BIG STEPS
Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize
This is the lot! Well, the first of two lots, side by side for us. Half a mile from the famous Secret Beach, which is not so secret anymore! A one-minute ride in a golf cart, paddle board attached!
Some of our best friends in the world will be our neighbors, so it is working out perfectly! Between us, the four lots purchased, will make our private little mini resort! West Caye Villas at Secret Beach. Off grid and eco-friendly! Can't think of a better way to spend the years leading into retirement!
But now the headaches have begun! At least they are good headaches, all leading to outcomes and solutions! So many decisions, so much learning! Especially for a city girl from Canada! Learning about building in another country, hurricanes, salt water, types of houses available, solar, septic, water pumps.....oh my!
Don't you just flip the switch and have lights? Flush the toilet and away it goes? It's a good thing I enjoy research and details because it is never ending with this journey to build our vacation spot!
Builders, floorplans, architects, and so much more! He we go! 😍
Secret Beach sights
Secret Beach
Cleared and Filled
Secret Beach
Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Road?
Cleared and Filled
Secret Beach
We have a "road" to our lots! Golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation on Ambergris Caye. Roads are narrow and rough! One more round of grading to be done on our roads!
Cleared and Filled
Cleared and Filled
Cleared and Filled
Lot # 1 has been cleared and filled! Wayne is standing in what will be the living room of the house! We saved all the outer trees, and a few interior lot trees. Many of the trees were termite invested, so they had to be removed!
Burning
Breathtaking Sunsets
Cleared and Filled
Lot clearing continues! Burning a section of the lot because they were attacked by bees trying to use their machinery! They burn the area to smoke out the bees!
A Visitor
Breathtaking Sunsets
Breathtaking Sunsets
Spoonbills, flamingos, pelicans and more are everywhere in the Secret Beach Area. We are keeping as much vegetation as possible and replacing some that we have to remove. We want to keep our area bird and iguana friendly!
Breathtaking Sunsets
Breathtaking Sunsets
Breathtaking Sunsets
Secret Beach has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world!
We have concrete foundations!
Surveys, Architects and Builders!
The lots have been surveyed and lot markers located. We were able to get started with some work on the lots.
We chose our architect and had an in-person meeting to go over the requirements of the lot for building as well as the unique type of homes we were putting on the property. Once we had him on board, he designed our foundation, septic system, solar, pool, deck, emergency plans, etc. Following our approval of the drawings, we applied for building permits! It finally felt like progress!!
We talked to a number of builders on our last trip to the island. We finally settled on Mario! We now refer to him as Super Mario, he is that good! We have decided that our first homes will be imported homes, so finding a builder that was willing to do the foundation, hookups, lot prep, septic systems, and be supportive of our house type was challenging! But Mario was excited to try/learn something new as well.
He took on the challenge! We have our foundation, our septic tank and our pool footings. It's all ready to go! Waiting for the house to arrive!
