Best Places In The World To Retire

Asking whether any place is "safe" is an open-ended and sometimes frustrating question.  Rather than inquiring as to crime statistics or actual community trends, it tends to question more how one might feel in an area as opposed to a realistic relative threat that someone might be subject to.

 

A few months ago, two young Dutch travelers disappeared in nearby Boquete, releasing a torrent of rumors and speculations about all manner of terrible criminal...

Asking whether any place is "safe" is an open-ended and sometimes frustrating question.  Rather than inquiring as to crime statistics or actual community trends, it tends to question more how one might feel in an area as opposed to a realistic relative threat that someone might be subject to.

 

A few months ago, two young Dutch travelers disappeared in nearby Boquete, releasing a torrent of rumors and speculations about all manner of terrible criminal enterprise that might have led to their demise.  Tragically, their remains have recently been discovered and it appears that it was simply a manner of two hikers that became lost in the mountains and perished.  Yet now, without the intrigue of international human trafficking rings and organ harvesting no longer an option, the rumor mill continues to turn and has resorted to outlandish reports of lost, savage tribes in the mountains that must have cannibalized these poor helpless foreigners.  Especially when it comes to the question of safety, beware of sensationalism and always take into account the level of fear that an individual is experiencing in their own life when they provide their opinion of what is safe and what is not.  Fear is a powerful emotion and is very often disproportionate to the reality of risk.

 

With all that said, Volcan and Cerro Punta have historically experienced very low rates of crime of any sort.  As in much of Panama, theft is the most common crime and is typically a result of opportunity and chance.  Physical assaults, robberies committed by force or threat are beyond rare and sexual assaults are almost unheard of anywhere in the area.  The region is serene and populated primarily by hard-working locals who support the healthy agricultural industry as well as expats who tend to form strong bonds or have sought out a life of peace and solitude.

 

After having spent a good bit of time in a variety of areas in Panama, including in close proximity to some of the more violent and crime-ridden ones, I would have to say that the Volcan-Cerro Punta-Boquete region is likely the most peaceful and "safe" area in all of Panama.

The safety of everyone in Granada, Nicaragua is a high priority for the government.  The police in Granada know how important it is to keep Granada attractive for tourists and expats.

Food costs in the Algarve are cheap compared to most other countries in Europe. Here there is an abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and good quality meat. Many of the products are produced or farmed locally and sold in the towns’ markets, which are friendly and delightful to shop in. This means that the fresh food is not only cheaper, it lasts longer and is more environmentally friendly. It is noticeable that all my guests who come from outside Portugal...

Food costs in the Algarve are cheap compared to most other countries in Europe. Here there is an abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and good quality meat. Many of the products are produced or farmed locally and sold in the towns’ markets, which are friendly and delightful to shop in. This means that the fresh food is not only cheaper, it lasts longer and is more environmentally friendly. It is noticeable that all my guests who come from outside Portugal comment on the amazing taste and flavor of the food, something that as a foodie I enjoy immensely but have come to take for granted.
 
A loaf of Portuguese white bread costs around €0.80c (about 90 US cents or .6 British pounds), a liter of milk (a quart) cost €0.90c (about one US dollar or .7 British pounds), sliced cheese is around €3.00 per pound (about US $3.40 or 2.3 British pounds), smoked ham is €4.00 per pound (about US $4.50 or 3 British pounds) and free range chicken is around €1.50 a pound (about US $1.70 or 1.2 British pounds). Beer and wine are also produced locally so it is possible to buy a good quality bottle of wine (red or white) in the supermarket for under €5.00 (about US $6.80 or under 4 British pounds).

 

(Portuguese seafood dish, pictured.)