Basic Expenses in Belize Retirement

Belize is a sanctuary preferred by different retirees. Many residents have fallen in love with this place and they do exclaim their happy life by showing pictures of their tropical life. Retirement in Belize may be the best option to choose but before anything else, you should be informed of the basic expenses in living in Belize.

Cost Of Living

Generally, the homes in Belize are less costly than those available in countries like Canada, United States and Europe. There are different properties to choose from and will definitely meet the budget and the preferences of the future retirees. Many retirees have seen significant savings in hiring a full-time housekeeper as well. The price ranges from $15-20 US dollars. This also goes to cost-effectiveness utilities with charges of less than 25 percent of the usual amount in the mentioned countries.

Innovation and Trends

It was years ago when retirees began to see the progress of Belize in terms of achieving a high-speed internet connection. Skype, a video calling software, was blocked at that time and it caused distress to the retirees who want to further communicate with their loved ones living far away. Good thing, Belize now has developed a system good enough to provide high-speed internet to everyone. It will allow better communication and faster dissemination of information across the whole country. Of course, Skype is finally working fine.

Food Cost and Other Expenses

The restaurants have different prices but mostly, local foods are served. An expensive restaurant will go about $50 US dollar but retirees spend their budget on lobsters and seafood for only $20 or so. Food cost is fairly cheap as a sandwich can only be priced at $2 US dollars.

Aside from food, other expenses also come at cheaper prices. For fueling up a car, the gasoline is priced at about $5 US dollars per gallon. Monthly water bills ranges from $15-$20 dollars and electricity is charged at about 15 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 50 kilowatts, and 20.5 cents on the succeeding.

Retirement in Belize is relatively ideal to start living a contented life. It is a tropical away from the hassles of the city and every retiree achieves a peace of mind when it comes to spending. Live a life in Belize by visiting http://retireinbelize.org/.

Why People Chose To Retire To Belize

Belize is a tropical country located on the northeast coast of Central America. It is the only place where English is the official language so many tourists flock in this country just to experience a tropical paradise. Not only is Belize the place of diverse society, it also has an abundant terrestrial and marine species. It is no wonder why most tourists chose to retire to Belize over other else.

Things To Do In Belize

Belize is not just famous for its tourist spots like Caye Culker, Ambergis Caye, Caracol and many others. This place also offers a lot more. There are places everyone can visit and see the amazing country at its finest. Here are the things a retiree can do in Belize.

·         Visit Belize Zoo – view the wildlife in a new horizon. The Belize  zoo has more than 500 species of birds and other animals. This is a great adventure for every couple, families and even those with grandchildren visiting the retirees.

·         Cave Tubing and Jungle Trek Tour – this is the fun way to relax and enjoy the scenery. Cave tubing and jungle trek is one of the most famous activities in Belize. The retirees can see the zip line, Mayan ruins and many other exciting views.

·         Go To The Museum Of Belize – to gain a better perspective of Belize, the Museum of Belize is the perfect place to visit. It gathers the history of the country as the aura of the museum dates everyone back to the old times.

·         See St John’s Cathedral – some people chose to retire to Belize because of the spiritual benefit this country offers. One of which is the St. John’s Cathedral. It is one of the oldest Anglican churches that has a Caribbean feel.

·         Hang out on Cucumber Beach – this is the only beach in Belize City. Everyone can relax and enjoy the blue waters with a glass of cold punch in a nice tropical weather.

Never miss the opportunity to retire to Belize. Everyone just fell in love with it and you can too. Book a tour today. Visit http://retireinbelize.org/ to see tour schedule.

What To Look For In A Retirement Community

When looking for a retirement community, you need to at least have a checklist of what you need to look into. It is not enough that there is a health care facility available for a community is not based entirely on the healthcare system. A retiree should enjoy what life has to offer so there should be enough recreational places to visit. That is, aside from the comfort the retirement community provides in terms of what a home should be. Here is how you can look into a good retirement community:

                                

1.       Population

You may want to see the population and see if it coincides with the space available. A crowded community may suppress your lifestyle as the vicinity can become too crowded. A small population size in a large area may affect your social life. It is good to visit a retirement home where the population is just enough for your well-being. One of the most popular communities is the Belize. Retiring in Belize is an advantage since it only has 300,000 people residing. This means, a lot less crowded space and more opportunities to mingle with just the right people.

2.       Interesting Activities

It is common for a retirement community to hold exercise programs for the retirees. May it be yoga, tai-chi, or any other kind of activities; it should be within the interest of the retirees. Most of the time, these monotonous exercises become a bore and so the residents tend to find other ways to keep their physical activity lively. Retiring in Belize offers just that. Belize is not just a community; it is a whole lot of destinations. The retirees can go on diving, hiking, swimming and play different kinds of sports. It is just a one-stop-place of exciting activities.

