Orchid Bay, Belize

2011-04-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Belize has earned the title "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret" and is quickly becoming the top destination for eco-tourism and vacation homes. On the Northern coast of Belize is Orchid Bay, a luxurious private community committed to the environment.
Orchid Bay recently announced the release of its phase III properties with 0% financing. This announcement is on the heels of news that a private airstrip is being added to Orchid Bay allowing residents to enjoy day trips to Belize's cayes and reef.
Orchid Bay boasts a walkable community where amenities are less than a five minute by foot from every home. Properties are delicately placed between gardens and parks that highlight the beauty of Belize. Swimming pools, beaches, boat slips, and the equestrian center are available for all residents to share.
The luxury of Orchid Bay is affordable with private home sites starting at $44,000 USD and beach homes at $179,000 USD. The community is comprised largely of North American families who seek a vacation home in a private setting where family and friends can gather. People are also making Orchid Bay their full-time residence and some are opening businesses such as Pilates studios and bed & breakfasts.
Orchid Bay's architecture pays tribute to Belize's environment and history. Thatch roofs on the Mayan inspired beach casitas integrate with the surroundings. This aesthetic addition also helps insulate the roof to reduce air conditioning needs. Homes are designed to provide both grid and solar electricity.

Casita with thatch roof

Hardwood ceiling and loft in Casita

The newest addition to Orchid Bay is the Seafront Condominiums on the central beach in the communities prime real estate. The Condominiums feature a British Colonial architecture paying homage to Belize's British heritage. Outdoor living is a theme across Orchid Bay and the Condominiums include two large balconies and French doors connecting the living room with the front porch.

Orchid Bay's CEO, Ari Kahn, notes that " Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America and is 2 hours from Miami so it will not be a secret for long, but I still expect the environment to be preserved. Nearly 40% of the countries land mass is in protected status. Environmental sensitivity and eco-technology have advanced since the Costa Rica was discovered 20 years ago. Like Costa Rica, property prices will rise, but communities like Orchid Bay will keep the environment pristine."

International Living Blows the Lid on Belize

2010-12-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

We’re Blowing the Lid on Belize

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010

Dear International Living Reader,

I don’t get it. Belize should be heaving with North American tourists and residents. But the rich and famous seem to have the place mostly to themselves.

Which doesn’t make sense—because the prices here are low enough that almost anyone can afford a Caribbean beach house.

Belize (including its islands) is fun, friendly, laid-back, and easy, with lots of beach. The entire country (300,000 people) is the same size as Massachusetts (6.5 million people). Maybe its size is why so many people don’t know about it.

Anyone who has heard of Belize may think it’s too expensive. After all, there are a lot of million-dollar homes along the coast. It’s not too hard to find a new house that comes with a 100-foot-yacht slip as standard.

Hollywood celebrities own islands and hotels here. A couple of weeks before my recent visit, Charlie Sheen was in town.

Yet on the same stretch of coast, you can buy a lot and build your own beach house for $100,000 total. If you want something already built, you can easily find it for less than $200,000.

But affordable beach is only a small part of the real Belize story.

It’s easy to fit in—everyone speaks English (it’s the official language).

They hate taxes—and consistently defend their asset protection laws in international courts.

It’s easy to get residency—they want to attract more North American expats.

For all these reasons and more, we’re calling this upcoming week “Belize Retirement Confidential” week. We’ll blow the lid on everything you need to know about this country. Stay tuned.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

Orchid Bay on XM 169 Mind Yo Business Talk Radio

2010-11-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

Mind Yo Business Talk Radio interviewed Ari Kahn, CEO of Orchid Bay Belize, today on http://mybtalk.com/ XM 169

Photo Essay: 20 Reasons to Travel to Belize NOW

2010-11-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Photo Essay: 20 Reasons to Travel to Belize NOW

I’ll go pretty much anywhere.

OFFER ME A TRIP to a Latin American country, though, and I’ll produce my passport in six seconds flat. This part of the world is my beat.

The Belize Tourism Board invited me to Belize earlier this month to, among other things, judge the country’s annual culinary festival, Taste of Belize. I knew pitifully little about the Central American country before I left home, giving myself a crash course in Belizean history (thanks, Google Books) the night before my flight departed.

