Belize is a small Central American nation,

 

Belizeis a Caribbean country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. Belize borders Mexico to the north, Caribbean Sea to the east and Guatemala to the south. It has an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) and a population of 419,199 (2020). Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. It has the lowest population and population density in Central America. The country's population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2018 estimate) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is Belize City.

The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about 1200 European contact began in 1492 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras.European exploration was begun by English settlers in 1638. This period was also marked by Spain and Britain both laying claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye (1798). It became a British colony in 1840, known as British Honduras, and a Crown colony in 1862. Independence was achieved from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981.

Belize has a diverse society that is composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language, followed by Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna. Over half the population is multilingual, due to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the population. It is known for its September Celebrations, its extensive barrier reef coral reefs, and punta music.

Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. It is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to both the American and Caribbean regions.It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in all three regional organizations. Belize is the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state, represented by a Governor General (currently, Froyla Tzalam). Belize is considered a tax haven.

Panoramic view of Belize City, c. 1914

Early history

The Maya Civilization emerged at least three millennia ago in the lowland area of the Yucatán Peninsula and the highlands to the south, in the area of present-day southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western Honduras. Many aspects of this culture persist in the area, despite nearly 500 years of European domination. Prior to about 2500 BC, some hunting and foraging bands settled in small farming villages; they domesticated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and chili peppers.

A profusion of languages and subcultures developed within the Maya core culture. Between about 2500 BC and 250 AD, the basic institutions of Maya civilization emerged

The Maya civilization spread across the territory of present-day Belize around 1500 BC and flourished there until about AD 900. The recorded history of the middle and southern regions focuses on Caracol, an urban political centre that may have supported over 140,000 peopl North of the Maya Mountains, the most important political centre was Lamanai.In the late Classic Era of Maya civilization (600–1000 AD), an estimated 400,000 to 1,000,000 people inhabited the area of present-day Belize

When Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, the area of present-day Belize included three distinct Maya territories:

Chetumal province, which encompassed the area around Corozal Bay

Dzuluinicob province, which encompassed the area between the New River and the Sibun River, west to Tipu

a southern territory controlled by the Manche Ch'ol Maya, encompassing the area between the Monkey River and the Sarstoon River.

Early colonial period (1506–1862)

Further information: History of Belize (1506–1862) and Colony of Jamaica

Spanish conquistadors explored the land and declared it part of the Spanish Empire, but they failed to settle the territory because of its lack of resources and the hostile tribes of the Yucatán.

English pirates sporadically visited the coast of what is now Belize, seeking a sheltered region from which they could attack Spanish ships (see English settlement in Belize) and cut logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) trees. The first British permanent settlement was founded around 1716 in what became the Belize District,[28] and during the 18th century, established a system using enslaved Africans to cut logwood trees. This yielded a valuable fixing agent for clothing dyes, and was one of the first ways to achieve a fast black before the advent of artificial dyes. The Spanish granted the British settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logwood in exchange for their help suppressing piracy

An excerpt from the 1898 Gazette that declared 10 September an official holiday, part of the efforts of the Centennial Committee

The British first appointed a superintendent over the Belize area in 1786. Before then the British government had not recognized the settlement as a colony for fear of provoking a Spanish attack. The delay in government oversight allowed the settlers to establish their own laws and forms of government. During this period, a few successful settlers gained control of the local legislature, known as the Public Meeting, as well as of most of the settlement's land and timber.

Throughout the 18th century, the Spanish attacked Belize every time war broke out with Britain. The Battle of St. George's Caye was the last of such military engagements, in 1798, between a Spanish fleet and a small force of Baymen and their slaves. From 3 to 5 September, the Spaniards tried to force their way through Montego Caye shoal, but were blocked by defenders. Spain's last attempt occurred on 10 September, when the Baymen repelled the Spanish fleet in a short engagement with no known casualties on either side. The anniversary of the battle has been declared a national holiday in Belize and is celebrated to commemorate the "first Belizeans" and the defence of their territory.

As part of the British Empire (1862–1981)

In the early 19th century, the British sought to reform the settlers, threatening to suspend the Public Meeting unless it observed the government's instructions to eliminate slavery outright. After a generation of wrangling, slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833 As a result of their enslaved African's abilities in the work of mahogany extraction, owners in British Honduras were compensated at £53.69 per enslaved African on average, the highest amount paid in any British territory. (This was a form of reparation that was not given to the enslaved African's at the time, nor since.) 

However, the end of slavery did little to change the former enslaved African's working conditions if they stayed at their trade. A series of institutions restricted the ability of emancipated African individuals to buy land, in a debt-peonage system. Former "extra special" mahogany or logwood cutters undergirded the early ascription of the capacities (and consequently the limitations) of people of African descent in the colony. Because a small elite controlled the settlement's land and commerce, former enslaved African's had little choice but to continue to work in timber cutting.[28]

In 1836, after the emancipation of Central America from Spanish rule, the British claimed the right to administer the region. In 1862, the United Kingdom formally declared it a British Crown Colony, subordinate to Jamaica, and named it British Honduras.[32] Since 1854, the richest inhabitants elected an assembly of notables by censal vote, which was replaced by a legislative council appointed by the British monarchy.

As a colony, Belize began to attract British investors. Among the British firms that dominated the colony in the late 19th century was the Belize Estate and Produce Company, which eventually acquired half of all privately held land and eventually eliminated peonage. Belize Estate's influence accounts in part for the colony's reliance on the mahogany trade throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

The Great Depression of the 1930s caused a near-collapse of the colony's economy as British demand for timber plummeted. The effects of widespread unemployment were worsened by a devastating hurricane that struck the colony in 1931. Perceptions of the government's relief effort as inadequate were aggravated by its refusal to legalize labour unions or introduce a minimum wage. Economic conditions improved during World War II, as many Belizean men entered the armed forces or otherwise contributed to the war effort.

A British Honduras postage stamp overprinted in 1962 to mark Hurricane Hattie

Following the war, the colony's economy stagnated. Britain's decision to devalue the British Honduras dollar in 1949 worsened economic conditions and led to the creation of the People's Committee, which demanded independence. The People's Committee's successor, the People's United Party (PUP), sought constitutional reforms that expanded voting rights to all adults. The first election under universal suffrage was held in 1954 and was decisively won by the PUP, beginning a three-decade period in which the PUP dominated the country's politics. Pro-independence activist George Cadle Price became PUP's leader in 1956 and the effective head of government in 1961, a post he would hold under various titles until 1984.

Under a new constitution, Britain granted British Honduras self-government in 1964. On 1 June 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize.[34] Progress toward independence, however, was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over Belizean territory.

Independent Belize (since 1981)

Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation because of its longstanding territorial dispute with the British colony, claiming that Belize belonged to Guatemala. About 1,500 British troops remained in Belize to deter any possible incursions.

With Price at the helm, the PUP won all national elections until 1984. In that election, the first national election after independence, the PUP was defeated by the United Democratic Party (UDP). UDP leader Manuel Esquivel replaced Price as prime minister, with Price himself unexpectedly losing his own House seat to a UDP challenger. The PUP under Price returned to power after elections in 1989. The following year the United Kingdom announced that it would end its military involvement in Belize, and the RAF Harrier detachment was withdrawn the same year, having remained stationed in the country continuously since its deployment had become permanent there in 1980. British soldiers were withdrawn in 1994, but the United Kingdom left behind a military training unit to assist with the newly created Belize Defence Force.

The UDP regained power in the 1993 national election, and Esquivel became prime minister for a second time. Soon afterwards, Esquivel announced the suspension of a pact reached with Guatemala during Price's tenure, claiming Price had made too many concessions to gain Guatemalan recognition. The pact may have curtailed the 130-year-old border dispute between the two countries. Border tensions continued into the early 2000s, although the two countries cooperated in other areas.

The PUP won a landslide victory in the 1998 national elections, and PUP leader Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister. In the 2003 elections the PUP maintained its majority, and Musa continued as prime minister. He pledged to improve conditions in the underdeveloped and largely inaccessible southern part of Belize.

In 2005, Belize was the site of unrest caused by discontent with the PUP government, including tax increases in the national budget. On 8 February 2008, Dean Barrow was sworn in as prime minister after his UDP won a landslide victory in general elections. Barrow and the UDP were re-elected in 2012 with a considerably smaller majority. Barrow led the UDP to a third consecutive general election victory in November 2015, increasing the party's number of seats from 17 to 19. However, he stated the election would be his last as party leader and preparations are under way for the party to elect his successor.

On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, having won 26 seats out of 31 to form the new government of Belize. Briceño took office as Prime Minister on 12 November.

