In early adulthood, Lee Nyhus traveled extensively to less-visited corners of the globe, including spending a year backpacking around Africa. Even when it came time to settle down for a while, she chose what was, at that time, a somewhat unusual destination for American expats: Tokyo.
This area used to be truly a local secret. The first time I came to Belize in early 2014, the main road north of the bridge was full of potholes and extremely difficult to navigate. Within a couple years, the road was paved, making the area north of the bridge more accessible and popular.
The lack of government interference in our daily lives is a major attraction to many of us who settle in Belize. It's true, the perpetually bureaucratic government doesn't bother you much—but they provide minimal infrastructure as well.
There are numerous reasons why Belize has exceeded my expectations, but chief among them is the glorious weather. Having now grown used to a tropical climate with year-round summers, I could never go back to gray skies, scraping my windshield, shivering while walking outside, and having to bundle up all the time.
In 2004, Rebecca Henrich moved with her family to Belize in search of a simpler, more affordable life. She and her husband are passionate environmentalists and wanted their kids to grow up in a nature-filled environment where the family could grow their own crops, use solar power, and live according to ecological, sustainable principles.
Finding long-term rentals in Punta Gorda can be tricky so, if you’re looking for a place, plug in to the local community online and put the word out. Using Airbnb is a temporary solution, so you can start your search and begin to make connections. The rental market however, is very reasonable.
The good news is that the threatened three-hour wait did not materialize. The load on my flight was so light that we left Houston (my departure point in the U.S.) early and arrived in Belize half-an-hour ahead of schedule.
In 2010, Annelise Hagan accepted a position as science director for two marine parks in Belize. This job took her to Placencia, a narrow peninsula in the south of the country known for its palm tree-lined Caribbean beaches and spectacular diving.
Caring for your money as an expat can get complicated. Your first question might be—how safe and secure are my funds in Belize? You would ask that in any bank, but it's more important when you consider Belize is a young country and has different banking protocols.
It was late December 2010, and I still hadn’t made vacation plans. I sat down at the computer, and with one Google search, my whole life changed. I entered a search for “warm places to go in January,” and San Pedro, Belize popped up in the top 10. If I’m being honest, I didn’t even know where Belize was. However, I was too tired to do any follow-up, so for the first time in my type-A life, I booked a trip without thoroughly researching it.