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Where is the best place to live in South/Central America?

Where is the best place to live in South/Central America?

Old Jun 8th, 2012, 11:40 PM
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Ecuador is one of the places I have been looking at recently. I haven't been there but it is, by many accounts, one of the cheapest & friendliest countries in South America. Not sure how easy the visa situation is, but the LP overview I just read certainly makes me want to go!:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador
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Old Jun 9th, 2012, 05:53 AM
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Costa Rica operates on its own as far as the 90 days goes. Foreigners on the 90-day plan go to Bocas del Toro, Panama, or Granada or San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, to reset their passports. I know people who've been doing this for many trips in and out but all eventually get questioned by immigration when they return to CR: "Are you living here?"

Panama operates by the same rules, but supposedly they question the trips in and out very early on. Maybe once, they'll let you get by with it. More, and people have told me they start to get suspicious.

Cuenca, Ecuador, has a growing expat population. It's much more mellow than Quito or Guayaquil. At 8,000+ feet, you've got to be able to handle the altitude, but that's still about 1,500 feet lower than Quito. Cuenca is a lovely place. It's one of my favorite cities in South America.
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Old Jun 9th, 2012, 06:31 AM
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Thanks for the info Jeff - I will check out Cuenca
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Old Jun 9th, 2012, 03:18 PM
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Creliston, I think you're right about Ecuador. Started looking into it this morning and went well into the afternoon. Amazing terrain, beautiful beaches, low cost of living (for now) and sounds generally safer/friendlier than Honduras. In fact the only downside I could find in comparing the two was the cost of flying there: about $1600 vs. $680 or so. Thanks for the tip on that!

Expat-In-Training
johnbrighton.wordpress.com
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Old Jun 11th, 2012, 12:01 PM
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OK, so say you were a US citizen and bought a business in say Ecuador which employed Ecuadorans. How does that affect your expat status in Ecuador?
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Old Jun 12th, 2012, 12:29 AM
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robertino, I don't know the answer to that question, but this website seems to have some pretty useful information:

http://ecuadorrealestate.org/

If you scroll down the right hand side there are numerous articles on a variety of expat related topics.
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Old Jun 14th, 2012, 08:30 AM
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Thanks crellston. merely a hypothetical at this point.

Immigration status aside, I just don't think you can move to latin America without some source of money.
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Old Jul 15th, 2012, 06:34 AM
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Watch "locked up abroad" on the national geographic channal. That shows ususally has ways to make good money in centeral and south america. And it always ends up with someone staying at a place rent free!
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Old Jul 18th, 2012, 12:18 PM
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To the OP: I would repost your query on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum - Many more travelers your age.

When I was in my early twenties, I went to Cuernavaca, Mexico for a summer Spanish immersion program and ended up staying for two years - working for 1.5 years, plus traveling throughout C.A.

It was an extraordinary life-changing experience...I have since lived in several other Latin American countries and still use my Spanish every day. If you connect with the right language and volunteer programs, they can help with the bureaucracy related to working and residency. The great thing about Central and South America is that it's relatively easy (compared to Europe or Asia) to come back to the US (is that where you're from?) to change your visa status.

Although I had various local employment situations in Mexico, at one point I found work for a US company in Guatemala, and they arranged all my papers.

I'm assume you're over 22 - If so, you might start out by applying for a job as a program leader for Rustic Pathways, which sponsors teen travel and volunteerism throughout Central and South America. They are very well connected in Costa Rica, Panama and Peru, including in beach communities, and might be able to set you up with something more permanent. https://www.rusticpathways.com/employment/
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Old Jul 18th, 2012, 12:29 PM
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Also, You should look into San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, a charming beach community with a growing expat population. I have not been there, but we have friends with a second home there..supposedly many volunteer and Spanish immersion opportunities.
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Old Nov 13th, 2012, 04:14 PM
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Look into Colombia! Beautiful place with wonderful people. The country is trying to overcome the negative image Mr. Escobar left them with in the 90's. If you're into major cities Medellin and Bogota are great. Cartagena would be a great spot to open a tourist related business. I second John's comment about the Expat Files podcasts. They are just starting to expand their web/social media presence (website is www.expatwisdom.com).
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Old Nov 16th, 2012, 09:57 AM
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Hey there,
one of the best countries to stay in Southamerica is definitely Colombia and within Colombia it´s Cartagena! The city is changing a lot, has an amazing architecture and it´s located at the Caribbean coast and the Colombians are very lovely! What else do you want ?
Here you can get some impressions of the city and it´s surrounding:
http://www.ticartagena.com/
cheers!!
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Old Dec 6th, 2012, 01:12 PM
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After an Ecuadorian vacation in the El Choco Rain Forest Preserve in northern Ecuador, my husband and I decided we have to move there. We are in love with Ecuador. I am American, hubby is a Brit. =)
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Old Dec 6th, 2012, 01:13 PM
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Oh, I have used Rosetta Stone to brush up on my Spanish while in America, it is a terrific system if you want to get started before you relocate. =)
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Old Dec 6th, 2012, 10:58 PM
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Suzie - glad to hear you are enjoying Ecuador. We are intending to come to Ecuador early next year with a view to making it a permanent move. How easy/ difficult is it to obtain a permanent visa? Did you obtain your in Ecuador or overseas? Did you use an agency or lawyer? We are both Brits
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Old Apr 3rd, 2013, 09:30 AM
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Hey! What happened! I would love to hear everyone's stories! I am a current student at OSU and am studying ESL or English as a second language. After graduation the summer of in fact me and my fiance are moving to south america. We've already arranged meet ups and some if that. Our plan is a little different though because we are going to be traveling from here to there by car. And hope to sell it just before the darien gap. But anyways! How'd everyone's stories end. This thread was incredible. Breath taking. The love and dedication as well as passion in all of your posts was breath taking.

So I'll ask again, John had did your trip go, or Chapmanj any updates? How did all these incredible stories and dreams resolve. I'd love to hear back from you all.
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 03:18 PM
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I don't purport to be an expert on immigrating to Latin America. I have travelled over the last twenty years mainly to Mexico (two week stints and 1 3 month stint). I spent 6 week in Antigua, Guatemala with my five children in 2013. When I left to Guatemala I had a lot of unanswered questions-I could have let this stop me especially with all my children in tow-but I decided to take the plunge. What I learned was that there are regular avenues and then there are avenues that you learn about once you get there. I met a lot of Canadians and Americans who have lived there for years on a 90 day visa-go figure. I leave my comment at that.
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