Imagine ocean waves lapping at the sandy shore, cotton curtains rustling in the sea breeze. White sand and blue ocean stretching as far as you can see. This is Honduras, and it is the real deal.
Its tropical climate means that Honduras should be at the top of your list of possible retirement or second-home destinations. In Honduras, the cost of living is remarkably low, and the quality of life—gauged by fresh food, friendly people, and reliable infrastructure—is remarkably high. Expats have been discovering this Caribbean gem gradually over the last few decades, allowing for a slow increase in population keeping up with developing infrastructure. In Honduras, you can enjoy all the luxuries and amenities you’re used to back home, while not breaking the bank.
Thankfully, a retirement in Honduras does not mean being far from family in North America. Honduras is only two hours from the United States by air, and four Honduran international airports make it easy to schedule travel. The largest of the Bay Islands, the island of Roatán, boasts its own international airport on the island, with direct flights coming from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal throughout the year. Deep-water ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the mainland make the movement of goods expedient and inexpensive, and with easy access to Roatán you can ship goods as needed from home.
Roatán offers multiple public and private medical clinics and hospitals with qualified physicians, many of whom studied in the U.S. Easy access to any of these facilities will provide you with any basic medical care needed. Pharmacies on the island also offer many medications over the counter, enabling you to access your prescriptions for less than the copay back home.
The two major cities in Honduras, Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro Sula, are proud of their excellent medical facilities, equipped with the latest technology in healthcare, and staffed by physicians, most of whom were trained in the U.S. So if healthcare is a major concern as you look toward retirement, then rest assured that there is quality healthcare widely available in Honduras. Easy access back to the U.S. assures you that you are never far from even the most specialized care you might need.
Several stable banking institutions with decades of experience and connections to banks in the U.S. are available, and money can be wired in or out of your accounts here in less than a day. Property in Honduras can be owned by foreign individuals with identical rights of ownership as Honduran nationals, so you can rest assured that your investment is safe. Communications within the country are excellent, with landline, cell, satellite, and VoIP phones available, as well as satellite, DSL, and wireless Internet services. The government is committed to growth in these areas, and the infrastructure is improving almost daily.
With the increased interest in the island by expats from all over the world, an incredible array of cultures offers international flavors and variety to the community. Restaurants feature cuisines from all over the world and languages intermix, although the predominant language spoken on the island is English. Imported goods are available at the regular supermarkets, so you don’t have to give up your favorite name-brand items from back home. Specialty shops offer even more unique items from around the world as well, and fresh seafood can be found through the island’s official distribution center as well.
