As everyone can attest, this year’s U.S. presidential election was brutal. Then when you add in the fact that winter is fast approaching, many people want to get away.

With warm, sunny skies and pristine beaches, Latin America is the perfect place to escape.

Affordability is one reason for choosing a Latin America getaway. In addition to laid back communities, hospitable people, and pristine beaches, you can rent nice accommodations for only $500 per month. For couples, it typically does not cost more than $1,200 per month, which includes housing, utilities, meals, and more.

Whether escaping for a few months or making Latin America your permanent residence, any one of the five destinations highlighted will not disappoint. When interested in visiting family and friends back home, you have several easy options for travel to the United States.

Dominical, Costa Rica

In Dominical, Costa Rica, the year-round temperatures hover between 80 and 90 degrees, perfect weather for enjoying the outdoors. However, this charming coastal town also offers exceptional real estate values. Many people describe Dominical as a “hidden gem” where the Central Coast stops and the South Coast begins.

Known as the Southern Zone, the waters are a gorgeous turquoise color with beaches enhanced by beautiful countryside and tall palm trees. With amazing water, this destination is a popular choice for both surfers and snowbirds.

Especially if you want to get away from overcrowded beaches, you will love Dominical. The lifestyle in this village is relaxed and laidback. Unlike some other cities in Costa Rica, Dominical is not overpopulated with tourists. In fact, lavish resorts, rowdy crowds, and expensive restaurants are nonexistent.

You can rent a two-bedroom villa in the mountain region not too far from the beach for only $600 a month. Even better, this type of villa comes completely furnished to make you feel right at home.

If you want more luxurious accommodations, you can rent a furnished two-bedroom home with magnificent ocean views, oversized deck, and private swimming pool for roughly $1,200 per month.

Roatan, Honduras

In Honduras, Roatan is the top escape destination. Although it is only 50 square miles, Roatan is surrounded by white, sandy beaches and a magnificent reef that is home to an abundance of sea life. This is a laid back community situated on the Northern Coast, where people enjoy surfing or being around the beach just to soak up the sun.

One aspect of Roatan that makes it unique is its old-school Caribbean attitude and lifestyle. However, it offers many modern-day conveniences and, with an established community of expats, English is a widely spoken language. Visitors and residents both agree that the culture and welcoming people make Roatan special.

As for the cost of living, a nice furnished home combined with the cost of utilities, groceries, homeowner association fees, and even recreation runs roughly $3,000 a month. Especially within the past 10 years, this Honduras destination has increased significantly in popularity. Along with direct flights to this island are two ports for cruise ships, making Roatan easily accessible.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Located on the Pacific Coast in Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur has a thriving tourism industry. In the town center, which is spread over a three-square-block area, you will find small shops that sell beach gear, tropical swimwear, and beautiful jewelry crafted by local artisans.

There are also restaurants that serve local and international cuisine, internet cafes, and yoga studios.

However, this same area provides a number of additional conveniences, such as a central market, coffee shops, hotels, bars, convenience stores, schools where Spanish is taught, tour operators, real estate companies, fitness centers, day spas, banks, ATM services, unique wooden homes, and the list goes on. Virtually anything you might want or need can be found in San Juan del Sur.

Thanks to expats, snowbirds, and tourists, this town is booming. Surrounding San Juan del Sur are various beach communities and 22 beaches. While each is unique, they all offer a genuine sense of nature and retreat.

With easy access to the ocean, this is definitely the right escape destination for boating, deep-sea fishing, swimming, and scuba diving. With spectacular surfing, San Juan del Sure serves as host to many international competitions.

Considering everything that San Juan del Sur offers, most people assume it is expensive. In reality, the cost of living is quite affordable. One individual can rent a nice one-bedroom apartment for about $500 per month while a couple can easily live on $1,200 a month.

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Salinas, Ecuador

Situated on the South Pacific Coast and approximately one and a half hours from Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, Salinas is also an excellent destination choice.

Although tourists come from all over the world to experience what this city has to offer, it has become a top choice for retirees. Stretched along the beach line are modern high-rise condominiums, trendy nightclubs, and some of the best seafood restaurants in all of Ecuador.

Nicknamed “Little Miami” Salinas and this Florida city do have a few things in common, including sun, surf, sand, and fun. However, that is where the comparisons end. People love Salinas for its year-round warm temperatures, blue skies, and low levels of humidity. Being on a peninsula, even the ocean waters are always warm and inviting.

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While considered a smaller town with a current population just under 50,000, Salinas offers many of the same things found in a larger city. There are quaint restaurants and cafes, hardware stores, medical clinics, banks, and even a movie theater. You can also catch a bus for the two-hour ride into Guayaquil, where an international airport is located.

A couple can live comfortably for about $1,500 per month. However, rent for a three-bedroom, two-bath condominium with 1,100 square feet only a block from the beach rents for just $550 a month. That is quite a deal considering the price includes all furnishings and utilities.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This Mexico destination is another perfect place to visit or live. Today, Playa del Carmen is an excellent choice for expats from around the globe. As a modernized city, you will enjoy many of the same amenities found at home, including several airports, well-maintained highways, high-speed internet connection, and reliable phone connections.

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Beyond its beauty, Playa del Carmen is an extremely clean and safe city. Not only is the local government 100 percent dedicated to making necessary improvements, the police force works hard to ensure everyone’s safety. You will also discover superior and affordable medical care when visiting a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office.

Housing is also affordable, whether renting or buying. To keep up with its growing population and tourist trade, Playa del Carmen offers a number of beautiful condominiums within minutes from the beach. Sitting on the Caribbean Coast, you can walk around freely without any concern over safety. There are also many great shopping opportunities, as well as restaurants.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.