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Best Cities in Belize

Living in Ambergris CayeSummary: If you're thinking about moving to Belize, we have 5 great places to recommend based upon the experiences of expats living in Belize.

If you're thinking about moving to Belize, expats there have lots of advice. "San Pedro, Placencia, and San Ignacio have the largest expat populations. The most money is located in those three locations. Corozal is another expat community, but it is smaller. And many people move there because it is less expensive. That means they will be on tighter budgets. But you really need to come and visit, to check it out, " explained an expat living in Belize. "Think you would be wise exploring the various areas of Belize since it is small enough to hit all in one trip. Maybe 3-4 nights each in Ambergris, Orange Walk, Cayo and Placencia areas. They're all unique and you can see how you might fit in, " advised another expat in Belize. Another expat advised, "Also, most of Belize is quite warm and humid for at least 10 months out of the year, area depending, or more. You probably should visit in the July-September months so you can see worst case scenario.Living in Caye Caulker If you can tolerate those months, you can tolerate any weather here." If you're worried about hurricanes, one expat retiree advised, "There really isn't anywhere in Belize that is close to the beach or has a sea view that is technically out of the hurricane zone. Western Belize (Cayo District) is, but it's over 70 miles from the nearest beach. And Orange Walk is away from huricanes, but it is about 45 minutes from the beach."

Based upon all of the advice shared on Expat Exchange, here are five of the best places to live in Belize:

Ambergris Caye

Victoria Day-Wilson shared an excerpt from her book, Moon Living Abroad in Belize, which described Ambergris Caye, "Ambergris Caye is 25 miles long and its width varies from as narrow as a few hundred feet to as wide as 4 miles. The main town on the island, San Pedro, is about 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. There are three main streets, known as Front Street (Barrier Reef Drive), Middle Street (Pescador Street), and Back Street (Angel Coral Street). A sandy beach lies along the ocean side of the island and mangroves stretch along the mainland side.Expat San Ignacio Cayo Belize North of the center of town lies an area known as San Juan, which is where most of the island's workforce lives."

An expat in Ambergris Caye talked about the expat social life there, "Anything outdoor and health oriented is great on the island. My husband and I built the San Pedro Fitness Club, so I go there most days. Ladies tend to enjoy the water fitness classes, in particular, since it is both exercise and social time. But there are sailing groups, plenty of scuba and snorkeling opportunities, places that specialize in sailing or kayaking, and fishing groups and competitions. There are now also several yoga schools where you will meet health oriented people. So for those of us who like to balance healthy activities with a little indulgence, it is easy to do here... For those who enjoy live music, there are a variety of places where people hang out and listen to local bands, all for free. Beach bars include Crazy Canucks, BCs, and Fidos, all near town.Living in Belize City On the north side, Legends often has good music. We love to dance to a live band on the beach, cooled by a sea breeze! Sunday afternoon lunch is a time when everyone goes out for beach BBQ and to socialize. Popular places include Caribbean Villas (they have plenty of water toys), Crazy Canucks, BCs, and the Palapa Bar (up north). We go to Wine de Vine on Friday nights. This is a "smoke free" environment where many expats, business owners and tourists drop in for a nice glass of wine, and a cheese platter. There are regular festivals and fund raiser events that many expats attend. It is a great way to socialize and also donate to a good cause. There are more volunteer organizations than I can mention. Many expats join both to contribute, and to meet people. The most popular are the Saga Society (which is the local Humane Society), the churches, Lion's Club and various school organizations. Some groups get together to play cards such as bridge. And many of us get together for group dinners. Sometimes we meet a favorite restaurant. Other times we enjoy a pot luck with friends." Another expat said, "there are quite a few expats who live part or fulltime on Ambergris Caye. They are a minority, in comparison to Belizeans. But many expats are involved in the local community. You will find it easy to meet people here and form new friendships, with expats and Belizeans. The best way to do so is to get involved with volunteer organizations."

Source: www.expatexchange.com
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