Will Moreno
6/21/2011

There is a small Central American Nation that has a lot in common with the Caribbean, and is certainly a new hot spot. It has certainly been making headlines around the world in travel articles. So many people from all over the world primarily Canada, United States, Europe and the UK are choosing to purchase a retirement home, second home or invest in property in this small nation.

One of the reasons so many choose this country is because it's the only English speaking Central American country, which makes communicating with the locals easy and also facilitates your move. If you are wondering which country we are talking about you have to wait no longer. This country with so much beauty packed within its borders is most certainly, Belize.

The world's economy has certainly affected Belize, and since the start of the economic downturn, Belize has seen  as much as 30-35% depreciation in real estate values in some areas. This makes Belize the real hot spot of Central America and the Caribbean when it comes to purchasing real estate. It has become a real buyer's market with prices certainly being negotiable. We have seen rare discounts by as much as 50% on some land and homes. Comparing Belize's prices to that of the United States or Europe, Belize prices are still relatively low. Therefore, Belize is an excellent location for investment.

The Government of Belize as Well as the Belize Tourism Board has been promoting Belize, not only as a vacation destination, but offering Belize as Retirement Destination for expats to purchase a primary residence, second home or vacation home. For those that will be retiring in Belize, they can certainly take advantage of the Qualified Retirement Program (QRP Program) which offers tax benefits to retirees.

If you are considering making the move to Belize or investing in real estate in this small Central American and Caribbean nation be sure to do all the necessary research or talk to a Belize Relocation Consultant about areas that would be most desirable to you.

Walk in our Footsteps on the Island of San Pedro - Ambergris Caye in Belize


Easter in Belize is a long 4 day weekend of activities and events that locals as well as tourists visiting Belize get to appreciate the go slow mode combined with the festive mood in other locations. San Pedro was definitely very busy with a sea of people flocking to the island to celebrate the long weekend. We were in San Pedro - Ambergris Caye in Belize this Easter, the largest island in Belize and a well known destination for many tourist visiting Belize.

San Pedro is the main town on Ambergris Caye (pronounced key) in the Caribbean and is the hub of all events and activities on the island which is located just 35 miles northeast of Belize City and just a short 15 minute flight from the Belize International Airport by way of Tropic Air or Maya Island Air which has scheduled hourly flights to the island. You can also get to San Pedro by way of Boat Shuttle Service which departs Belize City on scheduled runs to the island. When on the island your mode of transportation varies, you can walk, rent a bicycle, catch a cab or rent a golf cart to get around and visit the many beautiful spots on the island or places to eat, drink and be merry.

 Ambergris Caye is 25 miles long (40 kilometers) from north to south and approximately 1 mile wide (1.6 kilometers) and named after the patron saint of Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen and net makers. San Pedro and Ambergris Caye has come a long way since being a quiant fishing village. Ambergris Caye in Belize has become a popular tourist destination and with popularity comes many real estate developments. The island of Ambergris Caye has seen an influx of foreign investors and can now boast a large expat community who has helped in the rapid development of the island.

On the island of San Pedro - Ambergris Caye you can casually relax on the beaches, beachfront bars and restaurants, central park on the beach or your beachfront hotel. You can also choose to do offshore activities such as, swimming, jet-skiing, kite boarding, para-sailing, glass bottom boat tours, snorkeling, diving, fishing and much more. The island's friendly people and immense year-round sunshine will almost always insure a perfect getaway and pleasurable stay on the island. I must admit we thoroughly enjoyed our getaway on the island and would definitely recommend it over and over again.

Here are some of the places we visited to relax and eat and would definitely recommend if you are visiting the island of San Pedro-Ambergris Caye in Belize.

D' Sea Deli and Bar: Great Seaside location to hang our with friends and have a cold beer and some delicious food from a full menu of items that include wraps, pizzas, subs, salads...


El Divino Caribbean Steakhouse and Martini Bar at Banana Beach Resort: A place well known not only for their delicious steaks, but also the best mixed ceviche on the island of San Pedro-Ambergris Caye.


