BELIZE (29 Apr 2008) — Church of England missionary Charles Frederick Pascoe wrote in 1893 that Belize - then known as British Honduras - was a "remote and isolated place." More than 100 years later, Belize may still feel far-flung, but it's anything but removed. The once under-the-radar getaway has attracted a lot of attention the past several years, thanks to the Fox reality series "Temptation Island" and Hollywood film director Francis Ford Coppola's foray into the resort business (he owns the Blancaneaux Lodge, Turtle Inn and La Lancha luxury resorts there). A decade ago, Belize barely registered a blip on the screen; today, it regularly finds its way into the pages of slick travel magazines. Previously thought of as an off-the-beaten-path destination for eco-tourists, sport fishers, scuba divers and other adventure seekers, this sun-soaked land is now luring its share of mainstream tourists, retirees and a growing numbers of second-home buyers, primarily from the United States, Canada and Europe. A two-hour flight south from Miami, Belize is an English- and Creole-speaking nation in Central America that is rimmed by hundreds of miles of warm, sparkling Caribbean, glorious stretches of white-sand beaches, the world's second-longest barrier reef and swatches of jungle teeming with exotic flowers, birds and wildlife. "The faraway feel and raw beauty is what sold me," said Victoria Harding, a New York native who divides her time between Belize and Connecticut. "The affordability was a much-welcomed bonus." Last year Harding purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath villa for $150,000 near the town of Conseo, in the Corozal region of northern Belize, known for its Mayan history. The property has breathtaking views of Chetumal Bay and the southern tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. "I never encounter crowds. Sometimes, it feels as though I have the whole country to myself," said Harding, alluding to Belize's low population density (a population of 300,000 lives in an area the size of Massachusetts). "The people are very friendly, and it is not only a great place to visit, but a wonderful place to live." While idyllic Ambergris Cay, a narrow strip of land off the mainland of Belize, garners much attention and has become an expatriate hot spot, it's not the only "happening" place in the country. Ara Macao Resort & Marina (aramacao.com), a new 600-acre development of several hundred high-end condos and villas priced from the low $400,000s (and a hotel, casino, two nine-hole golf courses and retail stores) is being built in Placencia, a lively seaside resort town in southern Belize about a 3-hour drive from bustling Belize City. Luxury may be all the rage, but it's not the rule. Deals abound in Belize. While you could easily pay $250,000 to $500,000 for a house or condo in prime tourists areas, the Cayo District, a rain forest region in western Belize, has a number of spacious homes for sale in the $75,000 to $150,000 range, and rentals go for as little as $200 a month. Tropic Real Estate (realestatebelize.com) lists several large waterfront lots with price tags between $50,000 and $110,000, a mere fraction of the cost of comparable properties in the United States. | | Zumandu is a reoccurring character on Belize's Caye Caulker. He works as a bartender at the popular Lazy Lizard bar, where patrons can lounge on the patio in hammocks, and at Oceanside, a popular club on Saturday nights. "Considering what's going on with the American economy, home buyers have to stretch their dollars as far as possible," said Harding. "Belize is the kind of place you can do that. Plus, it's only a hop, skip and a jump away." If you go PERKS: All the water, reefs, sandbars, rocks, lagoons and islets one would expect in the Caribbean. An affordable cost of living (half that of the United States). English is the official language. U.S. dollars are widely accepted. No restrictions on foreign ownership of property. DRAWBACKS: Relatively high incidences of burglary and petty theft. Avoid traveling on rural roads at night (they become stamping grounds for bandits and other criminals). Advanced medical care infrastructure is limited. THE WEATHER: June through September is the rainy season. From November to April, the weather is close to perfect. Located in the Caribbean's hurricane belt, the storm threat looms each year from June through November. THE COSTS: Even though property prices in Belize continue to rise dramatically along with its popularity, the costs of homes and land are still a bargain compared with Florida and traditional second-home havens. SOURCE - The RecordSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
