.

This is my job—I get paid for these experiences. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than seeking out new places, cultures and adventures, and sharing those experiences with others. And I even get paid to do it. Travel writing is the perfect job—even when I have to work on a Sunday.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• How Our Travel Blog Helps Fund our Adventures Overseas

• Getting Paid to Travel Around Ireland

• One Crazy Adventure in Guatemala

First settled by Germans in the 19^th century, the Lake District in Chile has a strong Germanic influence. Here you’ll find Swiss- and Bavarian-style chalets on the green hillsides or along the lake, and even the food—including lots of home-baked breads and pastries—has a Germanic touch to it.

Frutillar itself lies along the shores of Lake Llanquihue, a large fresh-water lake from which you can see the perfect peak of snow-capped Volcán Osorno. Frutillar is known for its opera house, a large, modern wood building right on the lakeshore, and especially for the music festival that is held here every January/February. During the December to February high season, accommodation can be hard to find in Frutillar. But the other 10 months of the year the town is tranquil.

For full-time living, you’ll pay around $600 a month for a 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot house.

In this video you’ll see:

• Frutillar’s lakeshore area, with the opera house in the distance, and views of Lake Llanquihue
• A typical Germanic-style house that has been converted to a small hotel
• Typical teatime (“onces”) fare in the Lake Region

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Chile and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up here for our free daily postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Chile: Safe, Stable and Spectacular First World Living.

But I didn’t feel so lucky. I never had time to enjoy the countries I visited, not to mention the one I lived in. Work was tough. I was always so stressed and tired.

I remember the exact moment I decided to make a change. I was standing on the balcony of my office one evening, looking at people milling about on the street below. They looked so free, those people. They were strolling arm-in-arm down the avenue…laughing…sitting in cafes…drinking wine—all of them truly enjoying their lives. I thought, I have to find a way to become one of those people.

Writing had always been a passion of mine and it dawned on me that if I could write a legal brief, I could use my talent with words in other ways—ways that would both provide an income and give me the lifestyle I dreamed of.

Checking out the sights of Paris

So, I began investigating freelance writing opportunities. Within a year, I quit my job and started writing articles for a company that needed reviews of different sites around Paris. What an incredible pleasure it was to finally be able to soak up Paris. Better still, I was visiting museums and restaurants—and getting paid for it.

Later, I realized I could get even more lucrative assignments. I started writing marketing copy for local American-owned businesses. I wrote content for websites, press releases and newsletters. Most assignments took only a few hours, but they pulled in a couple hundred dollars each. I had become a copywriter.

But the aspect I cherish most about my new career is that it gives me time and money to travel to other parts of France. One particular trip stands out in my mind.

Back when I was practicing law, I spotted the website of a beautiful 18th-century B&B in the Loire Valley—but I had never found the time to visit it. So, after quitting my job, my husband and I planned a long weekend there.

After a 90-minute drive from Paris, we were in the countryside; surrounded by grand chateaux and rustic restaurants. We spent our days driving from castle to castle, dazzled by the splendid architecture and landscape.

One day, as we were headed to the next chateau on our list, we spotted a series of small hand-made signs that read: “Fresh Goat Cheese Ahead.” We decided to follow them.

We eventually found ourselves on a muddy unpaved road that led to a modest farm. The farmer greeted us as we pulled up.

“You’re here for goat cheese?” he asked. “I just made some a few hours ago. Entrez-vous. Meet the goats.”

We spent the next 20 minutes hand-feeding the goats grass while the farmer sliced off hunks of fresh milky goat cheese for us to taste. Heaven. We bought three fat rounds for about $6 that day, and gloated about how it would have cost three times as much back in New York.

We took our cheese, along with some wine, baguettes and sausage bought at a nearby town, and headed to the grounds of a magnificent hunting lodge. But instead of doing the tour, we spread out a blanket on the grass near a large pond next to a weeping willow. We laid out our wine, cheese, bread and sausage—and feasted.

Bellies full, warmed by the sun, we dozed off in this incredible setting, feeling like the luckiest, wealthiest people in the world.

This trip characterizes everything I wanted from my life when I stepped away from the rat race. Even though I don’t earn quite as much as I did as a lawyer, I work only a fraction of the hours. And what I have discovered, is that you don’t need stacks of money to enjoy life in France—just a willingness to step away from the beaten path.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about ways you can pay for your life or travels overseas, sign up for Fund Your Life Overseas, a free e-letter from International Living. Sign up here and we’ll send you a free report: Fund Your New Life Overseas With These 5 Portable Careers.

Recommended Reading:

• Why I Love To Write About Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Getting Paid to Vacation in France—the Easy Way

• A Life Less Ordinary as a Travel Writer

Rainelda Mata-Kelly is one of the most qualified legal experts I’ve ever met in Panama, and today she shares her insights with us on doing Panama right. It’s Rainelda Mata-Kelly on this edition of Finding Your Overseas Paradise.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Sign up for IL’s free daily postcards here and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT — Panama: First World Convenience at Third World Prices.

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