This ideal investment opportunity is available as 12 acres and the resort for a steal at US $1.6M. The lodge on the north tip of Tarpon Caye is a privately owned titled property located on a 12 acre island (2 acres developed on north tip, where lodge is located). Tarpon Caye is located 15 miles east of Placencia, the largest tourist destination in Southern Belize.

Tarpon Caye is located 15 miles east of Placencia, the largest tourist destination in Southern Belize. Placencia Peninsula is the nearest embarkation point on the mainland of Belize - only a short boat ride away, ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on sea conditions. You can pick up your guests at the Placencia airport and have them out to the island within an hour. The nearest neighbouring island is just over 1 mile away, and the area is clustered with many other islands, which gives Tarpon Caye great protection from weather, but still remains very private.

The Belize Great Barrier Reef (second in size only to Australia's) is only 6 miles away, allowing for both complete privacy and easy access to some of the world's finest fishing, snorkelling and diving experiences. Also, the island is close enough to the mainland to allow guests to visit Southern Belize's spectacular Jungle and Maya Ruin Tours

BRIEF HISTORY OF KINGFISHER'S TARPON CAYE LODGE ON TARPON CAYE

During the mid-80s to the mid-90s, Kingfisher operated its Sport Fishing Operation out of Placencia Village. Over the years, the majority of our repeat clients and our new clients complained about the long boat ride getting out and back everyday. The long ride was not only taking a toll on the clients, it was also taking a toll on the guides. Many times, our clients encouraged us to camp a few nights on one of the cayes (islands) which we did at the clients request; this was working very well. So, in 1995 we started looking at potential cayes (islands) to set up an appropriate self-sustained fishing camp. We had a few to choose from, but we decided on Tarpon Caye, which has one of the largest population of tarpon in its lagoon and it sits in the middle of the Victoria Channel and also in the middle of the Permit Capital of the world.

So we leased Tarpon Caye in late 1996 from the Government(we purchased the island from the Government in 2005, thus you will be buying titled property). Tarpon Caye had very little land, although the caye is approximately 13 acres. The north end of Tarpon Caye was the best potential area for us to develop because it has a small lagoon branched off from the main lagoon, a perfect natural harbour for our boats (capable of harbouring a boat from a category 3 hurricane).

In mid 1997, we broke ground on approximately 2 acres on the north end of Tarpon Caye, which was our limit to develop at that time. We cleared approximately 1 acre at the end of 1997. We started building late 1998 - mid 1999. We had completed 2 cabanas and a clubhouse and established our water system and electricity, etc. At that time, we started housing our clients at Tarpon Caye and they loved it. They were able to fish tarpon at the crack of dawn and if the tide permits, they get in an hour or two of permit before breakfast. In the middle of the day, they take a few hours siesta in their cabana hammocks, on a verandah right over the Caribbean Sea. All this with all the amenities that they would expect and enjoy on the mainland

In 2000, we built a dock and a proper road to access the east side of the island where the cabanas and club house are located. We had a good season that year; 99.9% of our clients had nothing but good to say about Tarpon Caye and Tarpon Caye Lodge. In 2001, we also had a good season but at the end of the Season in October, Hurricane Iris took us down; she knocked down one cabana and the clubhouse and battered the rest of the buildings and destroyed some of our coconut trees and mangrove and did some land erosion. We started rebuilding in 2002 and by November 2002 we re-opened. In 2003, we built one more cabana, staff quarters, extended the kitchen area and planted more trees. In 2004, we put in a brand new 24KW diesel generator, bigger water pump, more water storage, hot and cold showers, freezers, fridges, better mattresses in cabanas, a 12V solar system, bigger and more comfortable staff quarters, new Honda outboards, two new flat boats and a great number of other additions and improvements.

In 2005 we upgraded our boats and serviced and repaired all buildings; we built a new storage area for fuel, groceries, a tool shed, and also a new electrical system to maintain proper electricity throughout the island. We also build more water storage tanks.