I don’t like to compare countries, but Belize really is different than any other Latin American country I’ve visited. Its political history (it was a British, not a Spanish, colony) and its geographic location (bordering three countries by land or sea) have contributed to some really compelling social and cultural dynamics.

Here are 20 reasons why you should travel to Belize NOW… and 20 reasons why I can’t wait to go back.

1. Belize isn’t overrun with travelers.

231,249 foreigners arrived by air in 2009, according to the Belize Tourism Board. For the BTB, that number represents a challenge. For you, that represents an opportunity. Go now.

2. You can get around without Spanish.

“Le puedo ayudar?” I asked a disabled Belizean who flew into the southern town of Punta Gorda with me. “I don’t speak Spanish,” he replied. English is Belize’s official language. Though you’ll hear Spanish, Kreyol, or Quechi spoken by members of Belize’s diverse cultural communities, English is Belizeans’ lingua franca, and signs like these (at the Cozy Corner Restaurant in Placencia) are mainly for entertainment.

3. Money exchange isn’t complicated.

The local currency is the Belizean dollar, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted (I used a U.S. $50 bill to pay for a shirt and some baskets I bought from the Pop family, who live in a fairly isolated community at least 15 miles from the nearest bank.) The exchange rate is pegged at $2 BZ to $1 U.S., so conversion is super simple should you choose to pay in BZ.

4. It’s easy to get around.

Seen from above, Belize appears to be a vast jungle with occasional pockets of human life. On the ground, that impression pretty much holds true, but roads are more visible. If you want to road trip Belize, it’s totally doable. There are a couple major highways and they’re in excellent condition (adequate signage and no potholes!). They’re also safe, toll-free, and void of military checkpoints. Traffic’s minimal, too.

5. When was the last time you got so close to a working pilot?

If you don’t want to drive Belize, you can fly. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are regional airlines with in-country flights between cities. The “airports” are little more than a house and planes take off from a small airstrip. Service is reliable, on-time, and more efficient than the New York City subway. Plus, there’s no security. I’d forgotten what flying was like before the days of the hyper-vigilant TSA.

6. There’s lots to do.

Belize has seven World Heritage Sites just on its barrier reef, which, by the way, is the second longest barrier reef in the world. The country also claims more than 1,060 mangrove and/or sand cays. Some of these, like Caye Caulker, are inhabited; others are home only to birds, but there’s plenty for you to explore.

7. There’s also plenty NOT to do.

If all you want to do is swing in a hammock, I’d highly recommend visiting Pelican’s Pouch in October. When I visited, the only people there were the staff. I spent a blissful two hours in this hammock, doing nothing other than listening to the waves and drifting in and out of sleep.

8. People still say “Good morning.”

And “Good afternoon.” And even “Good night.” Within five minutes of borrowing a bicycle from the hosts of the Coral House Inn and setting off on a self-guided tour of Punta Gorda, I’d met more people who wanted me to stop and chat than I’d talked to in the past week in New York. I spent about 10 minutes talking with Mags, pictured above, who told me all about the upcoming Garifuna Settlement Day celebration, which takes place November 19.

9. There’s always a big event just about to happen.

Garifuna Settlement Day in November, Taste of Belize in October (me, with other Taste of Belize judges, pictured above), Carnaval and Independence Day in September, and the Belize International Film Festival in July. For complete event listings, check BTB’s calendar.

10. People still know how to make things with their hands.

And even better, you can watch them while they’re working at their craft. This is Austin Rodriguez, who’s been making drums for more than 35 years…

11. And Mercy Sabal, who’s made dolls for over 20 years…

12. And a family-based cassava bread business.

13. Because “local food” isn’t a trend; it’s a way of life.

Fish makes up a significant portion of the Belizean diet and is the centerpiece of many dishes, like hudut (pictured above). Fishermen must sell their fish with at least 2 inches of skin visible, so buyers can know what fish they’re buying and that it’s local.

14. Because a guy named Gomier can make tofu three dozen ways.

Vegetarians and vegans traveling to Belize should head to the country’s deep south, Punta Gorda, and stop by Gomier’s Health is Wealth Vegetarian Restaurant. Gomier, a St. Lucian who has lived in Belize for 16 years, makes his own tofu. As if that’s not enough, he turns it into dishes even the most die-hard tofu lover probably hasn’t tried. His curried tofu balls were the bomb, and I polished them off with peanut-flavored tofu ice cream.

