We have been living on an island for three years, and are toying with the idea of moving to Central America next. I had always thought I could enjoy Mexico, but asking around I have been told that Costa Rico, Belize, and Panama are better choices.

Anyone here have any thoughts on that?

I guess the first question is, "Why were you told that?" We live in Mexico and enjoy the proximity to the USA if a trip is needed, the climate where we are is perfect and the prices are hard to beat. The central highland offer proximity to Guadalajara & other colonial cities without the oppressive heat and humidity of coastal areas, etc, etc.

Ah, I should have been more specific. Sorry about that. We absolutely want to live on the water. We just built a house here on Providenciales that is about fifty yards from the ocean, we have a boat, and are looking to buy a sailing catamaran we can spend vacations on within the year. We are all about diving, fishing, sailing, etc.

I think it would be interesting to go up to the mountains every now and then, but as for a place to live we need the ocean. That is probably why my contacts have told me that Mexico is not the best choice for my kind of life.

I do like the idea of being able to drive home to see my family in Texas, though.

Property in Panama has become very expensive, very fast, with prices doubling and tripling in just two or three years. However, it still retains all its expat laws. Costa Rica has repealed all of theirs, so it is no longer as easy to move there. I think it's mor expensive than Panama, too, but I doubt that will last. Check the Mexico forum. There are a couple of people who live in beach towns there.

How do you feel about urban areas? If you are living in the Turks and Caicos, you aren't around big cities. Isn't the population something like 15,000 if you exclude the expats?

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We are not even slightly interested in living in a city. We live on the island of Providenciales, which is the most populated island in the TCI. I think the population of this entire country is something around 35,000 people, living on the 8 inhabited islands out of 40 or so islands in the group. About a third of that 35,000 is native to the TCI. Almost all the rest is composed of mostly Haitians. The total number of expats from Europe and North America is probably less than 4,000 with most of those British and Canadian. There are a few hundred from the USA living here full time. We don't know many of those, maybe half a dozen.

I've always had an affinity for Mexico and the Mexican people. Probably from growing up in Texas, where I went to school and worked with Mexicans. Neither my wife nor I are conversationally fluent in Spanish, although of course we have the basics. But we would look forward to becoming fluent. We just have not needed to do that living here in the TCI since the language here is English.

I have had a blog going now for over a year, as I tend to take a lot of photos. If anyone is interested in seeing some images of where we live there are plenty of them there.

Oh, please put your blog in your signature. I love to look at people's photos!

I don't know what your financial situation is, but 50 yards from the beach will be very, very expensive everywhere.

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As an old blue water sailor who lived on a schooner in the South Pacific for several years, I can relate to your ambitions. If you like Mexico, easy access to Texas and the Pacific Ocean, you might want to look into Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. It is rapidly growing, has marinas and infrastructure. I don't know about liveaboard opportunities, but that could be investigated. The area is relatively free from hurricanes, compared to 'the other side'.

Hi, Gringo. Understand your dilemma. Did you ever consider Acapulco? For me this is the best part of Latin America. The marinas, the sailing, the sailors... all the very best. Villa unit 25km from center with views over bay and the surf ocean beach will set you back for 500k to 1m, depending...
On the other hand, did you consider a 2br serviced apartment? May cost around 200k, on 15+ floor, right on a sandy beach and you can see your boat
2-3km away in the marina. This way you get to keep your island as well.
Good luck.