The restaurants in Puerto Vallarta are varied. Of course, we're always told not to eat at taco stands, but now we have such great taco stands. Usually, these taco stands are run by housewives who started their own businesses. Everything is fresh and there are very few problems with food poisoning or other food issues. These taco stands open in the evening and stay open until four or five in the morning. The restaurants in Puerto Vallarta are varied. Of course, we're always told not to eat at taco stands, but now we have such great taco stands. Usually, these taco stands are run by housewives who started their own businesses. Everything is fresh and there are very few problems with food poisoning or other food issues. These taco stands open in the evening and stay open until four or five in the morning. .png)
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It is estimated at their peak by archeologists that 1 to 2 million Mayans lived within the borders of Belize. They built mighty cities such as Caracol, Xunantunich and Lamanai with small agricultural communities farming the land between. No one knows for certain what caused the disappearance of the Mayas. Perhaps it was war, loss of faith, famine or a series of natural disasters. It is estimated at their peak by archeologists that 1 to 2 million Mayans lived within the borders of Belize. They built mighty cities such as Caracol, Xunantunich and Lamanai with small agricultural communities farming the land between. No one knows for certain what caused the disappearance of the Mayas. Perhaps it was war, loss of faith, famine or a series of natural disasters. Spain continually attempted to expel these British buccaneers from the Spanish territory but finally signed a treaty allowing them to harvest timber in exchange for protection. The European settlers began to intermarry the free slaves, forming the Creole which is the dominant species today and from the bay island of Honduras, the Garifuna people migrated and settled along the coast of Belize.
Belize had about 40,000 people in the 1900's but a destructive hurricane in 1931 destroyed Belize and the economy was poor and began to call for independence. in 1973 the colony's name changed from British Honduras to Belize. On September 21, 1981 Belize gained its Independence.
(Thomas Vincent Ramos, a, Methodist, a preacher, hymn composer, leader and spokesman of the Garifuna was responsible for Settlement Day, which celebrates the Garifunas arrival in Belize, pictured.)
When I moved to Panama, I figured to take care of my medical needs using local resources (I live in Coronado, but Panama City is only an hour away), because they are good and very economical. For instance, a doctor's routine visit for a checkup or specific problem, such as diagnosing a cold, is less than ten dollars if you use your Julibilado Visa. For more serious problems, like a knee replacement, I planned to fly to the US to use my Medicare. When I moved to Panama, I figured to take care of my medical needs using local resources (I live in Coronado, but Panama City is only an hour away), because they are good and very economical. For instance, a doctor's routine visit for a checkup or specific problem, such as diagnosing a cold, is less than ten dollars if you use your Julibilado Visa. For more serious problems, like a knee replacement, I planned to fly to the US to use my Medicare. As both a visitor and as an investor the
straight answer is that yes, Nicaragua is cheap, very much so if you look beyond the larger resorts and development projects. There are areas of the country that have developed faster than others and where prices have risen more quickly but even in established places like Granada and San Juan del Sur it is still possible to find good value. Emerging destinations such as Ometepe, Leon and some of the smaller pacific coast communities offer...
As both a visitor and as an investor the straight answer is that yes, Nicaragua is cheap, very much so if you look beyond the larger resorts and development projects. There are areas of the country that have developed faster than others and where prices have risen more quickly but even in established places like Granada and San Juan del Sur it is still possible to find good value. Emerging destinations such as Ometepe, Leon and some of the smaller pacific coast communities offer excellent investment opportunities.
When I first came to Nicaragua in 2006 to look for land to develop my project I focused my property search on the more established areas along the pacific coast but was eventually tempted to invest in land on Ometepe island precisely because of the cheaper prices coupled with the obvious growth potential.
While prices for many goods and materials may not necessarily be that much cheaper than in the US, labor costs are low and help make it cheaper to build or to run a business. Typically a day-laborer on a construction project will cost less than US $1 p/hr and you will struggle to pay more than $1.50 for a very decent local beer!
I often say that you feel safer if you can be sick in your own language. There are excellent hospitals and excellent doctors in Portugal, all of whom speak English. The nurses also speak English. You are very well cared for. I often say that you feel safer if you can be sick in your own language. There are excellent hospitals and excellent doctors in Portugal, all of whom speak English. The nurses also speak English. You are very well cared for. 
After a year of retirement in Turkey and 6 months back in Australia, I decided on Thailand and have been here 11 months. My one-year 'Retirement Visa' is up for extension in a month and is a straightforward process [HA!!]
