Are you interested in living in Belize? Here’s a unique opportunity.

Let Me Be Honest About Life in Belize

I love living in the jungle. Nature is what keeps me motivated and feeling alive. Out here, nature doesn’t just surround you — it saturates your senses.

Along with parrots and monkeys, there are also plenty of mosquitoes, snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions. Life here is not for the lazy. It is physical, labour-intensive, and lived in high humidity.

Scared off yet?

Life may feel unaffordable in Canada or the US, but Belize comes with its own serious challenges. There are very few difficulties Belize offers that I haven’t already faced. Many people arrive with big dreams and no real understanding of what they’re stepping into — and almost as many leave.

There are some people who have what it takes. But moving to another country alone can be overwhelming. Support can be the difference between moving to Belize successfully or returning to your home country with a ton of regrets.

This opportunity can make the move more affordable and possible.

Because of some of the challenges here, in good conscience, I can not actually recommend moving to Belize to anyone, but if Belize is part of your plans, then I am offering opportunities.  FYI, life is probably cheaper in Mexico.

My first year here (2021–22) was mostly hell. The second year improved slowly. Today, I’m in a much better place than I was during that first year of extreme stress and anxiety.

That said, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world.

Blog posts I’ve written about real jungle life:

• Living Inside the Sound of the Jungle
• Frustration: It Will Make You or Break You in the Jungle
• What I Wish I Knew Before Moving to the Jungle in Belize
• Managing the Rainy Season in the Belize Jungle: Tips for Daily Life
• What It’s Really Like to Live in the Jungles of Belize

This video shows the whole area around the farm

Questions and Clarification

What Am I Offering?

I am offering a small area of land where like-minded people can build their own tiny home or small prefabricated home at their own expense, while sharing in existing farm infrastructure and resources.

What Does “Like-Minded” Mean?

Ideally, people from Canada or the US who are hard-working, goal-oriented, and interested in becoming as self-sufficient as possible.

More on personal values later in this post.

Am I Selling or Leasing Land?

No.

I worked too hard and went through too much to secure this land. You can build a tiny or prefab home here, but ownership of the land stays with me (for now). I’ll explain why this is offered free and my long-term vision for the farm momentarily.

Why a Tiny House?

This is Belize — not Canada or the US. Large homes are not necessary here.  Life is lived outdoors far more than indoors.

A tiny or prefab home keeps your costs reasonable and gives you flexibility. If you ever decide to move, buy your own land, or leave Belize, your home can be dismantled or relocated. I’m not looking for a situation in which someone feels like they have no options for the future.

A post that I wrote to further back up my tiny house stand – A House Is Not an Asset in the Jungle

These are 2 small cabanas that I built.
Every day, they get closer to being completed

A small cabana built inside the greenhouse

Why Is This Free?

Once money enters the picture, lawyers and obligations follow — and I’m not interested in creating that kind of arrangement.

The real value I see is in building a small, cooperative community, sharing resources, and increasing overall security. Security is something I’ll touch on shortly.

Vision for the Farm

Of the 42 acres, only about seven acres are cleared. The remaining 35 acres are regrown jungle that used to be pasture. I have no intention of clearing it again. Instead, I’d like to increase biodiversity by planting more native and beneficial tree species. This would be a big project.

Since 2021, I’ve built about 2,600 sq ft of shade-cloth greenhouse space. I would love to raise native tree seedlings to support reforestation efforts locally.

I think it would be amazing if I could find people who would be interested in taking an active role in:

• Expanding biodiversity on 35 acres of jungle
• Growing valuable native trees, such as mahogany, for local reforestation projects
• Increasing fruit and vegetable production for self-sufficiency

➡️I would also like to provide the opportunity for people living here to be free to pursue their own passions or business ideas.

➡️In the near future, set the farm up in some kind of corporation or trust to help ensure the long-term continuation for those living here.

