Nearly two decades ago, when I first set foot in Nicaragua for International Living, the Managua airport was a simpler affair. Today there’s a Jetway, a/c and a duty-free shop. Travel & Leisure and Food & Wine gush about the country’s offerings. And we do, too. This month our correspondent there shares her recommendations—everything from volcano surfing to floating down a secret canyon.

But my point is: we were poking around Nicaragua back in the mid- 1990s, when it was otherwise overlooked. Today we persist in our boots-on-the-ground habit looking for storehouses of opportunity, spots ripe for engaging adventures, good-value investment, and comfortable, affordable living.

This month we introduce you to several such finds, among them Vietnam, where our editorial director ducks into small towns, strolls along beaches, and scrutinizes city life.

David Hammond, based in Uruguay, pulls back the curtain to reveal what he calls “South America’s forgotten heartland”: Paraguay.

Bob Bauman checks in on Estonia, which, he argues, offers foreign businesses a smart base within the European Union single market.

And even in a place as well-explored as Spain, we pinpoint overlooked gems.

All over the planet you find jewels like these—corners where others pay no heed. We make it our business to know where they are…and I hope you’ll make it yours to see them for yourself.

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Read more about these destinations in the articles below.

Find Your Paradise in Panama

Find Your Paradise in Panama

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Over the years, Panama has built up a well-deserved reputation as a world-class retirement haven. In the pensionado program, it offers the most comprehensive array of retirement benefits to be found anywhere in the world; 30% off public transport, 50% off entertainment, 20% off medical consultations and much, much more. But there’s a lot more to being a pensionado in Panama than retirement benefits. The country blends modernity with some of the lowest cost of living to be found anywhere; expect to pay a fraction of what you would at home for quality real estate and everyday items.

Real Estate on the “Maya Route”

Real Estate on the “Maya Route”

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Encompassing Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of El Salvador and Honduras, La Ruta Maya (the “Maya Route”) covers the territory of the Maya civilization, which reached its height from 250 to 900 A.D. One of the New World’s most advanced cultures, the Maya had written language, mathematics, a sophisticated calendar, and architectural skills that saw them construct massive temples and spectacular cities, many of which still stand. However, the Maya were never a single empire; rather, kings ruled over small territories surrounding a city.

Downsize: Enjoy a Simpler Life

Downsize: Enjoy a Simpler Life

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I arrived in Rio in 2008 with just two suitcases and a backpack. While I’ve accumulated a few things since, I still own very little. Interestingly, I don’t miss my old stuff. And I had a lot of stuff. My home was perhaps less cluttered than many American homes with electronics, knickknacks, and the latest must-have gadgets from The Home Shopping Network. Still, I was a single guy with a three-bedroom home, and an SUV parked in the garage. I had stuff.