IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2023 + 15 more
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They needed a change and a new adventure. After attending an International Living event in Mexico City in 2018, the small beach town of Huatulco, on Mexico’s far southern Pacific coast, caught their eye. The warm weather, the 330 days of sunshine, the seaside location, the active expat community, the great restaurant scene…it seemed perfect.
In terms of numbers, Mexico is the most popular expat destination for North Americans in the world. And it’s no wonder why. With over 5,800 miles of coastline on the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific, there are no shortage of postcard worthy...
Mexico has long been a favorite destination for retirees and other expats from around the world, although fellow North Americans from Canada and the U.S. make up the bulk of the foreign population. Here are some examples of places you can live in Mexico at various budget levels.
This country offers up a lot of options—beaches, valleys, hilltops, a world-class lake. It can be tricky to figure out where in the country to settle. So, here is my short list—my top five picks for the best retirement towns in Costa Rica.
"We wanted to live near the ocean. We came here to Tamarindo and loved it. The first time we visited we didn't want to leave," recalls Gina of their move three years ago. Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica's most popular expat and vacation destinations, a beach village set on an expansive bay first embraced by surfers and fishermen starting in the 1970s.
“We wanted to live in a place where we didn’t need heat or AC, outside of the hurricane belt, with ample water, a stable democratic government, and good healthcare,” says Jim Just, 73. “If you apply those parameters to countries of the world,” says Jim, “It narrows down the list quite a bit.” Costa Rica’s Central Valley region fit the bill.
So we had gone in to see our regular doctor. Her recommended course of action was bloodwork, X-rays, and an EKG, along with a consultation with a cardiologist. We didn’t hesitate. Blood was drawn, X-rays taken, and the EKG conducted right there in the office. At 12 years old, the patient had been to the doctor enough to be used to being poked and prodded…
Dia de Muertos (day of the dead) is one of Mexico’s most famous religious traditions and takes place every year on November 1 and 2. It is not a “Mexican Halloween” as some may think, in fact, it has nothing to do with this American tradition...
Life here is all about the beach. The white sands. The Caribbean waters that are turquoise from a distance and translucent when you get up close and see the gentle waves washing over the shore. Playa has miles of it.
A classic camping experience. But not the usual location. In fact, it wasn’t camping at all really, rather “glamping” (glamorous camping). It’s a trend that has gained popularity around the world in recent years, featuring yurts on Big Sur in Northern California, luxury tents on African safari, and treehouses in the rainforests of southern Costa Rica...