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July 2010 Vol.30 No.3 www.InternationalLiving.com Colombia: A new land of opportunity for expats Brazil’s Best How one Mexican Tuscany: Buy Beachfront Vacation Became a Now for Less Property Plays Life Overseas Than $46,000 Page 4 Page 13 Page 21 IL July Cover.indd 1 4/6/10 14:17:29 IL July ads.indd 6 3/6/10 17:37:29 July 2010, Volume 30, Number 3 InternationalLiving.com From the Publisher In the Gap Between Perception and Reality July 2010 Vol.30 No.3 www.InternationalLiving.com he media coverage of a destination where else in Latin America... beach, highland, Colombia: A new land of opportunity for expats rarely reveals the whole story about a cosmopolitan city, colonial town... you name it, Tplace. Yet it drives public perception, Colombia delivers... creating stereotypes that are hard to shake. If it’s a Caribbean beach you long for, turn They seldom work to the benefi t of the coun- to page 6. Sand-ringed Roatan is on sale today. try, region, city, or town in question. As one realtor reports, “We just sold a house Brazil’s Best How one Mexican Tuscany: Buy But they can work to your advantage. In listed at $990,000 for $400,000.” And you don’t Beachfront Vacation Became a Now for Less Property Plays Life Overseas Than $46,000 Page 4 Page 13 Page 21 the gap between the public perception and the need to have pockets nearly that deep to grab reality on the ground often lies opportunity— your own slice of Paradise... Founding Publisher William Bonner Publisher Jackie Flynn for overlooked bargains or for a richer lifestyle On page 21, Steenie Harvey explains that Executive Director Martina Dunphy at a lower cost. while Tuscany’s Pisa-Florence-Siena trian- Managing Editor Eoin Bassett We highlight several such “gap” opportu- gle may have a well-deserved reputation for Graphic Design Derek Westwood nities in this month’s issue. They’re all stories astronomical prices... there’s another part of Copy Editor Glynna Prentice that run counter to common perception, Tuscany where fi xer-upper stone houses cost as Photo Editor Hugo Ghiara stories you won’t hear anyplace else. But each little as $24,000. She shows you how to fi nd it... Web Master Ciaran McGrath offers up a true “boots on the ground” report Advertising Niamh Cummins; that reveals the reality today. fax (353)51-304-561; e-mail: Lee Harrison reports from Colombia, on [email protected] page 22, that you’ll be hard-pressed to fi nd a Jackie Flynn Contributing editors Robert Bauman, lifestyle as comfortable for the money any- Publisher Robert Davis, Don Ediger, Lee Harrison, Steenie Harvey, Suzan Haskins, Paul Lewis, Ronan McMahon, Glynna Contents Prentice, Dan Prescher, Jessica Ramesch, Paul & Maria Reynolds, Gary Scott, 4 Market Watch: The 13 Profile: How a vacation 26 Investment: How to gain Jennifer Stevens. smartest play in Brazil in Mexico turned into a from emerging markets new life overseas International Living (ISSN 0277-2442), © Copyright 2010 by International Living Publishing 6 Off the Radar: Roatan, 29 Insider Intelligence: Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright Honduras…act now for 15 Things to Do: A Get the low down on laws of the United States and international treaties. below-market deals shoppers guide to the traveling with pets This Magazine may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, Mexican delights copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, 8 Profile: Life in small- 30 Adventure: To including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written town New Zealand 16 The Travel Press Talks: appreciate New Zealand permission of International Living Publishing Ltd., Skiing in South America you have to get “out there” Elysium House, Waterford, Ireland. International Living is published monthly. Subscriptions: In the 9 Real Estate: An idyllic United States US$69 for one year, in Canada C$89 island 30 minutes from 18 Real Estate: Beach 33 Entrepreneur Profile: for one year, elsewhere US$89 for one year. New Zealand’s capital bargains in Ecuador Why one Tennessean will Printed in the USA. Postmaster: Send address changes to International never leave Belize Living, International Living Publishing Ltd., Elysium 10 Travel for Free: 21 Real Estate: Affordable House, Ballytruckle, Waterford, Ireland. Copies of this magazine are not available on newsstands but are 56 countries…One Tuscany exists 35 IL Calendar of Events: furnished directly to the public by mail subscriptions camera…no bills Where to learn more about only. International Living presents information and research believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot your dream life overseas be guaranteed. There are many dangers associated with international travel and investment, and readers 37 Offbeat Travel: It’s should investigate any opportunity fully before committing to it. International Living is happy to party time in Colombia’s receive manuscripts on speculation, but the publisher “Beautiful One” cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts received for review. All editorial requests will be reviewed and considered when we plan our issues. 