Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT: DISCOVER BELIZE
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
  • Home
  • Countries

    Top Destinations:

    Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Colombia
    • Cyprus
    • Mexico
    • France
    • Montenegro
    • Browse All Countries

    Best For:

    • The Best Places To Retire
    • Health Care Abroad
    • Cost Of Living
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • Establishing Residency
    • Gun Laws In The World
    • English-Speaking Countries
    • Safest Places For Retirement
    • Best Places In Latin America
  • Budgets

    How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

    Global Living

    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore & Diversification

    Making Money

    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing

    Follow Us:

    • Meet Our Experts
  • Real Estate

    Join our Weekly Newsletter
    Overseas Property Alert

    Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive expert insights on the best international real estate investment opportunities.






      We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

      Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

      • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

      Explore Our Latest Posts

      • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

      Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

      • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
    • Conferences

      Upcoming Events

      • Explore Our Events Site

      Live and Invest In Spain Conference

      Offshore Wealth Summit

      Greece Workshop

      VALENCIA, SPAIN

      Sep. 17-19, 2025

      PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

      Oct. 15-17, 2025

      VIRTUAL

      Nov. 13, 2025

      LEARN MORE
      DISCOUNT
      LEARN MORE
      PRE-REGISTER
      LEARN MORE
      PRE-REGISTER
      • MORE EVENTS

      Contact Our Events Team

      Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
      1 (888) 627 8834
      From Outside North America:
      1 (443) 599 1221
      Working Hours
      Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

      Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

    • Store

      Unlock The World

      • Access Your Library

      Overseas Havens Reports

      • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

      Conference Kits

      • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

      Lahardan Books

      • Titles on living and investing around the world
      • Explore Our Store
      Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

      Services

      overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
      The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
      Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

      Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

    • My Library
    Live and Invest Overseas
    • Home
    • Countries

      Top Destinations:

      Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • Colombia
      • Cyprus
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Montenegro
      • Browse All Countries

      Best For:

      • The Best Places To Retire
      • Health Care Abroad
      • Cost Of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Establishing Residency
      • Gun Laws In The World
      • English-Speaking Countries
      • Safest Places For Retirement
      • Best Places In Latin America
    • Budgets

      How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

      The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

      Super Cheap

      • Chitré, Panama
      • Santa Marta, Colombia
      • Phuket, Thailand
      • Dumaguete, The Philippines

      Cheap

      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Kyrenia, Cyprus
      • Hua Hin, Thailand
      • The Algarve, Portugal

      Affordable

      • Valencia, Spain
      • Cascais, Portugal
      • Las Terrenas, The DR
      • Pisa, Italy
      • La Rochelle, France
      • Mazatlán, Mexico

      Luxury

      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Kotor, Montenegro
      • The Panama City Beaches
      • Paris, France
    • Resources

      Global Living

      • Living & Retiring Overseas
      • Raising A Family Abroad
      • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
      • Offshore & Diversification

      Making Money

      • International Real Estate
      • Banking
      • Employment
      • Investing

      Follow Us:

      • Meet Our Experts
    • Real Estate

      Join our Weekly Newsletter
      Overseas Property Alert

      Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive expert insights on the best international real estate investment opportunities.






        We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

        Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

        • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

        Explore Our Latest Posts

        • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

        Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

        • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
      • Conferences

        Upcoming Events

        • Explore Our Events Site

        Live and Invest In Spain Conference

        Offshore Wealth Summit

        Greece Workshop

        VALENCIA, SPAIN

        Sep. 17-19, 2025

        PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

        Oct. 15-17, 2025

        VIRTUAL

        Nov. 13, 2025

        LEARN MORE
        DISCOUNT
        LEARN MORE
        PRE-REGISTER
        LEARN MORE
        PRE-REGISTER
        • MORE EVENTS

        Contact Our Events Team

        Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
        1 (888) 627 8834
        From Outside North America:
        1 (443) 599 1221
        Working Hours
        Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

        Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

      • Store

        Unlock The World

        • Access Your Library

        Overseas Havens Reports

        • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

        Conference Kits

        • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

        Lahardan Books

        • Titles on living and investing around the world
        • Explore Our Store
        Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

        Services

        overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
        The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
        Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

        Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

      • My Library
      Live and Invest Overseas
       Free Belize Guide

      DISCOVER BELIZE

      REEF RUINS, RIVERS, AND RAIN FOREST, PLUS EASY RESIDENCY AND TAX-FREE LIVING

      Simply sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter plus our In Focus: Belize newsletter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report… absolutely FREE






         

        We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

        Home In Focus: Belize

        A Guide To Some Of Belize’s Lesser-Known Small Towns

        A Tour Of Belize’s Biggest And Most Sprawling District: The Cayo

        by Jaimie Lee Ganger
        Apr 19, 2023
        in In Focus: Belize
        0 0
        Belmopan, Belize

        iStock/mtcurado

        The Cayo is largest of Belize’s six geopolitical districts.

        The 2,061-square-mile region encompasses some of the country’s best opportunities for exploring rivers, caves, mountains, tropical forests, and wide-open spaces.

        In short, it’s a nature lover’s paradise.

        A growing number of expats from North America and Europe have made the Cayo home. Here’s a rundown of the top places expats settle in this region…

        San Ignacio And Santa Elena

        Hudson Street in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize
        Alamy/Witold Skrypczak

        The twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, nestled along the banks of the Macal River, are the heart of the Cayo District.

        Over the past 10 years, the area has seen growth in infrastructure, business, cultural arts, and social development. So, what was once a sleepy, faraway town for most Belizeans and visitors has become the ecotourism epicenter of the country.

        Today, you’ll find local restaurants, small tour operators, cafés, hostels, and hotels. Meanwhile, the area is the fastest growing in the district for ecotourism, and the crowd remains a balanced mixture of locals, expats, and visitors.

        A highlight of San Ignacio is the market. Unlike most towns in Belize, the San Ignacio market is open seven days a week and is the place to go for fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, plants, and eggs.

        The market has a growing selection of organic products. Above all, finding your favorite vendor, learning where to buy the best free-range eggs, and making new friends are all part of the experience.

        Saturday mornings are when the most magic happens, as vendors from neighboring villages and Mennonite communities line the streets to sell their goods.

        Santa Familia Village

        A house in Carmelita Gardens in Cayo, Belize
        Facebook/Carmelita Gardens Belize

        Heading northwest out of San Ignacio, the Bullet Tree Road takes you on a scenic journey through a handful of picturesque villages.

        Imagine the country drives you used to take on Sunday afternoons as a child… Wide-open agricultural landscapes against the backdrop of the Yalbac Hills.

        A community soccer game, roadside barbecue, and families gathering for birthday celebrations are all common sights as you travel the sections of paved and dirt roads through the villages.

        Santa Familia is a paved stretch of about 2 miles of Bullet Tree Road. However, the community is largely Spanish-speaking.

        Several Seventh-Day Adventist churches are here, as are three small grocery shops, a tortilla stand, and multiple shops operated out of living rooms.

        These small shops sell assorted sweets to schoolchildren and local snack foods such as tostadas, panades, and garnaches. Clearly, the entrepreneurial spirit is evident.

        Seeing schoolchildren walking with friends while horses and chickens roam freely is typical. Fathers are away at work, and mothers are too busy taking care of business to micromanage their children.

        Life just flows… Santa Familia is one of those hidden communities that is starting to capture the attention of foreign visitors. Its proximity to town, sleepy, peaceful atmosphere, river access, and affordable real estate make it very attractive.

        The self-sufficient community of Carmelita Gardens is also here in Santa Familia. And, this community of 98 acres rests along the Belize River.

        The town founder, Phil Hahn, has worked to create an off-grid neighborhood that emphasizes simple living. Certainly, he chose this part of Belize to build this community because of the long agricultural history of the area and the easy access to goods and services in the nearby towns of San Ignacio and Spanish Lookout.