January 2006: We have recently completed another significant land development project on Tarpon Caye which has increased its beauty and size to a little over 2 full flush acres of beautiful land. Now you have 2 acres of powdery white, Caribbean Island sand with beautiful swimming and snorkelling areas around the north tip of the island. All buildings and boats have been upgraded and had their annual maintenance done, so everything is in tip top shape. Also, one of the pride and joys of the island is the established conch and lobster farm in front of the island; giving fresh lobster and conch a whole new meaning. Many guests even walk right off the island and catch their own fresh fish that our professional chef prepares for them in any manner they like.

Tarpon Caye is pulling a 6 figure gross profit at 80% occupancy in the 6 months; we are doing this with only 3 cabanas on the island with a maximum capacity of 6 clients. With the land development we had recently finished, you can place at least 10 more cabanas comfortably on the island.

TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED CLIENTS:

Fraser Heston (son of legendary Silver Screen Actor, Charlton Heston), second visit to Tarpon Caye Lodge:

"I am an experienced fly fisherman, both salt and freshwater, and have fished for bonefish, tarpon and permit at several great lodges in the Bahamas, Florida, the Yucatan, and Christmas Island, among other destinations. I have now had the pleasure of fishing with Charles Leslie and his guides at Tarpon Caye Kingfisher Lodge, off Placencia, Belize, on two separate trips, in 2005 and 2004. I can say unequivocally that it is one of the best fishing experiences of my life. Tarpon Caye is unique in several respects. It is situated right in the middle of some of the world's most prolific and relatively untouched permit and tarpon fishing grounds. The permit flats are only a stone's throw (literally) from the lodge, two of which you can actually walk to. It also lies several miles off-shore, unlike most of the other lodges which are at least a one-hour boat ride away from this remarkable water. Instead of a one-hour bash to windward you have a leisurely glide of five minutes with a cup of coffee in your hand to the Home Flat, where you will have an excellent chance of seeing several permit tailing on most mornings. And the permit fishing is remarkable. Given that these are extremely difficult fish to catch, and success is often measured in terms of fish seen, or number of shots taken by casting a fly at one, if you are a competent caster and possess a good fly rod and a hand full of crab flies, you probably have a better chance of hooking one here than you do in many other places. It is not unusual to sight as many a sixty (60!) fish on a flat at any given time. Taking ten or twelve legitimate shots at fish in a morning is normal, and sometimes as many as twenty tailing or cruising fish present themselves within casting range in a day. Many of them are quite large as well, going twenty pounds or more, though the biggest I have caught was about twelve, which seems to be about the average, and is plenty to handle on a nine weight rod. Charlie also has an unusual method for catching permit, taking advantage of his advantageous location to these shallow pancake-flats which arise abruptly from deep water. Because of his location, he is able to fish the tides in ways which most lodges are not, or will not. Charlie waits until the opportune time (usually a rising tide) to find these elusive fish on the flats in feeding mode, fishing for other species or simply returning to the lodge for lunch and a siesta until the tide changes. Often, Charlie will take a boat-tender along, an assistant-guide who will bring the boat along behind you as you and Charlie or one of his excellent guides fish the flats on foot. Charlie also has a remarkable sixth sense about permit, and is able to talk you through what is otherwise a daunting prospect of actually casting to, enticing, hooking, fighting and landing a permit. If the permit cuts across the reef for deep water, you have only to hop in the boat and fight the fish to (one hopes) a standstill in obstruction free water, increasing your chances of putting one in the boat, and releasing it unharmed. There are other excellent species to fish for, including bonefish and, primarily, tarpon, which roll in the lagoon on the very backside of Tarpon Caye, fifty yards from the lodge, and give the island its name. You can fish for tarpon right up until dark, and beyond, if you have the stamina for it. Charlie has developed several effective techniques, including some very effective flies for these remarkable large game-fish. He also has a fly-tying vise and ties local patterns he has developed which are deadly for permit, or you can tie your own. Finally, the accommodations are delightful. Though I would describe Tarpon Caye as a fisherman's lodge, for serious fishermen (there being not much else to do besides snorkelling), the lodging is very pleasant in simple cabanas on stilts, right on or over the water, with shaded porches enjoying lovely views of the home flats where you can literally watch fish tailing fifty feet from your hammock (and go out and catch them). Showers are hot (freshwater is adequate, gathered from rainfall-catching cisterns), toilets work and are clean, the rooms are cleaned daily, electricity is dependable, and beds are comfortable. Food is often prepared by Charlie, an experienced chef and restaurant owner. Fare is excellent local and traditional cuisine; huge egg & bacon breakfasts, fresh vegetables, seafood, lobster, conch, or whatever you catch that day and want to eat. There is an open bar and Charlie can pretty much produce anything in the way of food or drink that you could wish for. I had a hankering for margaritas when I was last there, and within twelve hours, a bottle of tequila, limes, triple-sec, ice and a blender was made to appear... Jimmy Buffet himself could ask for no more! Lastly, Charlie and his entire staff, guides and family are delightful people, a pleasure to spend a few days fishing with. You feel more like a favoured guest in a Belizean home than just another client. I would not hesitate to recommend Tarpon Caye Lodge to any keen fisherman. Sincerely, Fraser C. Heston"

