Best Places to Live in Latin America
Thursday July 15, 2004
Argentina, mejor país para vivir en A. Latina: PNUD (Reuters) reports the findings of the Human Development Reports and ranks Argentina as the best country to live in in Latin America, followed by Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Haiti.
The top five countries, worldwide, are Norway, Sweden, Australia, Canada and Holland.
The top five countries, worldwide, are Norway, Sweden, Australia, Canada and Holland.
Comments
I’d like to see this people(those that desided that Cuba and Haity are good places to live at) living there but not as visitors no, living the day by day with their childrens, wife and all that for 48 years with the same “Comandante en Jefe” that’s in Cuba and what to say about Haity one of the poorest country in this Universe. I’m sorry I don’t agree with them in these ones!
This report is absolutely crazy….!!! El Salvador and Guatemala are the most dangerous countries in the world!
This report is absolutely crazy….!!! El Salvador and Guatemala are the most dangerous countries in the world!
This report is absolutely crazy….!!! El Salvador and Guatemala are the most dangerous countries in the world!
Im from New York, used to live in Lima, Peru, 1st i think people have left a few exacerbated comments, so I just wanted to clarify a few thinkgs… Guatemala and El Salvador are far from being the most danderous coutries in the World, also I was curious as to why Argentina was first on the List??? and Peru as 11, here in my neghborhood in Lima I know people from Buenos Aires and various parts of Brazil, and there reasons for being here is that it is less dangerous. And if you are and internacional/South American news-watcher you’ll know this is true, also here its tourist friendly something that alot of the other places mentioned are not… A tip to new travelers to America Latina, dont believe everything you read on the web, talk to people from these places, alot of times they are where you are some a good reason. Personally Recomend- Peru, anywhere in here is beautiful.
I am a european citizen and lived for the last 6 years in latin america, first I thought,Costa Rica, also known as Switserland of the americas was a nice place but after they robbed my house, stole my car, asaulted my wife(colombian) we went to live in colombia for a while, we lived very good in Cartagena de Indias, with less violence then in Costa Rica, people are mor educated and tecnologicaly far mor better then Costa Rica what is also very expensive to live in.
I compare Costa Rica with a very expensive restaurant but gives you poor quality fo food, the roads are bad, it is very dificult to own even simple thing such as a cel phone, we asked for a telephone line in our house and even after something more then a year we still didn’t have a line, it is soooo corrupt.Honestly is was the badest country i ever lived in.
Due to the very high temperatures we left Colombia and know we live very happy in Villa Carlos Paz,Cordoba,Argentina, a natural paradise where life is cheap,with a very good quality and many posibilities to work or invest.
I love it when people who have never been to someplace only take the media as a means of determining if a place is dangerous. Sylvia, have you ever been to Guatemala? I have–by myself–and I’m blonde and was 23 at the time. It’s definitely not what you think. It was beautiful and the people were very nice.
And I would like to put my vote in for Cuenca, Ecuador as an amazing place to live. I lived there and everybody I knew fell in love with it, just as I did.
COLOMBIA SAFER THAN COSTA RICA ????
What kinda crack are you smoking!
Are you kidding me ? COLOMBIA has the highest kidnapping and drug related crime rate of ALL AMERICA ( the continent, for those yanks who don’t get it )
COLOMBIA is a nation where their citizens live in complete and utter terror, due to the conflict of the FARC ( COLOMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUERRILLA WHO SELLS MOST OF THE COCAINE TO USA) and the PARAMILITARES ( counter militias)
You need to get your facts straight homeboy.
By the way, cartagena is the tourist part of COLOMBIA… why dont you mention CALI AND BOGOTA… yeah… hometown of Mr. Pablo Escobar… worlds most cruel druglord ever..
So please DONT EVER SAY THAT COLOMBIA IS SAFER THAN COSTA RICA.. cause thats THE BIGGEST LIE EVER.
Gabriel, America isn’t a continent. It is actually the Americas, plural. And not to mention the fact that we are called Americans not just in English and not just by fellow Americans.
Apart from that, my wife is from Argentina and she never talked about anything other than petty theft. And another of my friends is a colombiano and he said that it really isn’t that bad…
he lived in Bogota
My wife’s family lives in Panama, and we are thinking of moving there. Do you think it is a good idea and if so any suggestions on where to live. My wife’s family lives in Balboa and Panama City.
Ehm. I personally recommend Chile. I lived in Santiago, and all was BEAUTIFUL. the landscapes, the people, the service , all was wonderful.
I now leave in Louisiana and I do miss Chile… the wines and the national drink “piscola”…
Even in the most dangerous countries, you can find places that are safer than London and New York. But then you have to look at other aspects like…how are the emergency services? What about the standard of hospitals? If you happen to get involved with the police are the even handed? Are the courts impartial? etc. One has to look at a lot of before moving to another country.
I want to know if anyone has a recommendation for living in a particular part in el salvador. And upon their recommendation, when was the last time they were there or what personal experince they have.
and by the way I totally agree with Lakhi
listen characters……safest cheapest coolest most friendly country over-all in latin america is without a doubt in central america …and 2nd place is also in central america….#1 is hands down Costa Rica, followed by Panama….Stay the hell out of all the other countries in central america….as far as south america goes it’s either argentina or chili end of story. Im leaving New York for Costa Rica for good personally, i see no reason to venture all the way down to the bottom of South America when central america has all i need. Period
I find it funny how those who like to point fingers are the ones that dont take the time to travel and really see for themselves how these South American countries are really all about. I have lived in NY, VA, and TX and let me tell you the cops, the courts, the people are no more or less corrupt than those in El Salvador or Colombia. You can get a ticket or arrented but give them the right amount of money and off you go. As far as Colombia being dangerous that was many years ago. I have lived in Colombia for many years being that I’m native to it, but also live in the states as well. Never once have I been able to leave my front door in any state and not worry someone would break in. Now go to Acacias, or Meta and hell its a way of life to leave the door open. No worries of someone coming in and no worries of your stuff leaving. I find that the people are much nicer and yes like in all places there are those who willt take advantage of tourist, but doesn’t that happend in most places? From the guys in amusment parks taking your picture as you come in, to the guy selling you knock off shirts at a football game. Its all in perspective. No its not dangerous if you know the city, and the chances of you getting kidnapped in Colombia are slim, ofcourse dont walk around with thousands of dollars of gems and jewels either…I mean come on thats just asking for it~
I would have to say that the report is flaud. I did a bit of research on Wikipedia and found that Chile has the LOWEST unemployment, LOWEST poverty line and LOWEST public debt. Also, it has the best Gross National Income (GNI). Additionally, it has the best GDP per capita. Finally, Chile has the best Human Development Index (HDI)… I’m from Canada and when I visited South America I found Chile to be my number one choice.
