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It’s the people, the climate, the charming streets, the healthy lifestyle, and dozens of other traits that makes this country First in the world for that most important of rankings.

Faithful reader, allow me to present the unrivaled Best Place in the World to Retire…

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Special Alert: The Best Retirement Haven in the World
By Eoin Bassett
Managing Editor, International Living Magazine

We’re constantly on the lookout for those countries around the world where you can live cheaper, enjoy better weather, pay less tax, be healthier, happier… where you can start a new life, start a business, retire…

But which country is best of all?

That’s the question we answer in this month’s issue of International Living magazine with our 2011 Global Retirement Index.

Every year we take masses of facts and figures, crunch them, mull them over, and then—for that unique ingredient—we go to our far-flung team of experts and editors to get their judgment. These guys know what life is like on the ground…and they have years of experience to draw on to make their calls.

And we have this year’s winner…a champion among the world’s best places to retire. A country that scores high marks in every one of the categories we use.

For the third year running, our winner is Ecuador.

“No matter where you choose to live in this country, there is no better place on earth to discover the simple abundance of health, tranquillity, adventure, and beauty,” explains expat Patricia Farmer, in this month’s issue.

For Douglas Willis and his wife Lisa, the Old-World feel and quality of the health care make Ecuador special. “In our experience, the health care is superior in almost every way to the U.S.,” reports Douglas in this special September issue.

“Doctors here are more accessible and hands-on, seem to really care about their patients and are very well-trained and qualified. There are a number of new medical facilities that rival anything available in the U.S.”

But the best thing about Ecuador is the cost of living. For less than $600 a month a couple can live well here…and $1,200 a month gets you a luxurious lifestyle.

The low costs create options you just don’t have in most other places. Like two homes for the cost of one. As Dan Prescher reveals on page 16 of this month’s issue, a total of just $120,000 can buy you both a beachfront condo and a mountain home… a rich man’s retirement, indeed….

But Ecuador’s not your only choice.

There are a total of 23 top retirement havens in the world. There’s something to recommend each one. Some have the ideal climate, others the cheapest real estate. Our winner scores highest in cost of living, but our runner up has the best special benefits for retirees…and where is the healthiest place to live?

You can learn everything you need to know about the best retirement haven in the world…and get the ratings and rankings in every category for every other country in our 2011 Global Retirement Index… in your latest issue of International Living magazine.
Of course, that’s not all that’s in IL magazine. You’ll also learn about…

The Updated Panama Owner’s Manual

How to Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less

How to Escape to Wine Country

Learn all about retiring in France

The Ultimate Portfolio for Triple Digit Returns: Global Real Estate Investing Made Easy

Buying Your Own Second Home In The Sun

And much more!

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Driving into Boquete from the provincial capital of David, you’ll pass the main square on your right…but don’t stop there. Carry on toward the colonial church and climb up, past a smattering of shops and adorable little restaurants painted in happy pastels. Before you can blink, you’ll find yourself suddenly plunged into a world of misty green. The velvety mountainsides are dotted with dulcet cottages…the green is interrupted where flowers erupt in a bright fireworks display. This is Boquete, demure with a hint of cheeky color.

Nestled in the shadow of Panama’s mystic Volcan Baru in the province of Chiriqui, Boquete is one of the world’s best bird-watching towns…the site of international award-winning coffee plantations…and an orchid farm, where the variety dazzles even the most experienced collectors. (The rare and exquisite blooms can sell for $70 to $1,500 at international shows.)

The region provides up to 80% of all the milk, meat and vegetables consumed in Panama. With easy access to the freshest produce, seafood, and more, it’s not hard to see why many expats claim their health has improved soon after moving here.

The perfectly pristine beaches of Boca Chica and Boca Brava Island are about hour and a half away by car. So is Panama’s oldest and most valued archeological site, Sitio Barriles. Other nearby attractions include thermal springs, waterfalls, strawberry stands, horse ranches, rafting rapids and La Amistad National Park. Perhaps the best is the Los Quetzales Trail in the Volcan Baru National Park. One of the nation’s prized bird-watching trails, this is one of the best places in the world to spot the legendary resplendent quetzal.

All this makes Boquete a premium location, and that’s one of the reasons it is home to so many contented expats.

It’s also why my full report on retiring in Boquete is in the February issue of International Living Magazine.

guest post by By Jessica Ramesch

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Possibly not much but in Panama, you can get a whole lot!

Jessica was out and about with her dollar bills recently—see her report below.

P.S. Speaking of good value…the Panama Owner’s Manual is discounted by 20% for the next 3 days during the final fling of our big Holiday Sale.

