We are currently in Matagalpa, Nicaragua and will probably stay here until our senior dogs pass away. Even though we have only been here a few weeks and really enjoy it, we find ourselves already discussing our next stop and Antigua seems to be where we’ll be heading. We find the people here to be incredibly warm and welcoming, our internet speed is very high, cost of living is very low. The weather is pleasant but we like temps colder, like in Antigua, Cuenca, Arequipa, San Cristobal de las Casas, etc so we have lots of places to check out. My wife, Lidia, is Nicaraguan by birth, so a native Spanish speaker. I though my Spanish was ok until moving here. Now I realize daily that I still have lots to learn. There are very few expats or tourists here, which is ok with us. It looks like our average monthly cost of living is $1100-$1200 for the two of us and our 3 dogs, which cost us about $200/month. We lived in Costa Rica many years ago and agree…not really any desire to go back Hope all is well with you two ! Your friend, Banana Patch
@@JimMillsCSLC Hi Jim, all the places are good, each has its own charm. I met my 2nd wife in the Philippines and we were married 2 weeks after we met, we will be married 6 years next month.
Hi Dan and Qiang, I’m in Antigua it’s a beautiful city!! Everything you’ve shared is spot on, except I didn’t hear any mention of the horrible AIR POLLUTION from the vehicles 🚗 🚎 exhaust here that permeate everything…my lungs are crying sadly 🥲. Wish you had mentioned this key fact of daily life here.
Sorry to hear you are not enjoying it. We didn't experience that when we were there. In fact, I checked today and the ari quality is good. Here: www.iqair.com/guatemala/sacatepequez/antigua-guatemala
@@VagabondAwake I just spent five days in Antigua and did not find the exhaust from vehicles to have a problem with their exhaust.. I was actually surprised to see that comment.
I have been to Guatemala several times and I have not made it there. The "locals"/my family there said it was just a tourist trap and not worth visiting. However I plan to make this my next stop in Guatemala to visit and to check out the slow travel situation there. ❤️ Thanks again for your videos
Great recommendations- have to say Antigua is a favorite, I lived there on and off through my son's adoption, but so expensive. Food costs were higher than anywhere else in Guate. We sort of blended in ( I am Cuban , he is Guatemalan) but noticed a ton of expats. We managed because we lived there and did pretty much nothing touristic. We spent a lot of time in parks. Splurged on a pool pass ( which we would stay at for 6 -8 hours ) , had only local friends - we would attend their music events. I shudder to think about prices today but agree , live somewhere , don't buy. I have a secret dream location for retirement in Guatemala- not sharing with anyone but well off the tourism maps.
Dan have you thought of staying in one place once you retire? Don’t you think staying in one place will end up saving you even more money in the long run? I love that you have gone to all these amazing places because you have basically done all the leg work to find the best spots for all of us. Now we just have to visit our top three and then pick one. I think being Canadian is even better for me. I get to come home every six months and then I can pick a new place every year or if I find a spot I really love I will go back every year and it will become my second home . ❤️🇨🇦❤️ Cheers!!!
You could be specific on costs: What are flat rental costs? What are house rental costs. What nature is really close by? What are grocery costs? E.g. how much per kilo mangos? How much per kilo Romaine lettuce.? How much is inexpensive local cuisine lunch? How much is a cup of coffee? What are options for vehicle rental? What is population of Antiqua? This video gives me no sense of what living here is like. Nothing eye catching or special or unique. You make no mention of issues with Guatemala City. And travel within Guatemala in general.
best time to visit imo are the summer mos not the winter since antigua is one of the latin american towns in the tropics @ about 5000 feet with the best year round weather in the world, great info as always amigo, 👍👍👏👏!
I used to carry around a Cannon M50 outside. But now we just use the GoPro Hero 7 Black and two smart phones: iphone 7 plus and Samsung A31. We still use the Cannon M50 for Qiang and I talking videos indoors (just the lens that it comes with).
@@VagabondAwake so, you are traveling light, good. I shoot a Fuji, it's small, and unintimidating to the people I photograph. It also has excellent color right out of the camera, after years of editing image files, the less time in front of a computer the better. 😁
This was great! I’ve heard of Lake Atitlan but not much about Antigua. *I think subpar medical care is an unfortunate downer for living there but it’s ok if just slow traveling through. Please consider some comparison or this vs that type videos with Guatemala, Mexico and maybe Nicaragua. I realize for example that CDMX is huge and maybe an unfair comparison to Antigua but maybe let’s say Zihuatanejo, Guanajuato or Oaxaca? Thanks!
Great video, Dan ! Looks fascinating. We’ll be 62 and 57 at retirement so we always consider safety and healthcare to be important in our search. Antigua seems safe, but I was curious what expats do for health insurance and what hospital they would go to for something serious ? We are currently healthy but as we age ?.... Thx very much !
