Caribbean & Central America

The lush, tropical destinations in the Caribbean and Central America draw thousands of visitors each year. Some of those visitors fall in love with these picture postcard gorgeous countries and decide to live there full-time or at least part of the year when the weather in their home country becomes unbearable.

Most people believe that a Caribbean retirement is only for the very wealthy. That’s simply not true if you know where to look. The places you’ll read about here are beautiful locations, offering a high standard of living, and a cost of living that’s a fraction of what you would spend in a similar location in the States or Canada.

If your overseas living, retirement, or snowbird dream includes powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and watching the sunset over a turquoise sea, you have plenty of options to consider among the welcoming countries that make up the Caribbean and Central American nations.

Panama, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and even Mexico (which is technically located in North America) are some of our favorite countries in this part of the world that should be on your radar.

You can choose from:

  • culturally rich historic towns such as Cartagena, Colombia and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • bustling waterfront cities like Panama City, Panama
  • laid-back beach towns like San Pedro, Belize,
  • cute little Latin American or Spanish-influenced communities,
  • unspoiled beaches in the Azuero Peninsula, Panama or Las Terranes, Dominican Republic
  • and tourist towns like Cancun and Tulum, Mexico

Just picture yourself enjoying perfect weather every day, taking daily strolls along the beach, feasting on fresh seafood and tropical fruits, and whiling away the hours reading a great book in a hammock. No more shoveling snow, driving in bad conditions, waiting for a short growing season to plant a garden, or hibernating while you wait for the weather to change. In the Caribbean and Central America, you can have the perfect tropical dream life.

3 Popular Seaside Towns In Mexico Within Driving Distance Of U.S.

Malecon Avenue in the coastal city of Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico

The most valuable convenience you can hope for when purchasing a home abroad is the ability to load up your car and drive to it… it’s one of Mexico’s biggest advantages. Today we’re going to look at three popular spots on the Sea of Cortez, all within a day’s drive of the U.S. border: Puerto […]

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Luxurious Self-Sufficient Living In Belize Won’t Be A Bargain Forever

A luxurious house in Carmelita Gardens, Belize

Last Chance To Buy In Paradise Before The Price Increase: Prices Going Up $4,000 On Jan. 1. The part of my job I enjoy most is bringing you exclusive property tips and deals.When we find a diamond in the rubble of real estate offerings we bring it straight to you.Lucky for me today is one

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The Panama Golden Visa: Residency And A Second Home For The Price Of One

Here on Avenida Balboa, you'll enjoy the best views in Panama City

I’m delighted to be speaking to you today as the new editor of this Overseas Property Alert. Lynn Mulvihill is diversifying her role with Live And Invest Overseas… creating an opportunity for me to join the conversation. I hope I can fill Lynn’s shoes adequately and that my insights and recommendations for global property markets

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3 Top Spots For Enjoying Spring-Like Weather All Year Long

Beautiful aerial view of Puebla Mexico and its church

If you’ve been researching the topic of retiring or buying a property abroad, you’ve probably seen a lot about beaches, sun, sand, and warm-weather locations. But I routinely hear from readers who don’t like hot weather or humidity and have no desire to live near the beach. Just this week, I heard from two people

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Pros And Cons Of Living In A Tourist Area

Colorful large group of unrecognizable people blurred in front of Paris Eiffel Tower at evening

After living for six years in Punta del Este, Uruguay, I swore to myself that I’d never, ever live in a tourist area again. Never. And that includes places with large numbers of expats, which can have the same impact as large numbers of tourists on an area. However, after making that declaration, I have

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7 Tips To Consider Before Building Your Dream Island Home

Tropical beach on south side of Samoa Island with coconut palm trees

Many people dream of owning a home on a tropical island. Others fantasize about finding an overseas property to build upon. A few truly adventurous folks accept the dual challenge of building an island home as their ultimate retirement experience. Deb and Ben Unger took on this challenge when they chose the southern coast of

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Investing In Your Own Coffee Farm Overseas

Ripe red coffee cherries

Back in the year 2000, on one of my final retire-overseas exploratory trips, I looked at a small, rustic home beside a rushing river in Mexico. Giant trees grew along the riverside, shading both the house and most of the large property. Among the trees, I found a plant that I didn’t recognize… it turned

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Nicaragua Beachfront Real Estate—The Key To Tap Into A Prime Post Pandemic Destination

Beautiful Sunrise at stunning beach in Nicaragua.

Secret Beach Homes From US$94,900 If you want to find the best beaches in Central America, follow the surfers. You don’t need to be a surfer… or care about ever stepping foot on a board. But, if you’re a lover of sand, sea, and spectacular sunsets, you may just find yourself on some of the

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The Best Real Estate In The Dominican Republic

Las Terrenas beach, Samana peninsula, Dominican Republic.

Sophisticated Caribbean—Your Second Home In The Sun From US$70,000 If you dream of white sands, turquoise waters, and year-round sunshine… but crossed the Caribbean off your list because you thought it was beyond your budget… then it’s time to revisit your plan… We’ve talked about affordable Caribbean options here before—like

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Exploring The Azuero Peninsula, Panama: Central America’s Best Kept Secret

Azuero Peninsula

If you’re an ocean lover, it’s hard to beat a home on the Pacific. Imagine waking each day to a view of dramatic coastline and the crash of surf… and, later, winding down, cocktail in hand, with a front-row seat for one of the world’s most spectacular sunsets. Remember that the same great wide beaches

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