Owner: Susanne
From: USA
Lot: 123
I’ve just returned home to Texas from an incredible week at Better in Belize. Looey Tremblay went out of his way to show me the entire community and the staff treated me like a family member. I met with the builder, Jorge Rosales, who will build my home at the waterfront and we were able to put a house plan together while I was there for the week. It is hard to describe the beauty and ambience of the place… from the huge butterflies to the Howler monkeys, birds, the beautiful fauna, the untouched lake with the waterfalls and the friendly people. There are so many things to see, explore and do. I can’t wait to return!!!
Owner: Gene and Bonnie
From: USA
Lots: 55 & 82
We went to Belize in 2013 on our honeymoon. We found Better in Belize and loved the layout and jungle atmosphere. Everyone at Better in Belize was super friendly with a common vision.
We ended up purchasing 2 properties and plan on building in the future.
Owner: Rick and Marcia
From: USA
Lot: 27
I suppose I am feeling the unadulterated happiness of finding one of the most beautiful places on the planet in Better In Belize, and, in particular for us, Lot 27.
Thank you so much for enhancing our lives.
Owner: Marc
From: Canada
Lot: 54
I came to Belize for the first time in March 2012 on an offshore investment trip to see what this country had to offer without any real intention to buy anything at that moment. When I saw the location of Better in Belize Ecovillage and the way I felt being there, I precisely knew at that time that I would like to own property there. Finally, not only I have bought a lot, but I brought two friends in. Now we are proud owners of a multi-unit lot, with one cabana completed and the second under construction. With a community full of nice people, the perfect location, the wonderful nature and the fully sustainable vision, we can’t be otherwise than satisfied being part of it. This is the place I want to be living most of my time in a couple of years from now.
Owner: Rita & Zander
From: Canada
Lot: 97
I originally went to Belize on an investment tour… we travelled to a few different places – including beach resorts and other ecovillages. I was enjoying Belize but the properties on our agenda just didn’t appeal to me. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. Perhaps a place I could enjoy myself and have good investment return. We (the investment group) found Better in Belize by accident one day and decided to take a side trip to see it. After a 30 minute ride, I stepped out of the van and OMG – it was instant – my happy place! The overwhelming calm and excitement (at the same time) of the raw jungle, the sounds, the air, the majesty of the tall canopy to me was overwhelming. We took a boat trip on the river and met some of the newest residents of the community and some of the locals, all of whom were warm and welcoming. The waterfalls on the river are a playground in your backyard!
Since my first visit to Better in Belize, my views and goals have changed. It is no longer just an ‘investment’. My son and I love our visits there and I now have plans to one day be a more permanent resident. It has allowed me to discover and learn about ‘off-grid’ living, to respect our mother earth and to enjoy a simpler yet more enriching life. My son, who is now 8, feels at home in the jungle and is learning what it means to live ‘eco’ and to conserve. BIB is a magnificent teaching opportunity through discovery and firsthand experience. For anyone renting my ‘sweet little cabin’, I want them to also learn about ‘off grid living’ and I hope they will have the same discoveries that I did.
I have travelled to many places on the planet and enjoyed all of it. But Better in Belize has the right mixture of beauty, and wonderful, caring like-minded people, who are willing to share and help one another. A recipe for both happiness and adventure!
Owner: Irene
From: USA
Lot: 7
I discovered Belize in 2011 when looking online for a Christmas vacation destination in an English-speaking country less expensive than Hawaii. Staying in a jungle lodge (Macal Bank) in the Maya Mountains, I fell in love with the tropical mountain climate-warm and humid in the daytime but cool enough for blankets at night-and the delightful, welcoming Belizeans I met there. And the gorgeous jungle, with its Mayan ruins, toucans, tapirs, frogs, macaws and howler monkeys! Wow! What’s not to love!?
Later online, I discovered the Better In Belize Ecovillage with its earth-friendly concept and reasonably priced lots. Everything since then has been an exciting journey to achieve my life-long dream to live in the jungle (technically, it’s a rainforest, but I prefer the word “jungle” for its mysterious allure). I was delighted to discover that Better In Belize is only five miles up the lazy Macal River from my original resort stay, so I already knew I loved the area, and the website convinced me I had finally found my community of like-minded people.
