If your idea of retirement includes warm weather, beautiful beaches, tropical landscapes and a slower pace of life, Costa Rica might be calling your name.

Forbes has included the Central American country among its best places to retire abroad, putting another Latin American destination on the radar for people considering spending their retirement years outside North America.

And honestly, it’s not difficult to understand why.

Costa Rica offers beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, incredible biodiversity, warm weather and the famous “Pura Vida” lifestyle that has become synonymous with the country.

Forbes specifically highlighted San José, the Central Valley, Atenas and Santa Cruz as areas worth considering for retirement.

Why Costa Rica?

One of the biggest attractions is lifestyle.

Forbes noted that living costs are generally lower than in the United States, while healthcare in larger cities is considered good and relatively affordable. Foreign residents may also be able to access Costa Rica’s public healthcare system.

Then there’s the climate and scenery.

For retirees who would rather spend their mornings walking along a beach, hiking through tropical landscapes or enjoying coffee overlooking the mountains than shovelling snow, Costa Rica offers something very different from retirement in Canada or the northern United States.

Costa Rica’s political stability and established international community have also helped make the country a longtime destination for foreigners looking to relocate.

Retiring in Costa Rica Is Relatively Accessible

Costa Rica also has a residency program aimed at retirees.

Forbes highlighted the country’s renewable Pensionado residency option, which requires applicants to demonstrate a qualifying lifetime pension. That relatively accessible pathway has helped Costa Rica remain attractive to retirees from the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

But Costa Rica isn’t necessarily the ultra-cheap paradise some people may remember from decades ago.

Popular beach communities and areas with large foreign populations can be considerably more expensive, particularly when it comes to real estate, restaurants and imported products.

Still, compared with retirement in many major North American cities, Costa Rica can offer an attractive combination of lifestyle, healthcare, climate and cost.

Could More Canadians Retire in Latin America?

For Canadians, the idea is particularly interesting.

After decades of working through Canadian winters, retiring somewhere where temperatures regularly sit in the 20s and 30s doesn’t sound too bad.

Costa Rica also offers relatively easy access back to North America, while allowing retirees to experience a Latin American culture built around community, food, family and enjoying life at a different pace.

Forbes’ recognition is another reminder that when people around the world start looking for places offering quality of life after retirement, Latin America increasingly deserves to be part of the conversation.

Costa Rica’s answer is simple: Pura Vida.