1,000 sq ft shade cloth greenhouse with water tower

Front driveway – house in front, greenhouse to the right

Front entrance & workroom to the greenhouse, bike shed on the right

Between the greenhouse and driveway, the floor is made with approx 1,300 patio stones that I made by hand (with molds) and laid by myself over a recent 5-month period.

A recently completed additional 1,600 sq ft of greenhouse floor space.
Shade cloth is ready to be installed.

I had to move about 4 dumptruck loads of sand/gravel mix with a shovel & wheelbarrow for the floor base.
Then I laid about 2,000 – 4″ cement blocks on their sides to create the floor

What Do I Get Out of This?

Honestly, the farm is too much work for one person.

I hope to attract people who share a similar vision and are willing to cooperate, share some resources, and help build a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Security is also important in Belize. If you moved here, what security would you have by yourselves? And what if there was a family emergency and you were called back to Canada or the USA temporarily? Who would look after your interests here? How about the freedom to go to the cayes for the weekend?

At least a few times a year, expats are targeted in their homes in Belize for home robbery. That robbery typically ends in murder. Security is secured in community. While I don’t live in any such fear for myself, I see the value in this form of security.

Why Might This Interest You?

Belize is not as cheap as many think. Many North Americans spend hundreds of thousands chasing a dream here and end up leaving with nothing to show for it.

Others never try because the costs feel too high.

This is a chance to live in the jungle without investing your life savings, while being part of a supportive, resource-sharing community.

Business or Project Possibilities

If you have a dream and the drive to pursue it, I’d love to help facilitate that — especially if it benefits the farm or environment. I would welcome environmental initiatives or even a small scientific research project.

Just understand that Belize has a lot of bureaucracy and is not especially friendly to small businesses.

My two fish pond #1 & #2
Each approx 300ft x 50ft x10ft
Tilapia farming anyone???

Who Would be an Ideal Candidate?  What Skills Would be Helpful?

A hard worker for sure. Someone with:

• Building and electrical skills
• Small engine and motor repair
• Gardening or greenhouse experience

I’m not mechanically inclined and don’t own a vehicle. If you plan to have one, you should be able to maintain it. Though there is a mechanic in the village.

I very much keep to myself in the village, but I recognize the importance of community outreach.  Someone interested in community outreach would be very welcome.

Important considerations for living in the jungle:

• Morning Routine for Jungle Living in Belize: Why Starting Your Day Right Matters
• The Key to Surviving the Jungle Lifestyle in Belize – Discipline

What does Like-minded Mean? Personal Values & Fit

Pre-Covid-19 a full explanation probably wasn’t needed, but the world has chosen division, so be it.

I identify as Christian, and politically I identify straight down the centre, a common-sense approach to all things. The world now labels me as far right.  Which is fine, I make no apologies. If was in Canada, they would call me a Conservative; if I were American, they would call me a Republican. While I have strong opinions, living in the middle of the jungle gives me an escape from the nonsense.

If you identify as left, you probably won’t like me, and if you identify as woke, you will hate me. Need I say more?

The Belize River from my riverbank.

What Else Would Not be Helpful?

Someone with a lack of respect, or drug and alcohol problems. My reputation in the village is important to me in the sense that I have no interest in being the center of any gossip or anyone ever complaining about me in regard to disruptive behavior.

If you are a difficult, loud person with a temper, please don’t reach out. There is zero tolerance for threats of violence.

What If You Want to Leave One Day?  What Happens to Your house?

That’s completely up to you. Part of the idea behind this initiative is that you haven’t invested your life savings into it. Ultimately, the house is 100% yours. Depending on how you built your house, you can dismantle it or move it. If you want to sell the house to someone to live on the farm, as long as they are a good fit with the community, they are welcome.

How Many People are Invited?

Not sure.  There is only so much land, and a yet-to-be-determined balance needs to be found as the community grows.

How Will Decisions Be Made?

As a community.