Good video crime gangs and road conditions were the down side of Guatamala for me I was robbed and in a car crash on the way to Atitlan BUT beautiful and pretty cheap best for spanish speakers.
GUATEMALA TERRITORIAL corporate tax regime is a big advantage for former USA citizens, and citizens of other countries, together with their tax treaty with Mexico to optimise tax strategies? Citizenship by investment is a path to pursue? Many thanks for the good work!
Dan, to stay in Guatemala for a longer term do they still allow visa runs every 90 days ? So we could go from Antigua to say San Cristobal de las Casas for a couple days in Mexico and then return ? Thx !
Grenada , Nicaragua is nice BUT HOTTTTTT ! My wife is from Corinto…also HOTTTTTT ! 😃 We lived in Costa Rica many years ago. Not sure why expats would go there any more. There are so many options that are way nicer and way cheaper.
True. Costa Rica in many areas is trying to turn itself into a vacation only place now. Not really affordable for the average retiree daily life. And if I was going to spend that much I think I would opt for Greece or Italy first.
Yes, DrewHacks was the youngest member of our tour group. He is one of the most successful people on TicTok. he has been doing RUclips since he was about 8 years old. His mother is also a RUclipsr. He said she adopted kids from all over the world. DrewHacks was her only biological child. Great story. Check him out!
Just a question since I watch most of your content since I have been to most of your places. If I watch a you tube add in the middle of your video that lasts two hours do you make anything extra?
Sometimes they get better. If they have more food choices or the roads get better. Other times they lose value overtime, when they get too crowded or expensive.
Thank you 1Drummer! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
So Dan, looking at San Cristobal de las Casas, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan…are the three roughly the same cost of living ? We also saw some suggest cities in Gustemala like Ciudad Vieja and 15-20 minutes from Antigua, and another city called Xela, saying these are beautiful cities but much cheaper and fewer tourists and expats…know anything about these two ? Thank you, Sir….hope you two are well !
Thank you for the wise thought Banana Patch. I couldn't have said it better myself. Once you pick a great part of the world, I like to explore the smaller less known towns around them to see if they are even better and cheaper. I had read about them but haven't had a chance yet. Let us know what you think. And thanks for taking the time to help our business grow by commenting. When you comment, like, share, or subscribe, RUclips shows our videos to more people. So it is like you are paying me for my creative energy. So, thank you, :-) Dan
Thanks for your thoughts @m.amaya.8435. Just book you first place online for a few days and then decide what neighborhood you like before booking long term. Personally, I have decided not to buy real estate overseas and I give a few reasons why in this video along with reasons some people should buy (in this report): vagabondbuddha.com/why-retired-expats-should-not-buy-real-estate-overseas/ Thanks, Dan
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We are currently in Matagalpa, Nicaragua and will probably stay here until our senior dogs pass away. Even though we have only been here a few weeks and really enjoy it, we find ourselves already discussing our next stop and Antigua seems to be where we’ll be heading. We find the people here to be incredibly warm and welcoming, our internet speed is very high, cost of living is very low. The weather is pleasant but we like temps colder, like in Antigua, Cuenca, Arequipa, San Cristobal de las Casas, etc so we have lots of places to check out.
My wife, Lidia, is Nicaraguan by birth, so a native Spanish speaker. I though my Spanish was ok until moving here. Now I realize daily that I still have lots to learn. There are very few expats or tourists here, which is ok with us. It looks like our average monthly cost of living is $1100-$1200 for the two of us and our 3 dogs, which cost us about $200/month.
We lived in Costa Rica many years ago and agree…not really any desire to go back
Hope all is well with you two !
Your friend,
Banana Patch
Great video, I've added Antigua to my bucket list. Spent time in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico before settling in the Philippines.
@@JimMillsCSLC Hi Jim, all the places are good, each has its own charm. I met my 2nd wife in the Philippines and we were married 2 weeks after we met, we will be married 6 years next month.
Great answer Ralph! A beautiful partner is often the best country!
❤
Salsa classes sounds great, so is chocolate, yoga, coffee, organic farms, weather & etc. Very enticing ! 🍷☕👍
We had a great time! Glad you enjoyed our video. :-)
Every where you go is the best place because Qiang is with you. She embellishes the views.
True. Hard to beat the view. lol.
Hi Dan and Qiang, I’m in Antigua it’s a beautiful city!! Everything you’ve shared is spot on, except I didn’t hear any mention of the horrible AIR POLLUTION from the vehicles 🚗 🚎 exhaust here that permeate everything…my lungs are crying sadly 🥲. Wish you had mentioned this key fact of daily life here.
