Belize over the last ten years or so has been reengineering and paving their major highways. They have completed the Southern Highway ending at Punta Gorda, with branch roads running to the Caribbean Sea with its amazing barrier reef and Cayes at Hopins, Dangrega, and the Placencia peninsula. The Humming Bird Highway joins the Southern Highway near Dangrega‘s  branch road and then runs through the beautiful Mayan Mountains down to Belmopan to meet the recently completed Western Highway. This major route runs from Belize City to the Santa Elena / San Ignacio area. Belize is just now in the final stages of completing a paved branch road from Georgeville on the Western Highway through the Barton Creek Valley to the junction of the Cristo Rey / San Antonio Road on its way to Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and the Caracol ruins.  

The reengineering and paving of the branch road off the Western Highway in Santa Elena south through Cristo Rey and San Antonia villages to the Mountain Ridge / Georgeville junction just outside of San Antonio is just being completed. The trip from Santa Elena to Cristo Rey Village, though only 4 ½ miles, previously took 15 to 20 minutes and sometimes required a 4X4 vehicle. Now, thanks to the recent road work, it is a pleasant five minute drive traveling beside the beautiful Macal River to Cristo Rey Village and MRE.

The MRE property was purchased in 2006 as a long-term investment, with a ten year business plan to design, develop, and mature the property as a gated community subdivision. Once the subdivision’s common areas were developed, a model home completed, and house lot / common areas matured, the subdivision would be put up for sale to potential investors and builders.

In 2007, the property was surveyed and the subdivision consisting of 11 titled lots received final approval, along with access to the Macal River along a common subdivision access road and river walk park. Then substantial development of the property began. Electricity and village water were brought to MRE. Lot 5 was selected for the construction of a subdivision model home. The river walk was established, with a palapa and bench swings for relaxing before and after the walk down to the river. At the river, another palapa with bench swings was also established for relaxing, picnicking, and swimming.

The model house was completed, along with entry gates to the subdivision. The MRE common road and lot 5 were landscaped with hundreds of exotic plants; flowering bushes; Royal, Traveler, and coconut palms; and a variety of fruit producing trees.  

As the property matured, the 10 year plan was reviewed. An appraisal of the property’s current market value and its potential for future investment growth was ordered in December 2015. Diema Consulting Architects & Appraisers San Ignacio Town was selected for the project. The resulting appraisal confirmed that once the reconstruction of the Santa Elena / Cristo Rey portion of the local highway was completed, the property would quickly become highly desirable because of its unique location just outside of the Santa Elena / San Ignacio population center and the beauty of the area where the lots are located. A decision was made at that time to continue developing the property and wait until the Santa Elena to Cristo Rey portion of the road was reengineered and completed before listing the subdivision for sale.  

In 2018, the section of the highway from Cristo Rey to San Antonio was completed. Completion of the remaining Santa Elena to Cristo Rey portion of the highway past MRE began in late 2019 and is expected to be completed in the next several months.  

During this period, the model house built on lot 5 was registered with the Belize Tourist Board and established as an authorized short-term rental. Macal River Estates was registered as the subdivision’s name. The website www.Macalriverestates.com was designed and developed in preparation for listing the subdivision for sale. A gardener / florist was hired, two flower nurseries were constructed, and many more flowers, fruit trees, and bushes were introduced onto the property.