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If that sounds like Shangri La, you’re looking a little too far over the horizon. The fact is, tens of thousands of Americans have already found a good life at a great price in the Caribbean, especially on the islands. For them, it’s very much like a trip back through time.

ONI president Carter Clews, calls it “Mayberry by the beach.” And according to Zogby, that fact isn’t lost on the American people. Zogby’s survey, with more than 115,000 respondents, showed why the smart money is moving offshore – in anticipation of a massive market that is soon to arrive (and please keep in mind, the figures below represent households, not just individuals – so you can multiply the numbers by about 2.5):

Fact: 1.6 million U.S. households have firmly decided to move offshore and are already moving forward with their preparations.

Fact: 1.8 million U.S. households are “seriously considering” moving offshore and are likely to do so.

Fact: 7.7 million U.S. households are “somewhat seriously” considering moving offshore and “may” do it.

Fact: In addition, nearly 3 million U.S. households are “seriously considering” buying a vacation home or other property offshore; another 10 million are “somewhat” serious about doing so.

So, the only question left for serious investors Are you prepared to beat the rush and profit from the boom when the new emigrants wade ashore? If your answer is “Yes,” then let me take it a step further and suggest where my investor’s intuition tells me the coming swarm is going to nest first. Actually, it doesn’t take much imagination.

Let me give you three prime examples of stunning tropical islands, all in the West Caribbean, that I consider – right now – to be the best investments in Latin America. And that’s saying something.

I’ll tell you where the islands are, as well as why I believe your investment could yield an exponential return. And I’ll even guide you to some of the premier locations where, as of this writing, you can still get in at what I consider a bargain price. From there, it’s up to you. Fair enough?

All right, then, let’s get started before the tide – and the prices – rise.

Ambergris Caye – This tropical paradise is probably the best known of the lot. It’s part of Belize; right off it’s northeast coast. And it achieved celebrity status when Madonna deemed it La Isla Bonita:

"I want to be where the sun warms the sky/When its time for siesta you can watch them go by/Beautiful faces, no cares in this world/Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl"

All right, it’s not great poetry. But, in this case at least, the “Material Girl” knows of what she sings. Titanic icon Leonardo di Caprio just snapped up a nearby island for a hefty $10 million. Waterfront property prices on Ambergris Caye have nearly doubled in the past three years. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the price of an average home in the San Pedro area of Ambergris has jumped 18.6% in one year alone.

Tourism in Belize has skyrocketed – up 300% in the past five years – with Ambergris leading the way.

According to the Travel Channel, “The word is out. Ambergris Caye is a tropical paradise, with swaying palm trees, long stretches of pristine beach and friendly people. Once a sleepy fishing village now turned into an exploding tourist spot. Go soon before it's too crowded!”

As the International Tribune reports, the island is “booming ...nice and quietly”

Still, a two-bedroom, waterfront condo on Ambergris typically sells for only $300,000 to $500,000 – compared to the $1-million price tags found on nearby St. Bart’s. So, bargain prices remain available. Though, they’re not likely to last long. Which makes it perfect for the serious investor.

Most importantly for Rich Report readers who may want to make a major move, there are still a few fairly large land tracts available on the Isla Bonita. But, with Belize booming the way it is, I don’t expect them to last long, so to hesitate may be to lose.

Roatan Island -- Let’s cut to the chase on this one: the Wall Street Journal calls Roatan Island “The Next Place in the Sun.” That’s in initial caps because that’s how WSJ headlined the story. The sub-head is equally as provocative: “Honduras’s Roatan Island has palms, peace, blackouts – and big tourism projects".

I’d suggest you forget the blackouts – if the price of oil keeps escalating, we all may soon be groping around in the dark – and focus on the palms, the peace, and, especially, the tourism. I’m prepared to predict that Roatan will soon become the #1 island tourist attraction in the West Caribbean. And you may quote me on it.

In 1999, cruise lines brought 57,000 tourists to Roatan. By 2007, that number had jumped to nearly 240,000; an average of nearly 20,000 a month. And here’s what’s most important for savvy investors: the Honduras Ministry of Tourism estimates that 20% of those who visit Roatan return. Of those, an additional 20% buy property.

Recently, Royal Caribbean inked a deal to build a $30 million extension to is Roatan cruise terminal. Not to be outdone, Carnival is spending $50 million to build its own port of call, which it says will handle as many as 7,000 tourists daily when it opens in 2009.

I wish I could tell you that you could still get an acre of beachfront property on Roatan for as little as $20,000 like you could just a few short years ago. Today, you can multiply that times 10 – or more.

There are still, however, some opportunities for major investors in select areas on the west end of the island, around the West Bay areas. And the largely undeveloped eastern end of the island is still fairly wide open (though it has been “discovered” by at least one major resort hotel conglomerate). In short, even on Roatan, you can still get high-level returns on reasonably low investments in a relatively short time.

Isla Margarita – Let’s clear the air right from the start. For those not entirely familiar with Latin America, or South America to be more precise, Isla Margarita is part of Venezuela. Need I say more? Now, before you throw up your hands (or lunch), hear me out – because for offshore investors, large or small, there is a vitally important point to consider: Caribbean islands represent not only a separate landmass from their mother country; they often represent a separate way of life, as well.

1.Isla Margarita attracted some 2.3 million visitors in 2007 – and according to the World Trade & Tourism Council is expected to enjoy a growth rate of 15% per annum in the years ahead.

2. The cost of living is remarkably low – as in $800 a month to live very comfortably, thank you -- with cheap food, gasoline, and housing; no value-added or local income taxes; and virtually no property taxes

3.Property prices on the island are on average 70% lower than on other Caribbean islands.

Frankly, it’s that last item that most strongly captures my attention as a serious investor. That, coupled with the fact that last year, according to the Latin Business Chronicle, the Isla Margarita economy grew at an astonishing 11.3%.

So, it could be well worth some risk capital. On the other hand, Bloomberg’s says Venezuela is facing what it calls an “inflation bomb.” And that makes it your call.

And so, we may well be at the inception of what some are already calling a “Population Inversion” in the Western Hemisphere. If so, it could transmogrify not only the cultures, but also the economies – and the economic opportunities - in every country affected.

And if the past is prologue, those who get in first will profit most from the oncoming Inversion. Should that be the case, for savvy investors – i.e., for the “Rich Report Regulars” - the islands in the stream could soon be money in the bank. See you next month.