Jason Holland

Jason Holland

As a “military brat” Jason Holland, IL’s Roving Latin America Editor, had the benefit of growing up in Germany and Spain, before returning to Florida for college and a career as a writer. But life abroad beckoned, so in 2012 he, his wife, four-year-old son, and two dogs made their way to Costa Rica, splitting their time between the mountains of the Central Valley and the Pacific coast. Nearly five years later, they moved to Mexico, first to the white-sand beaches of the Riviera Maya and now they’re enjoying the colonial splendor of the UNESCO World Heritage town, San Miguel de Allende. From this home-base Jason travels across Latin America learning about the expat experience in places like Roatan, Panama, Belize, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. In all that time, he’s never visited a beach bar he didn’t like. Follow Jason on Google

In Pictures: 5 Reasons to Move to Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

In Pictures: 5 Reasons to Move to Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

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Located about three hours northwest of San José, Costa Rica's capital, the Arenal region has been drawing eco-minded travelers in search of opportunities in wildlife watching, jungle hiking, water sports, and other activities for decades. But in recent years it's become much more than a tourist destination, attracting an increasing number of expats interested in making permanent homes here. The area is dominated by the 33-square-mile Lake Arenal. Also, looming above the landscape at the east end of the lake, is the 5,479-foot Volcan Arenal, a cone-shaped volcano that is active but not dangerous