Cheers,
MF
Just spent 29 days in El Salvador with wife and son – awesome place ZERO danger ! Wanna get mugged – go to Miami, NY or better yet Washinton DC. Traveled all through El Salvador and found it to be an exceptinal place to visit. Would move there in a heart beat
Colombia is given a bad reputation, im not saying its safe but come on, dangerous? Im proud of being Colombian, the land is the most beutiful thing you could find in some of the listed countries and just because you read all the things that say its a dangerous country doesn’t mean its that bad. Ive walked thrue those streets and have never been robbed! I think all those countries listed are all beutiful in difrent ways, but colombia has great landscape and alot of culture.
I’ve been living in australia for more than 30 years..but I was born in montevideo uruguay,and once upon a time this country was known as ”the Swiss of america”we had very rough times during the 1960’s and 1970’s first with urban guerrillas and it culminated with a miltary regime..but this country has always been one of the best to live in south america very similar system to western europe and sometimes like england 90 per cent european population quality of living is good if you have a good job,but like any other developed country if the person has not have the proper education your oportunities will very limited..many years ago when life was not as difficult as today european people living in uruguay they used to say ”uruguay the best country in the world”and it was in some respects..
There are many nice spots to enjoy in central and south america. There are also a few places to avoid, and like anywhere if your looking for trouble you’ll find it. Personally, there is something special about all of these countries. Go decide for your self. I love Nicaragua and Argentina, but also have very much enjoyed Guatemala,Chile,Uruguay. My list keeps growing because as long as you take a few precautions it is safe and as far as central and sa, I wouldn’t avoid any of them.
Hi,
I’m a Canadian with Colombian parents, it was 14 years ago since I had went to visit my parents native land, and let me tell you theat I used to believe all the bad things that people used to say about and also all the sterio types, but since this 5 week vacation my perspective has totally changed. I lived in Miami for 5 years and felt that it was far more dangerous and say lots more poverty in U.S than in Medellin, Colombia. So for all you ignorant Americans take a trip there a have the shock of your life!!!!! I triple dare you
Hi,
I’m a Canadian with Colombian parents, it was 14 years ago since I had went to visit my parents native land, and let me tell you that I used to believe all the bad things that people used to say about and also all the sterio types, but since this 5 week vacation my perspective has totally changed. I lived in Miami for 5 years and felt that it was far more dangerous and say lots more poverty in U.S than in Medellin, Colombia. So for all you ignorant Americans take a trip there a have the shock of your life!!!!! I triple dare you
“So for all you ignorant Americans” Statements like that make you just as ignorant as those you are admonishing. All Americans are NOT ignorant.
Anyway, I have enjoyed reading this as I am planning to move out of the US. I don’t like where this country is going. And before long it will be just another Latin American country.
I went to Costa Rica for my first vacation in twelve years. I fell in love with it’s beauty, it’s people it’s ‘Pura Vida’. I go back to work (consulting) on saturday for two months, and I’m seriously considering moving there. Yes there are sketchy parts, but if you have life experience and use your brain you can avoid all that. I found no difficulty finding most comfort items that I wanted, much less the necessities. Leaving LA for CR might be the healthiest thing I have done.
Hey, I have visited most of Latin America. My comment to you, all depends where you go and what you do. If you want to avoid trouble try to lern the language and remember “when you are in Rome do as Romans do…” or something like that. Argentina is not a good spot for living, is far away from every thing and people are not so nice.Chile is a beautiful country but for my taste people are “fascists”. Brazil is extremely dangerous and poor. Ecuador unfortunately used to be a decent country but not any longer.Peru and Colombia are the most beautiful of all, cultivated people and a lot to see but this is maybe not good time to visit or live there.Regarding Central America maybe the two safest countries are Panama and Costa Rica.
El salvador is not a dangerous country to live or visit…please ignore those negative comments..salvadorians love international visitors.
You are wrong El salvador is not the dangerous country . get your facts right and never never ever put El salvador next to Guatemala. Mexico is the dangerous country. Long live El salvador
I AM FROM MEXICO AND TOTALLY LOVE MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BUT YES THERE IS A CRIME RATE AS HIGH AS THE SKY ITS VERY CORRUPTED MY FAMILY WAS KIDNAPPED AMD MY HOUSE AND BUSINESS BURGLARIZED, SO I HAD TO MOVE TO THE US BUT I MISS THE LIFESTYLE I HAD BACK HOME SO I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING COSTA RICA… BUT DONT KNOW YET SINCE I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.
I don’t appreciate the “ignorant Americans” comment either. I don’t blame all Canadians for this, either. Just a handful of people who would be obnoxious in any country.
Asuncion(Paraguay) it sucks!, i mean after bolivia(wich is the poorest country in south america), is a peace of crap, corruption, poverty, injustuce, healthcare sucks, the roads are awfull, i want to get out of here
Lots of opinions on Latin America and Central America, I am very confused?? I have a sailboat and I would like to stay at a marina that is safe, and I hope to find work. Is there any recommendations?
I’ve been and lived briefly in Asuncion PY – the poverty is great, the crime is high, the unemployment is almost 40% – Its not safe to stop at red lights at night through most of the town – however – people do live there and some happily live there. Food and housing is relatively cheap and there are protective bars on everything – you can get a guard for not much money – Its probably a nicer place to live for the foriegn educated as they get paid considerably better, as long as they know the language
overall i wouldnt recommend asuncion except for hummanitarian work or for someones with strong stomaches and little conscience
I just returned from Costa Rica, and although it was beautiful, it was ridiculously expensive.
Panama is much better. My family is from there and I go yearly. My husband and I are thinking of retiring there in a couple years.
My cousin just returned from El Salvador and loved it.
Whatever….I sooo agree.I never dreamed I wanted to leave the US but I hope I’ll be able in the next 12 months. Reading all these comments show that I should decide with some research and first hand knowledge
I am moving to El Salvador soon. If someone has recently lived there (Sep2008) could you please comment on what rents are like for apartments/houses in San Salvador or Santa Tecla. Also what are job prospects like? Would a spanish speaking hairstylist struggle financially? Would a non-spanish speaking Canadian be able to find a job say in tours?
argentina and chile are the best places be not only as a visitor… all the others are corrupt, dangerous and you never know if you will comeback home after shoping.
I live in Quito, Ecuador, and with certain adjustments you can live here the same american lifestyle, only much cheaper – with your own house and a car you will be thinking how to spend 1000 a month… I tell you what: you live in the Latin America for a year and will want to return to US only for a short visit.
Hi,
your talk sounds really interesting and push to move to make is own opinion.
personnaly I m a photographer from belgium, Actually I m into baby and pregnancy business, I m dreaming about to move on a sunny country with the beach where I can have a really good life level with my work. some Brazilian people I met told me Brazil was really good a place to live where once you have a regular job you can already afford domestics at home. I don’t care about to have domestics But I like the image.
What do you think about this? do you really think Argentina or chile is much better?
thanks in advance for your sunny answers !
It is great to hear the different comments.I want to retire to to one of those countries.Differents views gives a more balanced opinion.THANK YOU ALL.Is it better than thailand?
