I have been an avid flyfisherman living in the northern Rocky
Mountains for 30 years.I am looking for similiar habitat to retire to
in the middle Chilean, northern Patagonia area. I also enjoy mountain
treking. I will have a retirement fund of around $1800/mo. I would
like information on
climate (mild is better), cost of living, lack of crime, oceanfront
housing.

Hello tricobob-ga,

You have me longing for a vacation now. I have found some great
information for you on the climate, cost of living, lack of crime, and
oceanfront housing in the Patagonia area of Chile.

Let us start with climate. As you may already know, seasons in the
southern hemisphere are backwards from that of the northern
hemisphere. While it is summer in America, it is winter there. For
example?
In November, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our May. 
In December, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our June. 
In January, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our July. 
In February, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our August. 
In March, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our September. 
In April, Patagonia has the same season / climate as our October.

As far as daily climate? The summer offers warm, sunny days and cool
nights.  Days are long, the sun rises at about 6:00 a.m. and sets near
10:00 p.m. Temperatures are in the 70s and 80s during the day,
dropping to about 50 degrees at night. Higher elevations will be
experience a slightly cooler climate, and frosts have been known to
occur at night, even during the summer.  The rainfall while adequate
does not make for a wet climate in some areas of the Patagonia. In the
winters, temperatures range between the 70?s to 40?s for daytime to
evening. This makes for the mild climate you?re looking for. It seems
that the weather is a bit unpredictable, going from sunny to rainy to
windy in a day.

?They say that if you stand still in Patagonia ?all four seasons will
blow past you in a day -sometimes in an hour.?

As far as crime rate, I see that Patagonia is described as having a
crime rate that is non-existent. It seems to get higher the closer you
get to major cities, but as far as Patagonia, it seems like a very
peaceful place.

?The crime rate in Patagonia is virtually non existent. However common
sense caution should be exercised in major cities, towns, and
airports.?

Cost of living seems very reasonable right now. While Chile is one of
the more expensive areas of South America, it seems that the cost of
living is still only about 50% of what living in America or Europe
would cost. Property values are less that ½ of Europe or America, so
what may cost you 300,000 in America, would be maybe 140,000 there.
However, some areas are comparable to the US. I think with an $1800
monthly retirement, you will have no problems.

As far as housing, I have found some wonderful articles and sites for
you to read, plus some properties you may be interested in

Kayakers and Fly Fisherman Vacation Home
Asking Price: $80,000 USD (Financing Available) 
?The trout fishing in Lake Espolon is incredible with the average fish
being about 18 inches with much larger ones at times being caught.?

http://www.viviun.com/AD-15008/

Apartment in Chilean Patagonia - Welcome to the South!
Asking Price: $130,000 USD 
VILLARRICA LAKE AND VOLCANO FIRST SIGHT APARTAMENT 
ONE OF THE MOST BEATIFUL PLACES IN SOUTH OF CHILE 
http://www.viviun.com/AD-10876/

Moving to S? America
http://www.escapeartist.com/si/sa.htm

Overseas Retirement
http://www.escapeartist.com/retirement/havens.htm

Google Searches:
Patagonia
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Patagonia&btnG=Google+Search

Patagonia Chile
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Patagonia+chile&btnG=Search

Patagonia Chile climate
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Patagonia+chile+climate&btnG=Search

Patagonia Chile cost of living
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Patagonia+chile+cost+of+living&btnG=Search

Patagonia Chile ?cost of living?
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Patagonia+chile+%22cost+of+living%22&btnG=Search

Patagonia Chile ?crime rate?
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Patagonia+chile+%22crime+rate%22&btnG=Search

Patagonia Chile apartments for rent or purchase
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=patagonia+chile+apartments+for+rent+or+purchase&btnG=Search


Misc. links of interest:

http://www.exchile.com/guideseasons.html

http://www.highplaces.co.uk/treks/itins/la_pat_04mf.pdf

http://www.chilepatagonia.com/whyfishchile.html


If this answer requires further explanation, please request
clarification before rating it, and I'll be happy to look into this
further.
Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher

---

Request for Answer Clarification by tricobob-ga on 19 Aug 2004 15:24 PDT

Howdy:
I'm camping and fishing now so I'll be a little slow in getting back
to you.Thanks for the time you put into the research. You found a few
things I did not. Friends tell me there are towns like Futuleufu
scattered throughout Patagonia that have microclimates that are much
milder then the surrounding areas. Do you have any way of determining
where these smaller areas might be.
I'm looking for places that are sunnier than Portland or Seattle.