I shelved my ego sometime ago. As long as things are kept relatively quiet, clean, and maintained, I’m a pretty easy-going guy. Treat others with the same respect you would want.

In the beginning, it’s safe to say certain things need to be figured out, but we are not in a race to reach the moon. We’re just trying to live self-sufficiently in the jungle.

“This Sounds Scammy”

Check out my website and social media. If you still feel that way, that’s your call.

OK, I’m Interested. Now what?

Reach out with questions. Eventually, you’ll want to visit. You’re welcome to stay on the farm for a visit, but you’ll need to arrange transportation and cover your own food and cooking.

I call it a watermelon greenhouse. I built it specifically to grow watermelons, except my thumb is brown and not green.

🌴 Moving to Belize? Let’s Talk About How I Can Help 🌴

About Me (Quick Snapshot)

Check out my Home Page, my About Me Page, and website content for a sense of who I am and my life. My entire life has been documented on my website since 2019.

For some quick insight – Christian, introverted, passionate, risk taker, socially awkward, a thinker, adventure seeker, organized, a farmer, lover of beauty, mindful, complicated, reptile and amphibian lover, freedom first, unorthodoxed, despises stupidity, podcast lover, accountable, poet, generally misunderstood, tree lover, probably foolish, minimalist, conscious, entrepreneurial, impatient, hard worker, blogger, single, old fashioned, ex-truck driver, cheap Dutchman, stubborn, loyal, serious personality, goal-oriented, cyclist, lazy, romantic, fussy eater, photographer, unbalanced lifestyle, neat freak and has many failures and lessons in life.

I’m not politically correct, and Belize isn’t especially aligned with modern Western social trends either (at this point).

Why Belize?

From my first visit, Belize felt like home. I love the challenge, the adventure, and most of all, the nature. It feels a bit like the wild west — but greener.

Me

Farm Assets & Infrastructure

• 42 acres (much regrown jungle; some seasonal flooding possible)
• ~250 ft of Belize River frontage
• ~3 acres cleared for coconuts and fruit trees (planned home area)
• ~2 acres with two large fish ponds and additional fruit trees
• 700 sq ft finished house
• 2,600 sq ft total shade cloth greenhouse space
• Three small cabanas
• 60 ft internet tower
• Chicken coops (I raise my own eggs and meat)
• All structures are well-maintained
• Located in Scotland Halfmoon Village near Bermudian Landing
• Stores and fuel are about 6 km away
• 30 kilometres from the international airport

A huge victory after 18 months of trying. My own internet tower & connection.

My house

Liabilities

• I have no motorized vehicles,
• And the farm is located at the end of a 3.5 km rough dirt road.

The road can be a little fun in the rainy season

Final Thoughts

Belize is not an easy country to live in, and living in the jungle is way harder than you think.

You can read about my first three years here – Three Years in the Jungle: My Life in Belize, A Life I Never Expected

Only a few have what it takes.

Invitation extended.

A Google Satellite Image of the Farm

The 2 yellow boxes to the left (not to the right) are my house lot(s).

The aqua-colored rectangle to the far right is the 30-acre parcel with 2 fish ponds visible as the 2 dark lines inside the aqua rectangle on the left side. Except for the area around the ponds, the land is all jungle.

The mauve middle rectangle is the 10-acre parcel, where I propose that I would let people have a small home.
The home(s) would be put on the left side of the mauve box.
Only the land to the left side of the mauve box is cleared. The rest is all jungle.

The image shows the Belize River to the left.

To clarify: my land encompasses the 2 far left yellow boxes, the center bottom mauve box, and the far aqua rectangle.  Any other land is owned by someone else.

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How to Reach Me

Messenger @ Arie Hoogerbrugge

WhatsApp @ 638-7418 (Country code 501)

Email: arie@safariarie.ca

Serious inquiries only, please

🌴 Moving to Belize? Let’s Talk About How I Can Help 🌴