Belize and Mexico Discuss Border Lines

2009-02-19T10:06:00.002-05:00

The two countries are discussing the terms of a 100+ year old treaty. The lack of specifics has caused some confusion on where the border line should actually lie.

Belize Coast Guard Gets Boost From US -

2008-12-18T11:25:00.004-05:00

The US Government has donated 1.2 million dollars to the Belize's Defence Force and National Coast Guard. A portion of this money will be used to buy new boat engines.

NBC's Today Show features Belize in Green Week segment -

2008-11-18T15:05:00.007-05:00

Matt Lauer visited Belize's Blue Hole for a segment on this morning's Today Show. The clip brought attention to the unique environment the area presents.

Taiwan donates money to Belize -

2008-11-13T10:08:00.003-05:00

The country of Taiwan has issued the sum of US$100,000 to Belize. This money will be used to aid in relief efforts for flood victims.

Pen Cayetano Art Exhibit Opens -

2008-11-06T11:17:00.004-05:00

Artist Pen Cayetano returns to Belize to show off a new exhibit. He comes back from his home in Germany to help celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day.

Mesoamerica Joins in Independence Celebration -

2008-09-04T11:18:00.003-04:00

Several Central American countries will join Belize in celebrating their independence. The event is slated to begin September 13th and will be free to attend.

Journey's End Resort in Belize Capitalizes on Indiana Jones Movie Hype -

2008-08-20T09:30:00.005-04:00

Journey’s End resort on Ambergris Caye in Belize announces the "Plan your own Crystal Skull Maya Adventure" by offering guided tours to mysterious, beautiful, and fascinating Maya archaeological sites throughout Belize and northern Guatemala.

New Species Discovered in Belize -

2008-08-19T16:00:00.003-04:00

Belize has become home to a new species of worm. It was discovered during a Scuba diving expedition off the coast.

Belize Scouts Host Central America Cub Scout Event -

2008-07-31T11:04:00.005-04:00

In 2009, scouts in Belize will host the Central American Cub Scout Encounter. The event will take place at Camp Oakley over the Easter holiday in 2009.

2008 Belize Tourism Expo now being prepared -

2008-07-24T10:39:00.002-04:00

The Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize Tourism Board are now working on the five-day tourism event. The expo is held every two years.

The Lodge recieves first Ecoclub rating in Belize -

2008-07-08T16:39:00.004-04:00

The Lodge in Big Falls Staff, Belize became the first resort in Belize to obtain the title 'Ecolodge'. The title represents efforts in conservation and being environmentally-friendly.

Belize importing rice to cope with shortage -

2008-06-12T11:11:00.006-04:00

Recent flooding from Tropical Storm Arthur in the Northern parts of Belize have devasted the rice crop. As a result the Belize government has given the ok to import rice from the US and Mexico. The shipments are expected to supplant the crops destroyed by recent storms.

Belize Real Estate: A bright spot for beleaguered investors -

2008-05-16T14:43:00.006-04:00

SAN PEDRO, Belize - May 16, 2008 – Amid North America’s housing and mortgage gloom, investors and second-home buyers are finding that the sun is still shining brightly in the Caribbean hotspot of Belize. The 4.8-acre community of Las Terrazas (www.lasterrazasbelize.com), a premier real estate development on the island of Ambergris Caye, has seen its new beachfront villas and condos in Belize remain a hot investment opportunity – as well as one of the country’s most sought-after destinations.

Elsewhere, the headlines have been downright dismal. As the Associated Press recently reported for new home sales in the United States: "The median price of a home sold in March of this year dropped by 13.3 percent compared with March 2007, the biggest year-over-year price decline since a 14.6 percent plunge in July 1970."

That report comes fast on the heels of another measure of the housing slump throughout the U.S., with the median price of existing home sales declining by 7.7 percent from one year ago. Canada hasn’t seen the same meltdown and home prices are expected to rise, albeit more slowly than in recent years, according to the Bank of Canada.

With rapidly rising home foreclosure rates, a "Nightly Business Report" on PBS hinted at just how far the economic ripples are spreading. According to the assessments of Geoffrey Smith, research director for the Chicago-based Woodstock Institute, one foreclosure on a city block can lower the surrounding property values by one percent, with several foreclosures impacting a whole community.

Amid the dispiriting numbers, North American investors and second-home buyers are finding that opportunities still beckon from Belize’s sunny shores. “Although Costa Rica and Panama get all the publicity, Belize is renowned as one of the easiest countries in Central America for foreign buyers,” declared a recent article in the Boston Globe.