NOTE: This Testimonial, of course, was written before our 2006 upgrade.

SUITABILITY: This stunningly beautiful island is located in a superb natural environment with great diving, snorkelling and sea kayaking. It would make an ideal luxury private or corporate retreat, as well as being ideal for a sea kayaking, snorkelling or diving base camp. Although it may not look like the typical coral island, it should be noted that Cayo Espanto, Belize's most luxurious private island, had nothing on it before it was developed. A great deal of money had to be spent to landscape the island. Cayo Espanto is the creation of Jeff and Susan Gram. When Gram bought the four-acre island off Ambergris Cay in 1997, it was just a lagoon. It took four years to fill the island with sand, plant palm trees and build five A-frame bungalows, each with its own dock and plunge pool. Villas rent for $800 a night!

Well, Tarpon Caye Lodge has already made a HUGE step in that direction, due to the fact that we already have developed 2 beautiful acres and have already established a successful business on the island. If you choose to purchase the entire island, Tarpon Caye can be developed to a total of 13 acres. The Tarpon Caye lagoon has exceptional fill material for this purpose, compared to other islands in the area.

DEVELOPMENT: Building permits are not required. There are abundant opportunities for fly-fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, yachting, and swimming, all within a few feet of the shore. Boats can bring guests to the mainland (twenty minutes on a calm day in a 40-knot boat) to join a jungle, cave, or Mayan ruins tour. Fly-fishers can aim for an award for catching a tarpon, permit, and bonefish all in one day, all three of which are notorious strugglers. The fish are released back to the sea.

THE ISLAND FEATURES: Clubhouse/restaurant with deck right over the water; at night you can see the sea life go crazy as you sip your ice cold beer and enjoy the refreshing Caribbean Breeze.

Three cabanas built on stilts right over the water, to give guests the best view possible and also positioned to allow the soothing, relaxing Caribbean Breeze to seep through and cool the cabanas. Each cabana has a private porch over the water, private restroom/bath, equipped with twin double beds.

One building with managers/owners quarters and office with radio and base cell phone.

One Bungalow building for employees. One Generator house with 24 KW diesel generator which is serviced monthly. Very, very quiet due to purchase of new muffler system (recently serviced and replaced radiator system for better cooling). One storage house near the dock. A public restroom with shower for day guests. Significant water storage to run the island through Belize's dry season (which is very short).

WHY BELIZE? Why would you choose Belize over Fiji, Thailand or French Polynesia? Same time zone as east coast USA. Only 2 hours flight with direct flights from Houston, New York and Los Angeles. After Australia, Belize has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Universally regarded as one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world. Some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Real estate prices far lower than Fiji, French Polynesia, Bahamas, etc. Offers freehold title in your own name unlike Maldives/Seychelles (leasehold only) or other countries with restrictions. Tax haven, with many incentives for investment. Many US celebrities such as Leonardo di Caprio and Francis Ford Coppola are already developing there. Many other tropical destinations such as Bali, Thailand, Philippines and Sri Lanka are subject to terrorist attacks. Belize offers safety and security. English speaking with laws based on British Common Law. Fantastic telecommunications system. When the British gave independence, they gave the country an up to date electronic telephone service. Belize is a tax haven and offers secret banks like Panama or Switzerland, but they are much less known about.

