When it comes to expat havens, Belize makes sense for a handful of boilerplate reasons…
It’s English-speaking… There are easy residency options for retirees and expats… It’s tax-friendly… It’s only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from the southern United States… It has warm weather year-round… And it’s blessed with natural beauty…
The majority of the attention is focused on Caribbean island dream escapes like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker… But in a specific area of rarely sought-after mainland Belize, you can combine oceanfront living (on the Caribbean, no less) and affordability.
This lifestyle opportunity is found in Corozal, the name of both a district and a town in northern Belize. The town is home to about 13,000 people, while the district has about 46,000.
Corozal is Belize’s northernmost district. This area of the country is rugged and mostly undeveloped… Infrastructure is not yet well-established. Road quality, for instance, is generally poor… which is part of the reason this area doesn’t receive the same volume of tourism as other areas of the country. It’s not as easy to access.
Despite its small size, Corozal offers a nice variety of lifestyle options, including oceanfront, riverfront, lagoonfront, and inland farm-country living. Lots and land are available in private developments and directly from the local market.
A top draw for expats is the opportunity to live on Chetumal Bay, a deeply indented area of the Caribbean. Because it’s naturally protected, it’s a sailor’s and boater’s paradise…
Living on the bay or on one of the connecting lagoons or rivers allows access to the reef and ocean through the break on the Ambergris peninsula at Bacalar Chico. Diving and snorkeling are some of the bests in the world thanks to the reef.
Another quiet benefit is that it is protected from hurricanes by the Ambergris peninsula, lessening any effects of a storm’s landfall.
Corozal is more affordable than the islands, Belize City, and Placencia. Rents are low, especially in the villages, but services and social outlets are limited. Groceries are affordable, too, especially in the open-air markets that overflow with fruits and vegetables.
The selection of goods is limited in the stores surrounding Corozal… but it’s just a hop, skip, and jump from Belize’s border with Mexico, and a proper big city is just on the other side of it. Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo state, is just 10 miles away from Corozal.
In Chetumal, expats can avail of cheaper life supplies and access to amenities not available anywhere in Belize, such as access to Sam’s Club, cinemas, supermarkets carrying American brands, big-box stores, hardware stores, bars, restaurants, and more.
This also affords expats access to Mexico’s high-quality health and dental care—a important benefit since access to health care options in Belize is lacking.
The lifestyle in Corozal is slow-going… A typical day might involve kayaking, fishing, swimming, and reading, among other things… or perhaps just swinging in a hammock with a cold beer or rum cocktail in hand.
Come nighttime, you might meet with neighbors for dinner, drinks, or a game of cards.
For those that seek a long-gone haven—where time stands still and life drifts peacefully by without hassles—Corozal is true nirvana.
Sincerely,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Living Letter
