Lady Red Travel

So I recently became a “citizen” of the world’s first crowdfunded private island. What the heck did I just do? I discovered the unrecognized “nation”: Principality of Islandia (aka Coffee Caye), off the coast of Belize, by reading up on something completely unrelated on Young Pioneer Tours, a company that specializes in organizing dark tourism and travel to places “your mother wouldn’t want you to visit”. The tour company took part in the world’s first crowdfunded private island back in 2018, hit some snafus with the pandemic, but has now started making progress on this project.

Buying an island to help develop a new “nation”…I was immediately intrigued! The Principality of Islandia is a micronation experiment, in which the creators plan to use the island paradise to forward ideals of democracy, inclusion and sustainability. Citizenship offers a way to support the project, and get insider deals as they begin offering the island for rent. More information on this quirky project can be found here. I decided to pay the $20 USD donation to become a “citizen” (I’m the 250th citizen on this island!) and received my welcome letter and electronic ID a couple of days later.

According to their Facebook page, they recently hosted their first group tour of the island, which included an overnight camping experience (I definitely experienced some FOMO looking at through the pictures)! I have a tentative trip to Belize planned in November and I’m hoping to somehow visit the island while I’m over there. I love quirky, off-the-beaten path kind of adventures and find this micronation experiment rather fascinating. I’m looking forward to seeing how this project progresses and to eventually visit one of the places where I’m a “duel” citizen!

Key Facts About the Principality of Islandia

• Provisional Head of State of Islandia – His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Regent Marshall Meyer (since February 11th 2018)
• Proclamation of the Principality of Islandia – February 11th 2018 (National Day)
• Head of Government of the Principality of Islandia – The Right Honorable (TRH) Prime-Minister Jodie Hill (since February 15th 2018).