Ten years ago you could buy cayes in Belize for $2-300,000. Those same cayes are now back on the market for $2-3 million. In another 10 years, they will be at least 5-10 times what you might pay now. There are only two Great Barrier Reefs in the world, and there are virtually no islands for sale on Australia’s version.

$75,000 per acre is about the g oing price for a good cay. Be prepared to spend $200,000 $2,000,000 US for an undeveloped island that has 5-15 acres of good sandy ground. (If you hear about a 150 acre island for $300,000 you can bet it’s mostly under water). Resort islands start at around $1.5 million and go as high as $60 million (when Caye Chapel was on the market.

INFORMATION ABOUT BELIZE

Belize is a parliamentary democracy sharing borders with Mexico to the north, and Guatemala to the west and south. Prior to 1981, when it achieved independence from the United Kingdom, it was known as British Honduras. Although now independent, Belize is still part of the British Commonwealth.

The official language of Belize is English, although most people also speak Creole, Spanish, or Garifuna. The latter is a dialect derived from unspecified African languages from the original escaped or released slaves which came to Belize in search for freedom. The majority of the population is mestizo (mixed hispanic), followed by Maya indian, hispanic, and black.

The Belizean dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar, with an exchange rate of USD 1 = BZD 2.

Direct flights from the U.S. depart from Miami, Houston and Dallas on a daily basis with American Airlines and Continental Airlines. You have two local airlines running constant day flights to Placencia.

Foreigners can purchase and own land in Belize without special restrictions. Stamp Duty (title transfer tax) is 15% for non-residents, and 5% for residents.

ISLANDS:

The vast majority of Belizean islands are not naturally sandy, but rather swampy mangrove islands, sometimes with small beach areas surrounding them in part or in the whole. With the exception of the few naturally sandy islands usually found on the reef or in one of the three atolls, sandy island properties were created artificially by filling in, or topping off, a mangrove caye with sand procured from the surrounding sea floor. The quality of this kind of fill material can vary greatly from almost pure sand, to silt, coral, or any combination of these three ingredients. And this is the great news about Tarpon Caye: we have done all the hard work of developing the first 2 acre phase of this island from scratch and establishing a successful, Turn Key, business for you. When you purchase the first development and/or decide to purchase the rest of the island later on, Tarpon Caye has been blessed with some of the best fill material in this area, which is located in Tarpon Caye's natural lagoon.

The island can be developed to a 10 acre, powdery white sand island. The island has a natural fringe reef that runs the entire length of the island and out about almost 3 to 4 miles from north to south on the east side. This fringe reef does two things: Provide a spectacular snorkelling ground for guests and also provides a natural barrier from erosion.

We have chosen to develop on this island for two very specific reasons: It was the best island in that area for development for what we intended and it also has tremendous potential to be further developed to whatever your heart desires. The island is virtually bug/sandfly free.

WHAT YOU GET: Turn Key business currently making 6 figures annually, in the 6 months that we operate, from only a 6 person maximum occupancy!Two acres of developed property on North Tip of Tarpon Caye with spectacular scenery, snorkelling and diving grounds plus one acre of undeveloped property. Fully functional, self-sustained lodge with all structures and other assets on island.Three flats fishing boat; two equipped with 40 Honda 4-stroke engines, one with 90 Honda 4-stroke engine. All recently upgraded and serviced. One open-hull skiff with one 115 Honda 4-stroke and one 130 Honda 4-stroke. The island and all boats are equipped with VHF radios etc...One 24KW diesel generator. 1/2 acre of developed lagoon side property in downtown Placencia. Perfect spot for a mainland office and embarkation of clients. (direct access to main road and inner lagoon.

NOTE TO BUYER:Belize is a hot spot for private island buyers from around the world. One thing you need to keep in mind is that many islands currently being advertised for sale are undeveloped, mangrove, mostly-swamp islands and would require plenty of time and money to develop and establish a profitable business or home. With Tarpon Caye and Tarpon Caye Lodge, you can purchase the first 2 acre + one undeveloped acre phase of the island and business today and start doing business immediately or simply turn the island into a very nice private island home. The current owner/head guide and staff are willing to work with buyer for a period of time to help with a smooth transition in the business.