Digital Nomad Exchange
Free MembershipSign In
Caye Caulker, Belize

What do I need to know before moving to Belize?

Answer this Question

GeoBlue
GeoBlue
GeoBlue
GeoBlue

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Belize, they said...

"The Placencia Peninsula is approximately 14-16 miles long. The Placencia Road that connects to the Southern Highway is about 24 miles long, with the northern most 8-10 miles on the mainland. Riversdale, a tiny community right on the ocean is the most northern habitation on the peninsula itself. A few homes, a small resort, and that is about it. The "Plantation" area starts just south of Riversdale. It is all residential on the sea side of the peninsula, but toward the southern end of the area residences and lots are available on the lagoon side. There is no city or private water supply to this area. Everyone who lives there has cisterns or other water catchments to collect rain water. In dry season, there are people who provide water tanker service to fill cisterns or pools. There are no grocery or other types of stores until you reach Maya Beach, about 15 miles south of the Southern Highway. Between Plantation and Maya Beach you will find a lot of homes, lots, and a couple of resorts, but no commercial activity. Maya Beach is a popular residential community, with mostly homes, several small resorts, a few restaurants with bars, two small grocery stores, and a police station. A few miles south of Maya Beach is Seine Bight. A Garifuna community, and home to many workers from other countries such as Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras. There are a couple of small groceries and restaurants, a large grocery with pharmacy, and just outside the village some large resorts. It is another 8 miles or so south to reach the village of Placencia (Punta Placencia). Between Seine Bight and Placencia Village there are a multitude of residences, lots, a number of commercial entities, and just outside of the village is the Placencia airport (airstrip). The village is where you will find almost all shopping amenities, medical services (government clinic and a private doctor practice), restaurants, bars, pharmacy, nice beaches, hotel accommodations, gift shops, clothing (mostly re-sale) shops, coffee houses (2), hardware stores, and service locations for phone and cable. I have been living on the peninsula for over 6 years, and love it," commented one expat who made the move to Placencia, Belize.

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox
Connect

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

"Here's your best advice: No one can tell you what is right for you. The very simple answer is this - 1) come here and rent for 6 months. - you can always buy a ticket back in 2 months if you don't like it (yes, you would lose a little money, but not your life savings). It would be a vacation 2) While here, live as if you are living here full-time (in other words, you're not on an extended vacation, going out every night, etc. - go to the grocery store, the pharmacy, etc so you get a good "realistic feel" 3) Look around at properties to RENT (Don't buy yet). If you decide you want to stay, RENT A ONE YEAR LONG TERM 4) Go back home for AT LEAST 2 months (even if you rent for one year) - clear your head. Don't get a false "Fantasy island / dream life" in your head. Focus on the difference of places and then decide during your year here what you want to do for "life decisions" I always advise: "wade into the pool, don;t jump in the deep end". I've seen hundreds of people lose their life savings by making bad choices (apparently they have never been to another country, never traveled, maybe never seen the Caribbean Sea) and they turn into five year olds, make spontaneous, bad decision and ruin their lives (divorce, bankruptcy, etc.) - "Wade into the pool" The worst case in my advice is you lose a few thousand dollars and you have "a good cocktail party" story. In 6 months you will know whether it's for you , or not and whether you want to proceed," remarked another expat in San Pedro, Belize.

Please login to continue reading this article.

Not a member? Join Today (it's free).

Other Questions:

What do I need to know before moving to Belize?

If you live in Belize, newcomers to Belize would love to hear your answer to this question.

If your answer relates to a specific city or town in Belize, please include the name of the city/town below:


About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

Caye Caulker, Belize

Traveling Mailbox
Traveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox lets you view your postal mail online anywhere and it's is affordable, simple, and flexible.
Learn More

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox lets you view your postal mail online anywhere and it's is affordable, simple, and flexible.
Learn More

Contribute to Belize Network Contribute
Help others in Belize by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Belize.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal