Living in Belize the Expat's Guide

Belize is a country that ticks an awful lot of boxes on a would-be expatriate’s list of ‘desirable attributes.’  For example, it’s just so damn stunning - you have paradise beaches: deserted, white sand, palm fringed – you know, the sort that dreams are made of!  Then there’s the ocean – deep azure blue, warm, gentle and home to amazing reefs and abundant and fascinating wildlife…

You’re surrounded by rainforests and thriving and bustling towns; you’re sharing the nation with the likes of Jaguar, Keel-Billed Toucan, Baird’s Tapir, Black Howler Monkeys, Red Eyed Tree Frogs and perhaps the most visually striking bird in the world, the Scarlet Macaw.  What’s more, Belize manages to match and marry sufficient sophistication with fair quantities of laidback charm to create an unrivalled place to live.

Can you imagine your new life living in Belize?  You could sunbathe on your own terrace overlooking the lush flora of the tropical landscape, wander down to the beach and snorkel away an hour marvelling at the magic beneath the waves of the Caribbean, before taking a stroll back through town and eating some of the freshest, most delicious seafood in the world, and sharing a glass of something potent with your new found friends – all of whom speak English!  Sounds pretty dream-like doesn’t it?  Well, read on to discover how your life could dramatically improve if you moved to live in Belize!

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Previously known as British Honduras, Belize lies on the east coast of Central America in the heart of the Caribbean Basin.  Bordered on the north by Mexico, the south and west by Guatemala and to the east by the Caribbean Sea, Belize is an English speaking sub tropical country of 200,000 people, with the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere.

With an average temperature of 26 degrees centigrade and sea temperatures around 30 degrees centigrade, with brisk prevailing winds off the Caribbean Sea to cool the country, Belize is a Mecca for divers and bird watchers and really can be described as a paradise, it is possible to retire in Belize quite easily.

In this article we are all about retiring in Belize!

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We touched upon what makes a good expatriate employee yesterday in our article ‘Most Important Attributes to Have When Seeking Work Abroad,’ and this inspired us to thinking in general about what makes expatriates successful and which types of people fail to establish themselves overseas.

Many nations have inbuilt support networks for expats – think of Spain with its intense concentration of international citizens and a place like Dubai for instance, where the population is largely foreign – both are nations where it is much easier for a foreigner to set up and make a home successfully.

When it comes to a country like Belize however, things are very different.  Whilst there are those who have gone before you and made a home for themselves in this tropical paradise, there are not the support networks in place to make your move such a smooth and easy one.  So, in this article we’ll look at which expats make a success of living in Belize and which don’t.  The advice and findings are pertinent for any would-be expat moving anywhere really, but they are also extremely pertinent for anyone moving to live abroad in a less well-known location such as Belize.

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