15. Because you’ve gotta try the local hooch.

When my hosts mentioned that I’d be meeting with a local winemaker, the first question that popped into mind was, “But where are the grapes?” You’d be amazed what can be turned into wine. Lucy (above) makes wine out of sea grapes (!), starfruit, rice, grapefruit, and cashews, all of which are locally grown. My favorite was the cashew wine, which (I was told afterward) is the most potent, famous for its three-day hangover.

16. Because even “high-class” cocktails are made from local ingredients.

Like this Hibiscus Punch at Francis Ford Coppola’s Turtle Inn (no, I didn’t stay there). The hibiscus syrup used in this drink is extracted from flowers on the property.

17. You can visit three other countries easily.

From Punta Gorda, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras are each about 45 minutes by boat. The Mexican border isn’t too far, either. Belize should keep you plenty busy, but if you’re jonesing for more passport stamps, this is an easy way to get some ink.

18. Every expat seems to have an incredible story.

My German-born guide, Bruno Kuppinger, was a successful banker who gave up his stressful career after his mother and a close friend died at young ages. He moved to Belize, sight unseen, because of his interest in archeology. “I figured if I couldn’t make it here, I wouldn’t make it anywhere.” Every other expat I talked with had an equally compelling reason that motivated them to move to Belize.

19. The wildlife watching is spectacular.

Some folks spend thousands of dollars to go see birds in the Galapagos. You can see the same species for a lot less in Belize; this frigate bird was resting at the bird sanctuary, Man-o-War Cay.

20. There’s so much to learn.

The diversity of cultures in Belize–the Garifuna, the indigenous descendants of the Maya, the Creoles, and the Chinese–totally stoked my passion to learn more about this country. And, of course, to go back soon.

Mexican Space Agency to Have Its Base in Caribbean State

2010-09-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yet another example where Belize is "In the Path of Progress"

CANCUN, Mexico – The headquarters of the Mexican Space Agency will be built in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo thanks to an investment of $120 million made public on Tuesday by Gov. Felix Gonzalez Canto.
The Space Center will be built in Chetumal, the state capital, on the border with Belize. At the site will be a launch pad, a runway, an underwater training unit and the space museum.
The site was selected because of the similarities it has to the environment at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a communique issued by the Quintana Roo government.
The state government held a meeting on the subject with Mexican astronaut Jose Hernandez Moreno, who last year participated in a NASA space mission on board the space shuttle Discovery.

State officials feel that the construction of the space center will attract companies in the aerospace industry with resulting benefits for the local economy and the creation of jobs.
The creation of the space agency was proposed by President Felipe Calderon and approved by lawmakers, but the decision has not yet been published in the official gazette. EFE

Orchid Bay on HGTV

2010-08-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

House Hunters International Will Feature Orchid Bay on September 7, 2010.

The show highlights how Steve from Arizona selected Orchid Bay and a Casita as his getaway.

Date and time is:
September 07, 2010: 10:30 PM e/p
September 07, 2010: 1:30 AM e/p

Timing Your Investment in Belize

2010-08-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Timing the purchase of international property is critical. To get the most from your investment you need to identify the path of progress and catch a destination on its way to becoming hot, but before prices escalate.

In the Caribbean most locations have already been discovered. Cancun, St. Bart's, and Cayman Islands have peaked in price; however Belize is relatively undiscovered even though it has advantages over all these well know locations.

Real Estate in Belize sells for half the Caribbean average and that will likely change. Property values in Belize are low for the wrong reason – because the country has not been marketed. Belize has the smallest population in Central America (not a bad thing) and therefore a small tax basis for its marketing budget. Belize prides itself as "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret" but this secret is too good to keep. Today Belize is affordable, its oceanfront is still available, and the environment is pristine with virgin rainforests and the world's second largest reef.

