Baltimore, MD – Climate is one of the most important considerations for retirees choosing where to settle overseas. In International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index for 2020,
the countries that claim the best climates in the world all offer a
variety of options-from warm beach areas to higher-altitude regions that
offer year-round spring-like temperatures.
In
this category, International Living rates each of the countries’
climate, considering factors like the amount of rainfall, average
temperatures, and levels of humidity, providing retirees with greater
choices.
“Climate and weather are a hugely important considerations for retirees
and expats moving abroad,” says IL’s Senior Editor, Dan Prescher. “Think
about it. If you had a chance to move someplace, why wouldn’t you opt
for someplace with weather you actually liked? That’s a subjective
judgement – everybody likes different weather. Which is why several
countries near the top of the 2020 Global Retirement Index don’t offer
only year-around tropical weather, but have different climate zones,
allowing retirees to choose a spot to match their preferences.
“An advantage to a mild climate – neither too hot nor too cold – is that
it can be a place where cooling and heating costs are low to
non-existent, which can have a huge positive effect on a monthly budget
and bottom line. The point is that people thinking about retiring abroad
can use the Index to actually sort locations by which weather and
utility budget combination suits them best.”
The five countries that scored the highest marks for Best Climate in the
World in this year’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2020 are:
#1 Portugal
Portugal, the winner of International Living’s Annual Global Retirement
Index 2020, takes the top spot in the Climate category this year scoring
88 out of 100. “Portugal’s climate is a mix of temperate in the north
to Mediterranean heading south, making it ideal in that it offers so
much to so many in a space so compact,” says Tricia Pimental, IL’s
Portugal Correspondent. “This variety means that in Portugal you’re sure
to find a place with the climate to suit your tastes.” For a more
detailed look at the climate in Portugal, check out: Portugal Weather and Climate.
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are all tied for second place in the Climate Category:
#2 Colombia
Located in the north of South America, Colombia has coastline on both
the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, borders the Darien jungle to
its west, and the Amazon to its east. Sitting just slightly north of the
equator, it has an equal 12 hours of daylight and darkness with very
little variation during the year. The weather here varies quite a bit
from region to region within the country, making it one of the reasons
Colombia is so fascinating. From tropical ocean beaches, temperate
mountain areas, and even a snow-capped mountain, Colombia has it all.
#2 Ecuador
Ecuador lies right on the equator, so the entire country enjoys 12 hours
of direct equatorial daylight, 365 days a year. However, the climate
you will experience depends largely on where you are in Ecuador, since
there are four distinct geographical areas – the Sierra (mountains), the Oriente (eastern rainforests), La Costa (Pacific
coastal plains), and the Galapagos Islands. Essentially, pick your
climate, and you’ll find it somewhere in Ecuador. For a more detailed
look at the climate in Ecuador, check out: Ecuador Weather and Climate.
#2 Peru
It’s impossible to describe an average temperature or overall climate in
Peru. But it can be divided into three or four basic regions; the
northern and southern coast, the Andean highlands, and the eastern
lowlands or rainforest. Rainfall, cloud cover, and daily temperatures
vary greatly for each of these locations. Remember that the seasons are
reversed in the southern hemisphere. For most of the country, there are
at least two distinct seasons. Summer peaks in January and February
while the coolest months are generally August and September. From the
year-round blue sky and sunshine of Peru’s tropical northern coast …
to the humid, hot Amazon rainforest … to the cold weather of the
Andes, there is a climate to suit everyone’s taste. For a more detailed
look at the climate in Peru, check out: Peru Weather and Climate.
#3 Mexico
As
many as 1 million U.S. and Canadian citizens call Mexico home, with
more joining them all the time. Thanks to Mexico’s large size, varied
geography, and affordable real estate, prospective residents are spoiled
for choice among colonial towns, fishing villages, beach retreats, and
cosmopolitan cities.
“Mexico is a big country – about three times the size of Texas,” says
Jason Holland, International Living Roving Latin America Editor. “And
that means it has a wide variety of climates – there really is something
for everybody. You have the spring-like year-round climate of Colonial
Highlands towns like San Miguel de Allende. In beach towns like Puerto
Vallarta and Playa del Carmen it’s always warm – and humid too, although
sea breezes help. For a more dry heat, head to arid Los Cabos. Further
up on the Baja Peninsula you have towns like Rosarito, with a nearly
identical climate to Southern California.
“Winter is actually one of the best times of year, weather-wise, to
visit Mexico’s Caribbean and mainland Pacific beaches because it’s the
coolest (highs in the lows 80s F) and least humid time of year.” For a
more detailed look at the climate in Mexico, check out: Mexico Weather and Climate.
More details on the top six countries in the Climate category of
International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2020 can be found
here: The World Best Climate 2020.
