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The Central American country of Nicaragua is hoping to follow in the footsteps of its neighbor to the south, Costa Rica, and become a popular destination for holiday travelers and especially retirees. With some 450 miles of coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, great weather and some of the lowest property rates in the Western Hemisphere, the country is poised to become a property hotspot.
Nicaragua recently launched its own pensionado program to attract potential retirees. Any person over 45 with a pension or salary of more than US $500 a month can import up to $10,000 worth of personal goods and a car duty free and be exempt from taxes on foreign income and property for ten years. Average prices are much less than in other neighboring countries and the country has seen some new developments in recent years that offer idyllic property along both coasts.
According to eh Economist Intelligence Unit the country is the Western Hemisphere’s second safest behind Canada. Property costs for a quarter acre beachfront lot averages $159,000, about a third of what the same would go for in Costa Rica. The major airport in the country is August Sandino International Airport, or Managua International Airport (MGA), located near Managua. From there, it is best to rent a car and drive as that is the best way to get around the country.
October 19th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Hello: I am writing you this as a letter to be published in the Nica Times.I have been trying to establish some contacts in Nicaragua,but I have not been successful,so maybe you can help. I live here in Daytona Beach,Florida and I am a PhD semi-retired prof of Psychology.I am also currently writing two books and have some interests in research projects in the Americas.I would like to move to the San Juan del Sur region and would like some housing arrangements with either the locals or the Catholic churches in that region where I can volunteer to teach English in one of the schools out there.Again I am not getting any replies from SJDS except for beachside hotels.I would like to stay there for at least two years-while amassing some Spanish speaking skills. Another interest of mine is to help adults manage and control speech problems such as stuttering(tartamudeo).I suspect a bilingual university person would be great,but I am unable to get anyone to establish that connection.If you could help,I will really appreciate it.
Btw,I think that attracting tourism could be a good assets in those times,but there are certain important factors: stability,security, a tourism task force,and programs such as Jazz and Blues festivals,
Land with eco-friendly cottages.As a Psychologist,it is important to know what do tourists want.
Michael Sylvester,PhD
Daytona Beach,Florida
Msylvester@copper.net