Government and politics

National Assembly in Belmopan

Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The structure of government is based on the British parliamentary system, and the legal system is modelled on the common law of England. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title Queen of Belize. The Queen lives in the United Kingdom, and is represented in Belize by the governor-general. Executive authority is exercised by the cabinet, which advises the governor-general and is led by the Prime Minister of Belize, who is head of government. Cabinet ministers are members of the majority political party in parliament and usually hold elected seats within it concurrent with their cabinet positions.

The bicameral National Assembly of Belize comprises a House of Representatives and a Senate. The 31 members of the House are popularly elected to a maximum five-year term and introduce legislation affecting the development of Belize. The governor-general appoints the 12 members of the Senate, with a Senate president selected by the members. The Senate is responsible for debating and approving bills passed by the House.

Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Belize. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature

Members of the independent judiciary are appointed. The judicial system includes local magistrates grouped under the Magistrates' Court, which hears less serious cases. The Supreme Court (chief justice) hears murder and similarly serious cases, and the Court of Appeal hears appeals from convicted individuals seeking to have their sentences overturned. Defendants may, under certain circumstances, appeal their cases to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Political culture

In 1935, elections were reinstated, but only 1.8 percent of the population was eligible to vote. In 1954, women were granted the right to vote.

Since 1974, the party system in Belize has been dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party, although other small parties took part in all levels of elections in the past. Though none of these small political parties has ever won any significant number of seats or offices, their challenge has been growing over the years.

Foreign relations of Belize

Belize is a full participating member of the United Nations; the Commonwealth of Nations; the Organization of American States (OAS); the Central American Integration System (SICA); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which currently serves as a final court of appeal for only Barbados, Belize, and Guyana. In 2001 the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as final court of appeal with the Caribbean Court of Justice. It is still in the process of acceding to CARICOM treaties including the trade and single market treaties.

A British Royal Marine training in the jungle of Belize in 2017

Belize is an original member (1995) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and participates actively in its work. The pact involves the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) subgroup of the Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP). CARIFORUM presently the only part of the wider ACP-bloc that has concluded the full regional trade-pact with the European Union.

The British Army Garrison in Belize is used primarily for jungle warfare training, with access to over 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 sq mi) of jungle terrain. Belize is a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Military of Belize

Belizean Coast Guard working with the United States Navy

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) serves as the country's military and is responsible for protecting the sovereignty of Belize. The BDF, with the Belize National Coast Guard and the Immigration Department, is a department of the Ministry of Defence and Immigration. In 1997 the regular army numbered over 900, the reserve army 381, the air wing 45 and the maritime wing 36, amounting to an overall strength of approximately 1,400.[41] In 2005, the maritime wing became part of the Belizean Coast Guard.[42] In 2012, the Belizean government spent about $17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).[43] After Belize achieved independence in 1981 the United Kingdom maintained a deterrent force (British Forces Belize) in the country to protect it from invasion by Guatemala (see Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory). During the 1980s this included a battalion and No. 1417 Flight RAF of Harriers. The main British force left in 1994, three years after Guatemala recognized Belizean independence, but the United Kingdom maintained a training presence via the British Army Training and Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) and 25 Flight AAC until 2011 when the last British Forces left Ladyville Barracks, with the exception of seconded advisers

Guatemalan territorial dispute

Throughout Belize's history, Guatemala has claimed sovereignty over all or part of Belizean territory. This claim is occasionally reflected in maps drawn by Guatemala's government, showing Belize as Guatemala's twenty-third department.

The Guatemalan territorial claim involves approximately 53% of Belize's mainland, which includes significant portions of four districts: Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo.[48] Roughly 43% of the country's population (≈154,949 Belizeans) reside in this region.[49]

As of 2020, the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved and contentious. Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory rests, in part, on Clause VII of the Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty of 1859, which obligated the British to build a road between Belize City and Guatemala. At various times, the issue has required mediation by the United Kingdom, Caribbean Community heads of government, the Organization of American States (OAS), Mexico, and the United States. However, on 15 April 2018, Guatemala's government held a referendum to determine if the country should take its territorial claim on Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the long-standing issue. Guatemalans voted 95%[52] yes on the matter.[53] A similar referendum was to be held in Belize on 10 April 2019, but a court ruling led to its postponement.[54] The referendum was held on 8 May 2019, and 55.4% of voters opted to send the matter to the ICJ

Both countries submitted requests to the ICJ (in 2018 and 2019, respectively) and the ICJ ordered Guatemala's initial brief be submitted by December 2020 and Belize's response by 2022

Indigenous land claims

Belize backed the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, which established legal land rights to indigenous groups.[57] Other court cases have affirmed these rights like the Supreme Court of Belize's 2013 decision to uphold its ruling in 2010 that acknowledges customary land titles as communal land for indigenous peoples.[58] Another such case is the Caribbean Court of Justice's (CCJ) 2015 order on the Belizean government, which stipulated that the country develop a land registry to classify and exercise traditional governance over Mayan lands. Despite these rulings, Belize has made little progress to support the land rights of indigenous communities; for instance, in the two years since the CCJ's decision, Belize's government has failed to launch the Mayan land registry, prompting the group to take action into its own hands

The exact ramifications of these cases need to be examined. As of 2017, Belize still struggles to recognize indigenous populations and their respective rights. According to the 50-page voluntary national report Belize created on its progress toward the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, indigenous groups are not factored into the country's indicators whatsoever.[61] In fact, the groups 'Creole' and 'Garinagu' are not included in the document, and 'Maya' and 'Mestizo' only occur once throughout the entirety of the report.[62] As of October 2018 it is yet to be seen if the Belizean government will highlight the consequences of the territorial claim on indigenous land rights prior to the referendum vote in 2019

Geography of Belize

Topography of Belize

Belizean jungles are home to the jaguar and many other mammals. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1990 as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar and is regarded by one author as the premier site for jaguar preservation in the world.[64]

Belize is on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It shares a border on the north with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the west with the Guatemalan department of Petén, and on the south with the Guatemalan department of Izabal. To the east in the Caribbean Sea, the second-longest barrier reef in the world flanks much of the 386 kilometres (240 mi) of predominantly marshy coastline.[65] The area of the country totals 22,960 square kilometres (8,865 sq mi), an area slightly larger than El Salvador, Israel, New Jersey, or Wales. The many lagoons along the coasts and in the northern interior reduces the actual land area to 21,400 square kilometres (8,263 sq mi). It is the only Central American country with no Pacific coastline.

Belize is shaped like a rectangle that extends about 280 kilometres (174 mi) north-south and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) east-west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 mi). The undulating courses of two rivers, the Hondo and the Sarstoon River, define much of the course of the country's northern and southern boundaries. The western border follows no natural features and runs north–south through lowland forest and highland plateau.

The north of Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains, in places heavily forested. The flora is highly diverse considering the small geographical area. The south contains the low mountain range of the Maya Mountains. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft).[66]

Belize's rugged geography has also made the country's coastline and jungle attractive to drug smugglers, who use the country as a gateway into Mexico.[67] In 2011, the United States added Belize to the list of nations considered major drug producers or transit countries for narcotics

Environment preservation and biodiversity

Scarlet macaws are native to Central and northern South America. Various bird sanctuaries exist in Belize, such as the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

Belize has a rich variety of wildlife because of its unique position between North and South America and a wide range of climates and habitats for plant and animal life.[69] Belize's low human population and approximately 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) of undistributed land make for an ideal home for the more than 5,000 species of plants and hundreds of species of animals, including armadillos, snakes, and monkeys.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature reserve in south-central Belize established to protect the forests, fauna, and watersheds of an approximately 400 km2 (150 sq mi) area of the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. The reserve was founded in 1990 as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar and is regarded by one author as the premier site for jaguar preservation in the world.

Vegetation and flora

While over 60% of Belize's land surface is covered by forest,[72] some 20% of the country's land is covered by cultivated land (agriculture) and human settlements.[73] Belize had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.15/10, ranking it 85th globally out of 172 countries.[74] F Savanna, scrubland and wetland constitute the remainder of Belize's land cover. Important mangrove ecosystems are also represented across Belize's landscape.[75][76] Four terrestrial ecoregions lie within the country's borders – the Petén–Veracruz moist forests, Belizian pine forests, Belizean Coast mangroves, and Belizean Reef mangroves.[77] As a part of the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor that stretches from southern Mexico to Panama, Belize's biodiversity – both marine and terrestrial – is rich, with abundant flora and fauna.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Belize is also a leader in protecting biodiversity and natural resources. According to the World Database on Protected Areas, 37% of Belize's land territory falls under some form of official protection, giving Belize one of the most extensive systems of terrestrial protected areas in the Americas.[78] By contrast, Costa Rica only has 27% of its land territory protected.[79]

Around 13.6% of Belize's territorial waters, which contain the Belize Barrier Reef, are also protected.[80] The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site and is the second-largest barrier reef in the world, behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

A remote sensing study conducted by the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) and NASA, in collaboration with the Forest Department and the Land Information Centre (LIC) of the government of Belize's Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE), and published in August 2010 revealed that Belize's forest cover in early 2010 was approximately 62.7%, down from 75.9% in late 1980.[72] A similar study by Belize Tropical Forest Studies and Conservation International revealed similar trends in terms of Belize's forest cover.[81] Both studies indicate that each year, 0.6% of Belize's forest cover is lost, translating to the clearing of an average of 10,050 hectares (24,835 acres) each year. The USAID-supported SERVIR study by CATHALAC, NASA, and the MNRE also showed that Belize's protected areas have been extremely effective in protecting the country's forests. While only some 6.4% of forests inside of legally declared protected areas were cleared between 1980 and 2010, over a quarter of forests outside of protected areas were lost between 1980 and 2010.