Wayo's Bar: A rustic beachfront bar visited frequently by the locals as well as expats offering delicious wings as well as margaritas.


Estel's Dine By The Sea: Excellent choice for beachfront breakfast in a beach casual setting with sand on the ground so you never feel like you are leaving the beach. Breakfast and lunch are served all day long.


D and E's Frozen Custard and Sorbets: During the summer season this is an excellent way to cool down your palette. Smooth, cool and refreshing for a hot day. You can choose from a wide assortment of flavors.


Micky's Restaurant: An excellent choice not only for breakfast, but also for lunch and dinner. Offering delicious and generously portioned meals with a home cooked taste and very satisfying.


Fido's Restaurant and Bar: This beachfront location has recently won our readers' poll for best bar on the island of San Pedro-Ambergris Caye. Known not only for their bar but their ambiance, delicious meals and fun nightlife with the rockin band Love Paradigm who definitely entertains the crowd. This is a location you must visit when on the island.


Celi's Deli: Excellent choice and location to grab a meal on the go, Belize's version of fast food. You can choose from many items that include local journey cakes with cheese and beans, flour tortillas with beans, meatpies, coffee and fresh juices just to name a few. Conveniently located on front street (Barrier Reef Drive).


El Fogon: A location that is tucked away but offering delicious and mouth watering meals all cooked on Belizean "Fire Haat" (an open wood fed hearth to cook meals). A location that is quaint and unique with the best Conch Soup with tender bits. A real hangover cure...Just a thought.


Nautica Seafood Grill and Bar: A wonderful restaurant and dining experience with full service bar that offers a romantic escape, very fresh seafood and very attentive service from the staff. You can choose from indoor or outdoor dining experiences. Located just upstairs of Fido's.


Sunset Grill: Aptly named since it's on the westside of the island that offers the best sunsets over the lagoon. A really elegant dining experience with scrumptious, lip smacking, and beautifully prepared meals. It is always entertaining to feed or watch others feeding the resident tarpons who take sardines from your hands. A true dining experience that is a must have.


Albertina Aquino Food Stall in Central Park: Albertina Aquino is a hard working woman that serves up the best mouth watering afterhours street food creations on the island of San Pedro-Ambergris Caye in Belize. She can always be found at the park between the hours of 6pm and 5am and is the last stall on the right when facing the sea closest to the playground. Albertina serves up the best burritos, tacos, hot dogs and much more. Make sure to visit Albertina's Food Stall after you are finished clubbing, partying, or just meandering near Central Park on San Pedro-Ambergris Caye late at night.

Places to shop for groceries and other miscellaneous items:

Island Supermarket - Shop in airconditioned comfort with all the modern convenience with the widest selection of items close to downtown San Pedro Town.

La Isla Groceries - If you are staying on the southside of the island this is another great location that offers air conditioned shopping and a great selection of items.

Marina's Grocery Store - Located approximately 1.5 miles south of town this location offers a great selection of items at very reasonable prices.

A couple activities that we definitely recommend would be a snorkeling or diving trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve or Shark Ray Alley the most popular site for snorkeling/diving which is just a short boat ride, 4 miles southeast of San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye to Belize's famous Barrier Reef. Swimming with a healthy population of sharks, rays, fishes and resident sea turtles will surely add excitement to your visit or stay in San Pedro-Ambergris Caye in Belize. It's an experience that we gaurantee will add to your overall enjoyment in Belize.

We will be covering these locations in great detail in future posts. We have some great photos of the foods, drinks, interior and much more.

We welcome you to visit San Pedro-Ambergris Caye in Belize to share in the experience with others. We are sure you will not be disappointed.
If you are looking for great deals on condos, residential, commercial, land, industial, business oppotunities or rental properties on the island of San Pedro - Ambergris Caye in Belize you should definately contact: Platinum International Real Estate.

