Page 68 - Demo

8. Peru
While 95% of people who visit Peru do so to explore Machu Picchu, many have discovered an ideal retirement destination, with miles of beaches, delicious cuisine, and some of the lowest costs anywhere when it comes to enjo- ying a high-quality lifestyle.
My wife Nancy and I moved here just over two years ago, and we love the 300 days of sunshine a year and the highly affordable lifestyle. The cost of living is one of the cheapest anywhere with rents starting as low as $150 per month and filling three-course lunches starting at $2.50, including a drink.
Other than the upscale neighborhoods in Lima, Peru is a very inexpensive place to live. A couple can easily live on a budget of less than $2,000 a month in most regions of the country. Although we choose to spend more (think $2,000 to $2,400 a month).
We love to eat, and Peru has great food wherever you go. From the cevicherias of Huanchaco to the picanterias of Arequipa, you can find a wide variety of inexpensive dishes based on diverse ingredients from the sea, moun- tains, and jungles of the country.
Fresh fruits and veggies are available year-round at low cost. We pick up enough for $5 at the local market in our home town of Huanchaco to last us a few days.
Spectacular Macho Pichu, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas have always been major attractions for tourists, but more expats are now heading to this area for long-term stays and retirement. Nights are cool, but
midday highs can reach the 70s F for much of the year.
We spent our first year in the southern metropolis of Arequipa and discovered that it has a lot going for it. Less than a two-hour drive from the coast, it is easy to escape to the nearby popular beaches during the peak summer months of January and February. And the food is to die for. Arequipa is renowned for its range of high-quality restaurants, wonderful traditional cuisine, and centuries-old colonial center.
The capital city of Lima is home to the largest number of expats. They enjoy some of the best restaurants in the world, a large variety of art galleries and museums, a vibrant theatre scene, and the easily accessible interna- tional airport. And for anyone breaking into Peru’s busi- ness world, Lima is the place to see and be seen.
Surfers enjoy the year-round waves at seaside towns such as Huanchaco. Located only 15 minutes from Truji- llo, the second-largest city in the country, it offers the best of both worlds. Huanchaco has maintained its small fishing town charm despite the annual increase in tourist numbers.
There is not a lot of English in Peru so it is almost a necessity to learn Spanish to fit in in most communities unless you only want to socialize with other expats. But the people are friendly, family-oriented, and more than accepting of outsiders. Putting a little effort into learning the language goes a long way in making new friends.
And, when you are ready for a quick getaway, there are daily scheduled flights to the bordering countries of Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. If you are looking for a country with an inexpensive lifestyle, friendly people, and great food, Peru is worth a look.