As a country with a relatively high forest cover and a low deforestation rate, Belize has significant potential for participation in initiatives such as REDD. Significantly, the SERVIR study on Belize's deforestation[72] was also recognized by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), of which Belize is a member nation.

Natural resources and energy

Belize is known to have a number of economically important minerals, but none in quantities large enough to warrant mining. These minerals include dolomite, barite (source of barium), bauxite (source of aluminium), cassiterite (source of tin), and gold. In 1990 limestone, used in road construction, was the only mineral resource exploited for domestic or export use.

In 2006, the cultivation of newly discovered crude oil in the town of Spanish Lookout has presented new prospects and problems for this developing nation.

Access to biocapacity in Belize is much higher than world average. In 2016, Belize had 3.8 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much more than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person. In 2016 Belize used 5.4 global hectares of biocapacity per person – their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use more biocapacity than Belize contains. As a result, Belize is running a biocapacity deficit.

Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly 300 metres (980 ft) offshore in the north and 40 kilometres (25 mi) in the south within the country limits. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300-kilometre-long (190 mi) section of the 900-kilometre-long (560 mi) Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancún on the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula through the Riviera Maya up to Honduras making it one of the largest coral reef systems in the world.

It is the top tourist destination in Belize, popular for scuba diving and snorkelling, and attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is also vital to its fishing industry.[86] In 1842 Charles Darwin described it as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies".

The Belize Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 due to its vulnerability and the fact that it contains important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biodiversity.

Species

The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world:

70 hard coral species

36 soft coral species

500 species of fish

hundreds of invertebrate species

With 90% of the reef still to be researched, some estimate that only 10% of all species have been discovered.[88]

Conservation

Belize became the first country in the world to completely ban bottom trawling in December 2010.[89][90] In December 2015, Belize banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km (0.6 mi) of the Barrier Reef and all of its seven World Heritage Sites.

Despite these protective measures, the reef remains under threat from oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Other threats include hurricanes, along with global warming and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures,[92] which causes coral bleaching. It is claimed by scientists that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.[86]

climate classification of Belize

Belize has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons, although there are significant variations in weather patterns by region. Temperatures vary according to elevation, proximity to the coast, and the moderating effects of the northeast trade winds off the Caribbean. Average temperatures in the coastal regions range from 24 °C (75.2 °F) in January to 27 °C (80.6 °F) in July. Temperatures are slightly higher inland, except for the southern highland plateaus, such as the Mountain Pine Ridge, where it is noticeably cooler year round. Overall, the seasons are marked more by differences in humidity and rainfall than in temperature.

Average rainfall varies considerably, from 1,350 millimetres (53 in) in the north and west to over 4,500 millimetres (180 in) in the extreme south. Seasonal differences in rainfall are greatest in the northern and central regions of the country where, between January and April or May, less than 100 millimetres (3.9 in) of rainfall per month. The dry season is shorter in the south, normally only lasting from February to April. A shorter, less rainy period, known locally as the "little dry", usually occurs in late July or August, after the onset of the rainy season.

Hurricanes have played key—and devastating—roles in Belizean history. In 1931, an unnamed hurricane destroyed over two-thirds of the buildings in Belize City and killed more than 1,000 people. In 1955, Hurricane Janet levelled the northern town of Corozal. Only six years later, Hurricane Hattie struck the central coastal area of the country, with winds in excess of 300 km/h (185 mph) and 4 m (13 ft) storm tides. The devastation of Belize City for the second time in thirty years prompted the relocation of the capital some 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland to the planned city of Belmopan.

In 1978, Hurricane Greta caused more than US$25 million in damages along the southern coast. In 2000, Hurricane Keith, the wettest tropical cyclone in the nation's record, stalled, and hit the nation as a Category 4 storm on 1 October, causing 19 deaths and at least $280 million in damage. Soon after, on 9 October 2001, Hurricane Iris made landfall at Monkey River Town as a 235 km/h (145 mph) Category 4 storm. The storm demolished most of the homes in the village, and destroyed the banana crop. In 2007, Hurricane Dean made landfall as a Category 5 storm only 40 km (25 mi) north of the Belize–Mexico border. Dean caused extensive damage in northern Belize.

 Hurricane Nana in 2020.

In 2010, Belize was directly affected by the Category 2 Hurricane Richard, which made landfall approximately 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-southeast of Belize City at around 00:45 UTC on 25 October 2010.[93] The storm moved inland towards Belmopan, causing estimated damage of BZ$33.8 million ($17.4 million 2010 USD), primarily from damage to crops and housing.[94]

The most recent hurricane to affect the nation was Hurricane Nana in 2020.

Economy of Belize

Belize has a developing free-market economy. Commercial logging and the export of timber were for years the basis of the Belizean economy, but by 1960 the combined value of sugar and citrus exports had exceeded that of timber. Owing to destruction of forests and price fluctuations of traditional export products, Belize had opened up its economy to nontraditional agricultural products and manufacturing activities by the end of the 20th century. Since the 1990s the Belizean government has attempted to expand the economy, but heavy borrowing led to debt restructuring in the mid-2000s. As is the case with many modern economies, services have become Belize’s dominant economic activity. Tourism is a major source of foreign income, partly as a result of an increase in cruise ship arrivals.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing

Only a small proportion of Belize’s land is actively used for agriculture, which employs about one-fifth of the population. Most farms are smaller than 100 acres (40 hectares), and many of them are milpas (temporary forest clearings). On most of these farms, traditional shifting cultivation is practiced, largely because of the nutrient-poor soils of the lowlands. The remaining farms or plantations are devoted to the raising of crops for export, such as sugarcane, citrus fruits, and bananas.

Sugarcane is grown around the towns of Corozal and Orange Walk, and sugar is exported to the United States and the European Union (EU). Some sugar is converted into molasses for rum distillation. In the latter part of the 20th century, sugar production increased 10-fold, but it decreased in the 21st century because many sugarcane fields were destroyed in 2000 in a hurricane. At the same time, the production of corn (maize) and kidney beans for export became more profitable. Citrus crops (oranges and grapefruit) and bananas, which are grown mainly in the Stann Creek and Cayo areas, south and west of Belize City, have been affected by world price fluctuations but are still produced for export. Rice is cultivated on large mechanized farms in the Belize River valley, while corn, roots and tubers, red kidney beans, and vegetables are raised throughout the country, mostly on smaller plots. Increased production of nontraditional agricultural products such as papayas and habanero peppers has aided the economy.

Marijuana is widely, though illegally, grown in Belize, and, in the 1980s and ’90s, isolated Belizean airstrips became transshipment or refueling points for cocaine smuggling. At the onset of the 21st century, marijuana was used mainly for local consumption, but money laundering related to drug trafficking was prevalent.

Large-scale chicken farming was introduced by the Mennonite community in Belize. That community gained a national reputation for its strong work ethic, largely by transforming uninhabited land into productive farms and dairies. Beef cattle and pigs are raised in many parts of Belize.

Much of Belize’s forest has been destroyed by logging; however, mahogany, pine, cedar, and rosewood have increased in economic importance, and chicle, used in the manufacture of chewing gum, is obtained from the sapodilla tree. Furniture and timber for utility poles are the major products of the forestry industry, which includes many sawmills. As part of efforts to increase foreign income in the 1990s, the Belizean government granted long-term contracts to foreign logging companies. Thousands of trees were destroyed in traditional Mayan territory, sparking protests among Maya communities, two of which won a case in the Belizean Supreme Court in 2007 that granted them greater autonomy over their communal landholdings. (Earlier, in 2004, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had determined that, in opening this land for logging, the Belizean government had violated the rights of the Maya in the southern part of the country by denying them secure land tenure.)

Belize: Major import sourcesEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Fishing for lobster, shrimp, scale fish, conch, and sea turtles is conducted mainly by several cooperatives, some of which have freezing plants. Exports of seafood to the United States are substantial. Aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, is significant.