Belize has many advantages over its Latin and Caribbean neighbors. Once this tiny country is discovered your Caribbean dream may suddenly be out of reach. Some of Belize’s advantages include:

- English-Speaking – Only English-speaking country in Central America
- Green – Longest living reef in the world & world’s second longest reef overall
- Accessible – Only 2 hours from U.S. and new flights and airports in progress
- Path of Progress – Billions invested in Mayan Riviera from Cancun to Belize
- Peaceful – No war in over 200 years
- Banking – Strong privacy rights and no capital gains taxes

Within Belize, the Corozal district in Northern Belize has additional advantages. Corozal rests serenely along the Bay of Chetumal, safe from the harsh saltwater air of the islands and protected from tropical storms. Because Corozal is on the mainland the total cost of ownership is lower than the even the Belizean islands. Corozal is the sister city to Mexico’s capital of Cancun’s state. This affords access to excellent healthcare, restaurants, and shopping.

Word of mouth travels exponentially and Belize will soon be a well known destination. The best properties in Belize are still affordable but that will quickly change.

Best Places to Retire Abroad - Belize

2010-08-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

The following excerpt is from this month's edition of AARP Magazine.

Let’s fast-forward to Belize’s unique appeal to U.S. retirees: It's the only south-of-the-border country whose official language is English. Until 1973 it was called British Honduras, and was a crown colony of the U.K.; it was granted full independence in 1981 (although Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state). Another goodie: It’s catching up to Panama and Costa Rica's retiree perks. Its Qualified Retired Persons program, known as the QRP, offers benefits and a fast track to residency status.

Squeezed between Mexico’s Yucatan coast and Guatemala to the south, sparsely populated Belize is a Central American paradise, with tropical jungle flora, endless white beaches, an aquamarine Caribbean sea, some of the world’s best reefs for snorkelers, fishing to die for, Mayan ruins, and even casinos. Most expats settle either on the largest island, Ambergris Caye, or in Corazol Town on the mainland’s northern tip. Ambergris Caye has the fancy restaurants and condos, including million-dollar properties. It can be as expensive as South Florida (Leonardo Di Caprio bought an island west of Ambergris Caye). The Corozal district, a few miles’ drive from the Mexican border, is far more affordable. Corozal expats live a laid-back life, with year-round outdoor play (boating, hiking, swimming, diving), but are still only 20 minutes from the malls and cineplexes of Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

After many visits to Belize, Atlantans Walter and Terri Fisher, 55 and 49, built a "concrete ranch house" with a water view for $125,000, including the lot. "The house was finished in 2007," Walter reports. "Last year we sold our house in the States, got off the corporate treadmill, and moved here. I drove down in my truck on my own, and Terri—and five cats—flew down. We're completely happy, though it’s tough being this far from family."

A former educator who moved to Corozal from California, with two of her children three years ago said, "We looked at Nicaragua, but Belize had what we wanted—water all around. We bought a home with one-third of what we got for our house in the U.S. —and it’s three times as wonderful. I'm very blessed to be here."

Tanager Construction

2010-07-09T01:54:00.000-07:00

We broke ground on the Tanager for lot 54 this week.
The foundation rests on 25 foot piles.
This home will be 3 bedrooms.

The quiet before the storm

2010-07-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Orchid Bay!

Many of you watched this past weekend as Tropical Storm Alex moved across Belize and into the Yucatan peninsula. As you may also know we had a large group here for our Insider’s Tour weekend. First let me say that we are all safe and sound. There was no damage from the storm at Orchid Bay! We have only minor leaf debris and a few twigs to pick up to make the site look as good as it did before the storm.

The location of Orchid Bay has the following advantages:
1) Secluded - The Bay of Chetumal has no commercial traffic.- Orchid Bay does not receive weekend vacationers or "spring breakers" and you can shoot over to the Cayes to participate in tourist activities on your own schedule.
2) Access - You are near the city of Chetumal which has more shopping/medical/cultural facilities than the entire country of Belize.- All major tourism areas of Belize can be accessed with 1.5 hours and most within 1 hour.- Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the other major destinations in Mexico's Riviera Maya are within driving distance.
3) Storm Protection - Although Belize does not have nearly as many hurricanes as Florida it is still subject to tropical storms and the occasional hurricane. Orchid Bay is more protected than other parts of Belize because the Yucatan peninsula dips in front of the Bay of Chetumal. Also the Bay of Chetumal is shallow which reduces tidal surge.

Orchid Bay is adding another beach!

2010-05-17T02:59:00.000-07:00

It's about 1/4 mile long and we would love to hear your feedback.

Below is a 2008 Google satellite photo - the 25+ buildings constructed at Orchid Bay last year are not shown...

