Beautiful Belize - The Jewel of Central America

With one foot planted in tropical rainforests and the other dipped in the Caribbean Sea, Belize combines the best of both worlds and yet, remains a very well-kept secret. From secluded white sand beaches to lush tropical forests this is a country of diverse natural beauty benefitting from economic stability, a stress-free lifestyle and low cost of living.

More adventurous travellers can trek into the jungle in search of Belize's famous Maya ruins and explore the natural habitat of parrots, toucans, pumas and tapirs en route. Although Belize is a relatively small country it has an amazing variety of wildlife living in a wide range of habitats.

As well as the forests, the country's savannahs and lowlands are home to rare waterfowl while the mountainous regions ensure a niche for elusive jaguars and other beautiful cats. There are roughly 145 species of mammals living in Belize together 139 species of reptiles and amphibians identified so far, including more than 56 species of snakes. Belize is also a 'twitchers' paradise with over 500 varieties of rare and beautiful birds thriving in its many distinct habitats.

Belize remains undeveloped and sparsely populated so there are swathes of varied landscape to explore. However, tourism is booming with principally American visitors seeking a complete departure from the rat-race.

Typical of Central America, Belize has a very well-developed offshore banking structure and an English-speaking population together with a relatively buoyant property market. Prices vary according to where you are in the country with popular areas being cosmopolitan Belize City, on the Belizian island of Ambergris Caye and in the small town of Placencia.

The real estate options in Belize are numerous and varied – from oceanfront villas and luxury homes to resort condominiums, lagoon or canal-front properties. Prices can range from €150,000 for a two-bed condominium through to several million euros for a luxurious beachfront house. Reasonably unaffected by the financial crisis, Belize real estate has remained stable since the 80's. However, increasing interest from American retirees will undoubtedly impact prices over the next few years, providing an excellent opportunity to invest in Belizean property a beautiful tropical getaway.

PUBLISHED : 18TH JULY 2014