Resources and power

Although Belize generally lacks natural resources, mineral production includes clays, limestone, marble, sand, and gravel for the construction industry. There is also some placer mining of gold. Belize relies heavily on imports for its mineral fuels, fossil fuels, and electricity but also generates some of its electricity domestically through the use of fuelwood, firewood, and other biomass products. Bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane, has been used for fuel. Belize has adopted renewable-energy technologies and is connected to a power grid in Mexico. In the early 21st century the Chalillo hydroelectric dam, covering about 3 square miles (8 square km), was built on the Macal River in western Belize, despite the safety and environmental concerns of certain groups. The Chalillo Dam’s reservoir has enough water storage capacity to power its own hydroelectric plant and that of nearby Mollejon Dam.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing (mainly food products, fertilizers, and textiles) accounts for about one-eighth of the gross national product (GNP). In the latter part of the 20th century, the Belizean government stressed import substitution to promote industrial development. This initiative was not successful, however, because Belizean industry’s overall development strategy remained export-oriented. Fertilizer and animal-feed plants were opened, as well as numerous sawmills, a wire and nail plant, and a roofing-materials plant that serve the construction and furniture-manufacturing industries. Footwear, rum, beer, soft drinks, and cigarettes are also produced. Central to the food-processing industry is the sugar refinery at Tower Hill, the output of which contributes to sugar making up about two-thirds of total exports. Processed citrus, beef, rice, and canned fish are also important. Garment factories utilizing imported fabric produce clothing for the export market.

Finance, trade, and services

The Central Bank of Belize oversees the country’s banks and issues the country’s currency, the Belize dollar. Chief trading partners include the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Curaƈao, Panama, and certain members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom), which Belize joined in 1974. The country’s main exports are seafood, sugar, citrus products, bananas, and clothing, and its chief imports include machinery and transport equipment, food, fuels and lubricants, and chemicals. Since the 1990s, Belize has had a substantial trade deficit in goods.

The service sector of the economy has accounted for the largest share of the GNP since the early 1980s, when it surpassed the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors. Nearly one-half of the labour force and the GNP are sustained by services. Tourism became a major source of foreign exchange as the industry expanded rapidly in the 1990s, and the number of visitors increased fivefold from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. Fishing, boating, swimming, and diving along the Belize Barrier Reef are popular, and ecotourism in the interior has grown. The country’s many Mayan ruins are also popular tourist sites; the most notable are Caracol, Xunantunich, El Pilar, and Cahal Pech

Industrial infrastructure

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2014)

The largest integrated electric utility and the principal distributor in Belize is Belize Electricity Limited. BEL was approximately 70% owned by Fortis Inc., a Canadian investor-owned distribution utility. Fortis took over the management of BEL in 1999, at the invitation of the government of Belize in an attempt to mitigate prior financial problems with the locally managed utility. In addition to its regulated investment in BEL, Fortis owns Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), a non-regulated hydroelectric generation business that operates three hydroelectric generating facilities on the Macal River.

On 14 June 2011, the government of Belize nationalized the ownership interest of Fortis Inc. in Belize Electricity Ltd. The utility encountered serious financial problems after the country's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2008 "disallowed the recovery of previously incurred fuel and purchased power costs in customer rates and set customer rates at a level that does not allow BEL to earn a fair and reasonable return", Fortis said in a June 2011 statement.[100] BEL appealed this judgement to the Court of Appeal; however, a hearing was not expected until 2012. In May 2011, the Supreme Court of Belize granted BEL's application to prevent the PUC from taking any enforcement actions pending the appeal. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement saying the government had acted in haste and expressed concern over the message it sent to investors.

In August 2009, the government of Belize nationalized Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), which now competes directly with Speednet. As a result of the nationalization process, the interconnection agreements are again subject to negotiations. Both BTL and Speednet boast a full range of products and services including basic telephone services, national and international calls, prepaid services, cellular services via GSM 1900 megahertz (MHz) and 4G LTE respectively, international cellular roaming, fixed wireless, fibre-to-the-home internet service, and national and international data networks.[101]

Tourism in Belize

A combination of natural factors – climate, the Belize Barrier Reef, over 450 offshore Cays (islands), excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, snorkelling and freediving, numerous rivers for rafting, and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya sites – support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. It also has the largest cave system in Central America.

Development costs are high, but the government of Belize has made tourism its second development priority after agriculture. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869 (with about 584,683 from the United States) and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.[102]

After COVID-19 struck tourism, Belize became the first country in the Caribbean to allow vaccinated travelers to visit without a COVID-19 test.

Transport in Belize

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Belize and Belizean people

Belize's population is estimated to be 419,199 in 2020.[6] Belize's total fertility rate in 2009 was 3.6 children per woman. Its birth rate was 22.9 births/1,000 population (2018 estimate), and the death rate was 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 estimate).[3] A substantial ethnic-demographic shift has been occurring since 1980 when the Creole/Mestizo ratio shifted from 58/38 to currently 26/53, due to many Creoles moving to the US and a rising Mestizo birth rate and migration from El Salvador

Languages

Languages in Belize

Languages percent

English

 

82.9%

Creole

 

62.6%

Spanish

 

44.6%

Mayan

 

10.5%

German

 

3.2%

Garifuna

 

2.9%

Caribbean Hindustani/Hindi

 

1.9%

Chinese

 

0.9%

Other

 

0.9%

None

 

0.2%

Not Stated

 

0.3%

Languages of Belize

English and Spanish are the official languages of Belize. This stems from the country being a former British colony. Belize is the only country in Central America with English as the official language. Also, English and Spanish are the primary languages of public education, government and most media outlets. About half of Belizeans regardless of ethnicity speak a mostly English-based creole called Belize Creole (or Kriol in Belize Creole). Although English is widely used, Kriol is spoken in all situations whether informal, formal, social or interethnic dialogue, even in meetings of the House of Representatives.

When a Creole language exists alongside its lexifier language, as is the case in Belize, a continuum forms between the Creole and the lexifier language. It is therefore difficult to substantiate or differentiate the number of Belize Creole speakers compared to English speakers. Kriol might best be described as the lingua franca of the nation.

Approximately 50% of Belizeans self-identify as Mestizo, Latino, or Hispanic and 50-70% speak Caribbean Spanish as a native language.When Belize was a British colony, Spanish was banned in schools but today it is widely spoken. "Kitchen Spanish" is an intermediate form of Spanish mixed with Belize Creole, spoken in the northern towns such as Corozal and San Pedro

Over half the population is multilingual. Being a small, multiethnic state, surrounded by Spanish-speaking nations, multilingualism is strongly encouraged.

Belize is also home to three Maya languages: Q'eqchi', Mopan (an endangered language), and Yucatec Maya Approximately 16,100 people speak the Arawakan-based Garifuna language, and 6,900 Mennonites in Belize speak mainly Plautdietsch while a minority of Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German.

Largest cities

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Largest cities or towns in Belize

Belize Population and Housing Census 2010

Belize City

San Ignacio

San Ignacio 1 Belize City Belize District 57,169 Belmopan

Belmopan

Orange Walk Town

Orange Walk Town

2 San Ignacio Cayo District 17,878

3 Belmopan Cayo District 13,939

4 Orange Walk Town Orange Walk District 13,708

5 San Pedro Town Belize District 11,767

6 Corozal Town Corozal District 10,287

7 Dangriga Stann Creek District 9,593

8 Benque Viejo del Carmen Cayo District 6,140

9 Ladyville Belize District 5,458

10 Punta Gorda Toledo District 5,351

 Religion in Belize

According to the 2010 census40.1% of Belizeans are Roman Catholics, 31.8% are Protestants (8.4% Pentecostal; 5.4% Adventist; 4.7% Anglican; 3.7% Mennonite; 3.6% Baptist; 2.9% Methodist; 2.8% Nazarene), 1.7% are Jehovah's Witnesses, 10.3% adhere to other religions (Maya religion, Garifuna religion, Obeah and Myalism, and minorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Baháʼís, Rastafarians and other) and 15.5% profess to be irreligious.

Holy Redeemer Catholic Diocesan Centre

According to PROLADES, Belize was 64.6% Roman Catholic, 27.8% Protestant, 7.6% Other in 1971.[125] Until the late 1990s, Belize was a Roman Catholic majority country. Catholics formed 57% of the population in 1991, and dropped to 49% in 2000. The percentage of Roman Catholics in the population has been decreasing in the past few decades due to the growth of Protestant churches, other religions and non-religious people.

In addition to Catholics, there has always been a large accompanying Protestant minority. It was brought by British, German, and other settlers to the British colony of British Honduras. From the beginning, it was largely Anglican and Mennonite in nature. The Protestant community in Belize experienced a large Pentecostal and Seventh-Day Adventist influx tied to the recent spread of various Evangelical Protestant denominations throughout Latin America. Geographically speaking, German Mennonites live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk.