See http://picasaweb.google.com/orchidbaybelize for recent arials

Here are the concepts:

1) Walking distance from Seafront Condos

2) Large grassy green space behind beach to help reduce ambient temperature

3) Maintain waterfront trees to create privacy

4) Beach volleyball, swimming pools, and palapas

5) Adjacent wetlands to attract birds and support other wildlife

6) Oceanfront restaurant and pier

Stalking a Saltwater Trophy in Belize

2010-04-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

TURNEFFE ATOLL, Belize — Less than 20 minutes from the dock at Turneffe Flats Lodge, my angling buddy Geoff Roach and I beheld a sight that would set any saltwater fly angler’s heart aflutter: the thin dorsal fins of a school of permit, slicing like a scythe through the clear Caribbean. Our guide, Michael Anderson, killed the motor, climbed onto his poling platform and began pushing us slowly toward the fish. Moving onto the skiff’s casting deck, I nervously peeled line off my reel and tried to steady my nerves.

“Drop it on ’em,” Anderson said with a calm that seemed ill-matched to the situation. I cast my fly into the swirling mass of fins and tails and held my breath.

My visit to Turneffe Atoll was the latest chapter in what has become an Ahab-like obsession with hooking a permit, a quest that has taken me to Boca Paila, Ascension Bay and Chetumal Bay on the Yucatán Peninsula and Ambergris Caye in Belize.

Permit are widely considered the holy grail of light-tackle sport fish in the Caribbean. Their broad bodies, large round eyes and blunt faces make them unmistakable. Permits’ aerodynamics give them tremendous strength; specimens, which can range from 5 to 40 pounds and above, have been known to rip 150 yards of line out in their first run. Secretive, antsy and ever alert, permit are the spookiest creatures on the saltwater flats.

To catch a permit on a fly, you have to do a lot of things right — cast a heavy fly 40 or 50 feet, often into whipping winds; mimic the halting gait of a crab with your retrieve; and play a very strong animal on light line around coral heads that wait to part you from your prize.

Until a few decades ago, the popular perception was that permit could not be caught on a fly with any regularity. In the early 1980s, several anglers in the Florida Keys — the guide Steve Huff and Del Brown among them — began building flies with epoxy to imitate the small crabs that are a staple of the permit’s diet. With the evolution of crab patterns — the Merkin, the Turneffe Crab and the Rag Head among them — the odds of enticing permit to strike have improved. But you still have to find them.

And Turneffe Atoll, 30 miles east of Belize City, is a great place to search. The largest of Belize’s three coral atolls at nearly 300 square miles, Turneffe has hundreds of sheltered lagoons, lined by impenetrable mangrove stands. The deep waters surrounding Turneffe shelter robust permit populations, and the pristine lagoons provide ideal feeding habitat for the fish, which enter the lagoons during rising tides. While bonefish, the other great sport fish of the flats, are often found in 6 to 12 inches of water, permit prefer water that is two to six feet deep.

Anderson led us to such flats each morning in Turneffe’s Central Lagoon. The routine was simple: slowly cruise the mangroves, scanning for any signs of fish — a subtle disturbance on the surface that hinted at moving fish (nervous water, in angling parlance) or the hint of a black dorsal fin extending just above the lapping blue-green waters.

My previous encounters with permit had been fleeting at best — one cast a little too close or landing a little too loudly, and the fish scattered out of sight, with soul-deadening finality. The school of permit we found that first morning were anything but skittish. For 30 minutes, I cast a variety of crab patterns into the group, which grew from roughly 25 fish to more than 50. My first tentative casts were at the edges, but as those were received with indifference, I began dropping the fly into the heart of the group with audible plops. Still, no spooked fish, and no takers. Roach repeated the drill, with the same result. If finding such a large group of these often elusive fish working their way slowly along the flats seemed a miracle, watching them refuse our offerings was a maddening affront.

The rest of the week followed the same pattern. If we found fish, scores of casts into the school failed to spook them, yet also failed to arouse any interest. We consoled ourselves each afternoon by hooking bonefish on shallow flats and hunting snook among the mangroves. Frustration gave way to a quiet acceptance that it was not our time to catch a permit. (One of our fellow guests, after all, had visited Turneffe three times before landing his first permit.)

