Chiquimula, Guatemala

With a population of just 79,815, Chiquimula is a sleepy provincial backwater that lacks the infrastructure and amenities most Westerners expect. The department was carved out of the larger Chiquimula region in 1871, and bureaucracy remains a persistent headache for anyone trying to navigate the local government. While the territory has been part of Guatemala since the 19th century, border disputes with neighboring Belize continue to simmer. Overall, Chiquimula is best suited for adventurous expats willing to embrace a slower pace of life and tolerate occasional bureaucratic hassles.