The Association of Religion Data Archives estimates there were 7,776 Baháʼís in Belize in 2005, or 2.5% of the national population. Their estimates suggest this is the highest proportion of Baháʼís in any country.[128] Their data also states that the Baháʼí Faith is the second most common non-Christian religion in Belize, followed by Judaism.[129] Hinduism is followed by most Indian immigrants, however, Sikhs were the first Indian immigrants to Belize (not counting indentured workers), and the former Chief Justice of Belize George Singh was the son of a Sikh immigrant,[130][131] there was also a Sikh cabinet minister. Muslims claim that there have been Muslims in Belize since the 16th century having been brought over from Africa as slaves, but there are no sources for that claim.[132] The Muslim population of today started in the 1980s.[133] Muslims numbered 243 in 2000 and 577 in 2010 according to the official statistics.[134] and comprise 0.16 percent of the population. A mosque is at the Islamic Mission of Belize (IMB), also known as the Muslim Community of Belize. Another mosque, Masjid Al-Falah, officially opened in 2008 in Belize City.[135]

Healthcare in Belize

Belize has a high prevalence of communicable diseases such as respiratory diseases and intestinal illnesses

 Education in Belize

A number of kindergartens, secondary, and tertiary schools in Belize provide quality education for students—mostly funded by the government. Belize has about a dozen tertiary level institutions, the most prominent of which is the University of Belize, which evolved out of the University College of Belize founded in 1986. Before that St. John's College, founded in 1877, dominated the tertiary education field. The Open Campus of the University of the West Indies has a site in Belize.[137] It also has campuses in Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica. The government of Belize contributes financially to the UWI.

Education in Belize is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14 years. As of 2010, the literacy rate in Belize was estimated at 79.7%, one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

The educational policy is currently following the "Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016", which sets three objectives for the years to come: Improving access, quality, and governance of the education system by providing technical and vocational education and training.

Crime

B elize has relatively high rates of violent crime The majority of violence in Belize stems from gang activity, which includes trafficking of drugs and persons, protecting drug smuggling routes, and securing territory for drug dealing.

In 2018, 143 murders were recorded in Belize, giving the country a homicide rate of 36 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in the world, but lower than the neighbouring countries of Honduras and El Salvador. Belize District (containing Belize City) had the most murders by far compared to all the other districts. In 2018, 66% of the murders occurred in the Belize District. The violence in Belize City (especially the southern part of the city) is largely due to gang warfare.

The Belize Police Department has implemented many protective measures in hopes of decreasing the high number of crimes. These measures include adding more patrols to "hot spots" in the city, obtaining more resources to deal with the predicament, creating the "Do the Right Thing for Youths at Risk" program, creating the Crime Information Hotline, creating the Yabra Citizen Development Committee, an organization that helps youth, and many other initiatives. The Belize Police Department began an Anti-Crime Christmas campaign targeting criminals; as a result, the crime rates dropped in that month.] In 2011, the government established a truce among many major gangs, lowering the murder rate.

 Belizean society

Belize's social structure is marked by enduring differences in the distribution of wealth, power, and prestige. Because of the small size of Belize's population and the intimate scale of social relations, the social distance between the rich and the poor, while significant, is nowhere as vast as in other Caribbean and Central American societies, such as Jamaica and El Salvador. Belize lacks the violent class and racial conflict that has figured so prominently in the social life of its Central American neighbours.

Political and economic power remain vested in the hands of the local elite. The sizeable middle group is composed of peoples of different ethnic backgrounds. This middle group does not constitute a unified social class, but rather a number of middle-class and working-class groups, loosely oriented around shared dispositions toward education, cultural respectability, and possibilities for upward social mobility. These beliefs, and the social practices they engender, help distinguish the middle group from the grass roots majority of the Belizean people

Women

Belize women’s cricket team

In 2013, the World Economic Forum ranked Belize 101st out of 135 countries in its Global Gender Gap Report. Of all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Belize ranked 3rd from last and had the lowest female-to-male ratio for primary school enrolment.[145] In 2013, the UN gave Belize a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.435, ranking it 79th out of 148 countries.[146]

As of 2013, 48.3% of women in Belize participate in the workforce, compared to 81.8% of men.[146] 13.3% of the seats in Belize's National Assembly are filled by women.[146]

 Culture of Belize

In Belizean folklore, there are the legends of Lang Bobi Suzi, La Llorona, La Sucia, Tata Duende, Anansi, Xtabay, Sisimite and the cadejo.

Most of the public holidays in Belize are traditional Commonwealth and Christian holidays, although some are specific to Belizean culture such as Garifuna Settlement Day and Heroes and Benefactors' Day, formerly Baron Bliss Day. In addition, the month of September is considered a special time of national celebration called September Celebrations with a whole month of activities on a special events calendar. Besides Independence Day and St. George's Caye Day, Belizeans also celebrate Carnival during September, which typically includes several events spread across multiple days, with the main event being the Carnival Road March, usually held the Saturday before 10 September. In some areas of Belize, however, Carnival is celebrated at the traditional time before Lent (in February)

 Cuisine of Belize

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Rice and beans (with coconut milk), stewed chicken and potato salad. An inter-ethnic staple meal.

Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of all ethnicities in the nation, and their respectively wide variety of foods. It might best be described as both similar to Mexican/Central American cuisine and Jamaican/Anglo-Caribbean cuisine but very different from these areas as well, with Belizean touches and innovation which have been handed down by generations. All immigrant communities add to the diversity of Belizean food, including the Indian and Chinese communities.

The Belizean diet can be both very modern and traditional. There are no rules. Breakfast typically consists of bread, flour tortillas, or fry jacks (deep fried dough pieces) that are often homemade. Fry jacks are eaten with various cheeses, "fry" beans, various forms of eggs or cereal, along with powdered milk, coffee, or tea. Tacos made from corn or flour tortillas and meat pies can also be consumed for a hearty breakfast from a street vendor. Midday meals are the main meals for Belizeans, usually called "dinner". They vary, from foods such as rice and beans with or without coconut milk, tamales, "panades" (fried maize shells with beans or fish), meat pies, escabeche (onion soup), chimole (soup), caldo, stewed chicken, and garnaches (fried tortillas with beans, cheese, and sauce) to various constituted dinners featuring some type of rice and beans, meat and salad, or coleslaw. Fried "fry" chicken is another common course.

In rural areas, meals are typically simpler than in cities. The Maya use maize, beans, or squash for most meals, and the Garifuna are fond of seafood, cassava (particularly made into cassava bread or ereba), and vegetables. The nation abounds with restaurants and fast food establishments that are fairly affordable. Local fruits are quite common, but raw vegetables from the markets less so. Mealtime is a communion for families and schools and some businesses close at midday for lunch, reopening later in the afternoon.

: Music of Belize

Bachata is the most popular genre of music along with Punta and has become one of the most popular kinds of music in Belize. It is distinctly Caribbean, and is sometimes said to be ready for international popularization like similarly descended styles (reggae, calypso, merengue).

Brukdown is a modern style of Belizean music related to calypso. It evolved out of the music and dance of loggers, especially a form called buru. Reggae, dance hall, and soca imported from Jamaica and the rest of the West Indies, rap, hip-hop, heavy metal and rock music from the United States, are also popular among the youth of Belize.

What Sports are Popular in Belize?

Belizeans are well-known for their laid back and lackadaisical attitude. However, if you scrape back the surface, you’ll find proud and passionate people who are devoted to their sports. While Belize may not be one of the main competitors in the international arena, Belizeans still love watching and playing their favourite sports. Here are some of the most popular sports in Belize:

1. Football (Soccer)

Not only is soccer one of the most popular sports in Belize, but it’s actually one of the most popular sports in the world. Belizeans play soccer as often as they can, and they don’t need a soccer field to enjoy this sport either. Instead, you can often find Belizeans playing and enjoying a game of soccer on the white sandy beaches.

Soccer, like most sports in Belize, is an amateur sport, where the players’ reward is an honour for themselves or their town. If Belizean players have international skills and want to make money from this sport, then they have to find a foreign club to play for.

Belizeans take the game of soccer really seriously. Not only do they attend matches where they participate in side-line activities such as cheering at chanting, but they also like to watch live sports like soccer. In fact, they love nothing more than watching their favourite teams and players play.

2. Basketball

Basketball has to be the second most popular sport in Belize after football. The BBA (Belize Basketball Association) is the national governing body for the sport.

Almost all neighbourhoods in Belize have a basketball court. This allows Belizeans to start their interest in the sport at a young age. However, while basketball is a popular sport in Belize, it isn’t extremely competitive.

3. Horse Racing

Horse racing is great fun in Belize. While the Grand National and Kentucky Derby it is not, Belize loves a little bit of horse racing. With its barefoot drunk jockeys, no back guards, no helmets, a festival atmosphere, and roaring spectators, what’s not to like?