Everything changed on our final day. At a spot near our first permit encounter, nervous water viewed through binoculars gave way to fins and tails churning the surface. At times, the broad sides of the fish flashed in the sun, a beacon of hope.

“They’re feeding,” Anderson said. “Put on the Rag Head and drop it.”

Roach obliged, and on the fourth cast, his line came tight. After a pregnant pause, the fish began to peel off line. Minutes later, Anderson was lifting an eight-pound permit (Roach’s first) into the boat to be admired and released.

The feeding spree lasted a few more minutes, long enough for me to hook not one, but two permit. But on both instances, the hook pulled loose after several minutes. I returned north, still permitless. Perhaps my luck will change on my next trip to Turneffe.

Investing in Belize

2010-04-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Interest in Belize real estate expected to increase as prices in some locations remain low
Thursday, 15 April 2010

Belize real estate could see a massive increase in sales to foreigners this year, as interest in investment in Latin America revives, it is claimed.

An increase in tourism in the region along with bargain prices and positive economic growth could make the country more attractive than ever to foreigners, according to international property investment consultancy Property Frontiers.

According to director David Cox prices have fallen by 50% in some locations making them a much more interesting prospect for international investors. ‘Although local agents claim only a slight fall in Belize real estate prices the reality is different,’ he explained.

‘You also have to consider the fact that Belize real estate values grew by 15% per year inland and by up to 30% in coastal locations. This track record of such strong growth will not be overlooked by serious investors.

He also believes that a commitment by developers to providing eco-friendly projects is another attractive feature. An example is a development in the Cayo District nature reserve which has natural springs to supply the water, solar electricity and an anaerobic bacteria based sewage system. It aims to be 100% carbon neutral and have minimal running costs.

Many people think Belize is an island, but it a series of hundreds of islands, 108 of them uninhabited, between Mexico and Guatemala and is the only English speaking country in Central America. It is popular with both US and Canadian buyers.

Another attraction for foreign investors is that it has a form of banking secrecy that protects people with deposits there. Authorities won’t report simple tax evasion but they will honour tax pacts with other countries and will co-operate with foreign authorities on cases of fraud or money laundering.

‘Belize is where Cost Rica was 30 years ago. It’s the ground floor when it comes to buying beachfront real estate,’ says Bob Dhillon, a Calgary businessman who owns Costa del Sol, a 1,214 hectare development, near San Pedro.

Although in upmarket resorts a beachfront house might cost over $1 million it is also possible to find a condo on the beach for $250,000. Real estate prices are still recovering from the recession, added Dhillon.

Belize has sun, surf, secrecy and low taxes

2010-04-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

Fred Langan, Financial Post

Belize is one of the great secrets for Canadian retirees. The Central American nation copied some of its neighbours, such as Costa Rica, to attract people who want to retire there.

To establish residency, you simply have to be over age 45 and have US$2,000 a month in income. A Canadian retiree can vote in Belize, but must buy health insurance.

And there is no tax on foreign income.

Belize has a form of banking secrecy that protects people with deposits there. Authorities won't report simple tax evasion but they will honour tax pacts with other countries and will co-operate with foreign authorities on cases of fraud or money laundering.

There are five big banks in Belize, one of them the Bank of Nova Scotia. Another is Belize Bank, which used to be owned by Royal Bank of Canada.

Many people think Belize is an island. While it has hundreds of islands, 108 of them uninhabited, it is squished between Mexico and Guatemala. It is the only English-speaking country in Central America.

One of the great things about Belize is that it's so empty. It is about the same size as El Salvador, about 21,000 square kilometres, but has just 300,000 people. El Salvador has seven million people.

For Canadians, getting there is a bit of a hassle. Canjet has one direct flight a week from Toronto, otherwise you have to transfer through the United States or Mexico. The main airport at Belize City seems to be carved out of the jungle.

San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, is the main destination for about 70% of the tourists who come to Belize. A growing number of visitors are discovering the bargains there on condos and beach houses.

"Belize is where Cost Rica was 30 years ago. It's the ground floor when it comes to buying beachfront real estate," says Bob Dhillon, a Calgary businessman who owns Costa del Sol, a 1,214-hectare development, near San Pedro. A beachfront house there recently sold for US$1.6-million.

