Jessie Harrell

Living on a tropical island is an incredible fantasy shared by many people. Being surrounded by water, drinking out of fresh young coconuts, and bathing in the ocean are some of the alluring images that come to mind.

Some people have actually chosen to make the fantasy of island life a reality. Many once deserted islands in Central and South America are becoming more and more inhabitable with building development, electricity, and even wifi.

However how does the reality truly live up to the fantasy?

Island life is not always paradise. With power shortages, few or often no roads at all, and a limited supply of goods it can be challenging at times living on an island.

Here are the pros and cons of living on an island for you to consider before moving to your own private paradise.

Pros of Living on an Island

They Are Beautiful

Caneles

There is no denying that tropical islands are absolutely stunning. Depending on the size of the island, there may be very little development and consequently nature everywhere. While some islands, like Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama have incredible surfing, many like the Bay Islands in Honduras have completely flat water that is perfect for diving and snorkeling.

They Can Help You to Relax

Far from the mainland, islands offer the chance to truly get away. Life moves at a slower pace on islands and you will likely find yourself in a deep state of relaxation. Some islands have no cars and electricity for only part of the day. This makes relaxing and unplugging that much easier. If you are looking to really slow down your lifestyle, living on an island may be a great fit.

They Have Strong Communities

Small islands in particularly tend to have strong communities. People don’t leave islands as often as towns so living on an island you usually find yourself around most of the same people. This helps the community to work together. Most people living on islands do so for the same reasons and this shared love and respect of the island bonds people together.

They Are Easy to Navigate

Some islands are so tiny, like Caye Caulker in Belize, it’s possible to walk their perimeter in under an hour. Going to and from work, getting together with friends, and plenty of other everyday activities can be dramatically simplified when living in such a small place. Driving can be impossible or unnecessary and living on an island you may get around by foot, bicycle, canoe, or golf cart.

With all of these incredible aspects of island life it’s easy to see why many fantasies are built around them. But what are some of the difficulties of island life?

Cons

There Is a Limited Supply of Goods

Anoldent

Islands tend to be much more expensive than mainland towns for a very important reason: there is a limited supply. Gasoline, first aid supplies, even fruits and vegetables can become scarce commodities and the prices will often reflect that. Depending how far the island is from the mainland, it can become costly and time consuming to have goods sent. You may notice that at the end of the week the markets lack most produce and fueling your car can be quite expensive.

There Is Limited Access to Medical Care

Most islands lack hospital facilities and some do not have medical care at all. In emergency situations this can be concerning as you may have to fly, or even take a boat, to access proper medical care. If you suffer from a medical condition in general this may be a big factor for you to consider.

A Slow-Paced Lifestyle Has Its Frustrations Too

The slower-paced lifestyle on islands is one of the wonderful benefits that helps its residents truly relax. However sometimes this slow pace can actually lead to stressful situations. If you own a business on the island you may struggle with the speed that the builders construct your space. You may struggle with training your employees to offer prompt service to tourists. Electrical outages may go on for days while you wait for the utility companies to come to the island. These are especially important considerations for those who plan to open a business, but they affect anyone who lives on the islands.

Living on an island could become the most magical experience of your life, fulfilling your every tropical fantasy, or it could be an incredibly difficult frustrating experience. Nowhere is perfect, so weigh the pros and cons and decide if island living is right for you. If you do decide to move to an island, take a deep breath and learn to adapt to this different lifestyle.