Places to Visit in Belize City
By: Will Moreno
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Original Article : Click Here

Belize has many wonderful places to visit in various districts but we thought we could focus on telling you about some of the places to visit in Belize City, the largest City with a population of 65,042 according to the most recent Population and Housing Census. Belize Town which is now Belize City was once the Capital City of British Honduras which was changed to Belize in 1973.

The origin of the name Belize is unclear, some say its from the native Maya word beel-is, meaning "muddy water", applied to the Belize River, others say that it is derived from a Spanish pronunciation of the name of the Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace, who was located in an early settlement along the Belize River.  Belize once being home to the slaves had a sizable population of Africans from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, who could have brought the name with them, as there is a Belize in Angola as well. Belize City was founded as Belize Town in the mid 17th century at the mouth of the Belize River by the British Buccaneers who used thousands of slaves to harvest lumber and float them down the rivers for export. Today we can still see remnants of the British influences here in Belize City. Two of the major streets in Belize City namely Regent Street and Albert Street are of times gone by when the British had influences in Belize as well as names as Bliss Promenade and Marine Parade. Today we can still see customs that are still being observed without the Belizean citizens knowing their true origins. One of those such customs are people wearing their best clothes and going out to the parks on Sundays to enjoy the parks with their kids. This custom was brought to us by the British who on Sundays would wear wear their best suits and the women their best dresses with parasol in hand took off to the parks for a day of relaxation and meetings with other settlers and their children or a leisurely walk along the promenade or parade.   Today we can still see many remnants of those influences in the British Colonial Architecture located in buildings all over the city. We will cover a few locations for you to see the beauty of Belize City as well as a few historic locations. These locations are certainly a must see because of their historic and architectural value when visiting Belize City.   The first Location we will tell you about is what is currently known as the Belize Supreme Court Building. This was Built in the British Colonial Style with a clock tower facing the four points on the compass. The original courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1818 and in 1926 the courthouse was rebuilt to house the Supreme Court and is currently being used today.

Belize Supreme Court

The second location is Saint John's Cathedral located at the intersection of Albert and Regent Streets and across from House of Culture which was formerly the residence of the Governor General. The Cathedral was built in the Early 1800 using slave labor with bricks that were brought as ballasts in the hull of ships travelling from Europe. This is not only the oldest surviving colonial building in Belize but the oldest Anglican Cathedral in Central America. It is said that the building started in 1812 and it is believed to have taken 8 years to build which puts completion in the year of 1820. You can find great architectural touches on the interior with the mahogany pews, stained glass windows and even an antique organ.

Saint John's Cathedral - Belize City

Immediately across from Saint John's Cathedral you can find what is now known as the Belize House of Culture.

Built in 1814 this home was once called "Government House" housing both the administrative offices and the living quarters for the Governors and was the symbol of the British Colonial rule in the former colony of British Honduras. Before the mansions name was changed in 1996 to the name we know today it was the residence of the Governor General of Belize who is a representative of the Queen in Belize. Extensive renovations have been made to maintain the architectural integrity while converting it for public use. Today you can still tour this marvelous location exhibiting furniture, silverware among other things of the British colonial days past as well as exhibits of Belizean artists. The House of Culture is still used today for public events and open air concerts.

Belize House of Culture

The next location known as Baron Bliss Lighthouse is of historical significance to the country of Belize. What is of great importance is the person who lies in the tomb at the base of the lighthouse overlooking the entry to the Belize River.

Henry Edward Victor Bliss commonly known as Baron Bliss (16 February 1869 – 9 March 1926), was a British born sailor who unfortunately contracted polio and decided to travel the world in a luxury yacht named the "Sea King". After spells in the Bahamas, Trinidad and Jamaica, he arrived in Belize harbor, where he found Belize's climate suitable for him, He became fond of the local people and because of his physical condition never set foot on Belizean soil. He died in Belize only 2 months after he arrived. Loving the people and the nation so much he willed an equivalent of approximately 2 Million US Dollars at that time to a trust fund to benefit the people of then British Honduras. Today many buildings have been named in his honor Bliss Center for the Performing Arts formerly Bliss Institute, Bliss School of Nursing and many others. Belize Celebrates in his honor every March 9th, National Benefactors and Heroes Day formerly known as Baron Bliss Day.

