Enchanting 3 Bedroom Los Lagos Bungalow Home in Belize

Enchanting 3 Bedroom Los Lagos Bungalow Home in Los Lagos Area of Ladyville in Belize

This enchanting 3 Bedroom -1 Bath Fully Concrete Home has just become available for sale. This house for sale in the Los Lagos Community in Ladyville, Belize.

This home is priced to sell fast at only $55,000 USD ($110,000 BZD)

The home has been well cared for and includes interior upgrades such as brand new floor tile, renovated bathroom and closets in every room.

The home has an attached washroom with all connections and fully fenced yard with seperated back yard if you have pets.

The property is located in the peaceful community of Los Lagos which is just 20 minutes outside Belize City and only 5 minutes from Ladyville and the Phillip Goldson International Airport.

Make sure to call today to schedule a viewing of this great property with our Platinum International Real Estate Belize Agent - Will Moreno

Belize Tourism Board launches new culinary website

Jun 23, 2011
Belize City, Belize

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announces a new interactive culinary website geared towards providing travelers with a comprehensive guide on Belize's unique cuisine and restaurants located throughout the country. Cleverly named SavorBelize, this website unveils a treasure of tastes, events, traditions and specialty styles dictated by Belize's more than 10 diverse cultures, including Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, Maya and more. Totaling the size of Massachusetts, Belize is the only Central American country to house so many cultures within mere hours of each other, allowing tourists to experience the distinct richness of various communities through authentic fare.

"From foodie fanatics to leisure travelers, authentic food is simply another way that people like to travel. They like to try unique, local meals, and experience culture through indigenous cuisine," said Seleni Matus, director of tourism for the BTB. "Many tourists don't know where to eat or what dishes to try while traveling in Belize, so we created SavorBelize to be their go-to resource."

SavorBelize is accessible through Belize's official travel website, TravelBelize.org, and features information on any and everything related to Belizean cuisine. Highlights include restaurant listings for the entire country; blog reviews of restaurants by international culinary writers; photos and more. And as SavorBelize is designed to be a tourist-oriented interactive website, travelers can post their own photos, videos and reviews of their culinary adventures online. To be unveiled in late 2011, an interactive map will allow travelers to research restaurants in their vacationing area and map out their culinary route in advance of their trip.

People who have not yet visited the country can bring a piece of Belize into their own kitchen, as local chefs have come together to share their food and drink recipes on SavorBelize. And for those intrigued by the "farm to table" concept, or simply seeking a behind-the-scenes peek at Belize's unique culinary offerings, SavorBelize provides an overview of various food tours offered throughout the country, including chocolate-making tours, trips to the Belikin Beer factory (Belize's official beer) and Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce factory, to name a few.

Real Estate Hot Spot in Central America and the Caribbean

There is a small Central American Nation that has a lot in common with the Caribbean, and is certainly a new hot spot. It has certainly been making headlines around the world in travel articles. So many people from all over the world primarily Canada, United States, Europe and the UK are choosing to purchase a retirement home, second home or invest in property in this small nation.

One of the reasons so many choose this country is because it's the only English speaking Central American country, which makes communicating with the locals easy and also facilitates your move. If you are wondering which country we are talking about you have to wait no longer. This country with so much beauty packed within its borders is most certainly, Belize.

Belize offers a diverse landscape. If you are looking for beachfront properties, private islands, farm lands or a secluded jungle home in the rainforests or mountains, look no further than Belize. You can choose to live in the city or in the rural areas. You will find that the real estate prices vary depending on the area that you choose. You will find that the prices in Belize City, Consejo Shores, San Pedro - Ambergris Caye and Placencia are generally higher than those in the rural areas of Belize.

The world's economy has certainly affected Belize, and since the start of the economic downturn, Belize has seen  as much as 30-35% depreciation in real estate values in some areas. This makes Belize the real hot spot of Central America and the Caribbean when it comes to purchasing real estate. It has become a real buyer's market with prices certainly being negotiable. We have seen rare discounts by as much as 50% on some land and homes. Comparing Belize's prices to that of the United States or Europe, Belize prices are still relatively low. Therefore, Belize is an excellent location for investment.

The Government of Belize as Well as the Belize Tourism Board has been promoting Belize, not only as a vacation destination, but offering Belize as Retirement Destination for expats to purchase a primary residence, second home or vacation home. For those that will be retiring in Belize, they can certainly take advantage of the Qualified Retirement Programme (QRP Program) which offers tax benefits to retirees.

If you are considering making the move to Belize or investing in real estate in this small Central American and Caribbean nation be sure to do all the necessary research or talk to a Belize Relocation Consultant about areas that would be most desirable to you.

Finding Luxury Perched on the Hills of Southern Belize

Will Moreno
6/13/2011

Just a short trip away from Punta Gorda Town located in the southern region of Belize, we made our way to a location we had heard so many wonderful things about. We were told that this place was a wonderful experience in the daytime or the nighttime and with that we know travelling to Toledo and not experiencing this location was not an option. We are talking about none other than Machaca Hill, a Rainforest Canopy Lodge and Organic Estate.

Machaca Hill Rainforest Canopy and Lodge is a unique location in the hills of Southern Belize. One would never expect that such a wonderful experience awaits just a short trip away from the main town of Punta Gorda.

Driving up the steep concrete driveway to the top of the hill you are suddenly greeted by the main lodge. The main lodge is massive and stunningly beautiful with perfect blends of wood and natural colors and a large upper level thatch roof at the very front of the lodge. Upon walking into the lobby and lounge it is very apparent that a stay at Machaca Hill Rainforest Canopy and Lodge is truly an experience at a world class resort that caters to relaxation, comfort and an escape.

