Category: BLOG

Every once in a while everyone needs their own personal space, somewhere you can escape the daily routine and restore the body and mind. Here we give you 5 reasons to choose Nicaragua by Careli Tours as your next wellness getaway: 1) Meet Locals:  You are going to meet Nicaraguans on the beach, at cafes, at colorful markets but you will also meet fully bilingual certified professionals who understand that visitors are looking for meaningful travel experiences. Don’t miss the opportunity; to share a walk surrounded by nature with Juan Carlos our guide; or to meet Ximena Gutierrez, a New York Certified Jivamukti Yoga® Teacher. Take a chance and witness her mission to enthusiastically share the transformative power of Yoga. 2) Connect with Nature: Scientific evidence proves the calming effects of nature on the human body and how spending time outdoors with trees, fresh air, and wildlife helps us slow down and lead our bodies and minds to inner peace. With 78 natural reserves –– uncrowded and pristine –– Nicaragua’s great outdoors caters nature-lovers with 698 recorded species of birds, 800 species of orchids, over 1,000 butterfly species and of course a plethora of other exotic animals. 3) Be a playful child again: Do you remember how awesome it felt to be a kid? Every day there was a new opportunity to play and ride your bike, and best of all, every person was a potential playmate. As adults, we can still bring out the kid inside us and we can assist you in the process! How does it sound to Climb a volcano on Ometepe Island or the grandfather of all Volcanoes, San Cristobal; Swing out over a crater lake on a zip line at Mombacho;  Mountain bike the Pueblos Blancos; Kayak across our famous Laguna de Apoyo; paddle-board around

I have no doubts that Nicaragua’s time has come. We somewhat “savvy” travelers always have an eye out for the new, intriguing and affordable places to go; and yes nowadays, we are finding good reasons to fall in love with Central America’s largest country. While contentious politics remain, Nicaragua has been at peace for two decades, and not only is it a very safe destination, but it presents a new world full of discovery: colonial charm, cultural creativity, natural beauty, and host of authentic adventures that come with being: yes, undiscovered. Well, I was first here before National Geographic Traveler put Nicaragua on its 50 Trips of a Lifetime list in 2013. And 10 years ago, Nicaragua lacked the visitor comforts you’ll find today in an expanding core of lovely boutique hotels in the towns (lively Granada takes 1st prize in charming places to hang your sombrero), eco-lodges in the wilderness (I’m a Morgan’s Rock fan), and most recently luxury resorts by the sea (the Mukul Resort’s an important addition to the hospitality sector). Here are a few of my favorite things: Leon, a university town with real feel and the Latin American art collection of the Ortiz-Gurdian Foundation; birding in Selva Negra; craft carousing (paintings and pottery) in the Masaya market and nearby “white towns;” volcano hikes in Mombacho and Masaya National Parks; petroglygh-hunting on accessible Ometepe Island; hanging out at the artists’ colony in less-accessible Solentiname Islands; snorkeling and lobster-dining in the Corn Islands. And treats ahead for future visits: going north to spend a day or two around Somoto Canyon; checking out the Pearl Cays; exploring along the Rio San Juan, then returning to Solentiname where I bought my favorite naïve painting. Nicaragua offers a nice mix of cultivated and uncharted, rustic and refined, traditional and informal,

According to global retirement raters International Living (IL) and Live and Invest Overseas the new rankings for 2016 are: 1.-) PANAMA: With top scores in the categories of Benefits & Discounts (its pensionado delas for retirees are world famous), Visas & Residence and Entertainment & Ammenities, Panama displaces last year’s International Living champ, Ecuador. Besides, Panama City is just a three-hour flight from Miami. Panama (Photo: International Living) 2.-) Ecuador, located smack dab on the Equator, gets International Living’s top score in its Climate and Buying and Renting categories. Its highlands, several thousand feet above sea level, deliver a “year round srping-like climate.” In colonial Cuenca, a two bedroom apartment rents for $500 USD or less. You can buy beach front property for under $100,000 USD. Ecuador (Photo: International Living) 3.-) Mexico scored well across the board in the International Living’s rankings. The country is historically the most popular among U.S. expat retirees; one million U.S. citizens live there. One reason: its permanent visa for those with income of about $2,100 USD a month or more; a temporary visa, for monthly income of about $1,300 USD and up, lasts for 4 years. Mexico (Photo: International Living) 4.-) Costa Rica had the best International Living score in the Healthy Lifestyle category, due to its clean air, natural food choices and outdoor attractions, such as the Central Valley forests and Pacific coast beaches. Its climate is World Class too. Costa Rica (Photo: International Living) 5.-) Malaysia is the top Asian country in International Living’s 2016 rankings partly because of its top scores in the Health Care and Entertainment & Amenities categories. Most doctors have been trained in the UK or in the US and speak fluent English. Malaysia’s also a low cost foodie haven that’s beginning to get discovered by expat retirees. Malaysia (Photo: International Living) 6.-)