Planning another Christmas visit in 2013, I arranged for Better in Belize to pick me up at my resort lodge and take me on a tour of the Ecovillage. Jerry Moro, who works for RE/MAX Property Center, and Jorge Rosales, a builder at BIB, escorted me on an eye-opening tour of Better in Belize. Houses, from mansions to cottages, were hidden amongst the huge, lush trees and foliage, and it was obvious the developers had gone to great pains to ensure that all who live there will respect and protect the environment. We visited a beautiful upper-echelon home, then stopped at a minimal-footprint earth bag house that Jorge was building there. I was so delighted with the concept (and Jorge’s solid presence and professionalism) that on the drive back to my lodge, Jorge and I began to plan my earth bag home — and I hadn’t even bought the lot yet!
As an artist, journalist and naturalist, I love a good adventure. Working with the people at Better In Belize has been a positive experience and a delight from the get-go. The processes of buying my lot, approving my house plan, and working through all the other technical tasks involved in buying property and building a house in a foreign country have been facilitated neatly and transparently by Looey, Jorge, Candee and the staff at Better in Belize with a minimum of red tape. Looey actually encourages me to ask questions, and always answers if he can-or refers me to someone else who knows if he doesn’t. And I am now the proud owner of Lot 7, with .77 acres of huge trees, palms, vines, and shrubs. A sturdy, earth-friendly earth-bag house is swiftly arising from the clearing at its center. Jorge, an experienced builder, sends regular iPad photos of the work in progress, so while I can’t be there during construction, I have watched it go up from the very beginning. My plan is to winter in Belize and live in Oregon in the summers, enjoying the best of both climates. So far, I’ve found all the people living at BIB to be delightful fellow-adventurers, curious, lively, and interesting. I can hardly wait to move in!
Owner: Mari & Francesco
From: Canada
Lot: 107
My wife and I visited Belize at the bequest of a friend a year and a half ago. An immediate love affair began with this multi-faceted country and peoples, so much so that we have now made Belize a second home. Better in Belize should come with a warning: Visiting Better in Belize may produce unexpected episodes of euphoria, profound states of relaxation and a general sense that Nature and human kind can exist in a state of harmony and peace. The creators of this ecovillage are to be highly commended for their hard work and their faith in birthing the vision of this unique habitat.
Owner: Sera & Anthony
From: Black Rock City
Lot: 108
We invested everything we own behind the strategy of like minds coming together in an ecological intentional community. The word “ecovillage” in an overlooked country draws the green, brave, intelligent, adventurous, critical thinking and hopeful. These will be our neighbors. These are the wanderers, or strategists, that end up here. Spirits like this are attracted to respect, freedom, health, simplicity, nature, humanity and justice; intentional communities like this are a beacon for birds of a feather. What better way to live than to be surrounded by these souls, as we are also surrounded by a pristine natural setting? We will thrive in happiness together without the waste, commercialism, consumerism and materialism of the mainstream culture as it heads toward deeper debt and stress. As we tread lightly, we’ll have all we need here once we hit critical mass. If you consider yourself on the greener side of the fence and want to be surrounded by the like, you’re already one of us and we warmly welcome you as neighbors. Come join us. If you don’t have regard for the earth and don’t take steps to tread lightly on this finite planet, than we warmly hint that there may be other lifestyles better suited to your tastes.
Owner: Jim
From: Canada
Lot: 127
About a year ago I made my first trip to Belize with Looey Tremblay and Mike Saunders of Better in Belize.
I have travelled to many tropical destinations including Thailand, Mexico, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Fiji, but Belize was a favorite right from the first visit. The lifestyle and natural beauty of Better in Belize is totally addictive.
I actually committed to Lot 127 before I ever visited the country. Once I had an opportunity to actually experience the rainforest, the Macal River and the team at Better in Belize, my decision was totally reinforced.
The Better in Belize Team have been incredible. (including Looey, Mike, Anna, Veronica and Mike Saunders) I took my family to Better in Belize in January 2012 and we were instantly drafted by the team and welcomed into the family. We have many fond memories of our trip, including walking our lot, cruising the Macal River on a raft, experiencing a howler monkey clan, a wide range of birds, numerous scenic landscapes and three inspirational spring fed water falls. As a photographer BIB is “eye candy”, WOW!
We hope to build in the next month and spend allot more time at Better in Belize in the near future.
