From Wikitravel

Belize, [1] formerly the colony of British Honduras, is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean (only the Caribbean Sea to its east), and the only one in Central America with English as its official language. The country is located between Guatemala to the west and south and Mexico to the north.

Along the Caribbean it is culturally similar to many of Britain's former island colonies. Inland are native Maya people, and especially in the north and northwest of the country Spanish is often spoken. Many refugees from the Caste War of Yucatan settled here. In the south east along the Caribbean coast live the Garifuna (Black Caribs) an Afro-Amerindian culture.

World class attractions include exploring the lush jungles with exotic plants and animals, deep sea fishing, swimming, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean sea with its attractive reefs, and visiting the Mayan ruins.

[edit] Regions

• Northern Belize - districts of Corozal (coastal) and Orange Walk (inland)
• Belize District - home of the largest city
• Ambergris Caye - large barrier island in the north
• Caye Caulker - smaller barrier island in the north
• Cayo - central, inland
• Stann Creek - coastal region south of Belize District
• Placencia - long peninsula (almost an island) off Stann Creek
• Toledo - southern coastal/inland region

[edit] Cities

• Belmopan - capital
• Belize City - largest city
• Big Creek
• Corozal
• Crooked Tree
• Dangriga
• Orange Walk
• Placencia
• Punta Gorda
• San Ignacio - known as Cayo to locals
• San Pedro - on Ambergris Caye

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Maya ruins

• Altun Ha
• Cahal Pech
• Caracol
• Lamanai
• Lubaantun
• Xunantunich

[edit] Understand

[edit] Climate

Tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May). Hurricanes season (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south).

[edit] Terrain

Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south. Highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m. Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea, at 0 m.

[edit] History

Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1991. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy as the old agricultural products -- sugar, banana, and oranges -- have lost ground. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime. In 2006 commerical quantity oil was discovered in the Spanish Lookout area.

[edit] Get in

US, Canadian, Australian, and EU passport holders do not need a visa, but they will need a valid passport. Cruise ship visitors do not even need a passport. The Belize Tourism Board [2] maintains up-to-date information.

[edit] By plane

The Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE) (ICAO: MZBZ) is in Ladyville, to the northwest of Belize City where it receives flights from Atlanta, Newark, Miami, Dallas, and Houston. It also has flights coming in from Guatemala City, San Salvador, Roatan and San Pedro Sula.

[edit] By car

From Mexico via Chetumal, in the north, or on a much rougher road from Guatemala via Tikal.

[edit] By bus

Buslines from Guatemala City and Belmopan operate to Flores in Guatemala, and to Chetumal in Mexico.

[edit] By boat

Several cruise lines call on Belize City, which is the largest city in Belize. Unfortunately they usually stay only one day, which doesn't give one the opportunity to really see Belize. You can visit one of the Maya ruins, ride an airboat in the salt marshes just outside the city, shop, go to the museum, go to the zoo or take either a short cave rafting trip or snorkeling, but that's about it. That means about 70% of the things most tourists would like aren't available, not mention the eco-tourism points of interest.

To Puerto Cortés, Honduras, the Gulf Cruza, a small rickety speed boat (20 people) leaves Placencia each Friday at around 9:30AM (4h US$50), going first to Big Creek. It returns to Placencia on Monday. Tickets are sold in the tourist office next to the gas station. Stop by immigration first.

Small speedboats operate on a daily basis between Puerto Barrios in Guatemala to Punta Gorda. On Tuesday and Fridays, boats operate from Livingston in Guatemala to Punta Gorda. The ride takes around two hours.

[edit] Get around

Several competing buslines operate on the main road in the north-south direction from Punta Gorda to Belmopan and Belize City. Two airlines, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, serve most towns on a daily basis and if you are trying to get to Ambergris Caye where San Pedro is there are water taxis at the boat terminal in Belize city. Tropic air and Maya Air fly out of Belize City municipal airport and Phillip Goldson international airport, as well as other airports in Belize.

Getting around Belize is simple. If you stand by the side of a main road, a bus will stop if you wave. The cost is $2-$25BZ ($1-$12.50US) depending on how far you're travelling. There is usually a bus driver and a conductor. Simply board the bus and have a seat and the conductor will appear at some point to collect your fare (He or she periodically makes rounds to collect tariffs from new passengers.). Express buses can save up to an hour and a half (depending on the distance of your trip); they do not stop for passengers waiting on the roadside, making only scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs in towns.

Be prepared for the fact that all busses seem to be using US school busses with a luggage rack installed overhead on one side. Also, busses are often very crowded and you may need to stand. Children selling snacks and soft drinks often board the buses at stops, and this is an inexpensive way to have a snack if you've exhausted what you've brought along or just want to try some home-made travel foods.

