Jason Holland

Jason Holland

As a “military brat” Jason Holland, IL’s Roving Latin America Editor, had the benefit of growing up in Germany and Spain, before returning to Florida for college and a career as a writer. But life abroad beckoned, so in 2012 he, his wife, four-year-old son, and two dogs made their way to Costa Rica, splitting their time between the mountains of the Central Valley and the Pacific coast. Nearly five years later, they moved to Mexico, first to the white-sand beaches of the Riviera Maya and now they’re enjoying the colonial splendor of the UNESCO World Heritage town, San Miguel de Allende. From this home-base Jason travels across Latin America learning about the expat experience in places like Roatan, Panama, Belize, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. In all that time, he’s never visited a beach bar he didn’t like. Follow Jason on Google

Affordable Caribbean Belize: A Land of Leisure and Opportunity

Affordable Caribbean Belize: A Land of Leisure and Opportunity

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I’ve never seen such blue water as the Caribbean in Belize. I couldn’t keep my eyes off it, whether I was cruising around by boat, watching tiny islets fade into the distance… swinging in a hammock strung between two palms on the beach…or beating that tropical heat with a cold Belikin beer in the shade of a palm frond-roofed beach bar. Belize has a lot to offer those seeking a new life abroad. The low cost of living means a couple can live well on $2,000 to $3,000 or less a month.

Retire in Corozal, Belize for $1,500 a Month

Retire in Corozal, Belize for $1,500 a Month

Belize Insider Articles
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A relatively small town (about 10,000 people) set on a grid, Corozal is mostly a collection of small shops, restaurants, and simple homes. But this is a bustling burg, with walkways and parks lining the vast, turquoise Corozal Bay. The bay gives it that Caribbean feel. Locals lounge in the shade of the town square, and in the small farmers’ market you’ll find oranges, potatoes, carrots, and succulent mangoes. You can walk away with a week’s worth of fruit and vegetables, plus dry goods and any imported must-haves available at local grocery stores, for under $50.

Costa Rica’s Wild and Thriving Pacific Coast

Costa Rica’s Wild and Thriving Pacific Coast

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I’ve never seen so much green...and in so many shades and variations. The tall, jungle-covered mountains of Costa Rica’s Southern Zone dominate the landscape. And many locals and long-time expats say they enjoy these mountain views even more than the ocean, thanks to the lush vegetation that covers them. This region, on the southern Pacific coast, is a land of extremes. Empty beaches, wild Pacific waters, those tall mountains dropping to brief lowlands before turning to a strip of sand, and then blue ocean.

Rescuing a Hotel in Costa Rica’s Rainforest

Rescuing a Hotel in Costa Rica’s Rainforest

Entrepreneur profiles
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Vikki Gold is delighted with her move to Costa Rica. “I love it here. I’m at peace. There’s beautiful scenery, a great climate, and so much wildlife. It’s our little paradise,” she says. She came here just over a year ago after she and her daughter, Hollee, bought and renovated a boutique hotel in the jungle, which they renamed Villas de Oros (Villas of Golds in Spanish—a play on their last name).

A Close-Knit Beach Community on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula

A Close-Knit Beach Community on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula

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I’ve always lived near the coast. But in Florida, where I’m from originally, a trip to the beach wasn’t always fun, thanks to crowds, noise, and looming hotel towers. But during my recent trip to Nosara, a Pacific-beach community on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, I found the polar opposite of those overrun Stateside beaches…and a place unlike any other I’ve visited during my two years in this country.

Using Your Expat Know-How to Create a Business in Costa Rica

Using Your Expat Know-How to Create a Business in Costa Rica

Entrepreneur profiles
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When a prospective expat is looking seriously at moving to a foreign country, a lot of research is done from home. But then comes the scouting trip to see the places they’ve read about. And many choose to hire professionals to guide them. And if you’re living in an up-and-coming area for expats—that doesn’t have such a service—you could be the one to provide the tour.

A Working Retirement in Unspoiled Ojochal

A Working Retirement in Unspoiled Ojochal

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When Bruce and Shelagh Duncan, 67 and 65, respectively, came down to Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast 13 years ago, they felt an immediate affinity. “It was the weather…and the people we met,” says Shelagh. “It is mostly unspoiled and offers many breathtaking views of the mountains and the ocean. We can walk along deserted beaches and explore caves and secret beaches that are only accessible at low tide."