South America

Finding and purchasing your dream home in the top locations of South America…

The continent of South America is also known as the southern subcontinent of the Americas. The entire landmass is located in the Western Hemisphere and mostly south of the equator. However, a few of the locations we recommend lie in the northern hemisphere including most of Colombia, a small portion of Brazil, and parts of Ecuador including Quito which straddles the equator itself.

Most of the continent is located in the tropics and the geography is dominated by the long Andes Mountain range and the Amazon River Basin. With lush jungles, wide rivers, coastal beachfront areas, and even vineyards you can find just about any natural setting you might want to explore.

South America is a perfect destination for many U.S. and Canadian expats since it lies in similar time zones and the northern-most countries are only a few hours away by air. Many major airlines serve the larger cities in South America where you’ll find modern airports and friendly locals.

Weather

The South American locations nearest the equator offer excellent year-round weather, especially those at higher elevations such as Quito, Ecuador and Medellín, Colombia. While in destinations like Santiago, Chile you can enjoy four seasons and snow is common in the highlands.

Language

Most countries in South America speak Spanish, while Brazil’s native language is Portuguese. If you can learn a little Spanish, you can travel around the continent without having to master several languages. You’ll find more English speakers in the larger cities depending on your country of choice, but you’ll need some Spanish in the smaller, more traditional villages.

Lifestyle

You can immerse yourself in the culture of Spanish-inspired, colonial towns that seem to be frozen in time, or marvel at the large, cosmopolitan cities with first-world infrastructure, public transportation, quality roads, drinkable water, and every convenience you are accustomed to “back home.”

If you are looking for an exceptional quality of life, at a reasonable cost of living, the amazing opportunities in South America are not to be missed.

Guarujá, Brazil: A Laid-Back Beach Town With Relaxed Property Prices

A wide view of the beach of Guaruja in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo.

A Tale Of Two Cities, Part 2: Guarujá Just across the estuary from Santos lies Guarujá. Though only four minutes from Santos by balsa (ferry), Guarujá is quite different in many respects. Whereas Santos bustles, Guarujá is more of a laid-back beach town. In fact, a quick search online of the top things to do […]

Guarujá, Brazil: A Laid-Back Beach Town With Relaxed Property Prices Read More »

Brazil’s Economy: The Overlooked Powerhouse Of South America

Copacabana Beach and Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Why Investors Are Flocking To Safe Haven Brazil I’m not going to wax lyrical about the amazing natural beauty of Brazil, nor bore you with talk of 5,000 miles of coastline and many of the world’s best and most pristine beaches. I won’t tell you about the rich and diverse culture, the 7 natural and

Brazil’s Economy: The Overlooked Powerhouse Of South America Read More »

Why Loja Is Ecuador’s Hidden Gem For Living Like A Local

A church in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Loja: Ecuador As It Was Before The Gringo Invasion Loja, Ecuador , is the object of my most remarkable failed prediction. In fact, two failed predictions. Loja is one of my favorite cities in Ecuador. In fact, if I were returning to Ecuador today, this small Andean city in the south of the country is

Why Loja Is Ecuador’s Hidden Gem For Living Like A Local Read More »

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

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

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

Pros And Cons Of Living In A Tourist Area Read More »

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

Investing In Your Own Coffee Farm Overseas Read More »

The Best Bargain Turn-Key Investment In Bogotá To Earn Passive Income

Skyline of downtown Bogota, Colombia.

Bogotá Bounces Back—Own In This Foodie Haven For Less Than US$50,000 Would you rather continue with your life as it is or restart it? Would you rather always be traveling or never travel again? Would you rather go back to pre-internet days or make do with dial-up? Ouch! Just thinking about that old dial-up screech

The Best Bargain Turn-Key Investment In Bogotá To Earn Passive Income Read More »