Best Places to Retire - Belize Facts

International Living recently posed this question...

is Belize the easiest place to retire?

Well, according to the current issue of International Living magazine, Belize is: English speaking; has a very low cost of living, and on top of that it has no taxes! Oh and did I mention it's in the Caribbean?

In fact Belize is most likely the last place where you can still get find truly affordable Caribbean real estate.

Belize Facts:

Belize is a politically stable Central American country that is quite small and close by. Thats just one fact that makes it easy to consider as part of your retirement investment plan - whether you are interested in escaping winter for a few months each year or wanting a full time retirement get-away.  Where is Belize? Why it's just down the Caribbean Coast south of Mexico and west of  Guatemala.

It’s really very easy to enjoy yourself what with miles of tropical beaches; the second longest barrier reef on the planet; what many consider to be the best diving and snorkeling on earth; lush rain-forests; beautiful mountain retreats; natural preserves; vast rivers; above ground and underwater cave systems, and a plethora of Mayan archeological sites - yes, there's no shortage of things to do in Belize!

The fact that it's one of the most affordable retirement destinations only adds to the benefits.

Belize Real Estate For Sale

How affordable you ask? On Ambergris Caye, one of the numerous islands of Belize, a two bedroom, one bath, 900 sq ft house with air conditioning and close to the main village of San Pedro is for sale at just $135,000. Go 1 1/2 miles south to the village at Royal Palm Villas and you'll discover one bedroom oceanside condos for sale listed at just $149,000. These are new, modern condos with additional features like 24 hour security, a swimming pool, and air-conditioning.

Now if you're new to the whle idea of investing in Caribbean Real Estate or the idea of a Central American Retirement you might be wondering how those prices compare to other Caribbean hot spots like Bermuda where you will pay in excess of $800,000 for an average condo or St. John in the US Virgin Islands where you need to cough up $600,000 for something similar.

Yes, Belize is truly a Caribbean paradise. It was formerly known as "British Honduras" this the English speaking population. And it offers numerous important bonuses for anyone wanting an easy way to retire abroad in 2011.

Your Belize Retirement Calculator

Take a few moments to add up all of these benefits when to choose to retire in Belize and be convinced this truly is the easiest and best place to retire.

1. As we've already mentioned first and foremost English is the national language. That means living in Belize as an American you will benefit from being able to speak with neighbours, store keepers, realestate agents, drivers, bankers, waiters, well everyone really, in a common language you already understand. And most importantly, when it comes to legal papers, any contract you negotiate, whether its to rent or purchase a home, is written in English too. That translates into one more way to simplify your move and your life.
2. Next on our list is currency. The Belize dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a constant 2 to 1 plus U.S. currency is commonly and readily accepted in Belize. For you that translates into easy currency conversions - no need for any advanced retirement calculator here!
3. Taxes - the tax situation in Belize is another easy thing to manage. With No taxes on foreign earned income; No capital gains taxes; No corporate taxes; No inheritance taxes - it couldn't be any simpler.
4. The population of Belize is just over 300,000 people. And we're not talking about the population of their largest city no,   that's the population of the entire country! Belize is just 180 miles long and about 68 miles wide. That translates into one easy retirement lifestyle - easy to find the people, businesses, services and any other resources you may need to get things done.
5. The Retire Belize Program - not only do they have one of the best Retirement Programs in the Caribbean you don't even need to be retired to sign up for the benefits. Modelled after Panama's famous Pensionado Program, you need to be 45 years or older and prove you have a minimum monthly income of $2,000. That can be from a pension or an annuity, including Social Security. As an added benefit the program allows you to bring all your personal goods into Belize tax free.

Ready to Escape to Belize? Click here to learn more about the possibilities.

Best Places in the Caribbean - Belize

Where is Belize?

Belize is a small (according to Belize Wikipedia, less than 9,000 square miles and a tiny population of just over 300,000) Central American country found on the east coast between Mexico and Guatemala. For a map showing where Belize is check out my post - Where is Belize

How do I get to Belize?

Although there are no specific Belize Airlines which fly internationally you can still find direct flights  available from major cities in the United States directly into Belize City. It's not a big destination like Mexico so you will find the Belize airfares rarely go on sale. FYI for shopping websites the Belize Airport Code is BZE, If your final destination is some where other than the city there is a shuttle service available. The shuttle buses go everywhere in Belize.

Where to Stay

Belize City is an ideal destination for finding luxury hotels and all inclusive Belize resorts.  Their hospitality is well known and as a result these Belize accommodations attract visitors who return again and again. There is a rich culture which is reflected in the lifestyle of Belizeans. Because the country is small it's easy to learn about the history and culture while  having fun with the local residents. This tropical Caribbean country has abundant opportunities to enjoy nature and adventure including cave diving and tubing. In fact cave tubing is one of the most popular water sports in Belize  and has developed into one of the main attractions for visitors.

Belize Currency

The Belize dollar is the official currency of Belize and the ISO code for the Belize dollar is BZD. Like most countries who use a dollar as their currency the Belize dollar is made up of 100 cents. Although exchanges have varied widely as of late one US Dollar is worth around 2 Belize Dollars.

