Where to Live in Belize? Punta Gorda and Southern Belize

This week on "Where to Live in Belize?", we are looking at Punta Gorda and the Toledo District.  I know you have heard stories about Punta Gorda being the end of the earth, but PG does have some hidden gems to be discovered. 

Punta Gorda, known locally as PG, is the town of the Toledo District in southern Belize. PG is a colorful and friendly town with a population of about 6,000 people. Although Punta Gorda is a Spanish name, its inhabitants are mostly Kriol/English speaking, primarily of Garifuna, East Indian, and Kriol descent.
Punta Gorda is 210 Miles by road from Belize City. The road into town follows the shoreline. There are five streets that run parallel inland. Fruit trees line the streets. Most small homes are made of wood on stilts.

Punta Gorda is putting the Toledo area on the map as the "Unforgettable" corner of Belize, rather then the "Forgotten" corner. The majority of Toledo District's attractions are found in the form of remote villages, caves, waterfalls and offshore cayes. Looking for something off the beaten path, then this area is worth checking out.

PG has a small airport which serves domestic flights from Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. James Bus line is based in Punta Gorda and offers a regular service to Independence, Dangriga, Belmopan, and Belize City. Water taxis offer daily service to Livingston, Puerto Barrios, and Guatemala. Punta Gorda is a gateway to and from Guatemala with immigration and customs office located near the town dock.

Wednesdays and Saturdays are the biggest market days. Mayan vendors sell wild coriander, yellow or white corn, chili peppers, tamales wrapped in banana leaves, star fruit, mangoes and much more. The woman and children bring handmade crafts to sell at market.

Reasons to Live in Punta Gorda and Southern Belize

1. Diverse mix of Maya, Garifuna and other cultures.
2. Excellent Fishing.
3. Beautiful, lush tropical areas.
4. Increasing interest in area for tourism due to completion of Southern Highway.
5. Land is reasonable priced.
6. Close to Guatemala.
7.  Seeking a quiet area in Belize to live.

Where to Live in Belize? Dangriga and Hopkins Area

Dangriga

Dangriga is off the coast approximately 36 miles from Belize City and is the hub of this area.  Shopping and medical facilities are located in Dangriga, Hopkins has only a few small shops. 

Dangriga is not as popular with the expats as the Hopkins area which is slowly attracting more expats seeking beachfront property.

Hopkins does not have an airstrip, but you can fly into Dangriga.  There is also bus service available between Dangriga and Hopkins.  Dangriga is about 15 miles from the Hopkins area down the Southern Highway.  Expats will probably want to have a car living in this area.

Reasons to live in the Dangriga/Hopkins Area

1.  Friendly, funky, small village
2.  You still have close access to the barrier reef.  It is only about 12 to 15 miles off the shore.
3.  Water sports available such as fishing, boating, snorkeling and diving.
4.  Hopkins has real beaches.
5.  Considered the most exotic area of Belize.
6.  Lower prices for beachfront property.
7.  Fascinating history of the Garifuna (pronounced Gah-RIF-oo-na) people.
8.  Easy access to Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve and other natural areas of Belize.
9.  Only a short drive to the Maya ruins at Mayflower.
10. Cockscomb Basin Reserve, a real rain forest jungle.

Where to live in Belize? Corozal

Corozal is a popular spot for expats and is the Northern most town in Belize which means you would be extremely close to the town of Chetumal, Mexico.  Chetumal, Mexico offers medical services and more options for shopping which in include an American like mall and Sam's Warehouse shopping. 

The Corozal district is 718 square files in area.  Spanish is spoken more widely then English here, although you should easily be able to get by in English at least in Corozal Town.

Corozal town area offers low cost housing whether you are renting or buying, a sizable expat community and a pleasant location on the Bay of Chetumal, sometimes referred to as Corozal Bay.  There are few sand flies and pesky bugs in most areas.  Corozal has a pleasant sub-tropical climate with lower rainfall then southern Belize.  It is generally considered to be safe and friendly.  You have easy access by car, bus, water taxi and air to Ambergris Caye, other areas of Belize and the Yucatan.

