Right on the Caribbean – Right on the Price

You’re looking for a peaceful, away from it all, affordable home for two in the Caribbean.   Nothing too fancy, but with all the things you need to make life comfortable.  We have just the place you are looking for.

Known locally as The Monkey House, this split level home is located on a sandy beach right on the Caribbean Sea at the end of the Monkey River Road, a reasonably maintained dirt road, which runs about 13 miles from the well paved Southern Highway through scented orange groves and jungle down to the sea.   Across the nearby Monkey River is tiny Monkey River Village, a traditional Creole community. 

The Monkey House is ideal for two people who want to live the simple life in a remote area which still has good connections to the outside world.  Let us give you a guided tour. 

You draw up outside the house, which has a drive-through, and on your left you will see two small whitewashed buildings surrounded by flowering shrubs which house our generator and give us storage space for tools and supplies.  Ahead on the next lot you will see a small beach cottage (this is also owned by us and is available for you to purchase).  To your right, just a few yards from the sea, is The Monkey House, a white painted cement house, with flowering plants and shrubs in small beds outside the kitchen window and beside the front door.    

You walk into the house through the front door which has a small rain porch, and you are immediately in our open plan living area.  The entrance area is our office, with mahogany built in shelves and a tropical wood floor.  To your right are open mahogany stairs leading to the upper floor.  Beyond the office area is our sunken sitting area, which is tiled, and has views of the sea and the garden.  A door leads out to our deck, which is about 10 yards from the Caribbean.  Along the whole wall facing the sea and the walls at each end of the room we have mahogany louvered windows, letting in both light and breeze.

Turning right, a step up takes you to our large tropical wood floored dining area with built in bar/storage area.   An open doorway leads into our tiny yet efficient kitchen, with views of the garden in three directions.

Upstairs, you arrive directly into our bedroom/den.  It’s here that we often spend evening time relaxing, watching DVDs, reading and playing backgammon. There is a large closet, and of course, a bathroom with shower over bath. 

Outside we have a sandy beach garden.  There is a new sea wall along the entire lot; we also have a small dock.  300 yards further along the beach is a small Belizean run fishing resort.  Next door to us on our south boundary lives a local family in a small wooden house.  Apart from that, we have the beach to ourselves.

The practical stuff.  Electricity has been available in the Monkey River area since 2008, but an easy to run/economical propane generator should be available for use in emergency situations. We do have city water; this is supplemented by our rainwater vats.  The nearest shops, airport and basic medical care can be found around 15 miles away in Independence village.  You can get most everyday items there.  Belize City is the main place to go shopping for more sophisticated shopping and health care, for example excellent dentists and private hospitals.  Belize City is 35 minutes flight away from Independence, or about 3 ½ hour drive down well paved road that cuts through the gorgeous Maya Mountain range.

The Monkey House has been our home for nearly 20 years - much of the house was rebuilt and renovated by us over the past five years. We have used a mixture of cement and wood construction so the house is simple, solid yet with a tropical feel.  Everything has been kept up and maintained well, but new owners might like to spiff it up a bit.

Why are we selling?  Well, we are planning to build a new house on a piece of land we own further down the beach.  We want something just a little larger to accommodate family visitors.

Is The Monkey House for you?  Well, it’s not a glamorous, sophisticated place, but if you love a mix of adventure & the quiet life, gardening, wildlife, enjoying the local colour, just kicking back and reading a good book in a hammock, then you’ll love it.

Location: MonkeyRiver(south of Placencia) Accessible by road or boat. 

Lot size: 1 – 56.5 x 117   House size: ground - 25 x 36 plus 8 x 12 kitchen; upper – 24 x 24   Number of stories:2   Number of bedrooms:1   Size: 16 x 16   Number of bathrooms: 1  

Other rooms:  open living space 1^st floor includes sunken living room, dining room, built in bar area, computer/office area w/ built in bookshelves, kitchen; deck on sea side 5 x 17 w/ screen & 5 x 17 beyond screen area; Upper floor includes large bathroom, bedroom & 1 screened balcony to back (west) & 1 small balcony on side (north)

With purchase of house, you also have an option to buy the adjoining lot with beach cottage. Please note this cottage is no longer for sale as a separate unit – it is for sale with the house only.

Seafront Cottage

NEW!  Lovely two room cottage with ensuite bath on the Caribbean tucked amongst palm trees & tropical flowers. This two room cottage with a full modern bath is  perfect for a vacation retreat, or retirement home.  Plenty of room to expand  - add onto your cottage, or build a couple more for rentals.   Dock & concrete reinforced seawall; beachfront lot 56.5 X 117.

HOUSE AND COTTAGE: 113’ BEACHFRONT X 117:  US$200,000 (reduced from US$250,000)

FOR MOR INFORMATION EMAIL AGENT ENEYDA PERERA AT buybelize@gmail.com