Welcome to our Interview with an Expat in Belize series. Our goal is to offer a look at expats who live in different regions of the country, and those who have lived in Belize for different periods of time, both relative newcomers and long timers here in Belize.
The interviews in our Interview with an Expat in Belize series are conducted by email, and we ask the same 10 questions to each interviewee so that those who are considering making the move to Belize can readily see that different people have very different experiences here, depending upon where they live, their interests, and the many choices that we all have made before, during, and after our move to Belize.
The tenth interview in our series, Interview with an Expat in Santa Elena, Belize, is our third visit to the Cayo district, and this time we meet Nathan Wong, who resides in Santa Elena.
Santa Elena is a charming small town which sits on the Macal River, directly across from its sister city, San Ignacio, which is a commercial center for the Cayo district, and the tourism hub for adventure activities in western Belize.
Santa Elena is a quieter and more relaxed residential area compared to its bustling sister city of San Ignacio. The town has a mix of local Belizean and international residents, with a diverse and community-oriented atmosphere.
Nathan Wong, an Expat Who Took a Harley Ride Through Central America and Decided to Settle in Belize
Nathan’s story is a bit different from the other expats we have interviewed in that he ended up living in Belize almost by accident. He admits that prior to planning a long, solo motorcycle trip from Canada to Central America, he doesn’t think that he had ever even heard of Belize!
Nathan is in his late 50s, and he is originally from British Columbia, Canada. He first came to Belize in September of 2023, and currently resides in Santa Elena, Cayo.
Although he had planned to become a Permanent Resident, recent health issues have required that he travel back to Canada on a regular basis for treatment as the health care he needs is not available here in Belize.
Hence, he is still in Belize on a Visitor’s Visa. However, he says that he and his Belizean girlfriend may get married shortly, which would allow him to qualify to apply for Belizean citizenship after a year.
Nathan started his journey to a life in Belize when he rode his Harley Davidson from Canada through the US, Mexico, and in every country in Central America, all the way to Panama, before turning around and eventually settling in Belize.
Interview with Nathan Wong
Life before moving to Belize
Q1: Where were you living before moving to Belize? Also, please describe whether you were working, retired, or something in between prior to your move. In other words, what was your daily life like?
I was semi retired and living in British Columbia. I owned and self-managed Airbnb properties in Canada and the US. Still, I was a little bored and looking for some adventure.
Then I came across a YouTube vlogger named Itchy Boots who is a Dutch, solo, adventure motorcyclist who travels the world, and I found what was to cure my boredom. So I went on a little bike ride from Canada through the US to Central America.
Current location in Belize
Q2: Where do you currently live in Belize? And prior to moving here, what were the primary reasons for which you chose this area?
Currently, I live in a small house in Santa Elena which I purchased. I chose Cayo for the a number of reasons. First, I prefer fresh water rivers over salty seas; I like the the clean, refreshing waters here, they invigorate me.
Secondly, San Ignacio/Santa Elena is large enough to afford all the necessities of city life such as shopping, services, and transportation, while at the same time, small enough to have a smalltown feel, which is safe, with friendly neighbours, and sense of community.
Cayo is also very close to Guatemala from where I can purchase cheap goods, gas, medical services, etc. And being from British Columbia, I need mountains in my life. Along with the mountains, the amount of outdoor activities available in the area is unmatched with caving, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, camping, birding, hunting, and more.
Visits to Belize prior to making the move
Q3: How many times did you visit Belize before the move? Which areas did you visit, and how long was your longest stay in Belize prior to the move?
Prior to my motorcycle trip south from the Great White North, I had never been to Belize. I don’t know if I had ever heard of it, to be honest. But it all changed when I jumped in the saddle and rode south.
During my little jaunt, I popped into Belize for a week, but only visited Cayo before continuing my trek through Latin America. Somewhere in Panama, I decided that I wasn’t going to make it back to Canada before winter, so I had better find someplace to shack up.
I chose Belize because it’s English speaking and is part of the British Commonwealth, with a similar legal system to Cananda. And Belize has direct flights to Canada half the year. It is also relatively safe and relatively affordable, plus the people are beautiful, welcoming and accepting. For the above reasons, once I settled in Belize for the winter, I never left.
When I had decided to find somewhere to settle in Belize, I spent 6 weeks exploring all of Belize before choosing Cayo. I traveled the length of the country from Punta Gorda to Corozal, visiting Benque Viejo, San Pedro, Belize City, Belmopan, Orange Walk, Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia.
Own a home or rent in Belize?
Q4: Do you own your current home in Belize or are you renting? Why did you choose either to buy or to rent? If you own a home, did you purchase an existing home or did you build here? What is your strongest piece of advice for someone looking either to buy or rent a place in Belize?
My choice to buy a home is purely subjective and personal. As someone in the real estate world, I have always preferred to pay my own mortgage rather than someone else’s. That is, as long as one is financially capable to have that option.