Chile is a great and safe place to live.Ive lived in Canada, US (Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale) and Santiago, Chile. Just like any new country use common sense and try to apply to those fortunate companies that can pay well. The range in salaries are very very broad anywhere in Latin America. I truly recommend Chile if you can get one of these gigs… Cheers.
I’m British with colombian parents, to make things clear with the least biast opinion on Colombia to live in I think it has been victimized through it’s bad media press of kidnap. My parents left Colombia for financial purposes. But if you can afford to live in Colombia, then it is a great place. Fair enough, the kidnap rate is high on a political level and if you happen to go to the JUNGLE!!! just don’t. I was brought up with the perception that Britain say Colombia is just drugs, kidnap and corruption and that’s exactly what I told people and colombians themselves before I personally knew the country. Well I decided to visit colombia for the first time after I graduated and lived there for 6 months. I was very sceptical and concerned I was going to be kidnapped! but all that has changed now! the people are Colombia’s gold, I have never met such kindness and modesty. Bogota is very safe and modern, there’s everything you need at hand. It is cast as a developing country but it is definitely going to be one of the most developed without any influence from other counrties and certaily has a lot going for itself in terms of organic growth! I personally I think that London is much dangerous and corrupt!!!
best piece of advice… don’t judge a book by it’s cover!!!
I want to learn the spanish language. I have traveled to Costa Rica where I studied for a month and I travel to Cuba every year. I am studying the language on my own and can hold a conversation but I would not call myself fluent. Mi espanol es muy malo ahora pero estoy conseguiendo porque soy eschuando a la radio y hablando con mi amigo. I am from the Bahamas. Which country can I go to to study that would be the cheapest and safest and can anyone help me out in finding someone to stay with. Thanks.
The stats indicate that India, South Africa, Columbia, russia, and Indonesia countries are the most violent and dangerous. All of those countries have high murder rates. The US has a high crime rate, but it has such a large population that is not really comparable with the stats of the other countries.
Okay, to agree with some of the earlier comments, you definitely can’t judge a country by one city or one place. You also can’t completely judge a country by statistics because thats not related to the lifestyle exactly.
Right now I am living in Buenos Aires,Argentina with a study abroad program and I would really like to make this one of the best years of my life.
This is a wonderful city to come live in for a while. People are generally friendly and patient. There are some very sketchy neighborhoods but if you play your cards right you can be perfectly safe. Plus the night life is incredible! At night I have found that it is not too dangerous because there are always people out and about in the streets from dusk to dawn. It is very easy to get anywhere you need to go and you can meet a ton of people.
Oh,
and GOOD food.
cheap as well.
BUT there are things that makes me really uncomfortable here is the lack of nature, and all the pollution. Some people are poor and not educated in a sense that they know how to walk three extra steps to throw away garbage. Also If you are a girl, especially with blond hair you will hear many dirty comments if you decide to go in public. Plus Its very dirty here.
So for my year here, I do have to stay in Argentina and I after four months in Buenos Aires I am a bit tired and want to know about cities in the south I may be able to move to.
I’m only in High school so maybe a place with decent secondary schools. And mountains would be nice
Anyone know of a nice city in South of Argentina that would be a good choice?
I agree the report is stupid. Only a dolt would rate Cuba so high, just as an example.
Anyway – it sure caused lots of people to respond (an indicator of how poorly researched the article.)
I am a US citizen retired in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is a wonderful place … reports of late are misleading.
I am developing several web-sites about touring and living (retiring here). One is http://www.googlecochabamba.com. Am doing another on Latin America as a whole. Would like to hook up with others. You can comment on my website so I can get in touch with you if you are interested. Thanks!
Hola a todos,
I am from Peru and I have been living in London for over 10 years. South America is a beautiful continent, each country is different, you have to live in the country to make comments, been on holiday is a different matter, I have been in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil…all are great! Maybe because I speak Spanish and Portuguese I might find easy to get along, the same happens in London, you have to speak the language to get along too…otherwise you are lost in translation.
I love South America and Central America!
Enjoy Latin America
Silvia
I’ve been going to Costa Rica for 12 years now; owned property there for 3. It’s time to move on. Crime is rampant and it has nothing to do with being aware. It is not safe anymore and the government is doing nothing about it. I am looking at Columbia as the health care is ranked 22, costa rica was 37th.
There is one thing that I have to say to all those that say Mexico is one of the most dangerous places. Mexico is the 12 richest country in the world (according to wikipedia). Mexico city is dangerous, yes. However there is so much more to Mexico than Mexico city. The rest of Mexico is very safe and enjoyable to live in. In fact, I never felt so unsafe until I moved to the US (Tacoma, WA to be exact). In zacatecas, Mex. I felt safe and happy. There is a reason more than 1 million americans call now Mexico their home. Guadalajara, san Miguel de Allende, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Merida, tabasco, and San Luis Potosi are some examples where it is very safe to live in.
I want to post a comment about Mexico. Mexico is one of the most beautiful places and what they are stating is wrong. I hate to sound somewhat racist but I must state. If you are an ignorant white american with a stupid hawaii 5′o t-shirt you deserve to robbed and stripped and made to wear better fashion. My point is you can get robbed or killed by the terrorist in America first. I think the whole point behind all of this is fear. If everyone here can agree than we would all say that the cost of living is usually cheaper. So, how can the people who sell cheap fun afford expensive technology. You are still only paying them pennies on the dollar. They get these dangerous equipment and toys from the US. Also, think of how is reporting it’s dangerous. Mostly, the news. And do you really trust the associated press? No, you don’t. These are the people who brought you 9-11, and Bush caught on camera. If they tell you a country is bad or dangerous maybe they don’t want you to go there so you don’t tell others the truth. Because next week they might need to conduct illegal transactions, and you the informed American might say wait a minute I just came back from there. You know druglords don’t like to be cheated, and dictators don’t like to be undermined. So, when the sheep say “NO” the druglords and dictators have to act really ugly and it’s best the american public don’t really meet there elected officals face to face. THINK PEOPLE. READ THE SLAVES DIED FOR THAT RIGHT!
colombia is the best country on earth. All the bad news is to keep non colombians away from colombia. Ir you get the chance go to colombia jet blue from orlando 99$ go to medellin colombia la mejor city in south america
Mexico is now owned by the drug cartels. Stay away at all costs. I was born there and used to travel there twice a year. I was robbed three times on my last visit. I have not been back there since. There is a REASON border cities are avoided by the locals on the US side!!!
I live in the heart of Mexico City, and yes, you do learn to cope with the insecurity. No jewelry, no fancy cars, no flashing money at the super market… but its hard to beat the global lifestyle, great restaurants and exciting people.
I`m a 48 year old businessman from Az City, Az.I have traveled to most of the countries above and beyond ,I have friends that have retired all over the world that I`m in constant touch with them and each one of them say………Mark you need to move here!!
