Are you interested in the possibility of retiring abroad to a small town on the coast? Let me tell you about a few options in Uruguay if that interests you.First, Uruguay's location is a huge plus. Uruguay isn't subject to destructive earthquakes and doesn't have volcanoes. It also doesn't fall under hurricane warning. It is also socially stable with the largest per capita middle class in the Americas.It is also a country that is rich in food. Uruguay's fertile farmland yields a wide variety of crops, from citrus to grains. Its grazing pastures support more than 11,000,000 cows, which is more than three cows per resident.Uruguay is a tax-friendly country for retired expats. Uruguay is a tax-friendly jurisdiction because you don't need to report retirement pensions, social insurance payments, or rental income from home.I am referring to the two small beaches towns of Atlntidaboth and Piripolis. Both are located in an area rich in natural beauty. Both offer a relaxed lifestyle. Both are close to the services and shopping of larger cities.PiripolisGetty Images/iStockphotoDon Francisco Piria from Uruguay, a developer, visited Frances Cte dAzur around the 20th century. He was inspired by the experience to build Uruguay's first resort town on the coast, which he called Piripolis.Piripolis is located in Uruguay's only coast with hills. It faces the Ro de la Plata (a body of water that is approximately the same size as the Atlantic Ocean).Piria started his career by building Uruguay's first luxury hotel, Gran Hotel Piripolis. He completed it in 1905. He developed the city's infrastructure and started selling lots between 1910 and 1920.He built the Argentino hotel between 1920 and 1930. It was South America's largest and most luxurious hotel at the time.Piripolis, a city of around 9,000 people, is well-known for its waterfront centero. The Mediterranean-style beachfront promenade is located on one side of this narrow coastal road. Large sun canopies extend to the side of shops, cafes and ice cream shops.You will find everything you need to shop, including hardware stores and pharmacies. There are many cafes and restaurants.An assortment of fishing boats, all small and anchored in the local harbour. They provide fresh seafood and fish for the residents and restaurants of Piripolis.Two small hospitals are available for medical care. One is a public hospital. All three hospitals are part of a network. If you have a need, you can access the services of larger hospitals.Uruguay is located in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed. The peak season month of January is when most vacationers and snowbirds visit, and Piripolis' population can double.High season is for many residents who are full-time. It's a time to meet new people and socialize. Others see it as a chance to rent out their homes to vacationers and make some extra money while they travel.Piripolis is ideal for winter walks, reading, or home projects. Winter socializing includes getting together with full-timers for lunch, or an evening of board game.Most homes in Piripoliss centralo are single-family houses with gardens and some apartments with water views near the coast.San Antonio Hillits side is located just east of Piripolis centero. It's clad in view houses and apartments.You will find single-family homes on the coast in beach communities beyond Piripolis' city limits. They are located six miles to the northwest of Piripolis and four miles to the east of Piripolis.Many expats who live in Piripolis regularly make shopping trips to Maldonado or Punta del Este. It takes 35 minutes to get there.Maldonado, a city of middle class with 77,000 residents, is home to the majority of Maldonado's full-time residents. Punta del Este, Uruguay's most luxurious beach resort, is located in Punta del Este. It is a small city of approximately 25,000 people that hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists in summer.You will find specialty shops, home-stores, and a shopping center between Maldonado, Punta del Este. You can also find English-speaking professionals such as dentists and residency attorneys.Piripolis lies 61 miles east Montevideo, Uruguay's capital. Half of Uruguay's 3.5 million inhabitants live in or near Montevideo.You can walk or ride a bike in Piripolis' central area. A bus stop is located near the center, offering several trips daily to Maldonado and Punta del Este.You will likely need a car if you live on San Antonio Hill, or in any of the coastal communities that are not within the central area.AtlntidaGetty Images/iStockphotoNatalio Michelizzi, an Italian national who lived in Buenos Aires (Argentina), was born in 1931. He spent his vacation in Uruguay in 1935. He discovered Atlntida, a beautiful area of coastline with many trees and white-sand beach.The trees 150,000 pines and the eucalyptus were planted in 1908 by a group consisting of medical students and doctors as part of a beautification program.Michelizzi was fascinated. To buy all the land in Atlntida, he took out loans. He spent the rest his life developing Atlntida to a bustling beach resort.Atlntida, which has a population of around 6,000, faces the Ro de la Plata. Like Piripolis, Atlntidas' population rises in summer when snowbirds and travelers arrive.Atlntida, a 42-mile stretch that includes summer vacation communities, is Uruguay's anchor town. Atlntida offers more services and shopping than any other town of its size.Atlntida can be divided by a coastal highway, the Ruta Interbalnearia.Atlntida Sur, which has the beaches, is located on the south side. This is the area of town that has two large supermarkets, several restaurants and a half-dozen medical clinics.Atlntida Norte is located on the north side the coast highway. It is less developed.Expats also settle in the Costa de Oro areas, which is just outside Atlntida. These include Villa Argentina, to the west of Atlntida, and Las Tocas or Parque Plata, to the east.Although there are a few apartments in Atlntida Sur you will find most homes in the Atlntida area with yards.Atlntida is a 30-minute drive from Montevideos city limits and a one hour drive from Montevideos center.You can live the laid-back lifestyle of a small town while you are an expat in Atlntida. You are also close to Atlntida's capital city, which has many shopping centers, more than 1000 restaurants, and some of the best hospitals and medical professionals in the country.This story first appeared in International Living.