The sweeping views of the Maya Mountains and the rainforest canopies from the balconies are spectacularly amazing. On the upper level the massive dining room with ornate ceiling and lighting offers fine dining and a unique culinary experience. You may also choose to be seated on the scenic dining balcony for viewing pleasure.

The concept behind Machaca Hill is to conserve the natural surroundings while creating an ambience of a luxurious retreat. Walking the garden paths to the pool and spa area immediately melted away any stress and anxiety and immediately offered relaxation. Just beyond the pool and spa you will find a well manicured lawn area with lounge chairs and a ceremonial altar fire pit with beautiful slate stone seating surrounding it.

 
The canopy suites are exquisitely designed with terra cotta flooring, natural textiles and gorgeous wood furnishings all under an open and airy vaulted ceiling. The screened porches offers a picturesque view of the rainforest and gives a feel of truly being one with nature and a part of the surrounding rainforest. The Spa bath is magnificent and breath-taking offering a truly unique experience with a massive shower designed in beautiful polished river stones and a large glass pane framing the surrounding views. The spa bath has a modern design and intricately finished in local hardwood.

 

 

If you are looking to be a part of the natural surroundings you can walk the garden path to the tram adjacent to the main lodge which offers a smooth ride under the jungle canopy 400 feet down the hill to the riverside deck or you can be brave to walk down or up, your choice. Travelling silently in the tram you can enjoy the stunning sights and natural sounds of nature. At Machaca Hill you may get to see birds, reptiles, amphibians and more being immersed in nature.

 
At the riverside Maya Bar you can truly enjoy the scenic views and wildlife of the river or you can choose to dine on the deck or take evening riverboat dining cruises. From this point you can also embark on guided boat tours on the river or you can take off for a fun day fishing, diving or snorkeling in the Caribbean.

We have found Machaca Hill Rainforest Canopy and Lodge to be a truly relaxing experience where you can lose yourself in nature while staying in a lush resort tucked away for your enjoyment and experience. We would definitely visit this location again.

Belize Tourism Board's 12th Annual Tourism Industry Presentation

Will Moreno
6/10/2011

Yesterday The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held it's 12th Annual Industry Presentation at the Belize Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. In attendance was the Prime Minister of Belize - Hon. Dean Barrow; Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture - Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.; CEO of Tourism - Lyndsay Garbutt and Director of Tourism - Seleni Matus along with distinguished and invited guests and members of the general public.

Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Rene Villanueva started off by inviting Mr. Costas Christ who is a tourism visionary to the podium. he reminded Belizeans, "If you know your history, you will know your destiny". He also talked about Belize being the leader and pioneer in the Tourism industry. Belize hosted the 1st Eco-Tourism Conference and 1st Congress on Tourism and the Environment. He also made note that Belize needs to keep with the practice of sustainable tourism and that Belize's tourism industry was going through a metamorphosis.

He was followed by the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture - Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.who was proud of the positive growth in the Belize tourism industry since 2010. The Minister then presented a check of $2,200,000. to the industry partners of Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), Belize Hotel Association (BHA) and Belize Trade and Investment Development Services (BELTRAIDE) which was the surplus in revenue that the industry generated and was being reinvested for further growth.

Director of Tourism - Seleni Matus addressed the attendees and shared some facts about the direction that the Belize Tourism Board has taken over the past year and new ventures for the year 2011. The Director of Tourism said that the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) was focusing on 3 important areas: Recalibration, Reorganization and Real Accountability. They are also changing the structure of their marketing program to focus on Travel Trade, Direct Online, Hospitality Information, Media Public Relations and others. BTB has enacted new and improved programs, Quality Assurance, Destination Planning, Information Systems, Revenue Collection to compliment their new direction.

Belize's Prime Minister - Hon. Dean Barrow then noted that Belize's Tourism is responsible for 1/4 of the the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which means many people in Belize are very dependent on the tourism industry. First Quarter Overnight visitors to Belize rose by 2123 visitors. He goes on to mention that the government is committed to the Belize tourism industry and the government will be restructuring the tourism police, improving safety and security of tourists and enacting a measure for all our visitors. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government will commit to making Belize a World Class Destination by investing  $12.1 Million Dollars on marketing Belize as a destination. He mentioned that Tourism is an industry that crosses government ministries and they will work with the private sector to accomplish this great task. There was mention of upcoming projects to aid tourism in key areas around Belize. The projects to be developed in Cayo is scheduled for July, Placencia is scheduled for September, Belize City and San Pedro are scheduled for October.

The Belize Tourism Board recently announced their partnership with Matador Travel, an independent media company who serves the global community sharing travel destinations. Matador Travel recently embedded a graduate of Matador U, Megan Wood, in Belize to blog about her experiences in Belize. BTB will also be linking with major companies like BVK an independent advertising agency in the USA with experience in marketing tourism. BVK's goal is to make Belize a Brand Name. JG Black Book of Travel will be Belize's new PR Agency and will assist the travel industry with marketing, promotion, and sales management services. JG Black Book of Travel's goal is to use their deep connection in the tourism industry and share their network with Belize to further make Belize a well known destination. Edelman will be another PR Firm that will be assisting the BTB with marketing. Edelman's goal is to inspire-educate and share Belize as a destination.

Belize Tourism Industry is the backbone of Belizean society and any shift means a change in Belize's economy. The changes that are being taken should be a boost to Belize's Tourism and a boost to visitors coming to this wonderful destination where the people, music, culture, food and everything in between its borders is definitely worth visiting.

Come to Belize and Be One With Belize!