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.