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Panama for a Dollar (Yes, Really)
By Jessica Ramesch

I’ll admit it. I became a bit obsessed with Facebook a few months back. It has turned into a great way for readers interested in Panama or International Living to share tidbits or post questions for the IL community. My favorite recent post on the International Living Facebook page asked: “What can you buy for $1 where you live?” At first I thought: “Not much…what can anyone get for $1 these days?” But after a few seconds of brainstorming I realized I was wrong.

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Turns out, I could go on and on about all I can get for $1 here in Panama! At a deserted island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, I can get a sweet green coconut full of water. The sellers are usually members of the Ngobe Bugle indigenous tribes that live on the islands. They’ll take a sharp machete to the coconut, hacking off the top so you can enjoy the cool water. Then they’ll crack it open so you can scrape out the slimy innards…delicious!

You can also get a beer for a dollar at most beachside shacks, a gold and green papaya with sweet orange flesh, or a cheap pair of flip-flops if you forgot yours back home. Even the roadside stalls sell trinkets and souvenirs made out of natural materials like the ubiquitous tagua nut for $1 and up.

In the Panama Highlands, I found multiple things for $1 or even less. I had good, strong coffee for $0.35, a filling empanada for $0.50 (more than enough to fill me up for a quick breakfast), and a small pizza for $1.75. Taxis to most anywhere were only $1, as were the colorful mixing bowls I bought at a small store called La Cocina (“the Kitchen”).

At another shop down the road I bought four souvenir postcards of Panama for…you guessed it, $1. In fact, I could come up with long lists for every town I’ve visited in Panama. At the hot springs in El Valle, $1 entry fee gets you a packet of mineral-rich mud for your face…rub it on, lower yourself into the hot water, and relax for as long as you like!

And I’m not just talking about rural areas. In Panama City, most gas stations are full-service (something I really love). I can get a quick check for my car for free…but I usually tip $1. The attendants will check all fluids…motor oil, coolant, wiper fluid, etc…and even make sure your tire pressure is good.

My favorite vegetarian restaurant is a Chinese buffet/cafeteria called La Casa Vegetariana. I can choose four different items from the buffet line for $1. The vegetarian ham pao is $0.50, as are the empanadas filled with either chopped veggies or sweet fruit.

My dad found a small “wholesaler” where he can buy ten packs of platanitos (fried plantain chips) or peanuts for $1. He refuses to buy corn in supermarkets. He points out that vendors sitting right outside the grocery stores sell you corn on the cob…already cooked…for $0.35 each. They also sell boiled and prepared pixbae, a delicious, starchy palm fruit that’s said to be highly nutritious: four for $1.

My favorite, though, is when they have changa for $1 each. The masses of fresh corn, shaped like a skillet bottom, are big enough to feed four. I cut them into pizza-like wedges and serve with garlic and herbs on top. With a salad, the wedges make a delicious dinner for under $1 a person!

Editor’s note: If Panama sounds like your kind of place, there’s a free Panama report called The World’s Best Retirement Program that you can pick up here ->
International Living Free Report

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Now the market in Boquete does offer some good buys again but one of the best buys is right next door – this area is just like Boquete but offers pre-boom prices!

Panama’s highlands are spring-like…their hillsides covered with wildflowers.

Look in the right places (like Volcan, below) and you’ll also find quiet village streets with homes that start at $37,000…

Find the Most Affordable Retirement in Panama

It’s a stunning drive to Volcan—and that’s not just travel writer hype. As the road winds up into the mountains, one vista after another unfolds. I have driven this road many times over the past four years, and it’s still as invigorating as ever.

As I reach 3,000 feet, I turn off the air-conditioning and roll down the windows; the air is fresh and clean. The roadsides are festooned with thousands of red, pink and white impatiens. They look like they were carefully planted by a talented landscaper, but they’re a simply great gift of nature.

Passing through the small village of Cuesta de Piedra, I get a glimpse off to my right of the majesty that is Panama’s highest peak, the 11,400 foot Baru Volcano (pronounced “bah-ROO”). The jagged peaks of this sleeping giant carve through a swirl of clouds and mist.

Volcan sits in a valley that opens westward onto a wide plateau. At 4,200 feet, it’s easy to see why the town is famed for its “eternal spring” climate. It is framed to the north by the Tizingal Mountain and to the east by the slopes and volcanic plain.

The combination of spring- like weather and abundant fresh fruit and vegetables has led some writers to describe the area as the “Shangri-La Valley.” A brief look at the gravestones in the local cemetery reveals that many residents lived well into their eighties and nineties.

Volcan is a bustling town of about 10,000 people, of which about 250 are expats from the U.S. and Canada. The town has four supermarkets, four hardware stores, three banks (two with ATMs) and over 30 places to eat. If there is a global recession, the people in Volcan haven’t heard.

