Renting in Belize | Try it on before you buy

Anytime you start thinking about moving to a new city, state or country research is usually in your future.  You start digging into as much info as you can about your potential home, but ultimately the best research will be visiting first.  Thinking of becoming an expat in a foreign country such as Belize is no exception. It is not uncommon for people to buy property in Belize before they visit.  There are a number of real estate web sites that can make buying blind appealing; sometimes it just looks too good to be true.  The problem is that it usually is too good to be true.  Traveling to Belize for a week or two can make all the difference in your decision to purchase land.


Belize has received a lot of press lately about the appeal it has for retirees looking for a tropical location with a relatively inexpensive price tag.  I loved the 2 ½ years I spent living in Belize, but I know a number of people who weren’t as thrilled with their experience.  It really takes some time to determine if Belize is the place for you.  I didn’t have a very well-informed opinion until I had spent about three months in the country.  At that point I had experienced a lot of the things that could be considered negatives.  I decided I still loved being there, but you may not feel the same way.

If you plan on staying in Belize for at least a month to tour around and do some on-the-ground research, then renting a place to stay in is probably your most affordable option.  I recently experienced a month of renting in Corozal Belize.  This was a new experience for me and one I want to share since I receive quite a few inquiries about rentals in the Corozal area.  There are a few options for renting in Belize, from a long-term guest house to renting a private residence.  My need for a place to stay was slightly rushed so I had to make a quick decision.  I didn’t have enough notice to rent a private residence so I spent a day looking around Corozal for the best option given my situation.  I decided on Hotel Maya located on the Northern Highway on the way into Corozal Town.  Hotel Maya has single and double occupancy rooms as well as furnished apartments for longer stays.  Their building is located right across from a public park space along the Corozal Bay.  The benefits of their location (in my opinion) are the view and the breeze (from being right across the bay).  I rented a one-bedroom, furnished apartment at Hotel Maya.  There was a living area and small kitchen along with the bedroom.  Cable and Wi-Fi were available as well.  For a one-month stay I paid $1,000 BZD ($500 USD), and that included the cable and electricity charges.

Some of the rentals I would recommend in Corozal for long-term stays are;

I do not receive any compensation for making these recommendations.  They are simply the spots I have had direct experience with.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions about renting in the Corozal, Belize area.

8 comments for “Renting in Belize | Try it on before you buy

  1. Bruce Daniel
    May 29, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I was very interested in your comments about renting in Corozol, Belize. We have been considering spending the winters there for over two years. We like what we read about Corozol. However we would need to find a place with paved roads. Although I am completely ambulatory, my wife is not and needs to get around with an electric scooter. We are interested in renting a ground level apartment from January through April, 2013. I would appreciate your thoughts.
    Sincerely.

    • belizedragonfly
      June 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      Hello Bruce – If you rent in town you will be dealing with mostly paved roads (although they aren’t in the best condition). I can email you my main contact person for renting in Corozal. I’ll send it to the email you have listed here. Thanks!

      • Richard Day
        July 22, 2012 at 4:47 pm

        My plans are a lot like Bruce’s. I’m retiring in next 1-1/2 yr. Corozal appeals to me. We’re going there in 3/13, and if we like it will probably move there the following year. Could you advise me of a good R.E. contact? Also, general range for rental cost/mo? Thanks.

        • belizedragonfly
          August 2, 2012 at 1:51 pm

          Hello Richard – thanks for the comment. You can email me at belizedragonfly@gmail.com and hopefully I can provide some additional information for you.

  2. Rebecca
    September 4, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    I would like to move to corozal with my 9 yr old daughter. However I would like to rent first. Could you recommend a good place for a family?

  3. b2
    December 27, 2012 at 10:53 am

    I am a single father of a 12 year old boy and have an Internet business. I would like to move to Belize and also would like a recommendation for areas I should consider renting.

  4. Karen
    March 12, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    Thank you so much for the infomation on Belize! I plan on staying at one of the places you listed so we can check out Belize as a possible place to retire at. Before we go, I want to make sure that there are houses that can be rented for $500 a month that are decent. My understanding is that the Corozol area is a good place to be on a tight budget.

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