It may well be one of the best values to boot. The Wall Street Journal cited a Coldwell Banker study that found the average price of a 2,200-square-foot home in San Pedro, Belize, jumped 18.6 percent from Sept. 2006 to Sept. 2007. As prices cool elsewhere, investors are discovering that undervalued Belize properties make economic sense.

“Compared to similar units in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Cancun, buyers in Belize can find idyllic Ambergris Caye real estate for a fraction of the price,” said Chris Roberts, General Manager of Las Terrazas. With one-bedroom units priced from $289,900 and three-bedroom units from $399,900 investors are finding that Las Terrazas’ stunning location and “natural way of life” offers the kind of sound investment opportunity that has become an increasing rarity.

With a fixed exchange rate of $2.00 BZE for $1.00 US, Central America’s only English-speaking country offers the advantage of a housing market that won’t fluctuate like Europe’s foreign exchange rates. With contracts and negotiations in English, navigating the purchase process is relatively simple for a foreign home purchase. For Canadian buyers, the strong Canadian dollar ensures an even better bargain.

Belize places no restrictions on property ownership for non-citizens, while English Common Law provisions ensure a secure real estate title. Owners pay no capital gains or estate taxes and low property taxes, while rental revenue is taxed at only 1.75 percent of gross receipts. Perhaps best of all, property prices in desirable locations like Ambergris Caye have shown a steady increase in value for the past 25 years.

The country’s incredible natural beauty may have something to do with that. “Mother Nature’s best kept secret,” according to Belize’s ambitious tourism campaign, the Caribbean nation enjoys a spectacular coastline that boasts the Northern Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef and some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. On Ambergris Caye, the laid-back resort town of San Pedro offers an inviting range of restaurants, boutiques and sightseeing opportunities, while nature has afforded the nearby Las Terrazas community a luxurious seclusion featuring natural palm-framed beaches and a private lake.

For more information on how you can gain ownership within this exclusive beachfront community, please contact us at 1-800-399-6768 or enquire on our website.

About Las Terrazas Villas and Condominiums-Resorts:

Las Terrazas (www.lasterrazasbelize.com), an island community of 78 fully-furnished villas on 4.8 acres of private beachfront, is located on the popular vacation destination of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Each residential villa has been fully furnished and handsomely appointed with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, flat-panel televisions and everything necessary for new owners to enjoy immediate occupancy. A renters’ pool is also available. Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island and known for the phrase, “no shirt, no shoes, no problem.” Residents of Las Terrazas will enjoy luxurious yet laid-back island living and the convenience of reaching Ambergris Caye from Belize City by a short flight or high-speed sea ferry. Multiple airlines also offer convenient flights from the United States and Canada.

Contact:

Nancy Cardone
Web: http://www.lasterrazasbelize.com
Tel: 1-888-267-6774

Belize Resorts for Sale -

2007-08-20T01:55:00.002-04:00

Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resort in Belize is for sale

It has come to our attention that the Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resort near Placencia Belize is up for sale. The rumor is the owner is hoping to retire soon and is looking for a suitable buyer to maintain the high degree of quality and luxury that he has been able to achieve at Kanantik. They have created a website to promote the sale of this belize resort (follow the link) and the asking price is $8.4 million US for all 300 acres, Belize beachfront and all buildings and residences.

If anyone has more details on this offer feel free to post them here.

Top Beaches in Belize -

2007-01-30T09:03:00.002-05:00

Many travelers to Belize are surprised about the lack of quality of the Belizes. A number of reasons account for this; 1# the government of Belize has tight environmental restrictions on the development of beachfront. #2. Because of the barrier reef that runs along most of the coast of Belize most areas of the Belize coasts see very little surf and the water depths are quite shallow. #3 The heavily traveled tourist spots in the northern Cayes are typically not the best beach spots.

We have compiled a list of some of the best off the beaten track beaches in all of Belize. Enjoy and please post your best beach spots in Belize and provide the reasons why you think your location deserves to be on the list.

1# Southwater Caye Beach (Dangriga, Belize)

Southwater Caye Island off the coast of Belize is thought by many to be the definitive tropical island beach experience. Southwater Caye is a 15-acre island of sun drenched sand and stately coconut palms that lean out over turquoise waters.

2# Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort (Dangriga, Belize)

The white sand beaches of Kanantik kiss 300 acres of natural jungle. It is a secluded, remote and private beach in the southern part of Belize. If you like being pampered then the all-inclusive Belize resort of Kanantik is for you.
www.kanantik.com

3# Placencia Belize Beaches (Dangriga, Belize)

The town of Placencia is a totally laid-back seaside town, with a pristine sandy beach on a long, narrow peninsula on the southern coastline of Belize. Placencia boasts the mainland's best publicly accessible beaches.
More info at gocentralamerica.about.com.