The local economy has been buoyed in part by nearby hydroelectric projects. This will soon make Panama virtually energy independent and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. But agriculture is the real driving force behind the provincial economy. Chiriqui provides up to 80% of all the milk, meat and vegetables consumed in Panama.

The greatest savings here stem from the climate. There is no need for air conditioning, fans or heating. I use an electric washer, dryer and dehumidifier, but my average power costs stay low at around $68 a month. I cook with gas that costs me about $2 a month; my water bill is $4 a month; and garbage pickup is also $4 a month.

At Dalys’s restaurant a bottomless cup of coffee will cost you 40 cents. A hearty breakfast is about $2.50. Dalys’s is famous for serving an enormous glass of wine for $1.35. If you want to eat tipico, or “typical fare,” for lunch, a tasty mound of beans, rice and chicken will set you back a princely $1.75.

Volcan’s supermarkets offer just about everything that would expect to find in North America. And at the local organic kiosk you can walk away with a bulging bag of vegetables—the freshest in the county—for less than $8.

Prices for homes range from $37,000 to $150,000, and there are also lots available on  which you can build the retirement home of your dreams. If your pocket book is well funded, then the clear blue mountain sky is the limit; there are large land tracts, trout-bearing rivers and streams, and views to die for. If you are spending over $150,000, you’ll have a selection of North American-style homes to choose from.

Note: This is the very last day you can sign up for the Ultimate Overseas Retirement Plan. It’s the complete package for anyone interested in Panama, including the new edition of the Panama Owner’s Manual…a special report detailing a step-by-step guide to The World’s Best Retirement Program…and a collection of recordings from a special seminar held in Panama.

The recordings are a real bonus—they include presentations from expats, experts, doctors, and retirees about living in Panama.

This entire package is worth more than $170…but you can get it for just $79 if you sign up with this link -
Ultimate Overseas Retirement Plan

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Yet the “what-ifs” can be paralyzing. What if I’m single? What if I can’t speak Spanish? What if I don’t meet other people with my interests?

Spend too much time worrying and fretting, and you’ll never head for better shores.

The reality is: A move abroad need not be overwhelming. Not when you ease into a smooth and comfortable transition.

And you can when you choose a place that’s welcoming and arrive with the right contacts…

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When you hear the President speak it’s no wonder Panama is flourishing under his leadership. Although the interviewer, in typical FOX fashion, comes across as an arrogant, ignorant ass - regrettably reinforcing the stereo typical image of the condescending American -  Martinelli carries himself with class and as a confident yet humble leader – something the interviewer would be wise to observe.

Regardless, the interview and some of the pop-up stats give one a good idead why Panama continues to be one of the Best Places to Retire.

It’s interesting to note Martinelli discussing and affirming Panama as a ‘service’ based economy. It certainly leads credence to the idea of Panama continuing to develop as a premier retirement destination and also for regular tourism.

Of course the nice part about invest ing in Panama and Panama Real Estate in particular is the fact they have one of the best and safest ways to register land. Unlike the dodgy and easily abused U.S. system Panama uses the Torens system of land registry whereby titles are registered in a central, nation wide system.

This interview also points out Panama having on of the highest ranking economies in terms of competitiveness and the fact Panama’s economy grew over 6% in the past year.

Check it out -

Of course economic growth and stability is another reason to consider investing in Panama and why I maintain Panama is the Best Place to Invest your retirement savings.

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We love Boquete. We have visited multiple times and have just completed a stay. I wanted to share what I feel is a bit of an unrealistic expectation for first time visitors. An interesting conversation with a fellow traveler we met this trip spurs me to write this review.

All of the beauty and kindness that is reported regarding Boquete, and Panama in general, is fair and true. The geography can be breathtaking. The climate is yours for the choosing (unless you want to snow ski!) and the relaxation and eco-possibilities are endless. Panamanian food is, by and large, very reasonable in price. Boquete itself can run about $3.00 per person for a wonderful, typical breakfast and/or lunch (don’t expect ooooh’s and ahhhhh’s since the food is generally very good but a bit bland by most comps); $10 for a very good dinner and if you wanted to eat at one of the finest (Panamonte Inn) in town, a dinner for 4 will run about $100 total, including a nice glass of wine each.

Accommodations are varied and can run from hostel rates up to $300 a night. We personally love the Boquete Garden Inn and it’s name speaks its reality.