37 Property Picks: Not all requests, however, can be answered personally Eight secret beachfront due to the volume of inquiries we receive. How to contact us: Customer service: To place an hideaways order for a product/subscription, renew a subscription, pay a maintenance fee, change an address, follow up on the status of an order, or inquire about a missed issue, 44 The Last Word: Why etc., e-mail: [email protected]. © XINGUA/PHOTOSHOT you need to come see for Editorial offi ces: Editors, International Living, On the Cover: International Living Publishing Ltd., fax (353)51-304- Colombia: Three cities, one visit, yourself COVER: © PAUL COX © PAUL COVER: 561; e-mail: [email protected]. and so many reasons to stay…page 22 JULY 2010 INTERNATIONAL LIVING 1 PG1 From Publisher.indd 1 4/6/10 14:20:40 Globetrotter 37, El Salvador 46, Belize 53 and Honduras and New Pocket GPS Guatemala 68. EIU monitors around 200 coun- tries worldwide measuring indicators such as Does More armed confl ict, organized crime, kidnapping, The simple GPS device that tells drivers when and manifestations. to turn and where has been a blessing for In addition, the Global Peace Index 2009 many navigationally-challenged travelers. (GPI) also placed Costa Rica as the safest Now one company has gone a step further nation in the Central American region in its with a hand-held GPS that does a whole lot ranking of over 144 countries, which includes more. Access Technology, a Hong Kong-based indicators such as the levels of military company, has released a GPS that’s also an expenditure, its relations with neighboring entertainment device capable of serving as an countries and the level of respect for human ebook reader, storage for photos and graph- rights. Among the Central American coun- ics, a voice recorder, a digital video or music tries, Nicaragua is number two after Costa player, an online TV viewer and a way to surf Rica, while Guatemala is number 111, El Salva- © TYLER STABLEFORD/GETTY IMAGES. © TYLER STABLEFORD/GETTY the Internet and read emails. It even has VoIP dor 94, followed by Honduras. The water is so warm at Santa Catalina, surfers capabilities, and can send text messages in won’t need a wetsuit. case of emergency. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. Catch the Big Kahunas in Action in Panama Costa Rica: Number 1 If you’re in Panama August 29 to September 5 and you’d like to see the world’s master surfers for Safety in action, head to Santa Catalina beach. That’s Costa Rica is the safest country in Central where the 2010 International Surfi ng Associa- America according to two leading interna- tion (ISA) World Masters Surfi ng Champion- tional organizations. The Economist Intel- ship will take place. The ‘best surfers on the ligence Unit 2010 (EIU), a global leader in planet’ will compete in fi ve divisions: Masters business intelligence, uses a scale from 0 to (Over 35), Women Masters (Over 35), Grand 100, with 100 being the most risky. According Masters (Over 40), Kahunas (Over 45), and to 2010 indicators Costa Rica scored 14, Nica- © iSTOCK Grand Kahunas (Over 50). ragua came second with 29, Panama scored Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America. The Top 10 Beach and Sun Destinations in the World Tulum, now one of 1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands the 10 most popular 2. Tulum, Mexico beaches in the world. 3. Bryon Bay, Australia 4. Cook Islands 5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 6. Huatulco, Mexico 7. Negril, Jamaica 8. Culebra, Puerto Rico 9. Boracay, Philippines 10. San Diego, California According to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice awards for 2010, these are the best beaches and sunniest spots in the world. Tulum (pictured right) just south of Cancun on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast got the number two spot. Tulum’s white-sand beaches and turquoise waters make it a real Mexican-gem, and it still attracts free-spirits and an adventurous crowd. It’s rapidly developing a chic, upscale side too. TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards are based on the millions of reviews posted every year by real travelers, together with content gathered from the Internet. For more information, see: www.tripadvisor.com. © FRANS LEMMENS/GETTY IMAGES 2 INTERNATIONAL LIVING JULY 2010 PG2-3 Globetrotter.indd 2 4/6/10 15:37:35 Globetrotter cheaper with a new cost-saving pass. The Mexico’s New Europe Travel Pass costs just $15 and gives you substantial discounts on sightseeing services Caribbean Airport in 24 European countries.