Friday, December 24, 2010
Dear Reader,
Today sees the start of our Christmas prize draws...and this one will appeal to any of you who are considering Belize.
The AARP ranked Corozal, in northern Belize, as one of the top places to retire in 2010, citing its laid-back beach lifestyle, affordability, and proximity to the busy city of Chetumal, with cinemas and malls and hospitals.
Orchid Bay, an established waterfront community set in Corozal, is offering a chill weekend for two as today’s prize. A chill weekend is a mini-vacation...a chance to spend a few days overseas...savoring the culture and lifestyle...and getting a feel for your new life overseas...
And the only cost with this one if you win is your airfare...
You'll explore Corozal...visit some Mayan ruins...enjoy fresh seafood on the beach...and soak up the Caribbean atmosphere (and the sun) on your three-day trip.
Just enter your name and e-mail address here. On January 7th, we’ll reveal the lucky winner.
Margaret Summerfield
P.S. You can read more on Orchid Bay, below.
A Dream Takes Shape in the Caribbean
A perfect Caribbean sunset over Chetumal Bay
Dear Reader,
It's fascinating to watch a development grow from a dream, an ambitious master plan, and a piece of dirt, into a finished project. Over the last 5 years, we've seen Orchid Bay in Belize do just that. This year, Orchid Bay hit a series of milestones. It was quite a series...
Five years back, the developer had a grand vision. He was starting with the best possible raw material...115 acres of tropical rainforest and a mile of beautiful oceanfront, set in Corozal, in northern Belize.
This place feels hidden...but it's not remote. It's easy to get here. You can reach Orchid Bay in half a day from the US. Ten miles across the bay, you have all the big city conveniences you'll need from time to time in the Mexican city of Chetumal (hospital, large supermarkets, modern shopping malls)...before escaping back to enjoy Orchid Bay's tranquil Caribbean lifestyle. Fishing, snorkeling, sailing, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, hiking in unspoiled jungle are all possibilities...or simply relax in a hammock in the ocean breeze, with a good book and a cool drink.
Water worshipers will feel right at home at Orchid Bay
Five years back, heavy machinery had started cutting the roads in. Utilities were going underground, preserving the views. The developer wanted as much as possible of the property to remain untouched...so 40% is preserved. He wanted a walkable community, too, with plazas and communal areas...where neighbors could gather over a cool beer, or kick back in the beach club. Today, the vision is real. Here are some of this year's milestones...
- The Orchid Bay Beach Club is due to open at the end of the year. The club anchors the beachfront area, and the little casita houses. Only 24 casitas were built, and all sold (two re-sales are currently priced at $169,000). These lock'n'leave homes make a perfect second home--and you can rent them out when you're not in Belize. The first owners should move in to their casitas at the start of next year.
- The Black Orchid restaurant and bar is open, and serving tasty snacks and meals. The bar provides the perfect gathering place for neighbors and friends to relax over a chilled Belikin beer.
- In addition to the existing beach and dock, a second beach is being finished in front of the site for the new condos (and they're clearing the condo site, too).
- Orchid Bay partnered with Belize customs. It's now a provisional port of entry...so you can arrive by boat from Mexico and have your visa stamped at Orchid Bay.
Corozal, the setting for Orchid Bay, achieved some milestones of its own this year. The AARP voted it one of their top retirement spots...partly down to the laid-back lifestyle here, the proximity to Chetumal's big-city conveniences, and the natural beauty of the area.
Corozal (and Orchid Bay) also featured in an episode of House Hunters International earlier in the year. The program followed a buyer from the US looking for his dream vacation home in Belize, that would generate some rental income while he wasn't there. He purchased a beachfront casita at Orchid Bay.
An aerial view of the casitas, taken earlier this year
Despite all of this progress, and the increased profile of Corozal, Orchid Bay is still remarkably affordable. Home sites start at $39,000...and developer financing is available. Two of those little casitas are available for $169,000. If you want to build your own dream home, construction costs $100 per square foot.
Orchid Bay's moved past the phase of being a dream, an artist's sketch, and a master plan. It's now a community, growing, taking shape, and adding amenities and value monthly. With all the milestones they've reached in 2010, the developer plans a price bump in 2011. Click here for more details on Orchid Bay....and to enter the free prize draw.
Margaret Summerfield
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