While there are a decent number of expats living in Belize, it does not have the same expat network and support system that you will find in countries such as Costa Rica. However, life in Belize can be much more pleasant, afterall, you don’t necessarily have to learn to speak Spanish!

Life in Belize is not for everyone. Before making the decision to move here permanently, you should come and stay for an extended period of time and see if you really can handle what living here means. Even before you make that trip, however, it is important to do a self-analysis to see if you fit the mold of the kind of person who can make it work in Belize.

The kind of expat who can survive in Belize is:

1. Adaptable. In a place with such a different infrastructure than the States, it is important to be able to go with the flow.
2. Independent. You may find yourself in an area with few foreigners, and even if there are other expats, you are going to need to do things on your own, and befriend Belizeans.
3. Positive. Oftentimes your outlook on a situation can influence the outcome.
4. Tough. Sometimes you will face up with difficult situations unlike any you would experience back home. You have to be able to work through it.
5. Humble. You have to admit you’re wrong, accept another culture, and deal with the fact that things are run differently in Belize. You can’t change it, just accept it.

If you think you can be those 5 things, then you are a good candidate to retire in Belize, or any other foreign country for that matter. Plan a 3–6 month trip, maybe during your country’s winter months, and see if life in Belize really is all you dreamed it would be.