But you can still buy an 800-square-foot condo on the beach in Belize for US$250,000. Real estate prices are still recovering from the recession.

After San Pedro, the most popular spot for tourists is Caye Caulker. It is much quieter and laid back than San Pedro and a paradise for divers.

However, Belize is more than beach. It is also has a number of Mayan ruins, and there are jungle resorts accessible only by river boats, and almost 40% of the country is made up of national parks.

The jungle is home to the jaguar, the largest cat in the Americas, though you would be lucky to see one.

Read more: http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=2758532#ixzz0kKleVjB6

A Weekend at Orchid Bay

2010-04-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a short photo gallary of a weekend at Orchid Bay:

Facebook page for Orchid Bay

2010-03-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

Orchid Bay has launched a new Facebook page. Click here or search for Orchid Bay, Belize to find page on Facebook.

Click Here To See FaceBook

Home Construction Underway!

2010-01-30T06:44:00.000-08:00

Orchid Bay experienced incredible growth in 2009. The core infrastructure was activated, homes were launched, casitas completed, new condos launched. As residents begin enjoying Orchid Bay in 2010 prices are sure to rise.

As a result of Orchid Bay’s unique successes in 2009 International House Hunters is coming to Orchid Bay this week to film!

Now is the perfect time to come see Orchid Bay. Get in under the wire to own a piece of paradise before its too late.

Electricity: Orchid Bay is perhaps the only community in Northern Belize with underground electricity. In 2009, Orchid Bay connected to the Belize national electric grid. Of course the solar and wind power systems that have been deployed at Orchid Bay will continue to operate to reduce the carbon footprint of the community but with connectivity to the national grid we expect development to accelerate further and property values to continue to appreciate.

Drinking Water: Orchid Bay activated a reverse osmosis system and built a 6-story water tower that provides purified water to the community. The water tower is a landmark on the Bay of Chetumal and includes a observation platform.

Waste Treatment: Orchid Bay has implemented an high tech treatment plan that protects the environment and provides the conveniences found in the United States to your homes.

Beach Club: Casita construction has demonstrated the level of luxury and unique craftsmanship that will be experienced at Orchid Bay. As of January, 2010 the first casita owners will begin to use their homes. The remaining casitas will come online this year and rentals will begin.

Homes: Construction of private homes began in 2009 with homes on Wild Orchid Way and in Alegre Gardens scheduled completion this year.

Recognition: International House Hunters requested to visit Orchid Bay and is filming this week.

House Hunters International films Orchid Bay

2010-01-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

House Hunters International filmed the casitas at the Orchid Bay Beach Club and why Steve Maestas chose Orchid Bay over the other properties that he researched in Belize. Show is scheduled to air on HG TV this Spring.

Banking in Belize

2009-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

“Belize is a custom-made banking haven,” explained longtime friend (and Belize banker) Peter Zipper to the group convened in the meeting rooms of the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Panama City last week.

“With their Belize Act in 1981, the Brits built themselves a banking haven. They looked around at the top banking havens worldwide at the time and cherry-picked the best elements of the banking laws in each case. These elements were incorporated into the banking law for the about-to-become independent nation to be known as Belize.

“Until that point, Belize had been British Honduras, a colony of the Crown.

“The constitution for this new country was based on the Canadian constitution. What does this mean?” Peter asked the crowd.

“That means boring. Boring politics, boring everything. Not much to rock anybody’s boat.

“As a result, in the nearly three decades since, Belize has managed to remain largely under the radar. Ambergris Caye drew some attention as the setting for TV’s ‘Temptation Island.’ Otherwise, other than from global divers and sun-seekers, Belize has been really successful at attracting very little attention.

“I spent many of the first 27 years of my 30-year banking career in Europe,” Peter continued, “working with Swiss banks, for example. We Swiss bankers back then would turn up our noses at the mention of ‘Belize banking.’ Bank in Belize? Who would give their money to a Belize banker, we wanted to know. Bankers in Belize can’t count, can they?

“Three years ago, I retired from the Euro-bank I’d been working for. Retirement’s not so much fun, I realized after about two days. When I thought about returning to work, I considered not the opportunities in Europe, but those on this side of the world, in the Americas.

“That’s looking like a smart move right now. In the 36 months since I moved from the banking industry in Europe to the one in Belize, the global banking industry has been turned on its head.

