The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

The Expat Files - #1496, FRI, FEB 27 - 2026

#1- A word about Mexico “Lindo”:

Hate to say “I told ya so” but… I told ya so …

 

#2- Are there any places safe from the cartels in Mexico?

 

#3- Giving up on Air B&B’s:

 

#4- Why I don’t recommend Peru for your plan-B:

 

#5- I’m forever being asked about my pick for the best Latin American country for gringos and expats:

 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

EXPAT FILES SHOW #1495, FRI, FEB 20 (02-20-26):

#1- Should you bring your kids with you to live in Latin America?

At first they will whine, kick and squirm….

 

#2- Don’t confuse nerds with intellectuals:

I’ve met Latino nerds on the spectrum, but I’ve yet to meet any real Latino lintellectual…  

 

#3- How Latinos rate you, versus how you rate yourself:

 

#4- Netflix is super popular in latin America:

Note though that the Spanish version in Latin America is very different from the USA netflix you are accustomed to:

 

#5- Even wealthy educated Latinos believe in and brujas, witches, spells and multiple superstitions:

DYK there’s a witch (bruja) on call in every neighborhood…

 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

EXPAT FILES SHOW #1494, FRI, FEB 13 (02-13-26):

#1- About those horses you occasionally see on the street and in the boonies in Latin America:

 

#2- How educated Latinos in Latin America are reacting to Bad Bunny’s Superbowl appearance:

It’s not exactly what you might think…

 

#3- When Gringos attempt to apply for a Latin American driver’s license:

A funny thing happened on the way to the driver testing station….

 

#4- New Whatsapp scams are appearing every day here in Latin America:

Are they targeting Gringos and Expats?

 

#5- Hard water problems in Latin America and how to solve them… or not:

 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

 

The Expat Files: Living in Latin America - 2/6/26

#1-  Why have some Latin countries like Guatemala suddenly appeared on Trump’s new blocked travel VISA list while other Latin countries don’t:  

 

#2- How Latinos use time-tested immigration scams to get legal USA 90 day travel visas, 

 

#3- A funny thing happened on my way to the USA embassy:

 

#4- An update on taking Gold and Crypto assets across country borders:

 

#5- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1492, FRI, JAN 30 (01-30-26)

#1-  My personal history of being scammed in Latin America (by popular listener demand):

Yes, we all get scammed in our lifetimes and have the scars to prove it, some more than others but hopefully we learn. There are bad people out there, though sometimes we're asking for it. We're just stupid , gullible, unlucky or ill-informed and thus become marks. Since no one is 100% immune from scams, before you start crying and whining about your own history of being clipped, you’ll want to hear this story…

 

#2- Beware!!! With silver at over 100 bucks an ounce and gold over 5000, if you are lucky enough to have some, what are you supposed to do with it? 

It’s a dangerous time to buy, especially when there are tons of near perfect counterfeits out there on ebay and other online sites…

 

#3- Will Latin Americans ever accept self-driving cars and robots? Will the technology ever make it down to Latin America in a meaningful way?

 

#4- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1491, FRI, JAN 23 (01-23-26)

#1-  The best and worst case scenarios when one attempts to build or remodel a house or property in Latin America:

Today we cite examples at both ends of the spectrum… a gringo house building project that went very smoothly and a project that became a complete disaster…  

#2- When your Latino neighbors have bodyguards:

How might it affect you and what are you to make of it?

#3- Crazy Latin American floor patterns and abrupt staircase height changes are common:

Be extra careful or someday you will surely trip and fall on your ass…

#4- When a building contractor's verbal and implied warranties,

The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1490, FRI, JAN 16 (01-16-26): 

 

#1- What Latin American Spanish rags are saying about the Maduro capture:

Here’s what 1^st world captured media won’t tell you…

 

#2- The “macho” culture restaurant effect- in reverse:

Why does the lone gringo at the table so often get guilted into picking up the check?

 

#3- Crazy Latin American relationship facts- PART 2:

A continued rant on why so many beautiful Latina women have unattractive, low-value husbands, boyfriends and errant kids…

 

#4- How to kill a formerly nice, popular gringo tourist spot:

Might decapitating five or six locals and mounting their heads on poles at the beach do the trick?

 

#5- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files: Living In Latin America - 1.9.26

#1- The Maduro capture and after effects in a few words:

 

#2- Gringos looking for love in Latin America:

 

#3- Why do so many beautiful Latina women have unattractive, low-value husbands and boyfriends?

 

#4- How to lose 2 points on your gringo attractiveness scale:  

 

#5- Those ultra, ultra, super cheap gringos and expats who make all of us look bad: 

 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files: Living in South America - Episode 1488

Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1488, FRI, JAN 02 (01-02-26): 

 

#1- What expats need to know about Chat GPT and other AI platforms:

 

#2- Expat Insider seminar stories that will amaze you:

 

#3- When the will to “get out of dodge” diminishes with time:

 

#4- Will your wife or significant other thwarts your Plan B efforts:  

 

#5- No good deed goes unpunished (that goes for Latin America too): 

 

#6- 10 most dangerous jobs:

 

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

#1- The ins and outs and proper steps to having your SS check deposited in your Latin American Bank Account:

 

#2- Why despite your natural resistance and repusion to brain numbing USA buerocracy …you really need to set up a personal account on the US Social Security website:

Setting up a personal account on the SS  website will eliminate a lot of headaches when things go wrong (and they will go wrong eventually)

 

#3- DYK that in order to get residency in certain Latin American countries, there are multiple dreaded vaccine requirements?

Yes, this is bad news, but some countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador don’t enforce those rules at all….

 

#4- Disgusting Latin American culinary surprises you will encounter:  

 

#5- Tips for gringos and expats who are able to buy Latin American properties with CASH: 

 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at: