Looking for the Best Place in the World to Retire?

During the past 15 years, International LivingEscondido is 300 miles even further south, the "high
magazine has calculated its Annual Global Retirementseason", or the time during the year with perfect
Index; a resource intended to assist retirees andweather conditions, is reduced from 7-8 months to
future retirees in evaluating and comparing theperhaps 6-7 months. A month extra per year in
world's most popular retirement destinations. It isParadise is often considered to be substantial to
based on a number of criteria, giving various weightsretirees!
to each, depending on its importance to retirees.Using the above logic, it's no wonder why so many
Listed below are those criteria considered with theirretirees have migrated to Puerto Vallarta. This
individual weighting:beautiful tourist resort area has become home to
• Cost of Living-20%thousands of North Americans that have traveled the
• Health Care-20%world, could afford to live anywhere on the planet,
• Special Benefits-20%and have chosen Vallarta as their winter, if not full
• Real Estate-15%time, retirement destination.
• Entertainment, Recreation, andLocated at the same latitude as Hawaii, Puerto
Culture-10%Vallarta has a perfect climate with an average daily
• Climate-5%temperature of 73°F from November through
• Safety and Stability-5%May with virtually no chance of rain. With a population
• Infrastructure-5%of approximately 350,000 inhabitants, Vallarta now
Believe it or not, until this year, Panama had toppedhas a new and growing infrastructure including roads,
the list for the past six years. It still has plenty towater treatment plants and distribution systems,
offer retirees, however this year, with 30 countriespower plants and distribution grid, airport, maritime
being analyzed and ranked, it fell to fourth position.terminal, hospitals, university, etc.
Ahead of Panama in third position, was Italy with itsHigh speed internet, satellite TV, VOIP
beautiful cities, its fine weather, and of course, itstelecommunications, and US newspapers and
historic sites. In second position was, of all countries,magazines are all available in Vallarta. Most of the
Ecuador, which moved all the way up from the tenthmega-stores found in the US and Canada have come
position last year. Ecuador offers an extremely lowto Vallarta including Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Costco,
cost of living, great weather, beautiful land, a growingHome Depot, Office Depot, Staples, and of course,
economy tied to the US dollar, and a stable politicalevery fast food chain restaurant imaginable! Vallarta
environment. It might be a well kept secret, butnow has seven world class golf courses with three
Ecuador is becoming a land of opportunity andmore either in the planning stage or currently under
retirees are taking advantage of it.construction. There are hundreds of tennis courts,
Now, for the number one ranked country in theworld class deep sea fishing, and every other activity
world for retirement; MEXICO! Aside from the factavailable that you would expect in a city of this size.
that Mexico is extremely convenient to the US andThere are numerous new cinemas, theaters, and
Canada, that Mexico's Senior Citizens´ Benefitshundreds of fine restaurants.
Program offers up to 50% discounts on manyDue to the explosive growth of Vallarta and the
services to retirees over the age of 60, that theinflux of North Americans, it is safe to say that its
Mexican government has enacted many new lawsentire economy is based on tourism and the
encouraging foreign investment, Mexico has becomeretirement of North Americans, thus creating
an incredible place to enjoy retirement, offering thethousands of new construction and service related
quality of life that North Americans are accustomedjobs for the locals. It has also created an atmosphere
to with numerous extra benefits.where speaking English has become a prerequisite for
(As a side note, a few years ago when the Canadiana decent paying job. Therefore, most of the younger
dollar was at its weakest, Canada ranked in the topVallartenses are now becoming quite fluent in English.
ten. However as the loonie has strengthened, CanadaThe inability to speak Spanish is certainly not an
has slipped well out of the top ten this year. Forobstacle to retiring in Vallarta! Also, because the
reference sake only, the US ranked 19th this year!)economy is based on the North American dollar,
The major Mexican inland retirement communities aresafety is of prime concern to the locals. You will not
located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, and thefind a safer, more hospitable city of this size
Lake Chapala / Ajijic area. For the most part, theseanywhere. In fact, this was clearly revealed in a
inland retirement communities are located in beautifulsurvey taken by Conde Nast magazine, where
colonial cities with moderate temperatures yearPuerto Vallarta was ranked the friendliest resort
round. Most of the modern amenities and activitiesdestination in the world.
are available to retirees in these retirement cities withNow, let's return to our quest for the top retirement
a very attractive cost of living. Being located inland,haven in the world. If we can accept what the latest
these retirees can purchase and own real estate withsurveys, polls, and indices suggest, Mexico is the
title as they would in the US or Canada.country and Puerto Vallarta is the city.
For those desiring magnificent ocean views, theWe've owned property in Vallarta for almost 25
Pacific coastline offers many advantages over theyears and have lived here as permanent residents for
Gulf of Mexico coastline; the major one beingover ten years and can attest to its magical
protection from storms. The entire Yucatan Peninsulacharacteristics resulting in a quality of life that can't
area, including the Cancun and Cozumel areas arebe surpassed anywhere in the world. The growth
great for vacations; but due to its exposure tothat we've witnessed since 2000, when the PAN
hurricanes, it is not considered by many to be idealadministration took power, has been truly amazing;
for retirement. On the other hand, the Pacific Oceanso much so, that the head of the local Chamber of
coastline seldom sees troublesome storms and offersCommerce has projected the population of Vallarta
more than a thousand miles of incredible Pebblewill reach 600,000 by the year 2015. There are
Beach like views with a climate similar to that ofcurrently more than 7,000 new condos currently
Hawaii.under construction with well over 20,000 more
Pacific Ocean coastal cities such as Mazatlan,planned in the future by Fonatur, the Mexican
Manzanillo, and Acapulco are somewhat popular forTourism Board. Because real estate sales in Mexico
tourists, but have become quite industrialized andare generally done on a cash basis, this economy has
commercialized and therefore not really considered asnot been affected by the mortgage related problems
ideal retirement cities. The most desirable retirementseen in the US. Real estate values have tripled since
locations from north to south along the Pacific Ocean2000 and continue to appreciate daily. Owning
are La Paz and Todos Santos in Baja, Puerto Vallarta,property here has surely been an investment of a
Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Escondido.lifetime for us.
La Paz and Todos Santos in Baja, Ixtapa /If you're a baby boomer, either recently retired or
Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Escondido are more exposedabout to retire, you owe it to yourself; make PV
to the elements than Puerto Vallarta, which is tuckedyour next vacation destination and consider all the
behind the Sierra Madre Mountains next to Banderasqualities it has to offer. You'll definitely be impressed
Bay, safely protected from Pacific storms coming outwith this glorious Paradise along the Mexican Riviera
of the south. Also, because Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo isand will probably agree, Puerto Vallarta is the best
approximately 500 miles south of Vallarta and Puertoplace in the world to retire.