Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in another country that has native jaguars, tapirs, macaws, toucans, ocelots, manatees, and some of the best rainforests and islands ever?

Becoming an expat in Belize is all smooth sailing and clear waters.

Well, It’s time that you considered moving to one of the most Belize-iful countries in the world. You might not even have to leave your timezone…just research a job, apply, and go!

Keep on scrolling on down to find out the most popular jobs in Belize for expats this year.

Gotta-have-‘em jobs in Belize

1. Teaching English

If you are a native English speaker, one of the best jobs in Belize for Americans is teaching English as a foreign language.

Most expats teaching English actually get a taste for living abroad more deeply than other jobs out there because of the immersive nature of the profession. How amazing is that?! Depending on what type of teaching job you start working in Belize, you might be able to teach just part time. This freedom would give you so much free time to explore the rest of the country and make new friends.

Start working in Belize now with a TEFL certification to spend the best year of your life so far in one of the most culturally diverse countries in Central America.

Recommended Program: International TEFL Academy

2. Public Health and Medicine

In Belize, there is a snake whose bite can kill you before nightfall. Luckily, there is also a plant that grows here that is the remedy to this bite’s toxin. Tropical ecosystems are particularly unique in the types of diseases and natural medicines that live alongside people.

Being in a tropical environment, there are numerous different paths to go down in the health and medicine field. If you are medical student, you should consider taking a medical elective here. If you aren’t going down the doctor route, don’t worry. There are still many health jobs in Belize for expats.

Though Belize is one of the most gorgeous countries in the world, poverty is high and solid healthcare is still low here. Why not travel the world AND help others along the way?

[Our OnlineAdviors can suggest awesome jobs in Belize]

Shack up in Central America, and live the dream as an expat with your toes in the sand.

There are a handful of jobs in Belize for Americans to get you hands on experience helping others. You can make a tangible difference in people’s lives by developing new healthcare systems or improving upon existing healthcare in impoverished rural communities.

If the economics and social development dimension to public health isn’t quite your forte, there are always Belize employment opportunities for those interested in traditional healing and ethnobotany, as there are thousands of different plant species.

Recommended Programs: Projects Abroad & Center for Engaged Learning Abroad

3. Ecological Conservation

If you haven’t picked up on it yet, let me remind you that Belize is breathtakingly gorgeous! By working in Belize, you can experience firsthand the wonders of Nature. One of the most gratifying jobs in Belize is in the environmental field.

Up and down the 240 miles of pristine coast, Belize has dozens of cayes and even a barrier reef, the longest in the Western hemisphere. You can definitely expect to find hundreds of species of fish. But did you know there are manatees that live here too? A bunch, actually, which makes it unfortunately common that manatees get injured from irresponsible boating activities. Luckily, you can be the one that helps to rehabilitate these injured manatees.

While you are out being an awesome expat in the Caribbean, you might as well take a diving course or two right?

Perhaps you are more of a terrestrial creature. There are environmental jobs in Belize for land-dwellers as well. Find work at a cacao farm, a sustainable farm, or even in tropical agroforestry.

Recommended Program: Global Nomadic

Yes, toucan live and work in Belize. (Especially if you’re interested in conservation.)

4. Nonprofit / Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)

There are an assortment of agencies in Belize that are striving to make it a better place for locals to live, and most of them could use the extra help in one way or another. Most organizations will usually accept a resume from you and find a way to fit you into their group, if of course you are a good fit for them. There is only one way to find out.

You can easily find NGO jobs in Belize for expats in a variety of fields including: ecology, community and strategic planning, journalism, or information technology. Start researching different nonprofits that have Belize employment opportunities and get connecting with them to see when you can start working in Belize.

Recommended Program: Toucan Education Programs

5. Community Service

Ya’ know, the best job in Belize for you could just be in good ol’ fashioned community service. These jobs are abundant in this area.