I will be retiring in about 2 years and moving to one of them.
Here is my take on it thus far.
MEXICO:Close to Az which is convenient but with all of the drug wars going on and the corruption I`m totally turned off!
NICARAGUA:Beautiful country but Daniel Ortega is in charge…do I have to say more!
Things can turn ugly there quickly, Google Seach ERIC VOLTZ and see what happened to this American living in San Juan Del Sur.
COSTA RICA:Just beautiful and if your single no matter what age you are, the women are to die for, you should have bought land in the 80`s there when it was cheap, its not cheap now and the cost of living is exspensive!
There is over 1 million Nicaraguans living in C.R. illegally, there is alot of resentment between the Tico`s & the Nico`s, ask any Tico about the situation and they will tell you there was never crime in C.R before the Nico`s invaded.
PANAMA:I have very good friends living in Boquete, a huge retirement area for Americans, They are totally in love with it, they want me to move there.
ARGENTINA & CHILE:I like both countries,My favorite top 2 countries, I will most likely settle for one or the other,my favorite is the Patagonia region that crosses both countries, you have never seen a more beautiful place, the economy is alot stronger in Chile thus a higher cost of living but the Patagonian land is cheaper to buy in Chile .
Again if your single the women of Buenos Aires are the most beautiful creatures on earth.
In March I`m going to check out the Azores, I have never heard anything bad about the Azore Islands, 5 hours flight from Boston, I heard it`s paradise on earth!
Hola a todos,
Yo soy hindoestano o Indiano….. I don’t know much Spanish, but I definitely love America Latina. I was also researching a lot (and am still) till i got to this site, which is the one i was finding for personal perspectives. Anyways, I had put two cities on top of my list, which is Lima and Santiago de Chile. I am in the process of learning Spanish, and I will definitely learn it fluently, because I love the language, and i heard this somewhere, “it’s easy to be committed, when you are passionate,” so I would definitely commit mi vida a America Latina, la lingua de Espanol y la gente del America Latina. No matter how much the crime rate is, or whatever, the people here are just great, lovable, amorous, affectionate, friendly…. and more….. I would definitely post something here again, once i emigrate to America Latina.
Cuidate a todos y dios te benediga!!
An American In Peru- Peru is alot different now than it was 10-15 years ago. The economy is setting record highs, poverty rate is still high, but it is surly coming down. I have lived here for about 3 years and have had no regrets other than missing my home country. I choose to live here simply because VISA requirements for my fiance are too impossible at the moment. I have also been to Chile, Loved it! Its really like the USA in so many ways. No Matter what part of the world you want to live in, they all have the good points and bad. You gotta take it or leave it, or simply stay home!!
I am originally from the US, Right now I’m studying medicine in Mexico City. Yes it has certain problems but it is a beautiful place. Crime exists everywhere and only a small percentage of people face a serious situation. I feel safer in most parts of mexico city than I do in Los Angeles riding the metro there. Anybody who wants to come vistit here should not worry too much about safety and just be careful. It seems to me the people who are very rich here are a bit paranoid. But this speaks to the deeper issue of the class problem in mex city, the social problems are just symptoms of a deeper injustice that is at the foundation of mexican politics.
I have lived in Argentina and Chile and like both. I had more trouble in Chile with being robbed and cheated. I had to learn a lesson on how to deal with those who consider “gringos” fair game for being cheated. I am fluent in Spanish. I would suggest that anyone wishing to live in any Latin American country learn Spanish well (Portuguese for Brazil). I would recommend Chile, but not Santiago due to smog. Perhaps Viña del Mar, which is not far from Santiago. Also, the Patagonia in both countries is extraordinary.
Hi,
I am a translator working from home in Canada. I can work from anywhere in the world as long as I have access to the Internet. Before I got my degree in translation, I lived in Ecuador for two years and I married an Ecuadorian. We desperately want to leave cold boring Canada and go back to South America (preferably Chile or Argentina). I would like to talk to anybody who works on the Internet and lives in Latin America. I am looking for tips on taxation, health care, etc.
Take care
Everyone take a deep breath. We have all had very different experiences living in different places. Heck, you’ll find corruption, petty theft, pollution, etc. anywhere in the world. No place is perfect.
The list was probably compiled by statistics taken from official reports from each country. Just because you know of someone (or even a dozen people) that had a bad experience somewhere doesn’t mean it represents the entire experience of the country.
What about volunteering and living?
I am looking for a place to volunteer teach or work with children for the next year. Being a 25 year old female US citizen I want to make sure I choose a relatively safe country and city.
I just got done working and living in Barcelona so I can speak Spanish on an intermediate level. Would appreciate any suggestions…
I have been travelling to Latin America off and on for 25 years, and have considered buying property and retiring in a number of different countries. I have also been spending much time in S.E. Asia with the same retirement thoughts, but find myself drawn back to the Latin American culture and the friendliness and character of the people and culture. Here is my observations on the various countries that I have looked at:
Panama: decent place and safe enough, but a bit pricey and the beaches are not that good, also it rains a lot. There are some fine places no question, but the county is a bit too Americanized for my liking.
Costa Rica: a great place 25 years ago, however now too crowded, too expensive and dangerous. San Jose is a dump and the people are definately not the friendliest.
Colombia: Ive been to Catagena, Cali, Santa Marta on a few occasions and never had a problem and the people are very friendly. I concur with the above posters that Costa Rica is more dangerous. if you go by Stats alone and Robert Peltons book you would never go to half the countries in the world. Drug wars and guerilla activity and political strife do not really concern me as a traveller or living in any country as much as getting mugged, or attacked by some drunk in a bar or being falsely arrested on trumped up charges.Or my house been broken into. These can all happen in Costa Rica. It is very rare that you will be affected by these Political situations, certain areas of Colombia, kidnapping is a problem, so you stay away from those areas. I was in Sri Lanka touring the country on a motorbike while a civil war was in progress and didn’t see a thing.
Honduras: Same as Costa Rica 25 years ago when it was great but now too many economical problems.
Brazil: Wonderful place with energy but don’t be lulled into complacency as danger is just around the corner.
Mexico: A narco state and corrupt, however wonderful people, I have not travelled extensively through Mexico so the Mexican Riviera and Merida areas interest me Any comments ?
Dominican Republic: Stay away, too many negatives to mention
Cuba: The best place by far for safety, beaches, salsa, culture, Art, friendly people and diverity of topographical regions. (i haven’t been to Argentina and Chile yet). The food is not the best and it can be an expensive place to visit compared to other Latin American places.and unfortunately is not a place where you could retire to.
has anyone been to Margarita island Venezuela, Comments please.
Ecuador is my soul country in South America. The government has spent millions in the last few years to make it a safer place for tourists. Quito had similar crime (personal attacks, theft) as many countries do. Now, it is a safer city to visit. The historic old town is one of the best preserved in Latin America. An example is Ronda Street. It used to be a place tourists were to avoid. Now, its people have painted buildings, created small cafes and restaurants and art shops. Consequently, this has become a safe street for tourists. “New Town” is filled with international tourists. Renovated, Quito is alive once again.
