Claire Ross had a great idea...no experience...and a small investment. It was all she needed to set up a bar in the beach town of Coronado in Panama. "When I first moved here, there was nowhere to hang out and meet people if you were single or new in town." With new arrivals trickling in, Claire wanted to create a space where everyone would feel comfortable and embraced.
When they left the States in the spring of 2012, Chuck and Anna were determined not to settle for mediocre. They wanted their dream. "We were looking for a mild climate, better health care opportunities, and lower costs," says Anna. "We were looking for an adventure, amazing views, and lots of things to do," says Chuck.
The most common thing I hear from friends who live in the States about my move to Costa Rica is: "I hear it's getting very expensive there." While it's true that Costa Rica may not be as inexpensive as it was a decade ago, it's still very affordable, and much less expensive than say Austin, Texas and Honolulu, Hawaii—two places I lived before moving to Costa Rica.
One of the most common bits of advice given to those considering a move overseas is "Rent before you buy!" In Chiriquí Province of western Panama, where I live, there's a very good reason to follow this advice...and it all has to do with the climate. You may be surprised to learn that this small area of a small country has quite a number of micro-climates.
My husband, Paul, and I were happy with our lives in the United States. I was 45 and Paul was 55 when we met. We lived in the Baltimore area and had stable jobs making a decent income. Sometime in 2007 we started to talk about retiring early and moving somewhere cheaper to live.
For many prospective expats, the quality of medical care in the country they plan to move to is a very important factor. Of course, most hope to never find out how good the health care system is. But things happen.
If you're thinking seriously about moving to Costa Rica (if you're reading this, you probably are), there's an event coming up that you should check out.
Prospective expats often ask me about the opportunity to do community work in Costa Rica as a way to give back to their adopted home.
Toucans and macaws glide around the lush jungle canopy and scores of monkeys parade through the overhanging branches. Neon-green and electric-blue butterflies of preposterous sizes flit across gurgling streams, while waterfalls drop into deep pools. Welcome to one of my favorites among Ecuador’s secret spots…a place hidden in the east of the country, where indigenous shamans still perform timeless rituals and a small number of adventurous expats have found new lives surrounded by nature.
If you've ever sat at a desk dreaming of owning your own jungle lodge in paradise, look no further than Wendy Green for inspiration. On the outskirts of Ecuador's cloud forest town of Mindo, two hours from the capital, Quito, Wendy runs wellness/yoga retreats on her five-acre parcel of land, complete with three waterfalls and a freshwater spring.