Owner: Bryan
From: Canada
Lot: 101
I’m an artist, builder, Burning Man attendent, lover of life and proud owner of lot 101 at Better in Belize. After twenty years of dreaming of a life ‘down south’ I have finally found a place I can call home. It only took one visit to Belize and meeting some of the people that are a part of the community to make that decision. Not only have I found a beautiful place to call home I have made some amazing new friends.
Mike and Looey are creating a paradise within a paradise and I am looking forward to being a part of that process.
Owner: Sandra
From: United States
Lot: 56
My dream is to live on the property and make Belize my home.
I am a hands-on healer, Quantum Touch Practitioner, a Medicine Woman, and Scenar Specialist. I work with essential oils and many herbs and healing aspects of nature. My goal is to build a healing center on the property.
The people I hang with are shakers, makers and world changers. We have a big world to heal.
Owner: Kathie
From: Canada
Lot: 77
A banking relationship was developed with the Tremblay family about 6 years ago, and because of this, I was aware of the Belize development from the start. Looey was very kind in sharing his vision and I became very interested. I decided to visit Better in Belize (BIB), fell in love with the Belizean way of life, the opportunities that are available to hike, do bird watching, canoeing or kayaking, etc. and cannot wait to return. The Better in Belize Community vision fits perfectly with how I foresee getting away from the cold Canadian winters when I retire. I look forward to this new venture with a very open mind and hope you do as well.
Owner: Greg
From: Canada
Lot: 31
Just wanted you to know how excited I am to have purchased a lot at Better in Belize! I did a lot of research checking out other developments before coming to Belize. As soon as I drove up to the property, I knew it was the place where I wanted to build my “home away from home”. With my inexpensive lot and low building costs, I’m going to build a beautiful hideaway. The rainforest is so spectacular! Thanks for hosting me at your eco-lodge for a couple of nights which gave me a good appreciation of life in the rainforest. Our canoe trip and picnic to the falls was a blast! Thanks for being such a gracious host. It’s minus 10 degrees here today so I am looking forward to returning soon!
Owner: Roland
From: Austria
Lot: 83
I came to Belize on the first of March 2011 to look for some property and expected, after all my research a messy and, for a foreigner, confusing situation. Partially it was like that, with a few exceptions and one reverse experience. It started before I left from Austria with the Remax mail correspondence where I already felt that the cultural gap began to reduce. The welcome in the Remax office of San Ignacio confirmed all of that. Since then, I was looked after very well and pleased with their professional quality whilst my search. They were answering all my questions patiently till I found “my new home” at Better in Belize through Remax Belize. Soon I will return to Austria for the summer before I can come back to my new place in Belize. It is a delightful feeling knowing that somebody is taking care of all my needs.
I am bound to Belize.
Thank you to the Remax team.
Owner: Eddie
From: United Kingdom
Lot: 110
I am returning to Better in Belize after a wonderful two weeks’ spent with Mike, Anna and the team in October – November 2011.
I had been to Belize a number of times before and knew that I wanted to return and have a home in this beautiful and exceptional country. As though by “chance”, but rather serendipity, I came across the advertisement for Better in Belize when surfing the Internet. I was soon in touch with Looey and it all just accelerated from there! The Better in Belize team are outstanding, passionate, caring and just great people to work with. I have had so much fun already and can’t wait to get back there to build my dream home. My vision to become fully engaged with projects designed to help sustain the environment, preserve the indigenous culture and live a lifestyle congruent with Nature is soon becoming a reality. My thanks to the truly awesome team at Better in Belize, you rock!
Owner: Ann
From: United States
Lot: 22 & 8
My husband and I purchased a lot at Better in Belize and have built a small cabin. The whole process was simple, from purchasing through building design and completion. We currently spend summers, holidays and any other vacation time in our amazing new home, and anticipate moving full time to Better in Belize within the next few years. It’s truly a magical place and always feels like ‘home’.
We are both incredibly committed to the idea of being very active participants in the community, and in sharing our love of nature and all things outdoors with other like-minded individuals and families.
Owner: Brian
From: Alberta, Canada
Lot: 43
As a recent buyer in Better in Belize, I appreciate the assistance and courtesy of the Better in Belize staff and the local Belizeans. Looking forward to jungle living.