Considering retiring to Brazil

We are considering retiring to Brazil and have so many questions.  I stumbled across this forum and think it will prove quite valuable.  We promise to browse the topics prior to asking a question.  Thank you!

@newtee23Welcome to the forum. There  are some very knowledgeable and helpful people here 

Thank you for taking the time to welcome us here! 

If you opt to retire be mindful that exotic beach side communities and serviceable health care communities do not always go hand to hand in Brazil.  There are very few exceptions to this rule.


Most places with decent health care infra-structure are, from small towns to large metros, have a semblance of strong economic activity. And Tourism trade isn't one of them.


You can always opt to a place, for as long as your access to hospitals, clinics, labs, doctors offices are at most within an hour drive.


The population size of a region is only important to have access to specialists. With that in mind, you can choose smalller to larger communities. 


The places expats tend to cluster, outside of outliers who live in remote areas by their own choice, are well known,,,, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, the Santa Catarina Coast Line, Brazil's Northeast coastline. 

@newtee23


Hi! Brazil is larger than contigious USA, so it might help if you are able to narrow the area down a bit - then we could give more advice relevant to that location...

We are looking at coastal-ish Parana.


    We are looking at coastal-ish Parana.
   

    -@newtee23


Parana is a good place to go.  Paranagua is a seaport city. 


Anywhere close to Curitiba is fair game.


    We are looking at coastal-ish Parana.
   

    -@newtee23


Any particular reason why this location?


        We are looking at coastal-ish Parana.         -@newtee23

Any particular reason why this location?
   

    -@Peter Itamaraca


Climate ins't.  Winters can be blistery cold.  Even on the shoreline. 


The Parana State provides an exceptional quality of life in all aspects, including public safety, health care infra structure, atractive median household incomes, and migrant heritage ( strong on Polish, Lithuanian, Ukranian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese ).


The Paranagua port was chosen over Santos by Chinese Logistic Investors for a Container Terminal ( R$ 1 billion paid for 90% of its stakehold ) , because the State Government committed to the port  dredging, which the Santos Port Authority dragged feet on budgeting for additional dredging. 


The then Governors or Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul commited to build a rairoad extension so the Chinese can get their grain shipped. 


On the southern part of the Country, you have the Seaports of Paranagua, Tubarao-SC, Pelotas/Rio Grande..


There are several more remote coastal communities in Parana, the one closest to Curitiba, linked by a  scenic Rail Line ( woith a visit, breathtaking views over the track course, specially Morretes ). The Parangagua bay is an Estuary.   Open seas communities include Matinhos, Guaratuba, Pontal do Parana. All of them close by Natural Reserves ( Atlantic Florest ).


Also, crossing into Sao Paulo, you have Reserves by Registro, Iguape, Cananeia.  Huge Japanese Heritage Enclaves.  Lots of Artisans, Tea Plantations, Seafaring. 



Parana Agriculture is mostly organized by Cooperatives, and they have a strong financial foothold, specially in Sao Paulo ( SICOOB  Bank )


Outside Curitiba you have the Audi  and Renault Assembly Plants. 



It's a great place to be.   

And another thing..


Thanks to the late Jayme Lerner, an Architect and Urban Planner, and then  Curitiba's mayor, the city has a decent engagement to urban infrastructure .


Even the "shanti towns in Curitiba have building codes!   It's not haphazard, build at your own will.


Not long ago, if you landed in Curitiba with no employment papers and a place to stay, the City would  authorize and reimbursement Law Enforcement Officers to buy you a bus ticket back home, you couldn't even step out of the bus terminal.   The practice has since been abolished, but it goes to show you folk from Curitiba are provincian and kind of NIMBY minded. 


Yet, if you wander through the city's downtown,  not a single building has graffitti in .  Folks in Curitiba take pride in the way their city looks and functions.