Most people can only dream of escaping the rat race.
But, for one brave man, that wasn’t enough – and, to prove it, he swapped his entire life in Europe for a remote existence in the Caribbean.
Christian Gusenbauer, 41, was a respected pharmaceutical company manager in his native Austria, where he enjoyed a lucrative salary and enviable lifestyle.
Remote: An aerial view of Christian Gusenbauer’s Private Heaven, a self-contained off-grid dream spot on Lark Caye, in Belize
But he said stress and red tape pushed him to make a dramatic life change in 2016.
Selling all of his possessions and leaving his loved ones behind, he made the leap of faith alone – with nothing more than a backpack.
But now, 12 months on, he owns Private Heaven, a self-contained off-grid retreat on Lark Caye – his very only private island in Belize – where he’s ready to host holidaymakers from around the world.
The newly built home, now available to reserve on Airbnb, comes complete with panoramic views of the Caribbean, a pristine lagoon and access to a breathtaking coral reef.
Dream realised: Christian Gusenbauer, 41, has never looked back since ditching his former life in Europe (left) for the Caribbean
Wow-factor: The Caribbean beauty spot is still considered something of a hidden gem for holidaymakers wanting respite
Stunning surrounds: The newly built home, now available to reserve on Airbnb, comes complete with panoramic views of the Caribbean, a pristine lagoon and access to a breathtaking coral reef
Not a bad view: The enviable property boasts an incredible, hard-to-match vista
Accommodating six people across two bedrooms and six beds, it boasts wireless, air conditioning and a kitchen for just £1,152 per month.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he says he couldn’t he happier with his decision. ‘I was the national sales manager of a major pharmaceutical company. I’d been doing this for almost 12 years but was getting more and more frustrated with all the red tape,’ he told MailOnline Travel.
‘When a venture I was going to be involved with collapsed, it took three minutes to decide what would make me really happy. I immediately started looking at islands for sale all over the world.
‘In 2016 I sold all my stuff in Europe, my home, my car, every single DVD, all my beloved technical equipment, my Dolby Surround System, my 60-inch Full HD Flatscreen and my X-Box. And I purchased a completely undeveloped island in Belize, Central America.
‘In January 2017 I left everything behind and travelled without one single key to Belize, just one bag with my most important things. That was a very strange feeling, when you realize that everything you own is an undeveloped island. No cozy home to live in, no car, no friends. Nothing was left.’
Make yourself at home: Accommodating six people across two bedrooms and six beds, it boasts Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a kitchen for just £1,152 per month
Cosy and stylish: The property is fully furnished. Mr Gusenbauer said that life here is beyond his wildest dreams
Self-catering: A spacious kitchen allows guests to cook for themselves, helping them to live like a local on the private island
Fortunately, the gamble was worth it as he says his surroundings are beyond beautiful. ‘Life’s better than I could imagine in my wildest dreams,’ he added.
‘Pelicans around me, Spotted Eagle Rays and an unbelievable Coral Reef right in front of me. I have new friends, I live in a beautiful apartment on the mainland – whenever I´m not on the island – I love my GMC truck and all the people here in Belize are so warm-hearted and friendly.’
However, he hasn’t completely surrendered his business-minded approach to life.
‘I´ve registered a boat tour company and bought three vessels. With this set-up, my guests will be able to enjoy the whole beauty of the Belizean waters – and the second largest reef in the World – the Belize Barrier Reef.
‘My dream is reality now and I still can´t believe that I am here. But, if you trust your ideas and strength 100 per cent, give 100 per cent and dream 100 per cent, then everything is possible. From a life behind the office desktop to a life in the middle of the Caribbean. It is just un-Belize-able.’
And relax: Guests can gaze upon the paradise and its clear waters from this hammock on the terrace
Sunset: The night falls in Belize and the sea takes on a beautiful orange hue beneath a bewitching sky
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mr Gusenbauer doesn’t have any regrets.
He said: ‘It´s unbelievable how many people from Europe are writing to me every day. So many good hearts struggling with their lives and trapped in the same golden cage that I was in.
‘Some of them made little changes to their life, but right now I don´t know one single person who really had the energy to escape. Leaving your comfort zone is the hardest thing you can do, we all know that.
‘Reducing your life to a minimum gives you so much more happiness. All of a sudden you are able to enjoy what this universe and our planet has to give. No hustle to make big money just to feed the system of never-ending spendings and still being out of money all the time.
‘No pressure when to wake up to get into the next traffic jam and to apologize when you are late for work. No useless time in the office to explain the whole day to your work headquarters, instead of being able to do your work. It is so unbelievably satisfying to live the way I want to live and to be my own boss. And to use our natural resources in the most sustainable way possible.’
He added: ‘I am collecting the water from our clouds – rainwater collection. I´m not taking it away from anybody and it stays clean via a self-composting septic tank system and goes clean back to our planet. Two thousand gallons of rainwater collected in three tanks and this is more than enough to serve four people in the eco lodge.
‘All year long, it never gets empty. The energy is provided by our sun. Just six solar panels are powering everything: fans, 20 LED lights, a toaster, a hairdryer, the water pump, a 300-watt music player, my internet, charging the phones, drone, laptop, and even running an AC. Imagine that. All that you need and even more can be easily covered without any pollution. Although this was my main idea, I was surprised that everything can be covered without fossil energy. It makes me happier than anything else.’