3.       Pleasant Atmosphere

By pleasant atmosphere, the whole staff and residents should genuinely possess a warm attitude. A happy community reflects how happy the residents are. In return, the over-all atmosphere is welcoming, inviting and friendly. In Belize, everyone offers a big smile – from the retirees down to the healthcare team. It is a wonderful place to reside as everyone seems to be always in good mood.

Retiring in Belize is not just an option – it is an advantage. Experience how you can live a life in bliss by visiting http://www.retireinbelize.org/ now.

Retirement In Paradise, Now Possible At Belize Retirement

Everyone loves to be in a tropical paradise where the cool breeze touches the skin, and the sun’s warm rays relax the whole body. Just when the retirement homes are perceived to be a community where the seniors can only live a life in a contained facility, Belize retirement is here to bring a new kind of lifestyle. Belize is now one of the most sought-after retirement places as it offers an ambiance of a tropical paradise. Seniors will truly enjoy the many destinations, aside from the high-end facilities every property provides.

Belize is located in-between the coast of Mexico and Guatemala. It is an ideal place of relaxation where the beauty of nature is seen in every angle. The lushness of the greens and the deep cool blues will surely captivate the hearts of the future retirees. Aside from the majestic view, the future retirees can also do different activities to keep their physical activity alive. A trip to the Mayan temple reconnects their interests in history, diving into the deep waters amazes their senses and a walk to the tropical forest engages their strength. Everything is just perfect in Belize retirement.
                                  

Among the tourist spots that the retirees can enjoy are the Caye Caulker, Ambergis Caye, Corozal, Placencia Peninsula, Christ of the Abyss and many more. Belize is not just made for retirement; it is also created to keep more tourists interested. With that, no corner is boring. There will be new activities to join and wonderful people to meet. Of course, the homes located in Belize retirement will provide a peaceful ambiance, perfect for the retirees who want to get some peace and quiet.

In order to appreciate the perfection of Belize retirements, it is best to schedule a tour. The tour includes 8-days of bliss with the licensed tour guides and real estate professionals. The tour will comprise of ground and air transportation, visit to different project developments and meeting up with the officers of the Belize Tourism. There is also a 2-day ‘Best of the West’ package that everyone can take advantage of. For more information, visit http://retireinbelize.org/ today.

Retire To Belize and Find the Best Diving Spots

Belize is one of the smaller countries located in Central America but it has the 2^nd largest barrier reef in the world.  It is also one of the most beautiful reefs making it one of the best diving sites all over the world.  If you love to dive then retiring to Belize may be your very own piece of heaven, the turquoise waters houses a few of the most beautiful species of the sea and divers will have a field day exploring the waters.  Here are 5 of the top diving spots in Belize.

Silk Cayes Wall

The Silk Cayes Wall is located in Placencia and is around 100ft deep.  It holds one of the largest assortment of marine life like the Spotted Frog Fish which can only be found in Belize waters.

Love Tunnels

Love Tunnels on the other hand is located in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and it is around 85 feet deep, the spot is around 25 minutes away from the San Pedro shores. The tunnels are not technically caves but they are small cave-like structures deep in the sea and you can go through and maneuver inside and see beautiful sea creatures living within its crevices.

Christ of the Abyss

Another great diving spot in San Pedro, is the Christ of the Abyss, although a bit shallower at 60 feet deep compared to the 85 feet of the Love Tunnels.  This dive location is only around 5 minutes away from San Pedro.  It is aptly called as such since there is a large statue that looks like Christ at the bottom. Although, it is said that the statue is actually that of St. Peter, the patron saint of San Pedro but most everyone refers to the statue as the Christ.

When you go on this dive and you want to make sure that you sight the statue, make sure to bring someone who is already versed with the precise location of the statue or else you might be disappointed that you didn’t see the statue on your dive.  The statue is actually a very beautiful site and it is quite impressive to see under the ocean.

The Blue Hole

One of the most beautiful dives is the Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef Atoll.  It is deepest point is at 130 feet deep and it is a dive spot many divers look forward to when they go to Belize, The Blue Hole is one of the biggest dive spots  in the world.  Be amazed as you swim between stalactites and stalagmites and see the silhouette of the Reef Sharks swimming in a distance, you will truly marvel at the beauty of the ocean.  You can reach the Blue Hole through San Pedro or Caye Caulker, it is about 2 and 1/2 hours away from either starting point.

Long Caye Aquarium

The Long Caye Aquarium also found in Lighthouse Reef Atoll is only about 50 feet deep and it is bustling with beautiful corals and a healthy variety of marine life taking residence here.  It is said to be one of the well preserved dive spots within Belize Barrier Reef and indeed the marine life here thrives and hold one of the largest varieties of marine species including nurse sharks, spotted eagle ray, sea turtles, barracudas and a whole lot more. If you are looking to discover a host of marine species then this is where you should dive to.

Indeed, retiring toBelize is a great idea, more so for individuals who love to dive, what with all the great diving sites all over Belize and the great reef that is located here. Imagine living just a few minutes or so away from your favorite dive spot, the perfect paradise, so are you ready to go to Belize?

