Climate Choice When Moving Overseas
If you or your clients want to own property overseas, getting the climate of the new location right is critical for happiness. The geography of Latin America serves up just about every climate type imaginable. It offers breezy Caribbean islands to high, dry deserts, to snowy mountains, to vineyard areas similar to Napa Valley. At the beach you’ll find both lush tropical lowlands and semi-arid southern California-feeling.
Most people looking at Latin America want warm weather. But what kind of warm weather? Some prefer hot, dry weather like Phoenix? If so, then the deserts of Mexico would be a great choice. A Southern California climate exists along the coastline of Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. Some folks want to in a hot, humid climate like Miami or Houston. Tropical Panama would be perfect for them.
Learn the TOP 15 questions to ask when looking at property overseas.
Most people looking at Latin America want warm weather. But what kind of warm weather? Some prefer hot, dry weather like Phoenix? If so, then the deserts of Mexico would be a great choice. A Southern California climate exists along the coastline of Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. Some folks want to in a hot, humid climate like Miami or Houston. Tropical Panama would be perfect for them.
The Caribbean islands really just have two seasons: dry and rainy. Humidity levels are seasonal. Rainy season running from late summer to early December. Around the Caribbean, the weather ranges from humid to moderately humid, and temperatures generally band between 80-90 °F. The warm temps and gentle humidity are offset by the trade winds blowing in off the sea. Note: This is only true along the coast. Inland areas of can become humid and quite warm, with seasonal temperatures reaching the mid to high 90’s in low lying areas.
Cooler Climate
Many folks want a cooler climate resembling springtime year-round. Throughout tropical Latin America, you will largely find that an area’s temperature is determined by elevation.
Cuenca, Ecuador, possesses a wonderful year-round spring time climate and sits at 8500 feet. Stairs are a lot more “fun” there, I can assure you from personal experience.
In places like the Central Valley of Costa Rica or Medellin, Colombia, temperatures are in the 80’s during the day and the 70’s at night, every day of the year.
Learn the TOP 15 questions to ask when looking at property overseas.
Urban or Rural Area?
The last consideration is whether to live in an urban area or a rural area?
Will it be a coastal rural area that is semi-arid or a humid urban area? Is it a modern city with high rises, a subway, and shopping malls, or is a small colonial city with brick streets, small markets, and rough sidewalks preferable? All of these options can be layered into the climate as well.
Answering these types of questions on geography and climate will greatly help buyers identify and locate possible cities and areas that meet their lifestyle criteria. The main factors to consider are these listed here but none are black and white. It’s an open recipe that’s best experienced first-hand.
The good news is that the incredibly varied geography of Latin America can usually serve up the right solution for almost any need.