4. Bicycle Riding

There are thousands of bicycle enthusiasts living in Belize. Cycling races are held throughout the year in this beautiful country. The majority of races take place between San Ignacio and Belize City. This is a 144-mile round road trip race that no sensible person would consider on a hot day in the tropics.

5. Canoe Racing

Before roads were built in Belize, the ancient Maya used streams and rivers as highways. Trade, commerce, communication, and exploration were all done by canoes. Today, people still enjoy canoeing down the streams and rivers of Belize. So, it may come as no surprise that canoe racing has become a popular sport in Belize. In fact, spectators will travel for miles to watch a canoe race. The “Boom to Belcan” race is one of the most popular canoe races in Belize. It begins in the Village of Burrell Boom and finishes downtown.

Although Believe has never been a sports superpower, sports are extremely important in the Belizean culture. From soccer and basketball to cycling and tennis, there are lots of popular games in Belize. Not only that, but Belize (originally known as British Honduras) has also participated in the Olympic games since 1968. Sadly, they are yet to win a medal, but this doesn’t stop them from taking sports very seriously.

Sport in Belize

The major sports in Belize are football, basketball, volleyball and cycling, with smaller followings of boat racing, athletics, softball, cricket, rugby and netball. Fishing is also popular in coastal areas of Belize.

The Cross Country Cycling Classic, also known as the "cross country" race or the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, is considered one of the most important Belize sports events. This one-day sports event is meant for amateur cyclists but has also gained worldwide popularity. The history of Cross Country Cycling Classic in Belize dates back to the period when Monrad Metzgen picked up the idea from a small village on the Northern Highway (now Phillip Goldson Highway). The people from this village used to cover long distances on their bicycles to attend the weekly game of cricket. He improvised on this observation by creating a sporting event on the difficult terrain of the Western Highway, which was then poorly built.

Another major annual sporting event in Belize is the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, a 4-day canoe marathon held each year in March. The race runs from San Ignacio to Belize City, a distance of 290 kilometres (180 mi)

On Easter day, citizens of Dangriga participate in a yearly fishing tournament. First, second, and third prize are awarded based on a scoring combination of size, species, and number. The tournament is broadcast over local radio stations, and prize money is awarded to the winners.

The Belize national basketball team is the only national team that has achieved major victories internationally. The team won the 1998 CARICOM Men's Basketball Championship, held at the Civic Centre in Belize City, and subsequently participated in the 1999 Centrobasquet Tournament in Havana. The national team finished seventh of eight teams after winning only 1 game despite playing close all the way. In a return engagement at the 2000 CARICOM championship in Barbados, Belize placed fourth. Shortly thereafter, Belize moved to the Central American region and won the Central American Games championship in 2001.

The team has failed to duplicate this success, most recently finishing with a 2–4 record in the 2006 COCABA championship. The team finished second in the 2009 COCABA tournament in Cancun, Mexico where it went 3–0 in group play. Belize won its opening match in the Centrobasquet Tournament, 2010, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, but lost badly to Mexico in a rematch of the COCABA final. A tough win over Cuba set Belize in position to advance, but they fell to Puerto Rico in their final match and failed to qualify.

Simone Biles, the winner of four gold medals in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics is a dual citizen of the United States and of Belize,which she considers her second home. Biles is of Belizean-American descent.

Plant and animal life

About three-fifths of Belize is forested. There are at least 50 different forest tree species, including mahogany, Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), cedar, and ironwood. In the north, limestone soils support deciduous forests, and sapodilla and mahogany predominate. In the south, the forest is taller and is evergreen. Santa Maria, rather than mahogany, flourishes on the plateau, and oak and pine grow on some of the plateau ridges. The rivers are largely bordered by swamp forests. On the southern coastal plain and inland from Belize City, open savanna (grassland) is marked by scattered oaks, pines, and palmetto palms. The coast is fringed with mangrove trees. The highlands are mostly forested and are largely uninhabited.

Do you need a visa to travel to Belize?

Exemption for Belize Entry Visa for visits not exceeding 30 days.

• If you hold a valid multiple entry visa or Permanent Residence Card from the United States of America.
• If you hold a valid multiple entry Schengen visa
• If you hold a valid multiple entry visa or Permanent Residence Card from Canada

If you are travelling or transiting to Belize, you may require a Belize entry visa.

A visa allows you to enter Belize and remain legal in Belize for a maximum of 30 days from date of entry.

If you will be staying longer that 30 days in Belize, you will need to visit an Immigration Office to extend your stay in Belize. The permit required to extend your stay in Belize beyond the 30 days is the ‘Belize Visitor’s Permit Extension.’

While you may not require a visa to enter Belize or be exempted to apply for a Belize entry visa, any visit exceeding 30, 60, 90, and 180 days will require a visa and requisite extensions to remain legal in Belize.

To search if you qualify for a Visa enter country of nationality to see if you may require visa to Belize.

Country Name	Visa Required	Require Visa if stay in Belize is longer than
Afghanistan	YES
Albania	YES
Algeria	YES
American Samoa	NO
Andorra	NO
Angola	YES
Anguilla	NO
Antartica	YES
Antigua And Barbuda	NO
Antilles	NO

Argentina	NO	90 days
Armenia	YES
Aruba	NO
Australia	NO
Austria	NO
Azerbaijan	YES
Bahamas	NO
Bahrain	YES
Bangladesh	YES
Barbados	NO

Belarus	YES
Belgium	NO
Benin	YES
Bermuda	NO
Bhutan	YES
Bolivia	NO	30 days
Bosnia And Herzegovina	YES
Botswana	NO
Brazil	NO	90 days
British Antartic Territory	NO

https://immigration.gov.bz/visa/visa-who-qualify/#:~:text=is%20longer%20than-,British%20Indian%20Ocean%20Territory,YES,-Previous

Visa Types

You can apply for

• Tourist Visa
• Employment Visa
• Student Visa

 

Tourist Visa

You may apply for a tourist visa if your are

• spending a holiday or travelling
• temporarily carrying on any business, trade or profession
• investigating the possibilities of settlement in Belize

Visitor’s Permit Extension

The visitor’s permit extension allows you to remain on condition that the holder does not enter into employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in any business or profession without the consent of the Director of Immigration and does not remain in Belize further that the expiration of permit.

The Visitor’s Permit Extension allows you to stay in Belize for an additional 30 days.

Fees

The Visitor’s Permit Extension fee is BZ$200.00 for all nationals.

Who can Qualify

Persons who want to extend their holidays in Belize or persons investigating the possibilities of settlement.

Persons who require a visa (see Visa Section) after a predefined number of extended days in Belize, must acquire that visa before being issued a visitor’s permit extension.

Holders of a Belize visa may qualify for visitor’s permit extension.

To determine if you qualify for a Visitor’s Permit Extension visit your nearest Immigration Office.

 

Employment Visa

You may apply for an employment visa if you are

• officially hired in Belize 
• conducting consultation visit
• sales representatives of overseas companies
• Foreign media personnel
• Technical Professionals performing works in Belize

Employment Visa

You may apply for a student visa if your are enrolled in a

• Primary Institution
• Secondary Institution
• Tertiary Institution

Temporary Employment Permit

If you intend to work in Belize you must apply for a Temporary Employment Permit and you need to be residing in Belize. 

The submission of the application is to be done at any Labour Department Office. For details on requirements and application process visit your nearest Labour Department Office or click here to visit the website. In order to submit a Temporary Employment Permit application with the Labour Department you must hold a valid passport and a valid Belize visa.

If your application is approved you must visit the nearest Immigration Office to the Labour Department office where you made your submission for the permit.

Persons who may qualify for Temporary Employment Permit approvals must fall under one of the following categories.

Professional Workers (Holders of University Degree)

• Managers
• Technical oversight officers
• Technical officer 
• Directors
• Realtor

Technical Workers

• Cashiers
• Supervisors
• Mechanic

General Workers

• Banana, Sugar or Citrus Industry Farm Hands
• Cook 
• Caretakers
• Maintenance 
• Cleaner
• Farm caretaker
• Farm assistant

Other than agriculture workers

Seasonal Agriculture Workers

• one crop season 

Self employed workers

• Director
• Business Owners
• Corporate oversight officer
• Technical officer

Self employed workers in the agricultural industry

• owners or mangers of farms

Entertainers

• entertainers performing in groups of 2 or more persons but less than 6 – (performing one week or less)
• entertainers performing in groups of 6 or more (performing one week or less)
• entertainers performing alone (performing one week or less)

Religious or Cultural, Educational Volunteers

• Pastors
• Missionaries
• Certified music teachers

Import and Export Traders

Peddlers

• self employed vendors

Waitress and Domestics

• Permit are issued on exceptional cases only.

