Best Places In The World To Retire

The crime rate against Americans and other expats in Puerto Vallarta is always a big topic. For sure, I don't have to worry about going in and watching a movie and someone coming in and shooting up the place; or going downtown to the Malecon (which is the boardwalk), and because maybe on Halloween, there are thousands of people there so someone might decide to use it as a good place to plant a bomb or something. Things like that don't happen down here. As long as you're not excessively...

The crime rate against Americans and other expats in Puerto Vallarta is always a big topic. For sure, I don't have to worry about going in and watching a movie and someone coming in and shooting up the place; or going downtown to the Malecon (which is the boardwalk), and because maybe on Halloween, there are thousands of people there so someone might decide to use it as a good place to plant a bomb or something. Things like that don't happen down here. As long as you're not excessively flaunting your wealth in front of people, driving between large cities at night, or getting involved in drugs and the cartels, then you really have nothing to worry about.
 
I have heard that there have been some muggings at Puerto Vallarta to some of the expats, but it's very limited and it doesn't happen very often. As I wrote above, mostly if you stay away from the drugs and you stay away from the cartels, and you don't wear your Rolex watch out or pull a lot of money out of your pocket, then you're fine. 
 
The biggest problem here in Puerto Vallarta is that credit cards and debit cards get copied when they're used at ATM machines. The person goes and tries to use the American person's money off of their credit card. 
 
There isn’t any physical violence to be afraid of. I go out at night all by myself. I take my dogs out. Puerto Vallarta is broken into two parts where there's a touristy, gringo, expat section; and then, there's what I would call "real Mexico," where the Mexicans live. That's where I live now, in "real Mexico". I take my dog out at 11:30, 12 o'clock at night walking down to the park. Even some homeless guys live in the park and they leave me alone and I leave them alone. Mexicans are overall really friendly and they want to establish good relationships with people. I definitely go out at night. I go down to the Malecon and go to a bar or a club and sometimes don't leave until two to four in the morning. 
 
You have to be careful. It's like anywhere you go, anywhere in the world, anywhere in the US.  You have to be aware of your surroundings.

 

(Neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)

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In its heyday Colon was a jewel of a city, but since the Americans left, this area has been neglected by a succession of governments.  The colonial buildings are falling down, the infrastructure is collapsing to a large degree, sewage problems abound, unemployment is rampant and street crime is a serious concern.  Not on the recommended list of cities in which to settle in Panama as a North American.

In its heyday Colon was a jewel of a city, but since the Americans left, this area has been neglected by a succession of governments.  The colonial buildings are falling down, the infrastructure is collapsing to a large degree, sewage problems abound, unemployment is rampant and street crime is a serious concern.  Not on the recommended list of cities in which to settle in Panama as a North American.

You can live anyplace and be safe. I have never had a crime against me and I live in Belize. But you should understand Belize is statistically one of the most dangerous nations in the Americas. Belize has little taxes and it shows it the pathetically underfunded poorly trained police force.

In Belize city there is a murder each week, you can check that on Belize breaking news if you like. Those thugs are about a 40min watertaxi ride from the Cayes and they do business there......

You can live anyplace and be safe. I have never had a crime against me and I live in Belize. But you should understand Belize is statistically one of the most dangerous nations in the Americas. Belize has little taxes and it shows it the pathetically underfunded poorly trained police force.

In Belize city there is a murder each week, you can check that on Belize breaking news if you like. Those thugs are about a 40min watertaxi ride from the Cayes and they do business there... Every year there are more murders in remote places like San Pedro.

However if you don't go to the nightclubs after 11. If you don't have a cocaine habit and thus know the dealers and you don't leave tempting things like cell phones out on a table when you go to the bathroom, just like Detroit you can go a long time crime free.

But it is getting worse... Most young men here have few chances to work leaving only two dreams.. Join the government or join a gang.

To give you an idea here are the murder rates per 100,000 people

- Canada 2

- USA 5

- Panama 9

- Costa Rica 11

- Belize 132

We who live here love this place but, no it is not a place to be careless.