4# Beaches of Caye Caulker (Belize City, Belize)

A little strip of sand in the Caribbean Sea called Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is still quiet, unhurried and relaxing beach town. The island is small and three star accomodations and above are sparse.

New Beachfront Condo and Villa Development in Belize -

2006-12-07T03:14:00.002-05:00

FREE 2 night Stay at Journey's End Resort in Belize Offered by Las Terrazas

Las Terrazas development project, selling oceanfront belize condos and belize villas, is offering a FREE complementary 2 night stay at the adjacent luxury Journey's End Resort for qualified buyers. Check out the Las Terrazas website for more details. I believe this offer is brand new and I am not sure how long it will be available or how one qualifies.

If anyone has more details on this offer feel free to post them here.

New Belize Island Resort -

2006-12-07T02:58:00.001-05:00

Caribe Island Resort in Belize

For resorts on the island of Ambergris Caye the recently renovated Caribe Island Resort has become one of my favorite resorts in Belize. They recently released their new website and for a small resort you can't beat the price and quality of stay. Check out the new Caribe Island Resort website. A very marked improvement over their previous website.

If you are looking for a good family resort in Belize you really need to take a look at Caribe Island Resort.

They have put up a Belize photogallery on their website and I have been told they will gradually add more pictures from around the resort to this gallery.

2006-07-15T15:43:00.000-04:00

Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort in Belize

Here is one of my favorite pictures from our Belize trip. It was taken from the beach at Kanantik looking north. Their cabanas that we stayed in are just feet from the ocean and their beach is handraked every morning. We almost felt guilty about waking up early and being the first ones to leave footprints in the sand. It was a nice touch though and it kept the beach very clean. We didn't notice any of the other Belize resorts making this type of extra effort. It did not go unnoticed by us.

Belize Wedding and Honeymoon Packages at Kanantik -

2006-07-05T13:05:00.001-04:00

Wedding and Honeymoon Package offered at Kanantik

I just noticed that Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resort in Belize is now offering a 7 nights - 8 days "Romantic Wedding and Honeymoon" package and 6 nights - 7 days "Romantic Honeymoon" package. They look like two very good all inclusive resort packages for Belize. It's too bad that wasn't offered when my wife and I went there. From the Kanantik website it says they both include roundtrip air transfer with Tropic Air from Belize City to Kanantik private airstrip, all meals, three tours, flowers, room service, secluded candlelight dinner on the beachside, and for the betrothed a complete wedding package including marriage license, the Pastor for the ceremony, flowers, bridal bouquet, photographer and videographer, wedding cake and for both packages a chilled bottle of French Champagne.

Looks like a very compelling package. Like I promised I will post some pics from our trip to a number of Belize resorts ... just need to find some extra time to dig out the photos.

Luxury Resorts of Belize -

2006-01-16T17:30:00.003-05:00

I recently went to Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resort in Belize with my girlfriend and I have to say it was one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever stayed at. The uniqueness of Kanantik can be attributed to the careful construction and design that offers its guests a one-of-a-kind blend of luxury and seclusion. Kanantik is truly a work of passion. We met the owner and he described the efforts that went into building Kanantik. It took him more than four years to build and during construction no short cuts were ever taken. Believe me the handcrafted cabanas are stunning. They brought in the finest materials from the surrounding areas to maintain Kanantik's harmony with the Belizean landscape, this included everything from the interior designs styled in the Mayan tradition to the hand-crafted furnishings made from Belizean hardwoods.

He feels Kanantik is the top all-inclusive resort in Belize and said that none of the other Belize resorts comes close to the diversity and size of property that Kanantik owns. We did visit a few other resorts in the area and I have to agree with him. Kanantik sits on the largest privately owned acreage on the ocean for any of the Belizean resorts. Kanantik is the only all-inclusive eco-sensitive resort in Belize designed to showplace both the emerald waters of the Caribbean and the pristine exotic Belizean forest in one truly picturesque setting. 1,300 feet of unspoiled private beach was only a few feet from our secluded cabana. Kanantik also showcases 300 acres of forest for birdwatching. If that isn't enough, the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere is right in Kanantik's backyard and we enjoyed some of the most fantastic diving and snorkeling.

With this blog I hope to post pictures and showcase some of the wonders of Belize through our stay at Kanantik.

Enjoy!