The Belize Retirement Incentive Program: A Closer Look

Belize is known as “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret” and indeed a number of Americans are considering retirement here, why? The simple answer is that it is a tropical paradise filled with sandy beaches, beautiful reefs and even more beautiful people, who wouldn’t want to live out the rest of their days, living in paradise, right?

Aside from the obvious, there is also another reason why more and more ‘foreigners’ are opting to stay in Belize, and this is the Retired Persons Incentive Program offered to qualified individuals who wants to retire to Belize. So, what is this program all about? Let’s find out.

The program is offered for individuals who wish to stay in Belize and can prove a permanent and consistent income coming from their pension or retirement benefits and/or investments (within or outside Belize). Such individuals needs to be 45 years old and above as well as his dependents including the spouse and children under 18 or children who are 23 years old and below who’s enrolled in a University and can provide all necessary requirements in order to be approved.

Requirements

In order to qualify for the program, the individual must submit the following requirements

     

• Completed application form from the Belize Tourism Board
• Birth certificate of the applicant and dependents
• Marriage Certificate (if applicant is married and the spouse is a dependent)
• Authentic Police Record – must be issued within 1 month prior to the application and must be from the         applicant’s last place of residence
• Clear Copies of Passports of the applicant and dependents – they must be clear, contain all the pages           including all the blanks and have been certified by a notary public. The copies must state clearly the               passport number, name, number of pages, and the seal of the notary public. 
•  Proof of Income – for you to qualify, you need to be earning at least $2,000 US dollars monthly and you       need to provide proof of such like financial statement from a bank or financial institution that certifies the         individual’s investment or deposited amount in the said institution will generate at least the required                 monthly amount or an official statement from the bank stating that the individual receives a pension or             annuity that amounts to the required monthly income.
• Medical Examination – all applicants must undergo a medical exam including AIDS test and a copy of the result needs to be attached to the application
•  Photographs – recent 4 front and 4 side photos in the passport size should be submitted by the applicant       and dependents.

What’s In It For Me 

So, looking at the requirements, you realize that you might just be qualified for the program but isn’t quite sure why you would want to apply for it in the first place, here’s a few of the perks you can have if you do get accepted.

If you get accepted into the program, you are entitled to import all your personal effects including a mode of transportation when you first get into Belize without paying any duties or taxes on them.  You also don’t need to pay taxes on all incomes accrued from sources outside of Belize regardless of how the income is generated (work or investment).

Belize is generally a peaceful country with very friendly people plus its breathtaking beauty is beyond compare. It is very close to Mexico and the US, making traveling back and forth, should the need arise, be quiet easy. One can easily adapt here as it is mainly an English speaking country, so language will not be a barrier.  The stable Belize dollar also doubles your income easily. If you are looking for a peaceful and tranquil place to live out the rest of your days, then perhaps it is a good idea to consider Belize and with the incentive program the government has put out for anyone interested, it really might just be a ball to retire toBelize.

On the Spotlight: Ambergris Caye, Belize

If you are thinking about retirement in Belize, then perhaps your best choice would be in Ambergris Caye, one of the premier retirement spots within Belize. Let’s find out more about this beautiful spot in Belize.

Why Ambergris?

Perhaps one of the biggest considerations would be the prices of the properties in the area.  These properties are quite affordable but in premier locations, just a couple of steps from the beautiful beach. The community is quite lovely as well, and the streets, particularly in San Pedro, are also filled with shops, bars and restaurants that can fill your days with fun-filled activities.

Life as an Expat

Retirees, more often than not, want to spend their days in tranquil surroundings and permitting them to relax and enjoy the rest of their lives. Spending their time under the shade of palm trees or snorkeling around the 2^nd largest coral reefs and swimming with the fishes or enjoying a dunk in the Caribbean Sea.

The beautiful view can be quite relaxing, seeing the tropical plants fill your window and catching the cool breeze from the sea will surely make you feel like you’re in paradise. People in Ambergris are also quite friendly and the small community, only about 15,000 total population for the whole island, makes it a really close knit community. You are bound to bump into someone you know when you go to the store to buy some supplies and you will surely get side-tracked along the way.  For those individuals who are still looking to take an active part in the community, can easily fill their time by volunteering around the community.

Facts About Ambergris

Ambergris like the whole of Belize has a tropical climate and has a population of about 15,000 with around 12% being expats. The main town is San Pedro and has around 10,445 people living in it. The place is roughly around 20 minutes from Belize City by plane and one and a half hour ferry ride.  There is a hospital in San Pedro, so you will have a place to go in case of medical emergencies.  Properties range from $60,000 to $2.9 million depending on the type of property you are looking for.

Retirement in Belize is easy as well especially with the Retired Persons Incentive Program. Belize Dollar is also stable at an exchange rate of 2 Belize Dollar to the dollar, just imagine, you easily double the value of your money when you are here, stretching it a bit further. So, what are you waiting for, perhaps Belize is the retirement place for you.