Joseph D. Says:
My partner and I live on the Sunshine Coast, a short ferry ride away from Vancouver. We’re very interested in spending winters—perhaps forever—in Belize.
We presently live on a wonderful five-acre property in a modest cabin, and we enjoy spending our time outdoors landscaping and gardening. Ideally, we’d love to find a location in Belize where we could live somewhat similar lives, and oceanfront would be a dream come true. Where would you recommend?
IL Belize Correspondent Shane Kenny Says:
Hi Joseph,
Belize may be known for its beaches and the tourist mecca of Ambergris Caye, but there are plenty of places where you can live a simple, quiet lifestyle like you describe.
There are three places that I would recommend that you take a look at that are non-touristy but near the water.
Corozal is a popular choice for expats who want to live in Belize but avoid the relatively high property prices of places like Ambergris Caye. It’s in the north of the country, close to Mexico, and gets less rain than many places in the south. Corozal is kind of a “best of both worlds,” as it offers what you’re looking for, but is also day-trip distance from Chetumal, Mexico. You can find North American-style shopping in Chetumal when you want it.
Sarteneja is a small fishing village across the bay from Corozal. With a population of under 4,000, it’s a good bit smaller but offers some beautiful scenery (it’s known for being the only place on mainland Belize where you can see the sun set over the water). To me, it feels like what Placencia must have been like before it became one of Belize’s top tourist destinations.
Punta Gorda is in southern Belize and attracts expats who want to steer clear of tourists and connect with the local culture. It’s rustic and laidback, sitting on the Bay of Honduras and surrounded by jungle. From my experience talking to people here in Belize, Punta Gorda seems to be an up-and-coming place for expats to consider settling.If it helps, I recently detailed 5 places to live in Belize—and two to avoid.
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