The Best Belize Beaches

There are numerous beautiful beaches but Palencia is known as the best beach destination in the country. The white sand beaches of Palencia are relaxing and refreshing for body and soul. Palencia Beach is found on the south Caribbean coast of Belize, about 150 miles from Belize City. You can get there by small inter-country airplane, bus or you can rent a car in the City. Whatever your transportation preference its easy to get to this amazing and world renowned beach. If you make your way to Palencia without a car it's possible to rent one there but the town is so small it's really easy to just walk on foot. From Palencia there are numerous natural attractions you can reach within a short walk. These include: Monkey River, Cockscomb Basin and Mayan ruins. You can also kayak through mangrove or paddle to one of the Cayes.

Roberts Grove

If you prefer to stay at a hotel and your looking for Belize 5 Star Resorts which are right on the beach the best option is the 'Inn at Roberts Grove'. At this lovely Inn you'll discover peace, tranquility and a great atmosphere with unparalleled guest service. Roberts Grove offers fine dining right on site plus activities like fishing, scuba and canoeing. They also feature one of the finest spas in Belize. Know too as a major dive resort Roberts is one of just a few who are 5 star rated by PADI. The New York Times says,  "Roberts Groves is home to the most reputable dive shop in Palencia". The location is ideal for anyone who is focused on a great dive vacation. They also include visits to the best diving places in all of Belize. It's not all sales pitch there is good reason they truly offer the best diving that is because they are located right on the edge of the huge barrier reef which runs along the coast of Belize. This vast coral reef has channels that descend from 90 to 110 feet and rise abruptly into shoals and Cayes which offer countless opportunities for scuba diving. There are at least 20 dive sites in the waters of southern Belize and near Roberts Grove. The area is teeming with fish and life that springs up along the coral reef system.

Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is the largest island of Belize. It is larger and has a larger population than Belize's main island. Ambergris Caye also has an interesting history dating back to the Mayan age. Later in history European pirates and Mexican refugees were known to have fled to Ambergris Caye during the Caste War. As a result the majority of the existing native population on the Caye descended from Mexico. At one time the economy was solely dependent on the coconut industry and fishing. But now it is dependent more on tourism and residential tourism. Ambergris Caye is comprised of more than 400 small islands. All of them enjoy the best panoramic views of the entire coast and country. In Ambergris Caye you will find luxury hotels with gourmet restaurants. You wil also enjoy fishing and diving and for nature lovers there is expansive forest land, savannahs and lagoons to explore.  Getting around is easy by   golf cart or bicycle.

In  Belize you can find an abundance of hotels, ins and Belize All Inclusive Resorts from the budget friendly to ultra-extravagant. And all on a coastal island country that is just few miles long. Visting or Retiring to Belize is definitely an experience you will never regret or forget. All you really need is your favorite beach chair, umbrella, perhaps a fishing pole and plenty of sunscreen.

Editors Note: Serious about Belize? Be sure to check out the Special Live and Invest in Belize Kit - Go to this page and scroll down to read all about it.

Living In Belize As An American

Some people get really excited about the "Retire Belize" Program (Qualified Retirement Program) when they think about living in Belize as an American but the reality of making that happen is that they have to go through a long drawn out procedure to get this special retired persons visa. It is probably best to get an attorney to handle it for you as it is not a simple matter for even the most patient of Americans living in Belize. We are just not used to things being quite this complicated and drawn out. Nothing in Belize is simple and here are some reasons why that might be the case.

Before I even tell you this, just understand it will be a shock. Things in Belize are not computerized. Just let that sink in for a few minutes. The government is not computerized. The banking system between branches is not computerized. The local law enforcement is not computerized. Rewind back to the 60s and 70s and think about how things were done in America. Everything had to be written by hand or typed. 

Bookkeeping was by hand on ledgers. Records were created in duplicate and everything was filed in a filing cabinet and if you wanted to have the information you had to contact the person or organization that had it and ask for a copy of it or to verify it with a form. The result was that everything was form based and was very slow moving. And if there were not copies when all record were lost of what had transpired then it was just lost. Can you even imagine going back 40 years in time?

This country is very behind in terms of technology and they seem to be perfectly OK with that. This country is the definition of relaxed and laid back. No one gets too excited about anything much. They have a high rate of unemployment and a very high rate of poverty too. They live very simple lives with very small homes often crammed with several people and little furniture. Tiny homes with 5-10 people and one shower and it is OK. Many walk everywhere because they don’t own a car and getting upset is a waste of energy for everyone. Now if you're into all of the modern conveniences and speed of access to everything we enjoy in A,erica than this may not be the place for you. However, these qualities are also what is attracting many retirees to this wonderful, simple little country. It truly is a great way to escape the rate race and live the 'tranquillo' lifestyle. 

One other important thing to ask is, Where is Belize? When you discover that Belize is located right in the middle of Central America you can relax a little. It's easily accessible from numerous U.S. airports, some less than two hours flight time away. So, if you find yourself getting a little island fever it's simple enough to hop on a plane and get your city fix in Houston or Miami. Or you may even want to use your new home as a base to spring board south to discover Panama City or other south American destinations. 

If your thinking about moving to Belize and especially if you haven’t spent much time there, will be a shock but it will be a slow shock. One that may ultimately make living in Belize as an American a frustrating experience if you are not prepared for it. You just need to talk a breath and go with it if you intend to be in Belize for very long. Darling, you’re not in Kansas anymore!