Where expats choose to live in Belize?

Hello lanihansenramm.

As you were off topic on the other discussion, a new one has been created on the Belize forum.

I hope other members will give you some insights.

Thank you,
Aurélie

I am interested in learning more about Corozal.  We've decided that it will be our best fit for circumstances.  In advance of our first trip, I'd like to see pictures of rental houses with the corresponding prices.  Indeed, I'd like to see more pictures of the town and the various areas and amenities. 

Thanks

The blog "a king's life" has a wonderful budget for living on Ambergris Caye. 

The most common ex-pat area is Ambergris Caye, San Pedro Town.  Other popular areas are Punta Gorda and Placensia, but San Pedro is a good place to start before exploring other areas to live for longer periods of time.

the cayes are expensive compared to the mainland.. your 2400 will not go as far as you think if you live on the cayes. house cost are double/triple on the cayes too.

Where do expats choose to live in Belize?
It just depends on the lifestyle you want.
Do you want a quiet, simple, country life - or do you want neighbors and bars and places to go after 8 o'clock at night?
I started in San Pedro and I'm now in the Stann Creek District.
I know a lot of expats in San Pedro and Placencia, and a fair share in San Ignacio.
Try to explore as much as the country as you can before you settle down - if you want someone to show you Stann Creek and other parts of Southern Belize, send me a message!

Carrie
LettersToMyFriendsBackHome

Expats are spread out all over the country. The highest concentrations can be found in San Pedro, Corozal, Placencia and San Ignacio.  Belize is so diverse, it can make deciding where to live hard.

Just like Fishbones, I started out on Ambergris Caye and did not find it suited me, so now I live in San Ignacio.

I always tell all new arrivals to wait six months before doing the following things:

1. Buying property
2. Buying a vehicle or golf cart
3. Shipping your belongings here

This allows you to quickly and easily pick up and go to another area should you not like your first choice. If you decide Belize is ultimately not suited for you at all, you haven't invested a lot of money setting up a new life here.

Rent, ride a bike, and live out of your suitcases until you're certain you want to plant roots.

Very good advice Wealthships, for people looking at Belize as a their new home.
For me, back in 1998 Corozal was never on the radar as the place I wanted to live in Belize.  A few months later once it came time to purchase property, Corozal was the place, after all.

Corozal Dave
i am with you on this one.. I too love Corozal and made it my home!

We're considering Belize and would like to hear more from you  Corozal fans about what you like most and least about Corozal. Thanks so much!

robertofcalifornia wrote:

We're considering Belize and would like to hear more from you  Corozal fans about what you like most and least about Corozal. Thanks so much!

Well Robert, here is what I wrote about Corozal, after I visited there:

Corozal; the name just sounds exotic and cool. That's exactly what this town is; laid-back, cool fresh and reminiscent of Taos, New Mexico or Sedona, Arizona.  Corozal is the Spanish name for the cohune palm tree which is used in thatching houses and you will find palm trees aplenty along the breezy shoreline of this bay side town.

This fertile bottom land, known for its sugar cane, is also home to a budding artist community.  At any outdoor bar, commonly called casitas, you may find yourself sitting next to a painter, sculptor, jewelry maker or some other artist, quietly practicing their trade in this tropical haven.

As with any artistic hangout, places to eat and drink are plentiful here:

1)For a relaxing, sit down breakfast or lunch, try the restaurant at the Tony's Resort. Tony's is beautifully landscaped and features a variety of blooming flowers in the garden areas.  Later you might like to try the adjoining Y-Not Grill & Bar for some surprisingly good “Pub Grub”.

2)For some lively conversation and just a good place to sample some of the local beverages, you cannot go wrong with Primo's Casita. It is a good crowd there that will welcome you with open arms.

3)Now if you are looking for a special treat, Make sure that you visit Corozo Blue's! They have a real, outdoor, brick, pizza oven and they know how to use it! They even serve an outstanding hummus, which adds an additional international flavor to this exotic laid-back locale. Make sure that you try the Pizza Margarita,I can guarantee that you will enjoy it.

Corozal! The place to be, if you want to get in touch with your inner flower child!

Now all of that aside; while I really enjoy Corozal, I find the Cayo district more suited to my lifestyle. To each his own!