• Yacht charter Belize [3] Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to luxury yacht in Belize starting San Pedro and Placencia. Operating from different offices worldwide (UK, USA, Honk Kong, Dubai, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland). ohhh

[edit] Talk

As a former British colony (not Spanish, like most of its neighbors), the official language of Belize is English. Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib), and Belizean Creole are also widely spoken in various parts of the country. Especially in Belize City, locals speak Belizean Creole among themselves, but English to tourists. This version none the less still has a strong accent and may take some getting used to by a north american or british english speaker.

[edit][add listing] Buy

The Belize dollar (BZD, usually symbolized with a "$") is officially worth exactly 1/2 of a U.S. dollar. Because of this simple and consistent exchange rate, U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but this means you should be careful to clarify which "dollars" you're talking about when negotiating prices. It's often better to assume Belize dollars because many merchants will jump on your uncertainty and attempt to double their price by saying "No, in US Dollars". Belize dollars come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100; $1 and smaller amounts are coins. The 25-cent coin is often called a "shilling".

[edit][add listing] Eat

The primary meal found virtually everywhere is red beans, clean rice, and chicken.

Most chicken in the country is prepared and served on the bone.

Rice and Beans is a mixed dish with some spices and usually coconut milk added to make a sweet and hot staple of the Belizean Diet. Beans and Rice is white cooked rice with a side of stewed pinto beans. Citrus plantations are numerous, so fresh oranges and grapefruits are abundant. Pineapple, Papaya, Bannana and Plantain are also grown and sold in roadside markets.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Belikin is the national beer and comes in four varieties: Belikin Premium, Belikin Beer, Belikin Stout, and Lighthouse Lager. All the Belikin beers are sold in returnable bottles, so make sure you are aware of the deposit if you are taking your beverages to go.

One Barrel Rum is the locally-distilled molasses-tasting rum. Travelers Rum has a distillary on the Northern Highway about 6 miles from Belize City with a gift shop and hospitality bar. You can purchase rum in a variety of colors and sizes, up to a 70 gallon cask.

Both are widely available around the country. But if you also like wine there is cashew wine (which is very popular in Belize ), ginger wine, sorrel wine and blackberry wine.

[edit] Learn

There are great opportunities for scuba diving off of Belize atolls. Check out reefci.com for some very interesting 1 week adventures that are both informative conservation education as well as great scuba diving. If you want to learn about Belize's history the Museum of Belize, House of Culture, and of course, traveling and discovering are recommended.

[edit] Work

[edit] Stay safe

Belize City is one of the most dangerous cities in Belize, although it's very easy to be safe there. It's highly recommended that you remain in the tourist zone that runs just north of the marina to the southern extension to the east of the main canal. There are plenty of khaki tourist police monitoring the area, and should you have a problem, feel free to approach them. Be sure to know the police officer. Belize city is known for corrupted police officers. Just exercise common sense and do not go wandering around alone after dark. Stay near tourist areas or other commercial zones.

Other areas of Belize are generally safe as well, but like any other place in the world, one should always have some skepticism when dealing with strangers. Most are genuinely helpful, but it never hurts to be cautious. Belize City south side is beautiful as well as dangerous. Otherwise, Belize city is a great place to go if you want to eat learn or shop.

[edit] Stay healthy

Belize is a relatively healthy country. Bottled water is a must in most areas (The ubiquitous Belizean brand, Crystal, is fantastic.). And, unless you eat only at ultra-touristic restaurants, dysentery will probably strike at some point; be prepared with over-the-counter medication and prescription antibiotics. Enjoying the local food is worth it, though.

The CDC lists all of Belize except Belize City as a malaria risk area, and recommends the antimalarial drug chloroquine. Other drugs may also be recommended in certain circumstances - consult a qualified professional specialist.

Insect/mosquito bites should be prevented with appropriate clothing, repellents and insecticides, and bed nets if sleeping in non-air-con/unscreened rooms.

The sun, as anywhere else in the tropics, is very intense. A hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and sunglasses should do you fine.

Many places in Belize are very hot and humid, and dehydration is a risk. An expat suggests to drink as much water as you want, and then drink that much again.

[edit] Respect

Belizeans are some of the most socially relaxed people in the world, especially if you venture inland away from the tourist islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The pace of life is generally slower in Belize, so it's good practice to begin any social interaction, even to ask a quick question, with eye contact and a genuinely pleasant greeting. Most rural Belizeans enjoy casual conversation and you could easily find yourself chatting it up for a few hours. Hey, it's part of the charm!

The Maya communities can be a little more reserved at times. As always, a little respect and politeness will carry you through.

[edit] Contact

The main communication around Belize is by telephones and computers. But Belize also has other communications such as postal.

[edit] Weblinks

• Government of Belize [4]
• Guide to Belize [5]
• Tourist Information [6]

This is a usable article. It has information about the country and for getting in, as well as links to several destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!