Temporary Employment Permits are issued either for

• one week or less
• one crop season
• one year

Profession	Duration	Fee
A. Professional Workers (Holders of University Degree)	One Year	$3000.00
B. Technical Workers	One Year	$3000.00
C. General Workers/Farmhands (in the banana, sugar and citrus industries, other than seasonal agricultural)	One Year	$1500.00
D. Seasonal Agricultural Workers	One Crop Season	$150.00
E. General Workers (in all other industries not covered by C or D)	One Year	$750.00
F. Self Employed Workers (in other industries not covered under in G i. e. owners or managers)	One Year	$3000.00
G. Self Employed Workers in the agricultural industry	One Year	$2000.00
H. Entertainers performing in groups of two or more persons but whose group consists of less than six persons	One Week or less	$1000.00
I. Entertainers performing in groups of six persons or more	One Week or less	$1500.00
J. Entertainers performing alone	One week or less	$600.00
K. Religious, cultural, educational and voluntary workers	One Year	$200.00
L. Import/Export Traders	One Year	$1500.00
M. Pedlars	One Year	$1000.00
N. Waitresses and Domestics	One Year	$1000.00

Step 1: Submission of Application

Make application submission at the Labour Department. 

If you are employed, your employer must make the submission on your behalf.

If you are self-employed you must make the submission.

Step 2: Notification of Application Status

Within 30 days you will receive a call from the Labour Department to inform you on the status of your application.

On approval of application, you must visit the Labour Department Office to receive a copy of the approval letter.

On denied application, you must visit the Labour Department Office and receive a copy of your letter of denial and present yourself to the Immigration Office to update your legal status.

Step 3: Visit the Immigration Office

You must visit the Immigration Office and bring along the approval letter for the permit to be processed.

You will be informed of the temporary employment permit fees which must be paid at the Immigration Office.

You will be informed to go to the nearest Belize Tax Service to request an Income Tax Letter.

Step 4: Issuance of Permit

You must present your valid passport, proof of payment and Income Tax letter to the Immigration Office as stated on the approval letter.

The permit is issued immediately upon confirmation of payment.

Then you must proceed to visit the Social Security Office to apply for your card.

Visa Fees are effective from 1 May 2020.

All fees are in Belize Dollar.

Single Entry Visa Fees

Single entry visas are valid for 6 months.

Nationality	Visa Type	Fee
Nationals from the People’s Republic of China	Single Entry	$3,000.00
Nationals from India, Nepal, Thailand and Burma Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka	Single Entry	$750.00
All other Nationals	Single Entry	$200.00

Multiple Entry Visa Fees

Multiple entry visas are valid for 12 months.

You may qualify for a multiple entry visas if you are a holder of a temporary status in Belize 

• student Permit
• dependents Permit
• temporary Employment Permit
• special Permit
• conditions to remain in Belize
• regular business visitors
• regular tourism
• medical
• to depart for final destination
• member of a diplomatic corp

 

Nationality	Visa Type	Fee
Nationals from the People’s Republic of China	Multiple Entry	$4,000.00
Nationals from India, Nepal, Thailand and Burma Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka	Multiple Entry	$1000.00
All other Nationals	Multiple Entry	$300.00

 

Visa Requirements

Documents you need to present

1. VISA Application form

1. Letter of Financial Support

Flight Itinerary

In addition you need the following documents if you are being sponsored

1. Letter of Financial Support
2. Sponsor’s Identification
3. Proof of Kinship
4. Invitation Letter
5. Employment Letter
6. Banking Financials

If Self Sponsored

1. Employment Letter
2. Banking Financials

Application Form/

Visa Form

Minimum scratches on forms and white-out is not accepted

• Visa Form

• Letter of Financial Support

You must complete all sections of the application form.

• Visa Form

Passport

You must have a valid passport and passport must be valid for more than 6 months.

Flight Itinerary

if visiting Belize

Your flight itinerary must show expected arrival in Belize and return date to country of origin.

if transiting Belize

Your flight itinerary must show expected arrival in Belize and date of departure to country of destination.

If Self Sponsored

If you are being Sponsored

• Letter of Financial Support

Your sponsor must complete the Letter of Financial Support signed by a Justice of the Peace accompanied by $1.50 Belize postage stamp

• Sponsor’s Identification
• if your sponsor is a Born Belizean or Naturalized Belizean A valid Belizean passport or Belize Voter’s Identification Card or Social Security Card
• Holder of Permanent Residence
• Passport with the Permanent Residence stamp
• Holder of a Temporary Immigration Status

A person holding Temporary Employment Permit or a Visitor’s Extension Permit may qualify as a Sponsor

• Immigration Status
• Passport of Sponsor
• Proof of Kinship
• A sponsor could be a

1. Parent
2. Children
3. Spouse
4. Sibling

To proof kinship your must present documentation that links you with the sponsor. It could be a 

1. birth certificate(s) or
2. marriage certificate

Invitation Letter

Your sponsor must provide an invitation letter, stating purpose of visit, duration of stay in Belize and relationship.

Employment Letter

• You and your sponsor must provide an employment letter issued within the last six months.
• The employment letter must clearly state employer details, monthly salary and period of employment.

Banking Financials

You and your sponsor must provide Banking Financials showing the last six months transactions.

If Self Sponsored

Employment Letter

• You must provide an employment letter issued within the last six months. 
• The employment letter must clearly state employer details, monthly salary and period of employment.

Banking Financials

You must provide Banking Financials showing the last six months transactions.

How to Apply

• Applicant’s signature must be consistent with signature on passport.
• You must submit original and copies of all required documents.
• Documents in languages other than English must be translated by proper authority and signed.
• Translation of documents for Chinese and Taiwanese Nationals must be authenticated at the Regional Language Centre, University of Belize.

If you are residing outside of Belize you can apply at your nearest Belizean diplomatic or consular mission.

If you or your sponsor are already in Belize, your application can be submitted only at the Belmopan Headquarters Office.

If you are a Central American National you may apply at any Immigration Office in Belize.

Student Permit

Persons interested in achieving and education in Belize must obtain a valid student permit before commencing a school year or semester.

Fees

Fees with effect from 1 May 2020.

Students enrolled at Primary and Secondary Level the permit is issued for one school year

Students enrolled at Tertiary Level the student permit is issued for one semester.

All fees are in Belize dollar

National	Duration	Fee
People’s Republic of China	One school year or semester	BZ$3000.00
India, Nepal, Thailand and Burma Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka	One school year or semester	BZ$750.00
All other nationals	One school year or semester	BZ$200.00

How to Apply

You must apply at the Immigration Office providing the following supporting documents. The application is processed on submission and a Student Permit sticker is placed on the student passport.

1. Letter from the institution of study
2. Letter of Financial Support
3. Photographs
4. Birth Certificate
5. Letter of Authority
6. Passport
7. Proof of Belizean Identity or Sponsor’s Immigration Status
8. Recent Bank Statement
9. 1 year return ticket

Letter from the institution of study

The letter of the institution of study must state the duration of study, program and institution details.

Letter of Financial Support

A letter of Financial Support must be present either by the Parent or Sponsor, the letter must be signed by a Justice of the Peace accompanied by $1.50 Belize postage stamp

Photographs

The student must provide two photographs, with the following specifications

• size of 2 x 2 inches
• must have been taken within the last 6 months

Birth Certificate

You must submit a Birth Certificate.

If birth certificate in languages other than English must be translated by proper authority and signed.

Letter of authority from parent or guardian

A letter of authority must be presented if a Sponsor if applying on behalf of the parent or guardian.

The letter of authority has to state that the parent is authorizing the sponsor to apply for the student permit not exceeding one year or semester.

Parents appearing on the student’s birth certificate have to sign the letter of authority or the legal guardian(s) appearing on legal documents.

Passport

The student must submit a valid passport and a copy of the biographic passport page.

Proof of Belizean Identity or Sponsor’s Immigration Status

If student is being sponsored, the sponsor must present proof of Belizean Identity or Immigration legal status.

Proof of Belizean Identity

1. Belize Passport
2. Belize Nationality Certificate
3. Voter’s Identification Card
4. Social Security Card

Proof of Immigration Status (Non – Belizeans)

1. Permanent Residence
2. Temporary Employment Permit

 

Recent Bank Statement

If the student is being sponsored, the sponsor must provide a recent bank statement to show financial stability.

1 year return ticket

If you are studying at a tertiary institution and you from an extra regional country your must provide a 1 year return ticket.

Belize Detailed Maps: Topography Maps & Belize Island Maps ...