In September, I will return to Ecuador again. It will be my fourth trip and my third Amazon lodge, Kapawi. Revisiting the Galapagos will be different since I explored it many years ago. What amazes me is the diversity of regions to visit: Amazon, Andes, coast, Galapagos and southern Ecuador. For its size (almost same as Colorado), it has such diversity in flora and faun, as well as cultures.
I have also enjoyed Uruguay, Argentina,Chile, Peru (taught there for a year) and I will find out about Bolivia in May. Each country is fascinating in its own way. As in the U.S., I am aware of my surroundings and learn places best to avoid. Crime, unfortunately, is in every country but with knowledge, fear doesn’t have to keep me from experiencing the world.
Hello there! Everybody! I have travelled extensively and also lived in a few countries. I am swedish. What one says is hell the other one says is heaven. It all depends on time and situation how we judge the country! Anyway I believe that the continent of South America is a very exciting continent with a great future. I myself have found Colombia to be a pearl and its people. and yes i believe there is a democratic process even though it is far from being perfect. But few countries can offer (apart from the friendly people) all that Colombia has to offer, 2 oceans, amazonas, tropics, snowpeaked mountains and much more…Yes I have learned to love this country…Try it you might like it?
I am an American who has lived in Latin America (mostly Peru) for 5 of the last 8 years. While there are differences from one country to the next, it is normal that people exagerate the good and the bad of a country based on limited experience. A balanced evaluation mentions the positives as well as the negatives. That said, Chile is by far the best place to visit and live in Latin America. There are few negatives. The Chileans take great care of both their cities as well as their national parks; they don’t allow their children to beg on the street; they keep crime low and education high. Almost all Latin American countries are worth visiting, but Chile is definitely the best of the lot for visiting or staying long term.
I have been to Brazil 4x without incident; but care must be taken, especially at night in the cities, although 2 trips to Sao Paulo we have not had one problem. They have 5000 miles of coast with thousands of beaches! My Brazilian girlfriend has become a permanent landed immigrant here in Canada and has been here for 10 months. We just bought a house in Ontario, because unfortunately, i must work a few more years.
However, asap/when we are able, we are buying a house near the beach in Brazil. Paraty or Ubatuba which are just south of Rio, and are the areas we like the most. Average annual temp of 23, day and night with incredible beaches, night life and food. Paraty is magic! The NE coast is extremely beautiful too, ie-Fortaleza to Jericoaquara and Canao Quebrada are great places to visit, but so far, we are trying to find something near one of Ubatuba’s 80 beaches. A 3 bedroom house can be found for under 50K. The food in Brazil is simply amazing! And Sao Paulo just might have the best food on earth! We only have taco bell or new york fries here our in food courts, but in SP they have grilled salmon, shrimp and dozens of different fish, all the carne *meat, you could ever want along with a million different salads and legumes etc..in their food courts next to the cinema! I was blown away! Best food on earth is in Brazil! The best beaches, music and women too! This is where i will likely die, but hopefully it is not for about 30 more years. I love my girl and love her country, realllllly alot! And can’t wait for our next trip. ps…our first date, have had a gorgeous cottage in Jericoaquara with a/c, breakfast and a house keeper for $35. a night, with sand streets and over 2 dozen restaurants and a thousand miles of beach!!
I found her on ‘amigo.com’. I was looking for an adventure that comes with a new friend. I found both. Brazil is enchanting!
AMERICA is a continent that goes from Canada to Tierra del Fuego. “Americas” is a term used to attempt to separate North, (Central) and South AMERICA into two distinct continents, and as to justify the term “America” for the USA. Read history, you yank, and not from your biased country.
Hello,
Thanx for giving me the opportunity to post. First, I must say that Chile is best ranked than Argentina by HDI (Human Development Index.
http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/
Chile ranks 40. (???)
Argentina ranks 46. (Godhand makes fantastic goals and girls)
Brazil ranks 70. (The “Kitsh” Brazil as I like to call it is way too far)
Entonces, el mejor pais para vivir de acuerdo a las estadisiticas del sitio HDR es: Chile, dentro de Sudamerica.
Besides, Chile ranks way better than Argentina in most of the economic reports related to best economical practices. Moreover, the data is ranked at top among all countries within the region.
As you being a journalist, I´d expected more accuracy. Before going public with any of your headlines. What make it worst is the fact that you are linking it to a website which makes you look silly and not well informed.
Regards,
Dear Chilean friend, you should not show so openly your resentments and frustration against Argentina and Brazil only because they are bigger or richer countries maybe.. who knows about your mind?
Anyway, this is a public blog which is aimed to help people get informed before traveling abroad. If you think Chile is the best country in the world, i congratulate you and hope you stay there enjoying your paradise. The rest of the world will be safe from another paranoid.
Greetings from “the jungle”..
There is no such thing as the “best” country. There is only a best (or better) for you. Everything depends on what you are looking for, your particular needs and desires. All kinds of factors come into play: the type of cultures, the climate, whether you want a city or a small town, the highlands or the coast, whether there are other expatriates there or not, and so on, and on. It is best to have a clear idea of what factors are the most important to you and arrange them in order, and then do thorough research–including personal experiences of people. It’s all data that can be useful. Certain sites are particularly useful–I just went to Jon’s, for Cochabamba, and he’s done a great job. Just beware of opinions posing as objective and universally applicable. Some facts are irrefutable, and need to be known: climate, altitude, population, water quality, air quality, etc. They will all influence your decision. Then go and plan on staying at least 6 months and renting to see if the place you chose really is for you.
I was born in Mexico, have an Ecuadorian fathers, and a US born mother, and have lived in many countries. They all have their pros and cons, depending on what you’re looking for and what you need and want.
“Peace on earth to men of good will!”
If you are looking for paradise, there is none.
Stay where you are and make the best of it.
I see that my home country of Australia is ranked in the top 5 countries of the world to live….well, we have kidnappings, rape, murder, gangland wars, arsonists, muggings, break and enters, corruption and all the other bad things that you are all talking about.
No country is free from danger, but I can honestly tell you that after having visited all of our planet’s inhabited continents, that latin america is the earth’s greatest treasure; beautiful, warm people, fantastic culture and scenery and just about everything you could ever wish for in a place to live.
I look forward to my next Latin American adventure so that hopefully I can decide on where I’d like to live over there….and this time I will be equipped with a profound knowledge of Spanish and an improvement in my Portuguese.
Buena suerte a todos y que encuentren su paraiso!
How about Puerto Rico. A mix of two worlds,beautiful beaches,mountains,waterfalls,scuba,fishing,hiking and close to the states. Check our Rincon,Aguadilla and Isabela in the west coast of the island. Plenty of americans and europeans have made it their home and it is beautiful. Crime rate is high mostly in the capital San Juan, but towards the west coast it is much safer. and remember the islands of Vieques and Culebra, two jewels in the caribbean.
