• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home Countries Nicaragua

Survivor In San Juan Del Sur

Kathleen Peddicord by Kathleen Peddicord
Jul 07, 2010
in Nicaragua, Retirement/Living
0
homes along the beach with lots of vegetation in nicaragua
209
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Survivor Effect–It Couldn’t Happen To A More Deserving Spot

One of my favorite places on earth will be getting a lot of positive attention starting later this month when “Survivor” begins filming its 21st season in and around San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Then, for 14 weeks this fall, some 13 million U.S. households will tune in to CBS every Wednesday night to watch 20 Survivorists tromp around the Nicaraguan jungles.

This is a big deal for a little country like Nicaragua. I’ve seen the effects of this kind of thing in the past. When “Temptation Island,” for example, aired its Isla Bonita season filmed on Ambergris Caye, Belize, suddenly, overnight, this outpost of divers and fishermen was a household name.

The Temptation Island Effect created a new and higher-end (US$1 million-plus) market on this formerly unnoticed Caribbean island, the vestiges of which I viewed recently. All along Ambergris’ white-sand coast today are condo developments built to supply the Temptation Island viewers who, having been introduced to this island paradise in prime time, wanted to claim a little piece of it for themselves. How cool it became to be able to say, “I’m going down to spend a week on the beach at my place on Ambergris Caye…you know, the island off Belize where ‘Temptation Island’ was filmed…”

Now it’s Nicaragua’s turn. I’d say it couldn’t happen to a more deserving place. When it comes to Nicaragua today, you want to forget the Contras, forget the Sandinistas, forget politics altogether and focus on what this misunderstood country has to offer–that is, a dramatically beautiful Pacific coastline, a rugged and beautiful interior of jungle, lakes, and volcanoes, and a strong and a spirited people who want nothing more than peace and prosperity.

In short, little Nicaragua’s got big heart.

The 250-member crew of “Survivor” will inject more than US$6 million into the local San Juan economy over the next six months, contracting some 200 locals and renting the equivalent of 20,000 hotel room nights in this small town.

Like many economies around the world driven by foreign tourism and investment, that in Nicaragua is struggling right now. Of course, Nicaragua has other problems, too, but, I say again, you want to forget the politics of this country, which has so long suffered under their specter. In the current context, the U.S. dollars that the Survivor Effect will bring to Nicaragua, both immediately and longer term, will amount to a lottery win.

“Survivor’s” decision to base its next two seasons in Nicaragua is a major vote of confidence for this country. As tourism Minister Mario Salinas put it, “They are not going to invest nearly US$7 million in a country that is unsafe and dangerous. If they come to make a program of this magnitude, it’s because the country offers the conditions they require.”

For its part, Nicaragua is doing everything it can to make sure its conditions don’t disappoint, leading to another positive Survivor Effect–infrastructure improvements to be sure roads, etc., can support crew access and production requirements.

I’ve been spending time in Nicaragua for more than 20 years, and I’m well invested in this country. These past few years, as tough times struck, thanks to the re-election of Sandinista Danny Ortega to the presidency and then the global economic meltdown, I’ve been asked again and again if I’m holding on to my Nicaraguan assets.

“Don’t you think you should cut your losses and get out?” some have wondered, believing, I guess, that little Nicaragua is done for.

I’ve not once thought of selling what I own here, and, in fact, I’ve kept my eye out for opportunities to invest further. As I grow older, I become more reluctant to make aggressive predictions about the future of an investment or a market, but I will say this: Don’t underestimate Nicaragua.

Values move up…and then down. I’ve learned to take the cycles in stride…and to remain committed in markets where I like the fundamentals. My interpretation of a strong market, though, has little to do with spreadsheeted current economic data. The fundamentals that matter to me have more to do with the heart and soul of a place, the intrinsic, intangible appeals that I believe will keep not only me but also others coming back over the long haul.

These are the places where I want to own. Paris qualifies. And so does Nicaragua, another spot that fully captures my imagination.

I’m a romantic. I find it impossible to resist the lure of unfulfilled potential. And that’s Nicaragua in spades–a big heart and loads of unfulfilled potential.

Thanks to the coming Survivor Effect, word may finally begin to get out.

Kathleen Peddicord

Tags: Real Estate In Nicaraguaretire to nicaragua
Share84Tweet52
Previous Post

Mailbag: Residency In Belize

Next Post

Retire To Belize

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and is considered the world's foremost authority on these subjects. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France... next to Panama City, where she has based her Live and Invest Overseas business. Most recently, Kathleen and her husband Lief Simon are dividing their time between Panama and Paris.

Kathleen was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. In that capacity, she opened her first office overseas, in Waterford, Ireland, where she managed a staff of up to 30 employees for more than 10 years. Kathleen also opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France.

Kathleen moved on from her role with Agora in 2007 and launched her Live and Invest Overseas group in 2008. In the years since, she has built Live and Invest Overseas into a successful, recognized, and respected multi-million-dollar business that employs a staff of 35 in Panama City and dozens of writers and other resources around the world.

Kathleen has been quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance, the AARP, and beyond. She has appeared often on radio and television (including Bloomberg and CNBC) and speaks regularly on topics to do with living, retiring, investing, and doing business around the world.

In addition to her own daily e-letter, the Overseas Opportunity Letter, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, Kathleen writes regularly for U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Her newest book, "How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad," published by Penguin Random House, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world.

Related Posts

Panorama of the city of Porto in Portugal
Lifestyle

News From Readers Living And Retiring In Portugal

by Kathleen Peddicord
July 31, 2022
0

Here’s one of my favorite retire-overseas stories… "About a year ago, my wife and I made the leap," writes Terry...

Read more
Summer sunset view of the medieval church of Saint-Jacques-le-Major in Hunawihr, small village between the vineyards of Ribeauville, Riquewihr and Colmar in Alsace, France

How To Retire On A Budget But Live Like Royalty

July 29, 2022
Elderly woman walking through a field of flowers on a sunny day

Retiring Abroad Alone? Here Are 8 Things To Know

July 28, 2022
Beach restaurant in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

Life In Las Terrenas, Samana Is All About Outdoor Fun

July 22, 2022
Senior couple sharing a quiet day outside with two dogs

Your Plan For Retiring Overseas Can It Be Part-Time?

July 17, 2022
Couple Moving House, holding boxes

Moving Overseas? The 10 Downsizing Tips You Need To Know

July 11, 2022
A couple sitting on a bench enjoying a sunny day at a lake

Unretirement: How To Broaden Your Retirement Perspective

July 10, 2022
Next Post
English speaking Belize and pristine beaches Belize

Retire To Belize

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.







LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2022

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2022 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2022 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

The World’s Best Places To Be In 2022?

Discover Them Here…

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY