The world’s best country for retired British expats is ‘so welcoming’ | Travel News | Travel

Many retired Britons dream of spending their golden years under the sun. According to a new study from InternationalLiving.com , there’s nowhere better than Costa Rica.

In their latest 2024 Retirement Index, the expat experts named the Central American country as the best destination in the world for retired expats.

But what makes Costa Rica such a dreamy spot for retirees?

Costa Rica’s healthcare system is one of the world’s best with the majority of expats paying less than $100 (£78) a month for coverage.

Bruce Cromatie, a retired accounting consultant, said he’s lost 20 pounds since moving to Costa Rica from the USA. The type-1 diabetic walks five miles a day on the beach.

He told InternationalLiving.com : “I’m trying to slow down. Just enjoy life, reset to zero, forget everything and enjoy myself.”

Costa Rica’s incredible natural landscapes are another huge draw for retired expats. The country is a leading tourist destination and it’s not hard to see why.

John Michael Arthur, an expat, said: “I tell people, only in Costa Rica can you be at the top of a volcano, an hour later in the cloud forest, an hour later in a pineapple plantation, an hour later on the beach, an hour later by a mountain stream.

“Costa Rica’s been an expat hotspot for four decades. It’s going strong…and there’s a reason for that.”

But for John, it’s the friendliness of the local community that makes Costa Rica a winner for retired expats. He said: “The people are so kind.”

“You have all this tropical nature and all the animals, and the great climate, but it would all be for naught if it weren’t for the fact that the Costa Ricans are so welcoming, and such lovely people.”