Sorry to hear you are not enjoying it. We didn't experience that when we were there. In fact, I checked today and the ari quality is good. Here: www.iqair.com/guatemala/sacatepequez/antigua-guatemala
@@VagabondAwake I just spent five days in Antigua and did not find the exhaust from vehicles to have a problem with their exhaust.. I was actually surprised to see that comment.
I have been to Guatemala several times and I have not made it there. The "locals"/my family there said it was just a tourist trap and not worth visiting. However I plan to make this my next stop in Guatemala to visit and to check out the slow travel situation there. ❤️ Thanks again for your videos
It is very charming. Let us know how it goes.
@@VagabondAwake certainly will! Thanks
Interesting to hear your thoughts then and now Dan. Internet speed looked good in Antigua - good reason to go back and spend some more time!
Yes. The wifi was decent! So relaxed and easy going too!
Great recommendations- have to say Antigua is a favorite, I lived there on and off through my son's adoption, but so expensive. Food costs were higher than anywhere else in Guate. We sort of blended in ( I am Cuban , he is Guatemalan) but noticed a ton of expats. We managed because we lived there and did pretty much nothing touristic. We spent a lot of time in parks. Splurged on a pool pass ( which we would stay at for 6 -8 hours ) , had only local friends - we would attend their music events. I shudder to think about prices today but agree , live somewhere , don't buy. I have a secret dream location for retirement in Guatemala- not sharing with anyone but well off the tourism maps.
Great. Find a country you love and then find your favorite place in that country. Take you time. Explore every inch.
Very thoughtful, Dan, then and now. Loved it... 🌴
Thank you Scott!
Thanks Dan for sharing , Volcano spitting was a great pic and the smoking one :=)
Good thing that #DrewHacks was on our tour to take that nighttime volcano explosion. I wouldn't have it otherwise.
Dan have you thought of staying in one place once you retire? Don’t you think staying in one place will end up saving you even more money in the long run? I love that you have gone to all these amazing places because you have basically done all the leg work to find the best spots for all of us. Now we just have to visit our top three and then pick one. I think being Canadian is even better for me. I get to come home every six months and then I can pick a new place every year or if I find a spot I really love I will go back every year and it will become my second home . ❤️🇨🇦❤️ Cheers!!!
That sounds fun. And, aren't anadians required to spend half of each year at home if they are receiving a pension?
Another good video.
Keep em coming.
Thanks, will do!
You could be specific on costs: What are flat rental costs? What are house rental costs. What nature is really close by? What are grocery costs? E.g. how much per kilo mangos? How much per kilo Romaine lettuce.? How much is inexpensive local cuisine lunch? How much is a cup of coffee? What are options for vehicle rental? What is population of Antiqua? This video gives me no sense of what living here is like. Nothing eye catching or special or unique. You make no mention of issues with Guatemala City. And travel within Guatemala in general.
Here is our video on actual costs there for last month. ruclips.net/video/w9-ul6-69GE/видео.html
Dan this is a great introduction to expat life in Antiqua.
Thanks Mark. More to come. :-) Dan
best time to visit imo are the summer mos not the winter since antigua is one of the latin american towns in the tropics @ about 5000 feet with the best year round weather in the world, great info as always amigo, 👍👍👏👏!
Totally agree!
great info.., I can only imagine living in Antiqua on 3k or 4k per month ..heading to the area for a couple months in June
It might be hard to spend that much there unless you a crazy big house?
Really nice color in the evening shots. 👍 Actually, your color is always good, what are you shooting with?
I used to carry around a Cannon M50 outside. But now we just use the GoPro Hero 7 Black and two smart phones: iphone 7 plus and Samsung A31. We still use the Cannon M50 for Qiang and I talking videos indoors (just the lens that it comes with).
@@VagabondAwake so, you are traveling light, good. I shoot a Fuji, it's small, and unintimidating to the people I photograph. It also has excellent color right out of the camera, after years of editing image files, the less time in front of a computer the better. 😁
This was great!
I’ve heard of Lake Atitlan but not much about Antigua.
*I think subpar medical care is an unfortunate downer for living there but it’s ok if just slow traveling through.
Please consider some comparison or this vs that type videos with Guatemala, Mexico and maybe Nicaragua. I realize for example that CDMX is huge and maybe an unfair comparison to Antigua but maybe let’s say Zihuatanejo, Guanajuato or Oaxaca? Thanks!
Great idea. Qiang and I have been talking about doing that comparison. :-)
Great video, Dan !
Looks fascinating. We’ll be 62 and 57 at retirement so we always consider safety and healthcare to be important in our search. Antigua seems safe, but I was curious what expats do for health insurance and what hospital they would go to for something serious ? We are currently healthy but as we age ?....
Thx very much !
For general stuff there are doctors in Antigua. But most of the medical specialists are 2 hours away in Guatemala City.