Hi Everyone! In the next few years my boyfriend and I would like to move down somewhere in South America. I am hoping to teach English while my boyfriend is a scuba diving instructor. We were considering Brazil until we had someone who had lived there suggest not to because I am white and supposedly the people down there will think we are rich and break into our house, etc. I don’t really believe that, but I was hoping if someone could direct me in the right direction in regards to an area that’s friendly, safe, and near the ocean. thanks
I’m from Puerto Rico and in my islan don’t kingnap peoples like others places. The only bad thing that I can mention is the corrupt goverment. But also I thinkg if the rich people help and there’s no corruption in the goverment all world would be greatest!
Hi,
does anyone have any suggestions on where to study spanish for the whole summer? I will be by myself (as a woman) I was thinking about Ecuador..but obviously I want the prettiest place, the safest and friendliest..any suggestions?
Thanks
Nikki
Hello Nikki, if you want to study Spanish in Ecuador I would suggest Cuenca. Avoid La Mariscal district in Quito, which has many tourist restaurants, bars and discos as well as violent drug addicts who prey on the tourists (Quito Centro Historico is much nicer, but Cuenca is wonderful!) Cuzco Peru is also a good place to study Spanish, with a very interesting history, archaelogy and art all due to the conflict between the Inca people and the Spanish 500 years ago. Chile is a very beautiful, clean, crime free country, as is most of Argentina outside of Buenos Aires. There are other places as well, such as Antigua Guatemala, known for studying Spanish (be sure to completely avoid Guatemala City). You said pretty, safe and friendly and mentioned Ecuador; thus I would say Cuenca is for you.
Great site, have enjoyed reading all comments. I am planning on moving soon, and am seriously looking at Ecuador. I have seen Cuenca and Quinto mentioned a bit, but nothing any Guayaguil…on the coast. Has anyone been there there? Right now I am leaning more towards there and Cuenca. Thanks everyone….there is a paradise to be found for everyone…and I will find mine…thanks for your help.
I married a wonderful woman from Colombia. She will be her in less than three weeks to live me with until I retire and then our plans are to return to Colombia and live. If you have not visited Colombia then you must make travel plans to see one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I have been to Bogota approximately 7 or 8 times now and I have never had any problems banditos, narcos or have I witnessed any crime. The Colombian people are very friendly, the food is unbelievable, thebest I have ever eaten and numerous fresh fruits to enjoy. There may be a problem with the guerrillas in the jungles but I work in Baltimore, Maryland and we have our own drug war here, the same in Washington, D.C. as well as many of the big cities in the United States. Colombia is committed to peace talks with the guerrillas to have them lay down their arms and surrender peacefully. I am very anxious to retire in a couple of years and move back to my wife’s homeland, invest in a business, be my own boss and enjoy retirement!
Hi Nikki,
Another good place to study Spanish is Casa Xalteva in Granada, Nicaragua. I’ve been to0 Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and loved them all. I paid $200 US per week for homestay, food, and lessons 4 hours per day. In the afternoons were often excursions with the group that cost about $5. People in Nicaragua were fantastic, lost of culture aned history of the Sandanista revolution. I had no trouble, but heard from other people who wree victims of petty crime. I must say though, the food in Nicaragua isn’t very good. In Nicaragua is the island of Ometepe, one of my favorite places in the world. See it before it gets ruined.
Margarita–
I’m sorry that I can’t be of any real help but I want to hop on the band-wagon of find it. My girlfriend and I are planning on moving from Boston, MA to Latin America. I make films and write and she writes and teaches. We need safety, warmth, the ocean and an internet connection (for my work). Salinas Ecuador is looking like the best place for us. I have done a ton of research and am really impressed by the people, activities and all else.
So.. Do people know about other locations that provide all those aspects of life that we should check out? We’re very open minded and are planning on moving in November so we have plenty of time. We’re obviously going to check out places first so would love some specific opinions. Thank you!
columbia is the safest place on the earth
I currently live in Guatemala. I can’t say it’s the “safest” place on earth…but I can definitively say IT IS BY FAR SO NOT THE UNSAFEST PLACE ON EARTH like most of you said!!!! Depends on what shoes your in. Of course there’s crime, robberies, assaults!!! but by no means we have any major attacks on cities, bombings, tortures, or killings of thousands of people like MANY OF THE “SAFEST PLACES ON EARTH” you might call. We have no serial-killers, and like any other country IN THE WORLD there is danger!!! on a lower scale than in several of the countries many of you are writing from! yes, it’s horrible to hear news from Guatemala, but no! IT IS NOT THE UNSAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD!!!! Wrong!
I have lived in colombia for 10 years and I have loved it and also traveled to a few latin countries. We have crime in the States but you dont get kidnapped and the police respond quickly and though cops in the states are assholes they are not currupt. Life in many of these countries has little value, someone will kill you because of an argument over a bender-fender. I always feel safer in the USA. Keeping a low profile and staying out of trouble helps.
Can I say that I found Panama and Panama City to be the biggest irony of all. Somehow some people say this is paradise I found this place to be a shit hole.
Everyone that has gone to Panama City will admit that the low tide takes the water out 2-3 miles and all that is left of the drained out rivers and bay is black muck … all the crap from the city and its sewers left to stink up your day … and crime is horrible and the very currupt police kept stopping us (they stop rental cars, feel free to give them $10-$20, you will save yourself a lot of time) Advise: dont ever give the police your passport … you will pay alot to get it back and it may not be for days.
I live very well in medellin colombia … i play it safe and do not travel out of the city. Take this advise for all of Colombia … you only get kidnapped once.
I look forward to visint Chile … I am happy to hear about Peru being so popular on this blogg ….
My famiy and I are thinking about moving to Mexico. We have a 7 year old who would have to go to school and we are all white and my daughter and I are blond. I would like somewhere with great beaches and lots to do and enjoy. We also dont speak very good spanish yet. Any suggestions on the place for us?
I have been living in Colombia now for 3 years. Yes it is still extremely dangerous here. I have seen 4 people shot in broad day light and no one does nothing. People getting hit by buses, Also it seems every Colombian has a story about a family member or friend who has been shot dead. I hear about a new murder everyday being here, Colombia is a beautiful country but it is dangerous so don’t let anyone tell you different because they are lying or haven’t spent enough time here.
Few things what i would like to say about this article, and i do agree with some of it..
Colombia, i heard that there is a lot of dangerous places, but this is also ignorance, just like people saying El Salvador is dangerous country. Very ignorant. Just like every country there is safer parts.. Medellin and Cali being one of the safest places. Also just like El Salvador, Colombia has rich a culture, and a lot, for that matter..
Costa Rica, there is dangerous places, but not, so much as Guatemala.
Guatemala also has safe places to live and i heard that they are very friendly people.
