Is your idea of paradise a vast expanse of white sandy beaches, soft, buffeting trade winds, and beautiful weather year-round? Then Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, Belize might be just the place for you.
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island and is currently the most popular tourist destination in Belize. San Pedro Town is the only town on the island. There is plenty to do on this beautiful island. Belize is known for having the second largest barrier reef. The reef lies one-half mile east of the Ambergris Caye shoreline and runs the entire 25-mile length of the island. This has made Ambergris Caye the dive capital of Central America.
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a smaller island measuring about 5 miles by 1 mile wide. The town on the Island is known as Caye Caulker Village. The population of Caye Caulker is very small with only about 2ooo residents on the island. Caye Caulker has a very easy-going pace. The Island’s slogan is “go slow”. Life here is about as far from the rat race as you will ever hope to be.
Buying Real Estate
The real estate in Ambergris Caye ranges from very affordable to over the moon – but there are plenty of options to suit whatever kind of budget you have. You might even be able to nab some prime Caribbean beachfront income property if that’s in your range.
Retirement Incentives
Best of all, the government of Belize offers attractive incentives to retirees as young as forty-five years of age. If you qualify, you can live the rest of your life in tropical bliss. Sounds pretty good, right? Read on! It gets better!
Qualified Retired Person Program
As a retired person under the QRP (Qualified Retired Person) Program, you aren’t allowed to work within Belize, but investment in local business and income from rental property are allowed. You are also allowed to be gainfully employed outside of the country, and will not be taxed on that income. Property taxes are quite low as well (less than 2%), as are closing costs and any attorney services you might need to close the deal.
Exchange Rate
The exchange rate is stable at $2BZD to $1USD, regardless of how the markets fluctuate. You’ll find that your retirement dollars will go much farther towards building a life in Belize than it will pretty much anywhere else in the world. Add offshore banking to complete the picture, and your financial future is looking even better.
Weather
Snowbirds take heart! The weather in Ambergris Caye is beautiful most of the time. There are a few months in the latter part of the year when afternoon showers are pretty much guaranteed – but the temperature stays pretty steady year-round, and that can’t be bad. Air temps range between a comfortable 20˙C and 30˙C, and the water temperature stays between 25˙C and 30˙C so you can enjoy the sea at any time of the year. Unlike many tropical and Caribbean nations, Belize’s unique geographical position places it out of the way of most major storm paths. Though hurricanes are a concern, there is no ‘hurricane season’, and the country may be hit by one every thirty years or so. The last major storm in Belize was in the year 2000, and prior to that, 1942.
These are just a few great reasons to retire in Belize. We’ll explore more on this subject in subsequent blogs, so come back often!