“I have lived in and visited many wonderful places in my life. But only two that were magical to me, where I felt an immediate feeling that I belonged there,” says expat Paula Nunes. “San Francisco in the late ‘60s. And San Miguel de Allende in 2012.”
Scot and Vicki Lyall like to joke that “we went downtown to buy a bottle of liquor and bought a condo.” It’s not far from the truth. The couple had been coming to the town of Playa del Carmen, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, for years for vacations.
In the southern U.S., summertime heat and humidity drive people indoors into the air conditioning. That means enjoying the outdoors is a no-go for much of the year. And utility costs can go through the roof.
For Ray and Michele Martin, the year-round temperate climate of Costa Rica’s Orosí Valley leaves them with no need for heating or air conditioning. Temperatures stay in the 70s F most of the time, which means that they can get out on their farm all year-round.
“Although I don’t live at the beach, I am close enough that I can go whenever the mood takes me. Just knowing it’s always there is amazing,” Pennie says. “I love the surf, as long as it isn’t too rough. Getting past the breakers and watching the waves roll in...so peaceful.”
You’ll find many B&Bs in the charming town of San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico’s Colonial Highlands. But Barbara Poole’s Casa de la Noche, a 14-room B&B, is the only one that can boast of having been a bordello until it closed in the mid-1960s.
I turn the corner and walk on the narrow sidewalk, up a gentle slope. The street is cobblestone. The surrounding buildings are centuries old, painted in rich shades of burgundy, amber, and burnt umber. An older woman going home from the market, laden with bags, walks by.
One thing that makes the lifestyle in the Colonial Highlands so appealing is the ideal temperatures much of the year—no air-conditioning needed. During the day, expect temperatures in the 70sF, cooling off into the 60s F at night and dipping into the 50s F in the wee hours.
Thanks to consistent, high-quality waves and a variety of breaks, Costa Rica has been one of the world’s top surfing destinations for decades. It’s famous for breaks like Ollie’s Point, Witch’s Rock (made famous in the movie Endless Summer 2), Salsa Brava (site of many national surf contests), and Little Hawaii.
Peru is not on many people’s radar. It’s not on any top 10 retirement destinations lists; it doesn’t get much press at all, really. Mention “Peru,” and most people think of the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu, and…llamas. But during my recent visit, traveling the country, experiencing life there, and speaking with expats who call it home…I think I’ve discovered one of the world’s best-kept secrets.