Baron Bliss Lighthouse - Belize City

The Belize Swing Bridge was the first bridge that was built in 1922 connecting the north and south sides of the city. This Belize Swing Bridge is the only manually operated swing bridge that is still functioning today. The bridge was swung every morning and every evening allowing sailboats access to the inner parts of the river. Today the Belize Swing Bridge only swung on special request. This is truly a site to see when its swinging.

Belize Swing Bridge

Holy Redeemer Cathedral was originally built in 1853 just a short distance away from its present location on North Front Street in Belize City. Just 3 years after the construction of the Cathedral was completed in 1856 it was tragically destroyed by the Great Northside Fire. With the determination of the people and the catholic church, just one year later in 1857 the church started rebuilding at its present location to be completed 1 year after in 1857. Its plastered brick walls, massive columns of solid mahogany, and its soaring high altar of classic Greco-Roman design withstood the ravages of catastrophic hurricanes and nearby conflagrations over the years. The passage of time and termites, however, have left their marks. The Holy Redeemer Cathedral has undergone several additions and renovations and today is in dire need of repair that in 2001 they launched a renovation campaign to save its roof, bell towers, stained glass windows, interior woodwork, central portico and side entrances. The Cathedral is still in use today as it was over 150 years ago.

Holy Redeemer Cathedral

Our next location is a narrow strip of  land in front of the Caribbean Sea on the coast of Belize City that was called Barracks, Lindbergh's Field or Lindbergh's Landing. There was once a time in Belize when travel was by horse and carriage and the flight of a well known pilot known as Charles Lindbergh changed the face of Belize and opened up the doors for air transport in Belize.
Colonel Charles Lindbergh also known as the "Lone Eagle" after his triumphant transatlantic voyage was approached by Pan American Airways to fly a goodwill mission to scout new routes in Central America and the Caribbean. He departed Washington D.C. in his famous plane "The Spirit of Saint Louis" just before Christmas on his way to Mexico City then Guatemala City before landing in Belize. Charles Lindbergh arrived in Belize on December 30th, 1927. Coming across the southern border of Belize in overcast weather, Charles Lindbergh  strayed over water and while coming through the clouds turned westward to make landfall around Stann Creek however the only available place with weather permitting him to land was to the north in Belize City. Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of Saint Louis landed safely in Belize to the excitement of the waiting crowds who immediately surrounded the plane after he landed. This location that Charles Lindbergh chose is a well known area known as Barracks on the north side of Belize City which was once a site used by the Golf, Cricket and Polo Clubs for matches. The site for many years was known as Lindbergh's Field or Lindberg'sh Landing. Today this location has seen development and is now home to BTL Park, Princess Hotel and Casino, Bowen Field as well as Marina Tower.

BTL Park - Marina Tower in Background

Belize has a long standing history in Central America and the Caribbean and is certainly has alot of history that can be seen everywhere you turn. If you would just know where to look you can find many great locations that hold stories if the past. We will cover some of these locations later in great detail revealing their history. We will also cover other sites to visit in other Districts in Belize to include, Orange Walk, Corozal, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo. Make sure to come back and visit our blog for more fabulous locations in Belize.

Brought to you courtesy of Platinum International Real Estate who has the privilege of working around such great locations in Belize. If you or someone you know are looking to Buy, Sell or Lease Properties in Belize be sure to contact them immediately.