El Salvador, according to America is one of the dangerous country in Latin America, but just like every country out there, El Salvador is no different, they do have safe places to visit and live. (I hate people who are ignorant, by saying El Salvador is the only country that is dangerous) Do not get me wrong, there is dangerous part just like United States and Canada. I am from El Salvador, but there is a lot of safest place to live. If you stay away from the poor spots in San Salvador your good, but i would recommend San Miguel, Sonsonate, Usulutan, Santa Ana..
Argentina, no i have nothing against them, nor have I heard anything bad, same goes with Panama.
Mexico has a pretty high crime rate, like a lot of Latin American country s, however there is a lot of safe places to visit, and live. Example, Guadalajara and Mexico City.
America is not a country, is a continent. God people take Geography. Just like Africa, everybody thinks is a country, but it is not a country, is a continent. America founded by Christopher Columbus is a continent.
Wow…I have been reading the blogs on living in Central/South America for years and last year I finally did it. I moved to Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the past year and absolutely loved it. Swimming with the dolphins, whale watching…decent (not the best by any means) beaches…It really is paradise on Earth. I had to return for business reasons but I am definitely looking to return to South America for my next and possibly final destination. Chris (#80) is from the same town as me (Baltimore, MD) and definitely is right on the money when he talks about drug wars. We have murders almost daily so what changes? I have to say Puerto Vallarta was wonderful but a little too much on the tourist side… I certainly don’t mind a little or even some..but my goodness..PV is overloaded and growing beyond its means. During high season (Nov – May) the streets can get so crowded with cars it takes you an hour just to make a 3 mile journey….in spite of that…it’s a beautiful place to live and the people are nice enough. Just use your street smarts and your common sense and you’ll be fine. I want to hear more from folks about Chile..which seems really nice…and also Ecuador..which seems optimum…does anyone have info on either..specifically any that has a decent internet connection..I need at least 4-6 mgs connection speed which was difficult so say the least PV. All/any comments are appreciated.
Hi Heather, move to mexico is a great option. Im mexican and rigth now im living in Morelia, is a city in the center of Mexico, very touristic, there’s a lot of americans and canadians livin here, so a lot of people speaks english here, also some schools are bilingual, so for your daughter is good that.
The city is a lttle far from the beach, the nearest beach is Ixtapa, a good place, is like 3 hours and a half in car.
But if you want to live in the beach, probably cancun, veracruz or mazatlan are the best options, because in that cities are big malls, good universities and high standar of living.
There are another good beaches like ixtapa, cabo sanlucas, huatulco, coxumel ,etc, but there are not universities in that cities, so when you daughter grow up, she will need to move to another city.
But you can live in Hermosillo, a beautiful and industrial city, near to rocky point an amazing beach. You can live in Monterrey, is one of the most important cities in latinamerica, very safe, clean, industrial with history, is in the north of Mexico, and South padre island in texas is the nearest beach, like 4 hours in car. Guadalajara is another great great city, and puerto vallarta is near, like 3 hours in car.
So you don’t need necessarily live in a beach. You can live in a city in the north, south or center of mexico, in a city near a beach, that’s because the best schools are in the cities not in the beaches, and also the malls and stadiums are in the cities not in the beaches.
And remember mexico is more than only beaches, the cities are beautiful, with colonial and revolutionary history.
Lorenzo, Go to La Lengue language school in Quito. They will assign you a personal tutor and find you lodging way way cheaper than Costa Rica.
I’m from El Salvador, my family and friends are upper middle class and we are almost never affected by violence, we are aware there are places we should just avoid and we stay safer by being a bit paranoid, I know any visitor could do the same, just get well informed, you’ll be treated nicely because salvadorans love foreign people.
I haven’t seen too many South American cities but I visited Buenos Aires and I loved it, I would agree with the article about it being the best, it was cheap, beautiful, cultured and had awesome food!
I also went to Rio de Janeiro and it felt a bit dirty and poor in comparison but it was still beautiful and it’s easy to find its better spots.
As the conflicting comments have implied, there’s not one country that is definitely safe or definitely dangerous. You can live safely in any of them but have your share of caution, I read some people here feeling very safe in El Salvador, which is cool but don’t let your guard down, so to speak.
Also, in response to a very old comment on here, no, not everyone calls americans “americans” …in spanish we use “estadounidense” which is equivalent to “unated-statian” or something of the sort… and we often use “gringo” which is just informal but not pejorative.
I would like to comment on Mexico, specifically Merida the capitol of the Yucatan. My husband & I bought a house there about 4 years ago, after several years of searching for the right place to move & start a different life. Previously we purchase a house in Honduras, on the island of Roatan, but we felt there was not enough culture & things to do. SO we kept searchng. Mexico was unbelievably our last stop, but we knew when arrived & began exploring the city that we had found our home. The people are very kind and very friendly. The city is fun & very safe. I certainly feel very safe there. We have been restoring our colonial home in the last few years and have been working with a wonderful architect named Henry Ponce. He made our experience a pleasure. Let me tell you restoring a old home and not being there can be very daunting. You are sending money and you are not there to see what is happening. There are many horror stories about these situations in all countries. We very very fortunate to have found Henry who gave us our dream home. Now we are are preparing to move in the next year. I cannot say enough about my newly adopted home. I feel that is my home more than the United States. It is not that I don’t love the United States, after all it is the country of my birth, but sadly it does not love me. It is to expensive, to taxed, lower quality healthcare, simply because it is such an ordeal to get it. I do not want to be a door greeter at Walmart when I am retired, or bag groceries at the local super market. Thus Mexico has given us the opportunity to retire and maintain a decent life style, for which we are grateful. There are good & bad in every country, you just have to find the right one for you. Get out there and explore. Happy Hunting!
I have read a lot of comments and opinions on this site and have found it really interesting reading!
I just wanted to make a quick note to those thinking about moving or travelling to Ecuador.
I lived there for seven years before returning to live in England and in all that time i never really had any problems, I lived mainly in Guayaquil which is a huge city, biggest city in Ecuador, so the chances of crime are higher as with any big city. I found that it didn’t really have much to offer jobwise unless you have a professional job in the offices or had something to do with maritime trading and shipping! Some of the suburban areas are unsafe but you wouldnt really have any reason to travel to them, there are many safe places to live in Guayaquil with a lot of secure housing compounds, with security guards and safety precautions, the houses were really good value for the money as well, i saw million dollar mansions with swimming pools and marble floors going for the price of an average sized semi detached house in England! Also some more modest houses, but still better value for money! There was quite a lot of police and military presence around so i actually felt safe during the day. However i strongly suggest not travelling around at night as almost all that police presence is gone! A lot of the people were easy going but being a big city it was easy to get lost in it unnoticed like London or New York, but honestly it was mainly one big concrete city, there are some newly developed areas to try and attract tourists i.e new museum, redeveloped old colonial streets and shops and a really nice wildlife park, which i visited and really enjoyed, however i wouldnt live there for the lifestyle, Im not a city person anyway and prefer the country or coast. Guayaquil is more of a place to visit for a few days or unless you have work there waiting for you.
