IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2021 + 24 more
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Imagine living on your own Caribbean island. And instead of the grueling daily commute, you take a leisurely boat ride to work—dolphin-watching as you sail to your business on another island located nearby.
"I had a taxi driver tell me you can have breakfast on the coast, lunch in the highlands, and dinner in the Amazon," says Joy Bittner. "That's one of the unique things about Ecuador. There are snow-covered volcanoes and in just five hours you're in the rainforest or at the coast. There's so much variety."
After moving to Ecuador, Josh was shocked to discover just how easy it was to open a business there. He started his English language school simply by putting a sign on his window written in magic marker.
Within the Riviera Maya traveling by bus is especially easy. This designated stretch of roughly 22 miles from just south of Cancun to south of Tulum is linked by a single highway or carretera. Taxis, buses, and the shared vans called collectivos, make it easy to get around. The buses are comfortably modern, air-conditioned, and equipped with WiFi...
My husband, Tim, and I had our first big adventure in the mid- to late-90s when we backpacked around the world through 66 countries. Before we set off, we sold Tim's graphic design business and all the big bulky equipment that went with it...
Sheilagh discovered Bocas del Toro, Panama, through International Living. The Caribbean archipelago, with its golden-sand beaches, convenient location, and low cost of living, makes it perfect for anyone searching for an island of their own.
Carmen proves that anything is possible when you take a leap of faith and start a new business venture in the right destination abroad. With a few monofins and some needle and thread, she created a business in Tulum, Mexico, where dreams come true.
There is a lot to be said for choosing an established expat haven as your overseas retirement destination. When Gary and Gabrielle moved from the U.S. to Ajijic in Mexico’s Colonial Highlands, this is exactly what they found waiting for them.
Your retirement doesn’t have to mean sitting on your porch staring at the sunset (unless you want it to of course). When Fred left Los Angeles for a new life in Mexico, he found his life going in an unexpected new direction.
Roberto and his wife, Marisa, relocated to Coronado Beach, Panama in 2015. He says their four-bedroom home, with a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen in a quiet, gated community, suits them perfectly.