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Gay retirement in Lima, Peru

Senior gays looking to live a risk-free life in a gay retirement community should leave this page now. Unless you have a slightly adventurous spirit this page isn't for you. Lima, Peru probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when gay men consider where they will spend some of their retirement years. But then, compare Costa Rica 15 years ago to today and see how popular that country has become over the period. Other destinations like Mexico and Honduras have also attracted some gay senior retirees.

What made Costa Rica such an attraction then could be said to apply in great part to Lima, Peru today. These are low cost of living, pleasant climate, and friendly Latino guys. Additionally, Peru is a spectacular country with many opportunities to discover the coastal beaches, the snow-peaked Andes, the Amazon rainforest, the archaeological treasures and the Peruvian people.

This page is not intended to be a promotion for Peru. There are plenty of resources in bookshops and on the Internet that can tell the reader what Peru has to offer. Some of these can be found on my Useful Links page. The following paragraphs contain information that generally isn't to be found in the guidebooks.

The City of Lima Don't have any illusions; in many parts, Lima is a dirty, polluted, noisy, over-crowded city with a high proportion of the people living in poverty, and has a seemingly chaotic traffic system. However there are also some very pleasant districts with Miraflores and adjoining San Isidro, Surco and Barranco being the chief of these.

Cost of Living It is possible to live as a single on $1000 to $1200 per month without much effort. Why is it so cheap? Property prices and rentals have slumped over the last four years due to a general recession in Peru, and there is a huge choice. Furnished one-bedroom studio apartment rental in Miraflores starts at about $180 per month. Whether considering buying or renting the value-for-money is going to be far higher than in N.America or Europe.

Communications Transport costs are very low because it isn't necessary to have a car. Taxis are plentiful and cheap. For travelling around the country there are luxury buses with reclining seats costing about $1.50 for every hour of travel. Alternatively, a one-way flight to any destination in the country with any of the domestic airlines costs $69. Railways of a good standard run along spectacular routes to join some of the principle cities in the Andes highlands. On international air routes Lima is served by Continental Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, KLM, and Iberia to name but a few.

Immigration It is possible to stay in Peru for 150 days on a tourist visa. On arriving a passenger normally receives a 90-day tourist visa stamped inside their passport. This visa can be extended for 30 days at Migraciones on Av. España, and this can be done once more. Then before the end of 150 days it is necessary to leave the country. On re-entering Peru (even on the same day) the process starts again. It is not possible to gain employment with a tourist visa, although it is permissible to work as a volunteer.

Read more about gay retirement in Lima, Peru at Retirement (2)


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