Located about 30 miles south of Guadalajara, Lake Chapala is Mexico’s second largest lake, a little over 50 miles long. Often referred to as Lakeside, tranquil communities have sprung up along the lake. The low cost of living, mild climate, picturesque vistas, superb medical care, an active expat network and community (over 40,000), and the large contingent of English speakers are major factors for expats, increasingly Baby Boomers from North America, to settle in the charming towns on the north shore of Lake Chapala.

Several military personnel settled in Chapala after World War II. These gringos relished living in residences with radiant gardens, hand-carved wooden gates, and having a laid-back lifestyle, with the more active Guadalajara just a short taxi or bus trip away. The area is attracting more artists and artisans from around the world. Monique and Jean Paul Florin, a Baby Boomer couple and artists from Montreal, have settled into the area and claim it has inspired their latest creations. “Chapala is ideal for living,” claims Monique. “These magical towns and their people, the sights and aromas – they put fire in our imaginations.” “My husband Paul,” adds Monique, “calls it our new-found Paradise, as well as our marvelous home.”

The scenic colonial town of Granada with its cobblestone streets, old churches, vibrant landscape of volcanoes and lakes, and thriving expat community have made it one of the hottest retirement and vacation trip destinations in Central America.

MSNBC featured the area as one of the “World’s Best Kept Retirement Secrets”, while US News and World Report called Nicaragua “one of the top-10 retirement destinations in the world.” Samantha Brown of the Travel Channel recently did an entertaining episode/segment set in Granada, including vignettes set in the market, a trip to the nearby volcano, and a boat ride through the little islands that families use for vacation homes and weekend getaways.

Nicaragua has stimulated real estate purchases by foreigners by providing tax incentives. These laws were modeled after the same incentives that Costa Rica implemented and offered to foreign retirees in the 1980s. Many Baby Boomers are setting their sights on a new destination, Granada, now that the word’s out on this resplendent city that welcomes anyone and everyone to partake in its scenery, delicious cuisine, and fiestas.

Belize is about a 2 hour flight from Miami and Houston, and it’s acquired its greatest recognition because of its “cayes”, or islands. Over 200 of them sprinkle the coastline inside the world’s second-largest coral reef. The local speak English in Amergris Caye, home to the town of San Pedro.

Many North Americans and Europeans have settled on Amergris Caye, or they have vacation homes and condos as adventure getaways. Usually the expats hang out together. Life is simple, so the cost of living may be less than what it is in North America. But the housing prices are comparable to what they are in the States. Of course, living on Ambergris Caye will provide daily adventures in a relaxed setting. And if you like the life of a beachcomber, diving, or fishing, then the Caye just may be the place to begin that new creed for living – and you won’t be a fish out of water for long!

Set against a majestic Andes mountain range, the provincial town of Mendoza and its surrounding region long remained in the shadows of the more famous Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Patagonia, and Cordoba. But this has changed – Mendoza, with a population of just over 100,000 inhabitants, has grown and its wines have achieved world-class status.

Located about 600 miles from Buenos Aires, some 70 miles from San Rafael, and near ski resorts, Mendoza has become a beacon for travelers and adventurous spirits seeking an enchanting locale for either a sojourn or a long-term residence. An area surrounded by lakes, lagoons, mountains, river canyons, over 300 species of birds, Mendoza is an ecological wonderland that offers opportunities for living on a large spread of land with spectacular vistas at a relatively low cost. Or you can always become a vintner and cultivate an award-winning Mendoza wine. Salud, and Cheers, Here’s to Mendoza!