5 Reasons Why Jamaica is the Ideal Island to Retire

Have you ever thought about your perfect place to live? If you could choose one destination to retire, where would you wanna go? After years and years of hard work, you might consider moving to another city or a country you’ve dreamed of or a country you find more convenient for your needs. Retirement is a new phase of life and it brings a lot of new experiences, habits, activities, and opportunities. If you look at it this way, then you might expect it to be the time of your life.

According to a recent survey, many people dream of moving to Jamaica after they retire. What’s the reason behind this? There are numerous factors to consider when choosing a retirement destination. Making a detailed plan is a very helpful step towards making decisions that are this important. Some things you should have in mind are the cost of living, the cost, and the access to good healthcare, safety, hobby opportunities, the closeness of grocery stores, taxes, property prices. Considering all of this, it doesn’t come as a surprise that people choose Jamaica to be their retirement sanctuary, instead of any other destination in the world.

It is interesting to know that the island of Jamaica was first discovered by Christopher Columbus back in the 15th century. It’s the third-largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba and Hispaniola. The official language is English, with a mainly Christian nation and a mixture of cultures. The spirit of the island is represented in their motto, based on the multinational roots of the population – “Out of Many, One People”. Doesn’t it sound like a perfect place to start a new life chapter?

Generally speaking, this island has it all. From delightful weather to hedonistic lifestyle, with a relatively small cost of living and breathtaking nature, there are so many reasons to choose this particular location, that it was hard to name only a few.

However, we made a list of 5 best reasons to retire in Jamaica. Pay close attention to our selection. You might fall in love with this island!

Nature and weather

One of the most obvious reasons is the destination itself, and its unparalleled beauty. With gorgeous beaches with white sand and clear waters, breathtaking landscapes and fantastic plants and animals, what’s more to wish for? Thanks to the unique beauty this island has, it’s earned global popularity and is therefore one of the favorite places for tourists to come and visit. Not only that, it is slowly becoming one of the favorite places to come and stay forever! If you love to enjoy the astonishing views and you’d love to explore hiking trails, hidden caves and numerous beaches, then this island is the perfect place for you. Not only that, if you enjoy the warm weather, this is exactly what you can expect here. You can easily skip cold winters by moving to Jamaica, with a tropical climate and almost every day filled with sunlight. Did we mention the crystal blue water, the waterfalls and the greenery all around you, due to green rainforests in the mountains? You’ll be able to connect with nature as soon as you get there and to enjoy spending time outdoors. You just have to make the decision. The rest is history.

People and cultural diversity

Did you know that there’s a place in the world where people gladly accept foreigners and are friendly and warm? Jamaica is exactly that! The largest English speaking Caribbean island is a mixture of people from all around the world, including European, Asian and African heritage. There’s no such thing as racism here. You can expect to be seen as a great neighbor and to easily make new friends. Three million people who already live on this island all came to find their happiness. With that much positivity, great music, astounding surroundings, and fantastic people, it’s quite easy to be happy.

One of the main highlights of Jamaica was and still is the cultural diversity and the hospitality of the people. As we already mentioned, “Out of many, one people” is the motto that explains the philosophy of its residents. Talk to the locals twice and you’ll be a part of the group the next time they see you. The innate sense of belonging is what makes you fulfilled. With different religions, practices, and cultures, you’ll never have to worry for a minute – you’ll find your group of friends and make lifetime friendships.

The slow pace  of life and low cost of living

Considering the fact that you want to retire, you’d probably want to take it slow and relax after years of deadlines, meetings, hard work, and all the stress. Jamaica offers a slow pace of life, often called the ‘island time’. Everything in this area happens spontaneously and whatever you think is urgent, can easily get postponed here. If you’re waiting for someone, consider a couple more minutes of waiting. There’s no rush, no need to be in a hurry since people are focused on their quality of life and a great dosage of hedonism rather than thinking about meeting the deadlines or limiting their time. However, this doesn’t mean that you can expect people to be irresponsible, it just means that their approach to life is quite different than what you’re probably used to.

When it comes to the cost of living, it’s much cheaper compared to the average living cost in the US or in the UK. You also get to buy local products which are high-quality and cheap at the same time. This way you’ll be able to contribute to their economy, enjoy the gorgeous tastes and unique goods, and save your money in the long-term. The affordability is one of the reasons why many people decide to move here, after their retirement. The whole process is much cheaper than in the US, so you can expect a wide range from affordable homes to the multi-million dollar ones in the Montego Bay area, so whatever you’re looking for, you can easily find your perfect fit on caribbean-escape.com.

Accessibility

Not only is it a place that’s inclusive and welcoming, but it’s also a great place for people with disabilities. You can expect a wide variety of activities for the disabled, wheelchair-accessible excursions and tours, and a general understanding of sensitive categories of people. You can count on great conditions if you decide to live here. This means that accessibility is deeply incorporated into society and their everyday life. You won’t have to worry about being comfortable as a person with a disability.

Cuisine

If you haven’t tried it yet, you’d be amazed by the Caribbean food culture. This is the biggest history lesson you’ll get when you first arrive at this destination. The richness of flavors and the magnificent tastes is what you can expect when you indulge in Jamaican cuisine. With a bit of Indian and Chinese influence and the traditional fruits, fish, sauces, and coffee, there’s a lot to try and a lot to talk about. Some of the traditional dishes you need to try are cake and codfish, brown stew chicken, curry chicken, and oxtail.