Thanks Bob

---

Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 20 Aug 2004 07:31 PDT

Hello again, I would be more than happy to work on this for you and
see what I can find. As I just recently had surgery, it may be a few
days until I can acquire this information for you. I am on bed rest
and lots of pain meds. Thank you in advance for your patience and I
will be back with you shortly.

Nenna-GA

---

Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 23 Aug 2004 08:53 PDT

Hello again,

Thanks for your patience on waiting on my clarification. I'm feeling a
bit better, and am glad to get back here and help you out.

Now, as far as climate, Let's start with your target area. The climate
of of Portland/Seattle. A little over 1/2 the days there are
precipitation free. The temps range from 35 degrees F to 85 degrees F.
Days without cloud cover range from 3 in the winter months to 13 in
the summer months. Most of the days have some sort of cloud cover.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Portland-Oregon.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For this sort of climate, you may want to focus on the northern area
of Chilean Patagonia.

Let's talk about Futaleufu ? warm, clear, sunny days are the norm
during the summer months of December - March. Although the village has
a warm micro-climate, it can still rain. Nights are always cool due to
the altitude of +/- 1,000m. That area does have the climate that you
are looking far.

http://www.patagonias.net/Cities/Futaleufu.htm
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/85832.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maps of Northern and Southern Patagonia areas
http://www.gochile.cl/Info/Map/Mapindex.asp
http://www.gochile.cl/Info/Map/MapPatagoniaS.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The northen area probably comes the closest to what you're looking for. 
The city of Coyhaique might be a good area for you. 

"Coyhaique is a small city located in the deep south of Chile between Puerto 
Montt and Punta Arenas.  Coyhaique, population 35,000, has a museum, 
plaza, restaurants, lodging and everything else you might find in a small 
city.  The real attraction here are the rivers that have good fishing and the 
nature setting you find yourself in"

"Summertime (Dec.-Mar.) temperatures are generally mild but rain can
fall anytime. Patagonia is famous for its high winds. Microclimates
are common as we weave amongst the Andes. If you don't like the
weather where you are you don't have to wait long for a change!"

"Coyhaique is also the base of operations for Southern Latitudes fly
fishing tours. People come from all over to try their luck in rivers
like the Simpson, Ñireguao, or Baker."

http://www.chile-travel.com/coyhaiqe.htm
http://www.southernlatitudes.com/sohiwaytorres.html
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/85864.html
http://www.patagonias.net/Cities/Coyhaique.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northern Info:
http://www.gochile.cl/Info/MChile/DesPatagoniaN.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google searches:

Futaleufu Chile
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=Futaleufu+chile&btnG=Search

Chilean patagonia baker river
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=chilean%20patagonia%20baker%20river&btnG=Google+Search

Coyhaique chile
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%20%20Coyhaique%20chile&btnG=Google+Search

Climate Portland OR
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=climate%20portland%20OR&btnG=Google+Search

If this answer requires further explanation, please request
clarification before rating it, and I'll be happy to look into this
further.
Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher

People looking for sporting activities in out of the places don't want
the whole world to know about the "next great place". You should ask
if the contractor wants his answer posted on the web. I didn't.   bob

I went last year to Argentina and crossed the Andes by bus and
boat....which was AMAZING by the way...but anyway...spent the night in
Puerto Montt in Chile....northern Patagonia, awesome!  I don't know if
you read spanish, but:

http://www.empormontt.cl/

(not a researcher...just my 2cents)

Hi, 
  just in case you are still planning to move to Patagonia.
I lived in Chile for two years so I have some limited experience.

Firstly, if you don't know Spansih you will definitely have to learn 
it because only about 2% of adult Chilians are fluent in speak English. In 
the tourist areas the percentage will be higher but probably not more then 
10% anywhere. Secondly, Patagonia is cold for many months of the year.
Most people only go there during the summer months at which time the
parks become crowded with tourists. Many of the areas further north
would have a more comfortable climate. However, you should exclude
Santiago because of its
smog, crowding, bad driving, and high crime rate.

You would do well to talk to people who have actually lived there rather than
those who have simply been there on tourist trips or looked at web pages.