Where to Live in Belize? San Pedro, Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye, Belize

We have been to Belize several times and have stayed on both the mainland and on the islands.  Belize was not our first choice of where to retire, it was originally Key West, Florida.  But I was just never sold on the idea of retiring to Key West and we had never really considered the option that we could move to another country and retire.

Last year we starting reading and looking into Belize and after making another trip to Belize, this time just staying mainly on the island of Ambergris Caye in the town of San Pedro, Bill and I decided Belize is where we wanted to be.  We felt like Belize had the best of everything to offer, it has the islands, jungles, Mayan ruins, they spoke English, easy access to the US and we could afford to live there.  We thought, what more could we ask for?

Ambergris Caye is Belize's largest island in the Cayes and is the most popular destination in Belize, for expats and tourist.  It has the largest expat community with a resort island atmosphere.  Belize has the second largest coral reef system in the world.  The reef lies 1/2 mile east of the Ambergris Caye shoreline and runs the entire 25 miles length of the island.  This has made San Pedro Town the dive and water sports capital of Belize and Central America.  The Great Blue Hole, Turneffe Islands, Shark Ray Alley, Hol Chan, Marine Reserve, Mexico Rocks, and Lighthouse Reef are only a short boat ride away. 

San Pedro reminds you of the Caribbean of 30 or 40 years ago, before the boom of international travel.  There are just three main north-south streets which are lined with wood houses and shops painted in bright tropical colors.  Most people get around town on foot, bike or golf cart.

Ambergris Caye has the sun and heat of the tropics, but is cooled by the trade winds off the Caribbean Sea.  Temperatures range from about 75-95 degrees during the day year round.  The rainy season is May to February, with most of the rain following in the late afternoon and evening.  Southern Belize may get up to 140 inches of rain a year, Ambergris Caye only gets about 40 inches per year.  The water temperature stays pretty much around 82 degrees year round.

Other post you may be interested in:
Where to Live in Belize?  Caye Caulker
Where to Live in Belize?  San Ignacio

Where to Live in Belize? Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is Ambergris Caye's "Little Sister" Island.  It is a small limestone coral island off of the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea.  It is approximately 5 miles long running north to south and less than 1 mile running east to west.  The town on the island is known as Caye Caulker Village. 

Caye Caulker is located approximately 20 miles north northeast of Belize City.  You can get to the island by high-speed water taxi, or small plane.  It has become a popular destination for backpackers and tourist. 

Unlike Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker has fewer cars than San Pedro.  Everyone mostly gets around town on foot, but you can rent bikes and golf carts on the island. 

Caulker has much less beachfront and doesn't really compare to the beaches on Ambergris Caye.  Beaches of white coral sand that easily reflects the sunlight and causes mild sunburns, so you should always wear plenty of sunscreen.  You can even get a sunburn sitting in the shade. 

Caye Caulker remains a budget friendly island with a laid back atmosphere.  Water sports such as boating, fishing and diving are very popular off the island. 

Caye Caulker is much like the tourist businesses of San Pedro, but just fewer of them.  There is over 30 small hotels, a few casual bars, dive shops and small grocery stores.

Where to Live in Belize? Belmopan

Belmopan is situated between Belize City and San Ignacio and with only a population of about 8,100+ makes it the smallest capital in the world.  Belmopan became the capital of Belize in 1970 after the devastation of the former capital, Belize City, by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. 

Next to the Plaza in Market Square is where most the activity takes place with vendors selling tropical fruits, tamales and Mennonite watermelons. 

Across the street from Market Square is the bus terminal.  If you plan on staying for more than 30 days in Belmopan, you can renew your passport at the immigration office which is directly across the street from the market.

The climate in Belmopan can be described as sub-tropical with trade winds that sometime blow across the city.  The temperature in the coastal districts of Belmopan stay around 10 to 35.6 degrees Celsius.  The average annual temperature of Belmopan is 79 degrees Fahrenheit.  The annual rainfall varies from 50 to 180 inches and the dry season generally starts from about the month of February and continues up until the month of May.