        Spanish Lookout

        Just 7 miles past Santa Familia village is the town of Spanish Lookout. Most importantly, this area is home to the largest Mennonite community in Belize and is the country’s chief agricultural center.

        Many expats travel to Spanish Lookout to shop at the big, well-stocked grocery store, pick up supplies at the hardware store, or take advantage of one of the many independent service businesses.

        Spanish Lookout is a great place to go for auto-repair, building, and agricultural supplies. Also, it’s where you can find fresh milk, cheese, and incredible soft-serve ice cream from the local Mennonite company, Western Dairies.

        Spanish Lookout was formed by a migration of Mennonites from Mexico in the 50s and has become the nation’s leading supplier of poultry, steel imports, vegetables, cattle, and dairy products.

        Spanish Lookout produces Belize’s most popular chicken brand, Quality Poultry Products, and Western Dairies is Belize’s only commercial producer of milk.

        This community is progressive. As a result, many of its residents drive trucks and use modern technologies. It looks a lot like a rural agricultural town in Midwest America, with tall grain silos, two-story homes set back off the street, and vast cattle ranges.

        Visiting Spanish Lookout feels a lot like stepping back in time…

        Get Your Free Belize Report Today!
        Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT – Discover Belize: Reef, Ruins, Rivers, And Rain Forest… Plus Easy Residency And Tax-Free Living.
        We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

        Benque Viejo Del Carmen

        Heading west, 16 miles out of San Ignacio, is the Belize-Guatemala border town of Benque Viejo del Carmen. This community sits along the banks of the Mopan River and is the last stop for travelers heading to Guatemala.

        Benque has long been the place where tourists and merchants cross to the Guatemalan border town of Melchor to purchase Maya textiles. So, it’s an easy day trip from San Ignacio to Melchor, and there are many interesting stops along the way.

        The town itself has great local-style restaurants, a café, a central market, and a handful of grocery shops.

        Many visitors come to the Benque Viejo area to visit the popular Maya ruin, Xunantunich. Firstly, in order to reach the archeological site, you must first cross the river on a hand-cranked ferry, which visitors are often encouraged to help operate.

        The site itself has a well-maintained welcome center and an impressive display of artifacts. And, Xunantunich is among the most impressive Maya ruins in Belize and is well worth the trip.

        On the nicely paved road between San Ignacio and Benque Viejo are several popular resorts, including Chaa Creek, Ka’ana, and Black Rock Lodge.

        Also, these resorts all operate restaurants that are open to the public. I often take a Sunday drive up to Black Rock Lodge or Chaa Creek to enjoy the scenery and local cuisine made from organic ingredients grown on-site.

        Belmopan

        Belmopan, the capital of Belize, is located in eastern Cayo. In 1961, after Hurricane Hattie hit the former capital of Belize City, plans were made for the new capital, and in 1970, the seat of government was relocated to Belmopan.

        Since that time, the area has seen unprecedented growth.

        Belmopan is home to many foreign embassies and government offices. Most certainly, you’ll likely visit Belmopan to renew your visitor’s visa, process paperwork for your new property at the Lands Department, or record your new business name at the Companies Registry.

        Because many folks make a day trip to the capital to do business or work in government offices, there are lots of great places to have lunch in Belmopan.

        I always make a stop at the taco shop on the ring road, where they serve the closest thing you can get to Mexican tacos, with loads of incredible sauces and cold micheladas (a beer with salt and spices that’s popular in Mexico). But, you may need one after standing in a long line at a government office.

        Also, Belmopan is the last town you’ll pass if you plan to travel south down the Hummingbird Highway to parts of Belize like Hopkins, Placencia, or Punta Gorda.

        The capital is an hour’s drive from San Ignacio, making it easily accessible to residents of San Ignacio and the surrounding communities.

        Jamie Lee Granger
        Belize Insider

        Tags: 'Belize''Cayo'BelmopanBenque Viejo Del CarmenExpats in Belizelive in BelizeMove to BelizeSan Ignacio
        Share124Tweet52
        Jaimie Lee Ganger

        Jaimie Lee Ganger

        Jamie Lee Ganger is a former Peace Corps volunteer (Belize, 2004 to 2006) living in Santa Familia Village in the Cayo District of Belize. She currently consults for the off-grid community of Carmelita Gardens and is an advocate for culturally sustainable development in Belize. She is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Global Wellness Center, an online counseling service for expats, humanitarians, and nomads.

