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Retire in Nicaragua an Overview
Located South of Honduras and North of Costa Rica, if you want to retire in Nicaragua, it’s quickly becoming the next hot spot for those looking to relocate. It has been identified as the number one tourist destination in Central America, surpassing Costa Rica.
Getting around the country can prove difficult, it is improving but, less than 30% of roads are paved. Generally, buses are the easiest and cheapest way to get around $0.50 to $1 depending on the length of travel.
The average temperature in Nicaragua is 27C/80F with a rainy season between June and November.
The telecommunication system is improving. The management of the telecommunication system has been recently privatized and this has created a more dependable system and increased internet connectivity and cellular coverage due to the utilization of a submerged Caribbean digital cabling system.
If you’re looking to volunteer while retired, there are lots of opportunities to do so, building schools and teaching English are popular favorites.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Nicaragua is considered to be the finest in Central America. Very affordable with current technology and doctors trained in N.A and Europe. For the person looking to retire in Nicaragua, the cost to see a doctor will be between $15 and $30. Dentistry is also very inexpensive. If you’re retiring on a budget, and if health care is high on your list, you need to tick the Nicaragua box on your places to retire list.
Healthcare services are generally paid as you go. There are 16 major hospitals and many smaller private clinics that support rural areas.
There are many examples of Americans visiting Nicaragua for medical travel so it seems that Nicaragua is becoming a player in the healthcare tourism niche. That is always a good sign for retirees.
Is it Safe?
Nicaragua is considered one of the safest countries in Central America. In 2006, only 13 murders were reported for every 100,000 people.
Petty theft will be your biggest concern, just keep your purses and wallets close. When using taxis use taxis that are located at shopping malls or in front of hotels, there have been examples of people posing as taxi drivers. Again, use common sense, make copies of all your documents and watch your purses in market or tourist areas.
Overall Potential
*UPDATE*
So here’s the rub, the last 6-8 months in Nicaragua has been tumultuous, to say the least. The government has essentially changed to a dictatorship as the current President and his wife refuse to step down. He has brought in the militia to strengthen his hold on the country and hundreds of students have been targeted and killed in defense of democracy. For updates go here https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nicaragua
So how long will it last I don’t know? Will there be great deals on real estate when it ends you bet. Costs were steadily rising so having a crisis will shift those rising prices back decades.
There is a lesson here as well, nothing is guaranteed in some of these countries, so when you’re considering relocating you really should look at renting first, get the lay of the land to ensure that it’s really where you want to.
I have great friends that made the leap to move and start a bed and breakfast on the Pacific Coast with the long-term to retire in Nicaragua. They were well on their way in developing their business to a point where it was the place to go. Right now they are in Canada, they left everything behind hoping that things will return to normal. So it’s tough, but hopefully, things will get sorted out, and if they do there will be great deals on real estate and property.
If you’re a nature lover, you want to retire in Nicaragua. It has everything from horseback riding, diving, surfing, golfing to Volcano climbing, geez I’m not sure about volcano climbing, but hey we’ll have nothing but time.
On a personal note, a colleague of mine here at work has built a home in Nicaragua. They plan to retire there, but in the meantime, they visit regularly and rent it while they are away. A Nicaraguan couple lives on the property year round, they maintain it while the owners are not in the country. Their home is 5mins from the beach on the Pacific side. They love it, as time permits I’ll provide more info on her experience so far, so we can learn along the way.
The option to retire in Nicaragua is interesting! Still relatively undeveloped you’ll have to rough it. It is not as advanced in terms of infrastructure yet, but it does offer a safe (see above) environment, great health care options, and good value for the money.
*UPDATE 2″
They are back in Nic and settling in, life is going back to normal
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