About South America Living
by Molly McHugh, Editor/Publisher
A Trip to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
In 2007 after three years in Mexico it was time for new adventures. My son, our 22 pound Rat Terrier and I packed-up and traveled via ‘I’d rather not remember how many’ busses through Mexico, Central and South America to a new temporary home – Argentina.
Restless and wanting to branch out on my own rather than grub for travel writing assignments I began South America Living – to provide quality, in-depth information for those wanting to move to or travel extensively in South America, as we have been fortunate to do for the past four plus years.
We’ve zipped (me screaming with eyes closed… my son laughing) through treetops, surfed a few waves (Huanchaco, Peru), rode horseback down dusty desert trails (Tupiza, Bolivia), stood in awe at thundering spray (Iguazu Falls) and an endless horizon of salt (Salar de Uyuni), sailed high into the sky (paragliding in Canoa, Ecuador) as well as on water (whale watching in La Paloma, Uruguay) while meeting and making many new friends.
Come along on our journey while we try to help you plan yours and enjoy.
Cheers, Molly
Email: editor (@) southamericaliving.com
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our new blog – All Things South American – and to join us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/southamericaliving
You can sign-up for our newsletter that features travel tips, special deals & cheap places by clicking here: South America Living Newsletter
South America Living Staff
Buster & Tiger Busy Guarding Our Rental House in Uruguay
Molly McHugh
Editor/Publisher
Blake McHugh
Photographer/Assistant Researcher & Writer
South America Living Honorary Staff Members
Buster – 13 year old Rat Terrier who likes to do things on his own schedule as opposed to following commands, fits in perfectly in South America.
Tiger – 4 year old Chihuahua-mix who, unfortunately, is our more popular honorary staff member, especially amongst children whom he tries to bite on a regular basis. Eats fleas, mosquitos, bed bugs, anything that crawls or flys… very useful in South America.
I am very serious about moving to Central or South America. I’m 68, in pretty good shape. My income consists of my Social Security. I don’t mind seclusion. I’m not a hermit by any means, but I could do well in the mountains, beach…ahh, it doesn’t matter. I don’t wanna get too wordy. Any help, or advice would be highly appreciated…Edward Hyman
Hi Edward there are lots of good options for you with probably Ecuador on the top of the list for your budget. I am traveling to Ecuador in a few months, and will have a ton of info on different locations but would recommend you reseach Cotacachi for now. Beautiful location, near Quito… check it out!
I don’t cover Panama but that is something for you to think about as they have an ‘out of this world’ program for folks like you who move there on a pension… discounts galore. Send me a note to editor (@) southamericaliving.com for more info. Best, Molly
Hi Molly, I have a growing interest in visiting and possibly retiring in Tarija, Bolivia. The main thing holding me back at present is that I’ve heard of an unfriendly bureaucracy in getting a permanent/one-year residency permit. Do you have any observations on both Tarija and the difficulty of the Bolivian permitting process for a USA citizen? Thanks
Hi Jim & I have good news for you as can give you a referral to folks that are experts in this area and can help you out with the process and any questions you may have – Altiplano Bolivia at http://altiplanobolivia.blogspot.com/p/altiplano-expat-services.html
They did my cost of living page for Tarija and now specialize in relocating folks to Bolivia plus run a B&B there – http://www.southamericaliving.com/cost-of-living-in-tarija-bolivia/
Best of luck, is a chill town with some beautiful outlying areas and you can easily travel to Salta, Argentina (love that town, would be my preference for a one-year stay) and other areas of Bolivia. Sucre is great for a visit. Let me know how it goes, Molly
Hey Molly,
Firstly, Thanks so much for your articles. They are very well written and extremely informative. Your an amazing writer.
About me, I have traveled all over the world, to include Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, along with managing and helping friends build hostels in Costa Rica and Guatemala. I’m looking at something new, but also laid back. Kind of like the Pura Vida mentality of Costa Rica, but with a little less rainfall.
That being said it has led me to check out Peru and have thoroughly been trying to do a lot of research on the quaint beach town of Huanchaco(although I’d like to opt for more sunshine and less humidity, so any other places you recommend with decent surfing nearby and under a $800USD a month would also be very appreciative), which I find ideal for where I would I’d like to settle for a while. I noticed in a couple of your articles the way you articulate about it makes me want to be there even more.
So I am curious about your breakdown on the $800USD a month budget. What do you include? I’m just trying to get a rough estimate of basic/safe accommodations for long term rental and living expenses. I plan on relocating to that region from San Diego within the next few months.
Do you know of any volunteer opportunities in the area as well?
Thanks again and hope this finds you and your family well.
Jimmy
Hi Jimmy and thanks for the nice compliment, made my day
I haven’t been to Huanchaco in over 3 years, so it is most likely similar to when we were there (is very small, can’t change that much!) but also different. I do know a family – http://www.thenomadicfamily.com – who stayed there for an extended time more recently, definitely go to the website and send Gaby or her hubby an email.
Mancora you will hear quite a bit about, but really has gotten a bit crazy and over-run with Peruvian & foreign tourists (have to get my travel guide up online!) – but if you want a hostal business that may be a place to check out as when you get out of town a bit it’s really beautiful and cleaner water for surfing (Huanchaco, unless it has changed, dumps sewage into its bay which makes the surf area polluted).
One nice thing about Mancora is you are very close to the border with Ecuador so can cross-over to get a visa renewal easily. Peru is one of the best countries this way as (as of now!) can stay indefinitely by simply updating your Tourist Visa when it expires (leaving the country then re-entering and getting a new one…) – in Ecuador and Bolivia you cannot do this.
We were in Peru (just not Huanchaco) less than a year ago and prices are increasing but the country is still affordable. I’d break down $800 USD as $300 for rent (including WiFi, cable T.V., utilities that are most often provided at that price) in a small apt., $200 USD for food (easily for one if you shop well) & the rest for basic living such as eating out on occassion, taking busses to places, buying a new pair of pants or shirt, etc.
Huanchaco has a very strong surfing culture, with one family living there having 3 – if I remember correctly – sons who are actual Champion Surfers from Peru. They also make their living from surfing lessons, renting equipment, etc. And there are others, and it’s small. Have no idea how welcoming they would be to a new person. Mancora may give you more space to open a small hostal, offer surfing, etc. as part of that without stepping on local toes, so to speak.
Best of luck, sounds like an adventure regardless, Molly