Tagaytay sits atop a ridge that runs along the north side of beautiful Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano. Although it is only about an hour’s drive from the sprawling metropolis of Manila, there is nothing urban about Tagaytay. It’s a small mountain resort town surrounded by breath-taking scenery.
$ 9.95
The standard of living is higher in Tagaytay than in most Philippine towns and cities. Many wealthy Manila businessmen and politicians maintain holiday villas here. Yet the cost of living in Tagaytay is still attractive for foreigners with a small budget. But it’s not only the low cost of living that attracts so many expats to the Philippines: the country has one of the best retirement programs for foreigners in the world.
The town of Tulum is at the center of Mexico’s Ruta Riviera Maya. This area is among the most exotic and beautiful geographical areas on earth and is well located in the Yucatán peninsula, making it a great base for exploration in the region.
Bocas has been regarded before as little more than a slum. To be fair, some corners of the town could leave you with that impression, but things are changing here. The government is beginning to take note of the tourism potential and is investing in infrastructure accordingly. As recently as a decade ago, paved roads, sewage treatment, and even slightly reliable electricity had yet to arrive to town. Today, Bocas is more attractive than ever before and continues to improve thanks to the locals, tourists, and foreign residents alike.
Improvements in infrastructure are ongoing and at a steady pace.
Small-scale, start-up tourism businesses have begun to take hold here, becoming the best option for a Caribbean escape in Panama. From cheap backpacker hostels and bars, to extensive forest, yoga, or adventure retreats, a trip to Bocas can be a “roughing it” experience or a luxury relaxation. Improvements in infrastructure are ongoing and at a steady pace. Even recycling has now been recognized as a necessity if they are to save their pristine sand and surf.
Come nightfall, Bocas buzzes with activity. Hostels, bars, and hostel-bars are full of visitors from around the world, eating, drinking, socializing, and enjoying live music.
You could even do business in Bocas if you know what you’re doing and can find the right market niche or demand, and do well for yourself. As for real estate, you can find properties at prices from both sides of the spectrum; old buildings from failed businesses, renovated houses, or luxurious forest mansions designed by acclaimed architects.
Bocas has beauty, charm, and progress. Bocas is never boring.
This carefree, stunning destination has a character and a magnetism all its own.
In this Overseas Haven Report, we feature San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
San Miguel de Allende has the small-town friendliness and hominess that most expats crave, set in a remarkably beautiful and sociable colonial town. Centrally located in Mexico, San Miguel is a good base for exploration of the country in all four directions.
Once the center of the ancient Maya empire, northern Belize now marks the intersection of laidback Caribbean culture, vibrant jungle, and placid Central American farmland. It’s the type of place where the clock slows on arrival, your retirement savings go further, and where locals are friendly and English-speaking… all just a quick flight from the United States.
Read more about northern Belize—a destination consistently ranked among the world’s best places to retire overseas—in this Overseas Haven Report.
Our Overseas Haven Report details daily life on the island from finding a rental to shopping, the importance of good food, and the joys of living a back-to-basics lifestyle about moving to and living on a Philippine island.
Pereira, Colombia | Overseas Haven Report 
Pedasí, Panama | Overseas Haven Report 