Things to do in Belmopan:
Belize Zoo - Houses over 100 animals indigenous to Belize
Cave Exploring
Heris Nature Walk and Trails
Inland Blue Hole
Guanacaste Park

Where to Live in Belize? Placencia

Placencia has some of the best beaches on the mainland and a growing expat community.  16 miles of  beaches located on a peninsula with the Caribbean Sea on one side and lagoon on the backside, about 120 miles south of Belize City..  You can snorkel here but for the best  snorkeling you will have to take a boat out to the reef or to one of the small offshore cayes, a 10 to 20 mile boat ride.

Land on the peninsula is low-lying and flat.  You can see the Mayan Mountains to the west. The average temperature in sub-tropical Placencia is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the average humidity is 83%.  Generally the dry season and the most popular time to visit is January through May.  June, July, October and November are typically the rainiest months.  Rainstorms are usually short, but very powerful.

Most foreign residents choose Placencia for its low stress attitude.   The atmosphere is laid-back and focuses mainly on fishing, boating and other activities on the water.

Where to Live in Belize? Orange Walk

The Orange Walk District, with an area of 1790 square miles is located beside the New River and between Corozal and Belize City on the Northern Highway and is the second largest district of Belize.  The name Orange Walk comes from the orange groves in the area.  There is a formal plaza and the town hall is called Palacio Municipal. 

The strong Spanish influence here is unmistakable.  Old fashionsed totilla factories, mission churches and Spanish-styled homes are everywhere.  There are approximately 16,000 people living in Orange Walk District.  The main source of income before the 19th century was mahogany logging, which has now been replaced with sugar can fields lining the Northern Highway.

Although the Orange Walk District has no coast because it is locked inland, it has the remains of two forts, Mundy and Cairns that were the scene of battles between earlier Mayan inhabitants of the district and settlers. It offers some of the most natural  areas of Belize, with excellent birding and wildlife viewing.

Sights and Recreation in the Area:
1.  Banquitas House of Culture-exhibit of history, culture and industry of Orange Walk.
2.  New River and New River Lagoon-chance to see Morelet's Crocodiles and iguanas.
3.  Honey Camp Lagoon-white sandy beaches and coconut trees.

Other posts you may be interested in:
Where to Live in Belize?  Placencia
Where to Live in Belize? Belmopan

Where to live in Belize? San Ignacio

San Ignacio and it's sister town of Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area.  San Ignacio and Santa Elena are separated by the Macal River and Belize's only suspension bridge, the one lane Hawksworth Bridge which was built in 1949.

San Ignacio is very close to the Mountain Pine Ridge region where you can see some of the most beautiful waterfalls that Belize has to offer.  It also is a popular tourist destination in Belize with backpackers visiting and the Cayo District offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for those seeking some adventure.

San Ignacio is known by locals as the "Cayo" district and is located long the Western Highway and is approximately 70 miles or about a 90 minute drive from Belize City and only 9 miles east from the Guatemalan border.

Burns Avenue is the "Main Drag" in town and has many shops, hotels and places to eat. 
San Ignacio was originally names "El Cayo"  before being changed in the 1960's. El Cayo survived two major fires. The first fire was in 1966 and the second fire was 1972. The entire Burns Avenue was destroyed.

Getting to San Ignacio from Belize City:

Plane - All of the major tour operators offer airport shuttles, but they generally do not run with fewer than 4 passengers.

Bus - Bus services run approximately every half hour between 5:00 to 8:00pm.  The bus trip generally takes about 2 1/2.

Car - You can rent a car and take the Western Highway from Belize City.  You will go through the town of Santa Elena first and across the Macal River is where San Ignacio is located. 

Things to do and see in the Cayo Area:

1.  Xunantunich Archaeological Site-Ancient Maya City
2.  Chechem Ha Cave and Vaca Plateau-
3.  Caracol Archaeological Site
4.  Medicinal Jungle Trail and Iguana Exhibit
5.  Actun Tunichi Muknal
6.  Thousand Foot Falls-Central America's Highest Waterfall
7.  Belize Botanic Gardens-Lots of Hiking Trails-Learn about the Medicinal and Ritual Plants of the Maya
8.  Cahal Pech Archaeological Site-Discovered in the early 1950's