For Simo D’s birthday, he and his wife Lili walked through the Belizean forest, crossed a river and swam into a cave. Inside Actun Tunichil Muknal, they found themselves in a Maya archaeological site. By the time I asked Simo to pick one experience for a first-time visitor to Belize, I had a fair idea what he’d say.

Simo moved from Ontario to Belize with his family in 2022. He joins me to explain how to choose between the coast, the cayes and the interior, and what he’s learnt from making Belize his home.

Choose the Belize you most want to see

On a short trip, Simo would give one part of the country his full attention. We talk about snorkelling on the Belize Barrier Reef, staying on the Placencia peninsula and heading inland for Maya sites and cave adventures. There’s also a useful discussion about choosing activities for children of different ages.

What happens when the holiday becomes home?

For Simo and Lili, moving to Belize meant starting new careers while raising two young children. We talk about the surprises of the humid season, the effort it took to build a community, and how their own questions about where to live eventually became MoveSmart.

Plan your Belize trip

Start with the Belize destination guide to compare regions and find the guides to the coast and ATM Cave. You can also find Simo’s biography and projects.

First trip to Belize? Coast, cayes or Cayo

Visiting Belize’s ATM Cave

Placencia, Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye?

What moving to Belize taught Simo D

In this conversation

05:53 Choosing between the islands and mainland
11:49 Maya sites and cave adventures
19:34 How MoveSmart began
20:54 Building a community
27:48 Simo’s favourite Belize experience