“Used to be, the mention of ‘banking’ brought places like Switzerland or Austria to mind. This paradigm has collapsed. There are dozens of ‘banking havens’ around the world. The truth is, though, that very few of them deserve the description right now. Belize is an exception. Belize is a true banking haven.

“Why? Two reasons.

“First, bank secrecy. Belize maintains it. Anyone in the Belize banking industry who violates the country’s bank secrecy laws goes to jail for a minimum of 18 months. Trust me. You don’t want to spend 18 months in a Belize jail.

“How has Belize managed to maintain its bank secrecy position while other better-known jurisdictions have all but abandoned the idea?

“That’s it, precisely. Belize is little-known. Remember, this country has kept its head down. No one pays it any attention, and Belize is keen to keep it that way.

“The second reason Belize stands out among the world’s bank havens right now is liquidity.

“Used to be, when I started talking about bank liquidity at a conference like this one, I’d notice people begin to nod off. Some would even head for the door. Nobody had any interest in the idea.

“I notice, though, today, you all seem wide awake. Thanks to recent events, bank liquidity has become a hot, sexy topic.

“Current liquidity among banks around the world is 1.2%. That’s the average worldwide. What’s the situation in Belize?

“Banks in this country maintain liquidity rates of 24%. This standard is mandated by the Belize government. A quarter out of every dollar in a Belize bank must be liquid. If a bank falls below this level of liquidity, the government can take the keys and close the bank.

“How did Belize bankers fare during the recent banking crisis? We sat back and smiled. We knew we didn’t have anything to worry about, and, in fact, not a single Belize bank has failed.

“Belize banks maintain an extraordinarily high standard of liquidity, and they lend only 50% loan-to-value for mortgages. That’s how Belize banks stay healthy.

“It’s not only banks in this country that are healthy right now. The Belize economy in general is doing very well. Growth rates over the last six years have averaged 6% a year. Inflation is 1.4%. An economist will tell you that this is the sweet spot, exactly where an economy wants to be. And Belize has been able to stay within this range for six years.

“Belize’s three main industries are finance (banking, trust companies, etc.), eco-tourism, and oil. Yes, oil, which has been discovered off the coast in volumes that appear to be as great as those off the coast of Texas. Drilling is under way…in a way so as to preserve the eco-system of the shore and the reef. No oil platforms out in the ocean.

“You can open a bank account at my bank in Belize with zero dollars. Why? Because we, like all Belize banks, are focused on attracting small- to medium-sized investors. We’re not going after mega-clients. Mega-clients attract attention. Remember, Belize is a low-key jurisdiction, happy to stay off the world’s radar.

“That’s not to say we’re ready to open an account for any shyster who comes along. The days of sewage banking are over. The banks that threw off a stench in places like Panama and Belize, are gone. No more numbered accounts. We need your name and your address (not a P.O. Box).

“And we’re going to ask you how you made the money you’re depositing. We need to know our clients. We need something to fill in the blank on the application form. This helps to protect fellow account-holders, as well as the bank.

“Remember, Belize speaks English. So your account manager is an English-speaker. And Belize is in Mountain Time. You don’t have to get up at Midnight to have a conversation with your banker.

“Americans and Canadians can open either a personal account or what’s called a structure account. This is the preferred option. It’s an account formed for you by someone else that’s not in your personal name but in the name of a structure–a trust, a company, or a foundation, for example.

“Once you’re offshore, you want to do as little in your own name as possible. Put everything possible in the name of a structure.

“You don’t have to come to Belize to open your account. In most jurisdictions, including Panama, you must appear in the bank in person to fill out the forms, sit through the interviews, and sign on the dotted line. Not so in Belize. You don’t ever have to step foot in the country if you don’t want to.

“But I’d suggest you come have a look. You’ll find yourself in familiar company. This is where the Baby Boomers are headed. They’re coming our way in growing numbers. Walk down the street on Ambergris Caye, and you hear the music the Boomers all around–the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin…

“These folks had a great time in the 1960s…then they became the most boring people on the planet. They made a lot of money…and now they’re looking to reclaim their lives. They’re finding their way, in retirement, to places like Belize…where they’re listening to their music again…

“It’s also got the most appealing banking industry in the world right now.”