To kick off the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, I thought I would add a little color to the Tiny House Blog with some tiny houses from Belize, the land of perpetual summer. My husband and I recently returned from the tropical country where we stayed on several cayes (pronounced keys) and on the mainland including Placencia, Caye Caulker and Rendezvous Caye and Tobacco Caye which we reached by sailboat.
Since the weather in Belize stays around 85 degrees F with nearly 100 percent humidity, most homes in Belize are raised off the ground on stilts to create airflow and catch some of the ocean breezes. Sometimes hammocks are strung in between the posts for lounging. Belize is an interesting mix of cultures from Jamaica, Cuba, Guatemala and other Central American countries and the styles are reflected in the colors of the homes which range from Caribbean blue to bright pink and orange.
In Placencia we stayed in the colorful Julia’s Cabanas and in Caye Caulker we stayed in a cabana behind the Wish Willy restaurant which is available to rent on Airbnb. This tiny island is still relatively untouched by tourism and people on the island live by the phrase “Go Slow.” In fact, there’s a sign on the main road that says “We have two graveyards, but no hospital. Go Slow.”
Photos by Harry Thomas, Christina Nellemann and Airbnb.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
What a great country to visit, love the cabins.
Hope you had the opportunity to go cave tubing.
Thanks Bob. It was a wonderful country with lovely people. We wanted to go cave tubing, but we had already made plans to visit with friends on Ambergris. Next time!
My dentist and his family just bought a place here..
I would follow BUT the humidity is a definite No-No…
It is bad enough here in Mississippi.
Your place is pretty though!!!!
I love your blog – neat idea! Thanks for doing justice to our little country. Julia’s is wonderful.
Sharon
Placencia, Belize
The biggest fear I would have in Belize is the Chagas disease from the Kissing Bug.
I enjoyed the story and photos of Belize. We stayed in a small house similar to the yellow ones on the beach and spent our time fishing in and around the Turneffe Islands.
Some of the houses we visited were little more than platforms built on top of the floating rafts of mangroves. When bad weather comes people move out and head for the mainland.
The thought of such a temporary shelter can inspire design where appropriate. A tent pitched on a large deck in the north woods is similar though the environments couldn’t be more different.