Living in Belize - The Hopkins Village Lifestyle

If really getting far, far away from it all is what you have in mind when you think about moving abroad then living in Belize in the seaside berg of Hopkins Village might appeal to you.  This quaint fishing village is not only attracting a lot of attention from tourists as its star is rising, investors and expatriate real estate buyers are coming in their droves of late too because property prices are just so attractive.

Living in Belize and the Hopkins Village lifestyle is just unlike living anywhere else – it is so sleepy and peaceful an existence.  And while the Central American country of Belize is technically a member of the Commonwealth, there are some things Britons in particular need to know before pulling up their roots and replanting them in Belize!

In this article we’ll explore Hopkins a little more closely and look at living in Belize in general as well.

Moving to Belize is a very big decision and one that should not be taken lightly.  Still, if staying in a Commonwealth country while soaking up Caribbean rays is the desire then Belize is the place to be as an increasing number of Britons are determining.  Already our North American cousins have discovered the many delights of Belize so it’s time we caught up…

Moving abroad with children to live in Hopkins Village or any other part of Belize should be carefully considered.  Although many of the new property developments have public water, phone, cable and full electricity, the educational system in Belize is not at all what Europeans and Americans expect. 

It seems that schools in Belize are either quite good or very understaffed and under-funded.  The country on the whole has a number of schools without libraries and many face equipment shortages so to compensate, many expatriates consider home schooling if they really have their hearts set on living in Belize and they have children in tow!

Those looking to retire to Belize and adults without children will find there are some things they too need to weigh up very closely before committing to the move.  Although Britons for example can generally travel in Belize visa-free for about 30 days, moving to the nation permanently does come with some challenges.  Proper registration with the Belize government is required.

Persons aged 45 or older tend to have an easier road to residency.  This is because Belize welcomes ‘retirees’ (people over 45) with open arms through its Qualified Retirement Residency Program.  People who can prove a stable retirement or investment income of at least USD 2,000 a month are given special residency status which includes tax exemptions from income generated outside of Belize.  Applicants who are granted residency under this program are able to include their spouse and other dependents as well, making it a particularly attractive program.

Going back to Hopkins Village and the Hopkins Village lifestyle in particular – while it’s considered a “sleepy” town by European standards, those who move to this southern Belize locale will find a lot of the basic comforts of home.  The residential property developments and resorts in this area all have running water, electricity and other modern conveniences and the village itself has shops, a grocery store, a health clinic and other essential amenities. 

The crime rate in Hopkins Village is considered practically nonexistent - in fact only one police constable patrols the entire village – and for this reason alone the location is such a popular draw for Brits and Americans fed up with rising crime in their home nations.

But if you don’t want to take just our word for it, the British government also attests to the relatively low incident rate for crimes against tourists and residents in Belize on their consular website.  In most cases British consular services are only requested for petty crimes and sports and driving-related accidents.

With picture perfect Caribbean weather year-round and a landscape that is truly tropical, if you’re looking for a beach lifestyle then Belize’s Hopkins Village is likely worth a very close look.  Do take care to watch out for an occasional hurricane and be prepared for some differences from home though – but all in all, this is a truly wonderful location and also worth a look if you’re an investor seeking real estate in Belize with decent long term potential.