Thank you, Robby1949! Very informative.  Although in good health, we have to consider the possibility that we might someday have a health issue. Is there quality primary care and emergency medical clinics in Corozal?

Robby1949 all good suggesttions if u are a tourist .. and want to pay $30.00 for a pizza or $22.00 for a chicken burger. Corozal offers alot more for less.. just walk around the streets or head to the market for 3 taco for 1.00 bz or a number of places that offer local food for under 8.00 bz. or do as we do- grow our own food on our farm. Living in Corozal offers everyone something different. just enjoy!

i have been looking at retiring to belise and locating property as well.i have done some city and area comparisons,now for anyone who lives there correct me if im wrong but im looking at the corozal area,cerros penninsula,because the southern part of the country gets a lot more rain than the north.(north avg=55.3in/yr and south avg=87 in /yr.)i plan on cruising the area in a 30 ft cabin cruiser and with the price of gas at $11-12 a gallon,i have easier access to mexico where gas is cheaper and everyday supplies also hospitals and equiptment.

Like popeye, the hospital access issue is important to us. We're healthy but in retirement the one thing that is almost sure to happen is a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. Cancer than be manged with a flight back to the U.S., but heart attacks and strokes require quality intervention immediately.

How have you all found emergency medicine in Belize, and given that health care is better in the expat areas of Mexico, what lead you to Belize (other than shared language)?

robertofcalifornia wrote:

Like popeye, the hospital access issue is important to us. We're healthy but in retirement the one thing that is almost sure to happen is a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. Cancer than be manged with a flight back to the U.S., but heart attacks and strokes require quality intervention immediately.

How have you all found emergency medicine in Belize, and given that health care is better in the expat areas of Mexico, what lead you to Belize (other than shared language)?

I would not trust Belize for emergency medicine.  If my husband and I weren't fit, slim, and healthy; and if we had any heart issues whatsoever, I would not choose Belize to live in. 

There are many other wonderful advantages of Belize (language, weather, cost of living, great people, many friends), but I would not put medical care on this list.  This is a risk we are willing to take in our 50s but probably would not take if we were older or in poor health.

there are some very good doctors in Belize... i alway suggest that you find a priv doctor if you need health care. If you are in Corozal you also have the option to go the chetumal MX, where the health care is very good.

All the feedback has been stellar so far. Thanks everyone. Looking at Corozal since last year, it will be the first I explore when I visit next year.

with the access to the international airport and just outside belise city why havent more expats choosen the ladyville area for retirement?does anyone have any negative info on the vista del mar development?with the blue hole and the reef just offshore and a central location to access all of belises landmarks.the reason most people go to the carribean is for the sun and sand,im looking at a canal lot in vista del mar so i can access the cayes,reef,and mexico by boat.any info would be helpfull,thanks.

Belize is actually considering Medical tourism. Which shocked me, but they do have some good specialists, the problem for me is costs of the real specialist that are good. But, that pales in comparison to the language barriers. Many of the doctors have heavy ascents and are hard to understand. In Mexico it is hard as well if you are English speaking. Many times what you thing someone means may be completely different. This is one of the reasons in my opinion expats get frustrated with services. We are in their world and we have difficulties in figuring out what is really meant of agreed on. lol

As Wealth suggested spend at least 6 months in an area before deciding where to live. Each place is distinct and offers great things and bad things. There is a fit in each area that may be more important to you and your needs. Personally, I suggest to people all the time to spend at least a year in a location where you are thinking of purchasing. Then find the property that calls to you and watch it through the seasons. Many of the great deals that are found are under water or hard to get to, or will cost a fortune to get to be what you want.

Our property is high and dry but when we put the driveway in we had to spend a lot more than we had planned. The government required 36" culverts in our area for water flow. Our driveway ended up costing 16k, almost half the cost of the property itself. Also, make sure the amenities are there if you want them as it is harder to get them there than one would expect.

I started in Belmopan because of its central location to explore Belize. Then, I found it to be the right place to raise my family. The community there was more than what I wanted. So we move just south of Belmopan so we could have the lifestyle we wanted, off grid, eco style living. I spent a little time in San Ignacio and PG before making the final decision, but it has been awesome living down the street for Ian Anderson's Jungle Lodge. They are involved greatly in the community and by association we are too. It was a nice blessing...lol