Here is where I need to sound a bit negative but i do not mean it that way at all. The town of Boquete, the downtown central business district, is NOT Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills! It is NOT the thriving, fast paced, hotbed of love, music, food and life that is Panama City. It is NOT House Hunters International snips of lush, pristine, manicured lawns. The town itself, the town center, is NOT a quaint Italian Tuscan village. It is NOT a Spanish park. It is NOT a little Alpine village of Switzerland. It is, quite simply, the town of Boquete. It is a small village town. It has poverty. It has a very mixed pot of small shops, stores, real estate offices, a church and construction, along with some actual homes in the middle of it all. The traffic is pretty congested for a small town. The buses all spew diesel fumes. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way. People walk where they want to walk. They park where they want to park. Once in a while a child will potty where they need to potty. The crazy thing is, it all works. There is not threat or unsafe feelings. Quite contrary. It is a walking town. The people go about their business….locals, the native Panamanian “Indian” families, tourists and animals alike! I love it. That was my expectation on my first trip. We have been blessed to travel in 1st, 2nd and 3rd world countries and kind of knew that House Hunters was a TV show. Oh, don’t get me wrong…..beautiful homes exist in the Boquete area fit for the wealthy. There are some that are being worked on. There are some that need work. Get the picture?

In closing, our fellow traveler said “When I first arrived in town my heart sank. I wondered what in the heck made this hole in the wall rank in the Top 10 International Living places to retire and live in. Then after a week, I stared to see. I changed my expectations and now I see where this grows on you every day.” With that, I leave you with a wish that you have the opportunity to visit this slice of beauty on earth and experience the fine folks of Panama in general. I bet you can’t just go once…………

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A few weeks ago I suggested some dates for getting a group together to tour Panama.

Well, I heard your feedback loud and clear!

The consensus for the best date is the week of November 28.

So, that’s when we’ll go!

Check out all of the details here -

http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

Oh, and you’ll find the tour e-mail and phone number on that page. So, if you have questions about anything at all related to Panama give us a ring. We’ll answer all of your questions and I guarantee ‘NO pressure’ – we’re just here to help.

This is a great time of year to visit Panama!

The time to invest and do your research couldn’t be better!

I often tell people ‘Green Season’ is the best time to visit Panama and we’re just at the tail end so you will get a chance to experience a little of our Panama rain.

• It’s off-season so you can typically save money on air fare.
• It’s quiet in Panama so you don’t have to worry about the tourist crowd.
• Plus, it’s the “Green Season”. You can see for yourself why the locals love and prefer this time  of year and why you will too!

Learn all of the reasons and the best strategy I know to make it happen.

GO HERE -  http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

You’ll discover how to Safely and Quickly get in on the ‘Best Place to Retire in the Western Hemisphere’

…All Without Spending years of research, countless return trips and thousands of dollars figuring it out on your own!

And some more exciting news!

But I’ll leave that for you to read…

HERE – http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

See you in Panama soon!

Save up to 70% on your airline ticket to Panama booking with Flight Network

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Panama’s Casco Viejo is the oldest city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas. A few hundred years ago, several fires destroyed most of the colonial buildings. That’s why so few true examples of Spanish colonial architecture exist today.

This part of the city, the so-called “second city,” is steeped in history, with a real sense of tradition. See what Jessica found there, below.

Music, History, Art: A Day in Colonial Panama City

Guest post By Jessica Ramesch

It’s Jazz Festival “free day” in Casco Viejo. Every year, a week of concerts all over the city culminates here, with a free concert to beat all free concerts. A big stage has been erected in the Plaza de la Catedral. The crowd is “eclectic Panama”…surfer types, preppy soccer-moms, kids from the neighborhood…a human hodgepodge swaying to the music.

A sonorous bass sends vibrations over the cracked concrete to where I stand; it makes my feet buzz. Vendors in the plaza are selling smoky kebabs. There’s even raspao, fruity snow cones you can get topped with sticky condensed milk (for five cents extra) and the powdery crunch of malt. The man making mine has no machine to crush the ice; he scrapes it with a big shaver, packing the fine crystals into a conical cup. I pay him 30 cents.

Today’s Casco Viejo is a mix of the contemporary and the crumbling, a study in contrasts. You find over 300 years of history here in the colonial sector, often referred to as the “second city.”

In fact, locals say Panama City is three cities in one. Modern Panama is the third city, famous for its skyscraper skyline. The first Panama City, founded in 1519, was burned to the ground by the dreaded Captain Morgan (not just a brand of rum). In 1673, the city was rebuilt here as Casco Viejo, where fortress walls high above the water made a good defense. The architecture here is the nation’s prettiest—with French, Italian, and, of course, Spanish influences.

I’ve spent the day taking in this second Panama City. The coolest thing I’ve ever seen is…

Editor’s note: Subscribers to the IL magazine can read on in the The September issue of  International Living Magazine

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