        Get Your Free Belize Report Today!
        Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT – Discover Belize: Reef, Ruins, Rivers, And Rain Forest… Plus Easy Residency And Tax-Free Living.

        We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
        Our Expertise Unlocks The World

        quick links

        • Best Places To Live
        • Best Places To Retire
        • Finding A Job Overseas
        • Real Estate

        LIOS Resources

        • New To LIOS
        • Ask An Expert
        • Media Center
        • Contact Us
        • FAQs
        the 10 best places to retire in 2025
        Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2025






          We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

          As seen in

          US Media Logos

          © 2008 – Live and Invest Overseas™ – All Rights Reserved.

          About Us / Contact Us / Privacy Policy / Terms / Unsubscribe
          Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Linkedin-in Instagram

          Welcome Back!

          Login to your account below

          Forgotten Password?

          Retrieve your password

          Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

          Log In
          HOME

          Top Countries

          • Spain
          • Portugal
          • Panama
          • Belize
          • Colombia
          • Cyprus
          • Mexico
          • France
          • Montenegro

          Best For:

          • Health Care Abroad
          • Retirement Living
          • Cost Of Living
          • Investing in Real Estate
          • Establishing Residency
          • Gun Ownership
          • English Speakers
          • Safety
          BROWSE ALL COUNTRIES

          Budgets

          How Much Will It Cost
          To Live Overseas?

          Super Cheap

          • Chitré, Panama
          • Santa Marta, Colombia
          • Phuket, Thailand
          • Dumaguete, The Philippines

          Cheap

          • Medellin, Colombia
          • Boquete, Panama
          • Kyrenia, Cyprus
          • Hua Hin, Thailand
          • The Algarve, Portugal

          Affordable

          • Valencia, Spain
          • Cascais, Portugal
          • Las Terrenas, The DR
          • Pisa, Italy
          • La Rochelle, France
          • Mazatlán, Mexico

          Luxury

          • Ambergris Caye, Belize
          • Kotor, Montenegro
          • The Panama City Beaches
          • Paris, France

          Resources

          Global Living

          • Living & Retiring Overseas
          • Raising A Family Abroad
          • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
          • Offshore & Diversification

          Making Money

          • International Real Estate
          • Banking
          • Employment
          • Investing
          Meet Our Experts

          Real Estate

          Overseas Property Alert 

           

          How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams

          VISIT SITE

          Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

           

          Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

          READ MORE

          Explore Our Latest Posts

           

          Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

          EXPLORE

          Conferences

          Live and Invest In Spain Conference

          VALENCIA, SPAIN Sep. 17-19, 2025
          LEARN MORE
          DISCOUNT

          Offshore Wealth Summit

          PANAMA CITY, PANAMA Oct. 15-17, 2025
          LEARN MORE
          PRE-REGISTER

          GREECE WORKSHOP

          VIRTUAL Nov. 13, 2025
          LEARN MORE
          PRE-REGISTER
          MORE EVENTS

          Contact Our Events Team:

          Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
          1 (888) 627 8834

          From Outside North America:
          1 (443) 599 1221

          Working Hours
          Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

          Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

          Store

          Overseas Havens Reports

          • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

          Conference Kits

          • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

          Lahardan Books

          • Titles on living and investing around the world

          Services

          • Overseas Living Letter: Affordable Retirement Guidance
          • The Simon Letter: Wealth Protection Insights
          • Global Property Advisor: Global Investment Opportunitites
          VISIT OUR STORE

          Free Report

          THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

          FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To retire in 2025

          Sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report…






            We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

            LIBRARY

            Follow Us:

            © 2008 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

            RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

            Sign up for FREE to learn how. Plus, check out our FREE report on THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE


            We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

            RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

            Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

            We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.