@@kippsguitar6539
Be careful ?
Good video crime gangs and road conditions were the down side of Guatamala for me I was robbed and
in a car crash on the way to Atitlan BUT beautiful and pretty cheap best for spanish speakers.
That sucks. Bummer.
Great video! I like Oaxaca where I'm at but that seems a lot more walkable.
Funny you say that. We were thinking of comparing the two. :-)
I would consider travel a mix of discovering new and the comfort of returning to a place you’ve been before.
That is true. :-)
GUATEMALA TERRITORIAL corporate tax regime is a big advantage for former USA citizens, and citizens of other countries, together with their tax treaty with Mexico to optimise tax strategies? Citizenship by investment is a path to pursue? Many thanks for the good work!
Thanks for sharing David.
Dan, to stay in Guatemala for a longer term do they still allow visa runs every 90 days ?
So we could go from Antigua to say San Cristobal de las Casas for a couple days in Mexico and then return ? Thx !
I don't have first hand experience with this. But I hear that you can get away with it once or twice without any eye-brows being raised.
Flores is the place I like to visit someday. Maybe next year.
Flores is a cool little town on a lake. It is also a good jumping off point to see the largest Mayan ruins in the world--Tikkal. Go for it!
Grenada , Nicaragua is nice BUT HOTTTTTT !
My wife is from Corinto…also HOTTTTTT ! 😃
We lived in Costa Rica many years ago. Not sure why expats would go there any more.
There are so many options that are way nicer and way cheaper.
True. Costa Rica in many areas is trying to turn itself into a vacation only place now. Not really affordable for the average retiree daily life. And if I was going to spend that much I think I would opt for Greece or Italy first.
I want retire in Antigua for sure 😃😃😃😃😃
Was that volcano eruption video by DrewHacks shot in Antigua? I would love to see that in person!
Yes, DrewHacks was the youngest member of our tour group. He is one of the most successful people on TicTok. he has been doing RUclips since he was about 8 years old. His mother is also a RUclipsr. He said she adopted kids from all over the world. DrewHacks was her only biological child. Great story. Check him out!
You make me want to go back to Antigua
I loved it just as much the second time. :-) Are you from there?
@@VagabondAwake No, I am from Montreal (boutique Hamaca before). I work while I travel
Just a question since I watch most of your content since I have been to most of your places. If I watch a you tube add in the middle of your video that lasts two hours do you make anything extra?
I read about that online once. If thinks we get paid when at 30 seconds? Not sure though!
Are places better or worse when you re visit them? In my experience tough to answer.
Sometimes they get better. If they have more food choices or the roads get better. Other times they lose value overtime, when they get too crowded or expensive.
I love your philosophy
Thank you Gary!
Sounds like a wonderful place but the medical score takes it off my list.
Thank you 1Drummer! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan
Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
So Dan, looking at San Cristobal de las Casas, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan…are the three roughly the same cost of living ?
We also saw some suggest cities in Gustemala like Ciudad Vieja and 15-20 minutes from Antigua, and another city called Xela, saying these are beautiful cities but much cheaper and fewer tourists and expats…know anything about these two ?
Thank you, Sir….hope you two are well !
Thank you for the wise thought Banana Patch. I couldn't have said it better myself. Once you pick a great part of the world, I like to explore the smaller less known towns around them to see if they are even better and cheaper. I had read about them but haven't had a chance yet. Let us know what you think. And thanks for taking the time to help our business grow by commenting. When you comment, like, share, or subscribe, RUclips shows our videos to more people. So it is like you are paying me for my creative energy. So, thank you, :-) Dan
Mind if I follow ten steps behind you? 😃
Sure, why not. :-)
Welcome to Guatemala 🇬🇹 yours hause 👍
Thank you! We love it!
How dangerous is the volcano?
Crazy dangerous if you are in the valley below. A little less dangerous if you are on the mountain next door. No guarantees though at this distance.
Is Guatemala safe ?.....Score out of ten thanks......
We loved Antigua and Lake Atitlan. I wouldn't live in Guatemala City. That felt awkward. Kept my head on a swivel.
Could you please talk about the legal process, and taxes, could you recommend some real state agency? Thank you
Thanks for your thoughts @m.amaya.8435. Just book you first place online for a few days and then decide what neighborhood you like before booking long term. Personally, I have decided not to buy real estate overseas and I give a few reasons why in this video along with reasons some people should buy (in this report):
vagabondbuddha.com/why-retired-expats-should-not-buy-real-estate-overseas/
Thanks, Dan
My dream 🥰🥰🥰
Mee too!
Your Narrative Is Making Me Dizzy!!! LOL!!!
Too fast Master G?
Good after you get past the first 3 minutes
True. The first 3-6 months are hard for most when they first move out of their home country.