Quito was a really nice place to live, the climate is more familiar and the cooler temperature is more European friendly! It has a really good colonial feel and is a good place to go for the historical parts of the city. Again jobs are mainly of the office, admin, legal or banking variety. I actually preferred Quito, one of the best things was the markets,some of the biggest in South America! it would take hours to go through everything, probably a few days to do properly! Some of the locals were a bit uptight though, especially the younger ones but then thats typical of most places. Also the scenery of the Andes was amazing! Waking up to snow covered mountains was pretty breath taking.
Cuenca is probably the best preserved colonial city in Ecuador, it has some of the best looking buildings, streets and architecture, a beautiful city. Lots to do there, they have some good markets and local restaurants, should definately spend some time there.
There are a few coastal towns which are quite nice, Salinas being very touristy not really for living just holidaying, gets really busy in peak times. Playas another smaller version of Salinas, probably the quietest and slowest pace of life i have seen anywhere! The beaches are sandy, the sea is warm there are bars and cafes along the seafront, mostly family run who are more than happy to share a few bottles of wine with you as they bring out your food! I found the coast a much friendlier place to be in, made some local friends there, mainly due to surfing, they love it out there. Montanita is a very very tourist coastal town, i was there for a few days for the surf and it was literally filled with Americans, Brazilians, Spanish, Canadians, pretty much every other country except Ecuador! it is a party fan’s paradise, eat, drink, surk, sleep. I actually enjoyed it there, speaking to so many different people from different countries was a real culture learning experience. Young people should definately check it out, more mature people may find they get bored easily unless their into heavy partying, as there is not much there apart from a church and small park. Still at least a day or two should be spent here even just to see some of the best beaches and alcoves along the coast.
I’ve also been to the Galapagos for a couple of weeks, beautiful place, a true paradise, BUT you can only stay there on holiday i bealive for 3 months maximum, there are only 2 ways you can permanently live there, 1st if your a millionaire and can pay of the the government to grant you permission to stay OR if you marry a local and have children! And that is the honest truth because I asked. The 3rd way that may be possible is that you have to work there but it must be a specialised occupation they are in desperate need of that none of their own citizens can fulfill. The islands are amazing and a true nature lover’s dream, there are volcanic rock beaches, animals in every corner, volcanoes and mountains dotted all over the islands, beautiful, i was only there for two weeks and wished i could have stayed longer to see all of it!
Im sorry its been a long winded comment but I wanted to try and describe Ecuador as best I could in this brief comment and trust me I could definately go on! I’m aware I gave a rather biased view of the country but since i’v lived there for some time I believe its one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in South America both in appearance and people, yet never really gets as much attention as some of the better known countries like Argentina and Brazil. Iv been to other countries in South America but not really long enough to make a decent opinion of them. For any other Ecuador information however i’ll be more than happy to offer advice!
Hope this has helped!
I think the worst is DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
This is crazy!…Argentina the best country for living? Maybe to visit, but not for living.
I wonder if this lady has lived in all of the countries she named.
tenia que ser argentina para hablar de esta forma; quiero que sepas que de la unica forma que va a la gloria o al cielo sin morirse es viajando a la republica dominicana
They ranked all the countries in South and Central America. Indeed Guatemala and El Salvador are dangerous, therefore they are not listed high on the list. The list clearly just ranks all countries, no matter if they are the best or worst. No one is discluded (in regards to Spanish speaking nations).
WHO EVER MADE THIS FICTITIOUS REPORT ABOUT ARGINTINA AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES BEING A GOOD OR BEST PLACE TO LIVE, HAS THEIR SENILE GROSSLY INCOMPETENT HEAD ALL THE WAY UP THEIR GROSSLY IGNORANT LYING RECTAM ASS HOLE! THIS INFORMATION YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY FALSE AND ONLY AN IGNORANG SENILE PERSON WOULD MAKE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FOOL OUT OF THEMSELVES WITH THIS GROSSLY STUPID FALSE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I WORK FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THIS INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM SOME ONE SENILE IN A MEXICAN OR ARGINTINE NURSING HOME FOR THE SENILE INCOPETENTS!!
Ithink the best country to live in latin america is Costa Rica becuase costa rica doesnt haue any violence at all but it does haue beautiful beaches, tourism places & moree ! ibeen there soo igot my reasons & el salvador & guatemala aint dangerous ! im from el salvador & aint dat dangerous so peolple get it straight ! el salvador is dangerous but not the most dangerous country in the world,!
I have lived in Costa Rica for 3 years and we are ready to get the hell out. Petty crime is horrible. I live on the same street as the president and we have a private guard that watches 10 homes. I can not keep light bulbs or potted plants out front. As a ¨stranger¨ most Cota Ricans are extremely rude. Especially driving. Also, I have never encountered so many rude woman in grocery stores. If they have something to gain from you, they can be very charming.
(Continued from above)
Also, Costa Rica is not inexpensive unless you can live on rice and beans. The costs associated with driving is horrible and public transportation is a joke.
With that said, the volcanoes and beaches are incredible to visit.
To Maravish who said: “Ithink the best country to live in latin america is Costa Rica becuase costa rica doesnt haue any violence at all.” All I can say is LOL!!!
I, suprisingly, fell in love with Nicaragua during a recent visit. The people are amazing! The beaches are said to be what Costa Rica was like years ago, “unspoiled.” I would just be a little uneasy about the political corruption.
I have recently heard many positive things about El Salvador. I look forward to checking it out myself.
a lot of people seem very knowledgable about central/south america.
i want to move to central america or south america for a few months (feb – may). i am looking for the following
-learn spanish (i took 4 years in high school)
-cheap
-want to learn to surf
-not too many gringos
-would like to live in big city & surf if at all possible
i’ve done so looking on the web, but if you have any input, i would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
After reading all of these stories. I realize that everyone who is commenting is basing their ideas on their actual situation. This is not good at all. We all have different life directions and must follow our destiny. That means wherever you decide to go live your life, live it to the fullest. Above and beyond that you are a pawn in a chess game, played by the media hype and less experienced folks that have no clue as to what is what. We all have different preferences, wants and needs. None of this is based upon an opinion from someone who visited a country in a few weeks and or months. Get real people…u decide not this survey…Have you all ever heard of thou shall not fear…I grew up in chicago the windy city for the last 35 years. I am a Motion Pictures Film Writer. Why do you think I am a FIlm Writer..well probably because I have experienced alot and have seen alot in this city…I welcome crazy shit to happen cause only then will I test my true skills as a person….Death awaits us all…That being said…wake up go where you deem worthy of your physical existence…
Regards,
Lorenzo
Well, I have read several of the comments, and in reality, we live in a world where violence is everywhere. Anything can happen no matter where you are. I am from Ecuador raised in the USA. Visited Honduras few months ago and look where is at right now. Soooooooooooooo,