Many schools and childcare centers are understaffed, so if you have a natural talent for connecting with child, helping children stay on top of their school assignments, or assisting fellow workers with miscellaneous tasks around the centers, this could be your ticket to working in Belize as an expat.

Recommended Program: Projects Abroad

6. Feeling Uber Adventurous? Be a Digital Nomad

So you already have your own job and they let you work from home? Awesome! Why not make “home” one of the most beautiful places in Latin America? Working in Belize can make your job that much better, with an eclectic cultural melting pot for a community, tropical weather, and gorgeous shores speckled with cayes and wildlife.

Did you know the official language of Belize is English? Or that they accept the US dollar? It’s true, and this little conveniences will make your move as an expat a little smoother for your own business.

Belize could also be the right place to spark new life into your work. Take a remote year down south and embrace living in a diverse community of all types of wonderful people including: Mayan, Garifuna, European, Chinese, and Mennonite.

[Nothing *quite* right? Browse all jobs in Belize]

Teaching is a great way to start your life as an expat in this paradise.

How to find jobs in Belize

Time to find you that dream job in Belize!

Start by narrowing down your list of dream jobs in Belize to just a few. Do you want to work directly with people? With wildlife? Or maybe even right in the ocean? Great! This will make it a lot easier when diving into the foreign job market. Once you have your top picks, seek out programs that align with your interests. Belize in particular is extremely diverse in its market for expats.

Once you start to narrow down your preferred job type, start doing your research when it comes to looking at various organizations that coordinate these types of jobs in Belize. Talk to them! Get a feel for how they communicate and if you vibe well or not. This is also a good time to ask about everything that is included with their program.

Check out reviews of the organization from other GoAbroad alumni. These people were once in your place, checking out websites, and making decisions about where they wanted to work. And guess what? They basically did some of the work for you when it comes to researching organizations and programs to get involved in. Each of the recommended programs above share stories and experiences from previous participants who worked with these organizations. Not only are they inspiring to read, but they also give you a better idea of what their day-to-day life was.

Finding a job abroad in Belize can seem like a huge task, especially if we don’t know anyone living there already. If you need help treading new terrain, we are here! We are professionals after all, and we’ve been in your shoes before. Spill your heart to us about your travel dreams and we will help search through all of the Belize employment opportunities until a match is made in heaven just for you.

[Not ready to work? Choose Belize for interning abroad]

How to move to Belize

Yay! The day is finally here (...or maybe you are just planning ahead).

Now that you’ve landed your sweet job in Belize (hopefully, if not maybe you need one made for you), it’s time to start getting ready for your incredible upcoming journey.

When does your lease end? Can someone take it over? Do you need a pet-sitter while you are gone? These may seem like silly questions, but they may be the deciding factors on whether or not you can actually leave your home country when the day comes. Coordinate selling your possessions that you don’t want and putting the rest into storage. Make sure you have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s regarding your paperwork (you might need immunizations and things before getting a visa!), and be sure to visit the doctor for one last go-ahead.

Throughout the entire process, be in communication with the program you’ve selected. Ask for help in finding permanent / semi-permanent accommodations in Belize — chances are they know where you will be sleeping once you get to Belize. They’ll have inside tips on the best expat neighborhoods in Belize, or how to make your stay more affordable. Even if housing isn’t included with the job itself, they more than likely have connections in the community to make your transition from bed to bed as easy as possible.

It’s time to say your “Hasta La Pasta”s to your friends, lover, family, coworkers, neighbors and favorite grocery store cashiers, because you are on your way to chasing your dreams.

[Working abroad: words of encouragement from those who’ve done it]

You better Belize this view can be yours!

There you have it! Everything you need to find—and kick butt during!—jobs in Belize

Although Belize is a relatively small country, Belize employment opportunities are assorted and endless. It won’t be long before you find the job of your dreams and start working in Belize. So get dreaming, get searching, and get starting a job in Belize now!

First step: find jobs in Belize