Granted, Belize is a different animal because mortgages from banks are nonexistent, borrowing rates and terms are as diverse as the owners who offer financing. And honesty and legitimacy are viewed as merely optional. Hence, cash is king, or using an offshore Line of Credit (LOC) is preferred. That said, I purchased an existing home from a realtor.
Lastly, my one piece of advice: it’s easy to buy here, difficult to sell. Keep that in mind.
The first year living in Belize
Q5: What were your greatest challenges or surprises during your first year living in Belize? What advice would you give to others to help the transition go smoothly?
Moving to Belize was very easy for me, mainly because I never intended to move here until after I got here. Hence, I left everything in Canada, brought nothing, and started over. The greatest challenge is finding affordable things here. Cars, electronics, furniture, etc. are so expensive due to import duties.
Conversely, my greatest surprise is how easy it is to become a local here, if you want it. My friends are Belizean, my girlfriend and stepson are Belizean, my community is Belizean, and I am accepted.
I have learned to speak Spanish and am working on Creole. To others who are looking to transition to Belizean life, I say this: accept what is offered to you without judgement, eat armadillo and gibnut, listen to Garifuna music, drink Mayan coffee, celebrate Belizean holidays, and never start a sentence with “But in America/Canada . . . ”
Belize Immigration Status
Q6: Describe your experience of acquiring long-term immigration status in Belize, whether that be as a QRP member, a permanent resident, a citizen, or as someone still waiting on residency. How long did the process take, and what challenges did you face?
I am taking a different path towards Belizean status than most, marriage. While still on a Tourist Visa, after being married for one year to a Belizean I can apply for citizenship, and both Canada and Belize recognize dual citizenship.
Belize lifestyle
Q7: What are your favorite things about the community in which you are living in Belize? Be specific about the types of activities you enjoy, the people, the environment, or anything else you care to mention.
I love Cayo because of the community and people here and the love they exude. Young people always respect elders, citizens greet each other all day on the streets, there is a sense of safety and camaraderie throughout the town day and night, and everyone is relaxed and unstressed. Sure, there are the other reasons I mentioned earlier, Mayan ruins, caves, outdoor activities, but when it comes right down to it, it’s the people I love.
Current lifestyle challenges in Belize
Q8: What are the downsides to the community in which you currently live? Are there any aspects of daily life which you find to be challenging in this community?
The only downside is the fact that Cayo is 90 minutes from the airport by car, and gas is expensive. Other than that, daily life is relaxed, easygoing, and affordable.
Reality versus expectations of Belize
Q9: Do you think that your lifestyle in Belize is about what you had expected, very different from what you thought it would be, or somewhere in between? Tell us a bit about your expectations prior to moving to Belize and how daily life here differs from what you had expected.
During my lifetime, I have traveled extensively, from the poshness of Monaco to the poverty of North Korea, to megacities like Tokyo, and the stillness of the Cook Islands. So there is very little that surprised me before moving here as I expected nothing.
That said, I will say this: the level of corruption in professional and official circles is noticeable. Be prepared to be willing to work in the grey for anything from medical to imports, immigration to retail, or at least be prepared for how you want to respond to it when you encounter it.
On the other hand, there’s Belizean time. Going to a friend’s house for dinner at 6:00 might be 8:00, a plumber coming to your house on Monday to fix your toilet might be Wednesday, being assured your cellphone will be fixed in a week might take three. These three examples actually happened to me. But no worries… it’s Belize.
What would you have done differently for your initial move to Belize?
Q10: Now that you are living in Belize, what are the one or two things which you would change about the way you made the initial move if you could go back and do it again? For example, would you ship more or fewer personal items, bring a car, rent instead of buying right away, or perhaps purchase instead of renting?
If I could go back in time and change how I moved here, I would have done the following. First, I would have planned, at last on a cursory level, the trip route, my finances, health insurance, basic motorcycle tools, etc. Next, I would have put my Harley Davidson in the back of my Toyota Tundra and driven both down. And thirdly, I would have rented a house instead of buying, but only because of what happened to me personally, nothing to do with Belize.
Also, if I were to change how I moved here, I wouldn’t be in so much of a hurry to assimilate here; the people here are friendly and strong friendships will develop over time. If rushed, you run the risk of meeting people who only see a rich gringo.
Final thoughts on Interview with an Expat in Santa Elena, Belize 2025
First, thank you to Nathan Wong for taking the time to share his experiences of both moving to Belize and his lifestyle here. I am really happy that Nathan agreed to give us a glimpse of his experience moving to Belize, as he is the first person we’ve interviewed who did not come down to Belize with the intention of making a full-time move to the country.
I don’t know whether or not I’m still adventurous enough to pull off a motorcycle journey from British Columbia through all of Central America, but reading about it did make me feel little jealous!
I hope the Belize FAQs readers who are doing their research concerning a potential move to Belize will benefit from the differing perspectives we present here in our Interview with an Expat in Belize series.
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Finally, if you are considering a move to Belize, you might want to check out our book: Belize FAQs: A detailed guide for those interested in moving to Belize. In the book, there are more than 150 pages of Belize FAQs at your fingertips. And Belize FAQs is available in both paperback and Kindle formats.