Golfing in Belize - A Picturesque Escape for Golfers
By: Will Moreno
April 7th, 2011

Golfing in Belize is just catching on. With beautiful weather and a vast array of landscapes you would think there would be more courses. Maybe we should invite Jack Nicklause, Tiger Woods, Jiyai Shin, Sergio Garcia, Christi Kerr, Lee Trevino, Ai Miyazato, Geoff Ogilvy, Lorena Ocoa, Rory Sabbatini, Suzann Petterson, Matt Kucher, and Sean O'Hair among other top golfers to come to Belize to develop more top rated golf courses around the country. At the moment you have 2 golf courses to choose from the first being Roaring River Golf Course situated on the mainland at mile 50 just past the capital City of Belmopan and Guanacaste National Park. Roaring River Golf Course is a 9 hole executive-style golf course. A par 64 course that measures a total distance of 3,892 yards. The course has double tees that measure 1,933 yards on the frontline and 1,959 yards on the backline. The fairways are lined with indigenous trees and natural jungle growth offers small jungle trails with iguanas and various species of tropical birds when not golfing. If you are a serious golfer or just looking for a round of golf with your friends complete with clubhouse and refreshments then this is the course you want to visit.

Roaring River Golf Course

If you are looking to golf on an island surrounded by the spectacular waters of the Caribbean with views of the Barrier Reef then you might want to visit Caye Chapel Golf Resort. Located just 12 miles off the coast of Belize City and a couple hours away from the US, this resort has been seeing its share of famous golfers to include Tiger Woods. This golf resort is the only one of its kind in Belize and can boast the only Par 72, 18 Hole Championship Golf Course with four Par 5 Holes measuring a total of more than 7,000 yards. Caye Chapel Golf Resort offers a deep water marina that can accommodate 140 foot yachts and a private airstrip for even the most discerning of guests. A 25,000 square foot Clubhouse with 5,000 square feet of verandas perched from heights of over 60 feet, located between the back and front nine of the spectacular golf course, with restaurant, bar, fitness center and conference facility is surely an added bonus to this already luxurious golf resort. Golf at Caye Chapel Golf Resort is golf at its finest without tee-times, round timing or round limits. There are certain dates that the island is closed to the public due to large weddings, corporate events and celebrity visits.

 



Caye Chapel Golf Course

Are you now convinced that BELIZE is the place to be during those cold winter months? Are you looking for a Second Home or a Retirement Home in Belize?

Make sure to contact Platinum International Real Estate and Investments for all your Belize Real Estate Needs.

This article is an except from an article previously written: Belize a Wonderul Second Home Destination For Cold Winter Months, Written by Will Moreno, December 21st, 2010.

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"Timing is everything when it comes to purchasing real estate and now is an excellent time to choose real estate in Belize." Platinum International Real Estate and Investments looks forward to welcoming you to Belize and showing you the real estate opportunities available to you. The team behind Platinum International Real Estate and Investments has over 20 years of experience in international real estate and the network and connections to give you an insider's view and bring you the region's best lifestyle and real estate opportunities.

 The other day we headed out Barton Creek to my friends property to check it out.  At first I was a little curious as to why my friend Mike bought a property a few miles away from town; but as we drove there I found out why.  Driving towards Barton Creek all the way to his property was a site you must see. At every turn you could see peeking hills fill with a diverse blanket of colors of green on all the hills and valleys of the golden oranges orchard in Cool Shade. Cool Shade is a Mennonite community of farmers who work and live there. Further in, Mennonite family community was more visual. You could see the men farming, women working and some children helping others playing. All of them were wearing their traditional clothes and was unique to see that they are still Mennonites that keep their traditions and culture alive.

 The other day we headed out Barton Creek to my friends property to check it out.  At first I was a little curious as to why my friend Mike bought a property a few miles away from town; but as we drove there I found out why.  Driving towards Barton Creek all the way to his property was a site you must see. At every turn you could see peeking hills fill with a diverse blanket of colors of green on all the hills and valleys of the golden oranges orchard in Cool Shade. Cool Shade is a Mennonite community of farmers who work and live there. Further in, Mennonite family community was more visual. You could see the men farming, women working and some children helping others playing. All of them were wearing their traditional clothes and was unique to see that they are still Mennonites that keep their traditions and culture alive.