It's impossible to imagine Belize today without the Garifuna. When these Afro-Caribbean people arrived on November 19th, 1802, they had already seen significant struggle and had a significant impact on the history of the colonial Caribbean. The descendants of the Garifuna were West Africans who found themselves liberated from bondage when the Spanish ship they were held captive in crashed in the West Antilles. They intermarried with the local indigenous Carib population, but Garifuna resistance to British and French slave labor practices led to their exile and a multi-generational exodus that carried them across the Caribbean Sea and finally to the shores of Belize. At this point, the territory that would become Belize was ostensibly ruled by the Spanish, but it was primarily occupied by opportunistic English buccaneers who had developed a lucrative lumber trade predicated on African slave labor.

The contentious land rights over the region combined with the vast stretches of Belize that were then unsettled allowed the Garifuna to establish a community along the coast largely in peace. Stann Creek sat strategically at the mouth of North Stann Creek and right along the Caribbean coast. As the lumber and later mahogany industries served as lucrative pipelines for residents in the region, Stann Creek would eventually become an important port of trade. But for a while, the Garifuna managed to establish lives and communities for themselves, not immune from the racism of the English settlers but at least largely free from the laws of slavery. Garifuna men would often earn their trade with British lumber and mahogany companies, sometimes earning positions of relative influence within them. Others worked as fishermen or worked as specialized artisans. Farming also served an important role in the society along the coast, a role in which women played an especially prominent part.

Hearing of the peaceful isolation that Stann Creek offered, many members of the Garifuna diaspora began to flock to the Belizean coast. Honduran Garifuna in particular fled en masse to the coast when the war of independence in the country left them as marginalized outcasts. Over time, the Garifuna would begin to spread throughout the country, until Belize became the effective root of culture and seat of power for the Garifuna people. Stann Creek would eventually change its name to Dangriga — a Garifuna word that means "Standing Waters", and they would leave an indelible impact on the culture of the country with the rise of the uniquely Garifuna music genre known as punta rock.

Today, southern Belize is sprinkled with a number of Garifuna communities — and their population is spread all throughout the country. We spend November 19th celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day. It's a reminder of the important impact that the Garifuna have had and a recognition of the complicated struggles that they've endured. The staff and management of Cahal Pech Village Resort wish all Belizeans a happy Garifuna Settlement Day this year and every year to come. As long as there is a Belize, the Garifuna will be a precious part of its heritage.

Where is Belize Located?

Where is Belize -- Location and Geography

When you’re surrounded by larger countries, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. But for Belize, the small nation tucked into Mexico's and Guatemala's embrace, being small has myriad advantages--especially since it has an overabundance of resources within its borders. Located at 17°15′ north of the Equator and 88°45′ west of the Prime Meridian, Belize is just a few hours by air from the United States and Canada( here is a list of airlines that fly to Belize from Canada and USA).

Drive only a few hours to visit other countries. Belize is a one-day drive from Guatemala and Honduras and it's in close proximity to Mexico, so if you haven't seen much of Central America, excursions to all three neighboring countries can be added to your itinerary simply by asking staff at a resort like Cahal Pech to arrange one or more for you.

The Caribbean Sea hugs the Belize shore and the world’s second largest barrier reef skims along the coast for 240 miles. Thanks to the natural marine geology in this area of Central America, a surprising number of lagoons run the length of the nation, so while the size of Belize is technically 8,860 square miles, subtract those lagoons and the land mass is 8,300 square miles, making travel within the country fast.

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Detailed Maps of Belize

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While mainland Belize is filled with natural wonders, it’s the atolls, cayes and offshore destinations that attract visitors and retirees. Some say there are 450 islands of varying size; others insist the number is closer to 600. These Caribbean spots serve as jumping off points for divers, sailors and fishing aficionados who come here for world-class sporting experiences.

Since one of the biggest advantages of visiting Belize’s mainland is convenience and proximity, you may wonder exactly how much distance exists from border to border. Belize’s longest north to south distance is only 170 miles and east-west distance measures 62 miles. Main roads are easy to navigate, so if you decide to check that east to west mileage number, you can probably drive it in just over an hour.

Within Belize’s borders, topographical discoveries await curious visitors. Two main rivers—the Sarstoon and the Hondo—are most prominent, but tributaries break off from both creating waterways visitors can use to kayak and sail while observing rainforests, jungles and caves, but there are mountains and peaks to discover, too. While exploring the land, find gorgeoous flora and fauna courtesy of flat wetlands, forests and coastal plains, and don’t leave Doyle’s Delight, a 3,688-foot mountain, off your must-see list.

Belize’s landscape ranges from bucolic and tranquil to wild, and like most countries with borders, there have been disputes, particularly along an imaginary north-south line that transects forest and highlands that have been the subject of territorial claims between Belize and Guatemala over time. This strip, known as the adjacency line, remains under the purview of the Organization of American States (OAS), so anyone asking the question “Where is Belize?” who doesn’t get a satisfactory answer can always turn to this authority for clarification.

Where is Belize on a Map?

Belize Facts

Population	370,300 (September 2015)
Density	14.4 / km2 ( 37.2 / mi2 )
Language	English
Independence Year	1981
Capital	Belmopan (Cayo)
Currency	Belize Dollar
GDP	1,624,294,250 (2013 data)
GDP per Capita	4,956 (2013 data)
Land Area	22,806 km2 (8,805 mi2)
Water Area	160 km2 (62 mi2)
Neighbouring Countries:	Mexico, Guatemala
Minimum Longitude	-89.220
Maximum Longitude	-87.480
Mininum Latitude	15.890
Maximum Latitude	18.490

Myths About Belize

• Belize is an island Myth. Belize is in Central America. But it is true that Belize has more than 450 islands.

• Belize is located in the Caribbean Sea Myth. Many people consider Belize to have a Caribbean-like culture similar to Jamaica, Cuba or the Virgin Islands. Belize is actually located on the mainland of Central America, but it is true that Belize has a long coastline on the Caribbean Sea.

• Belize is in South America Myth. Central America is not really a continent per se but a description of the land isthmus between North and South America. Technically speaking, Belize is in the southernmost portion of the continent of North America.

• Belize is located in Honduras Myth. The confusion arises because the British colony that became Belize was formerly known as British Honduras. Even more confusingly, Belize and Honduras don't even share a border.

• It's All In a Name It seems like there's a lot of variation in the way to spell the country. Depending on whom you ask, you might see the name of the country as Baliz, Bellize, Belise, Beliez, Beleze, Beliez, Balease, or even Baleeze. Regardless of how you spell it, it's a wonderful country to visit!

The origin of the name Belize

Below is a diagram that shows the evolution of the name "Belize".

Video: Where is Belize Located?

The People of Belize

The largest municipality in the country is Belize City, the former capital, with about 70,000 residents or about 20% of the population. Most of Belize is rural with a total of about 355,000 people, including Mestizo (43%), Creole (30%), Maya (11%), Garifuna (7%), East Indian (3%), Mennonites (3%), and the rest a mix of other peoples, including expats from North America and Chinese immigrants.

The Belize Language

English is the official language of Belize and the language used in all schools, road signs, and official texts. Spanish is also widely spoken in many areas. Depending on where you go, the first language of locals might be Garifuna, Creole or one of several different Maya dialects.

A Short History of Belize

Maya Civilization

Modern archeologists have calculated that as many as 2 million Maya lived in what is now the country of Belize during their heyday. Powerful city states like Caracol, Xunantunich and Lamanai were built at strategic points, feeding their citizens with farms build on the outskirts.

Today, archeologists divide the Maya civilization into three periods: the Pre-Classic (approximately 1000 BC to 300 AD), the Classic period (AD 300-900), and the Post-Classic (AD 1000-1500) when various environmental and societal factors caused the abandonment of the cities and the disbursement of the people.

European Contact

On his fourth and final voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus sailed the Caribbean near the coast of Central America, naming the Bay of Honduras which lies at the southern end of the Belize Barrier Reef.

The first European permanent residents in what is now Belize were religious fugitives who established several trading posts on the coast. They were soon joined by a miscellaneous assortment of privateers, buccaneers, and ship-wrecked sailors who used Belize as a base of operations to launch attacks on Spanish treasure ships.

The motley crew of buccaneers and sailors nicknamed themselves “Baymen” because they were based in the Bay of Honduras. After the governments of Britain and Spain settled their differences, the colonists in Belize turned to focusing on logging the valuable stands of hardwood in the country.

The Colonial Period

In the 1840s, Britain formally claimed the territory of Belize, naming it British Honduras after the bay that Columbus had documented during his voyage of 1504. When Britain outlawed slavery in the 1830s, the British in Belize began intermarrying with former slaves, leading to the creation of the Creole people who now constitute the majority of people living in Belize today. Freed slaves from other British possessions in the Caribbean emigrated to Belize, known today as the Garifuna.

A series of wars in Mexico led to large-scale emigration into northern Belize. Their descendants are known as the Mestizo people. In southern Belize, the indigenous Maya people began to coalesce in towns in the Maya Mountains. Small groups of disaffected Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War settled in the town now known as Punta Gorda. Religious refugees from Europe known as the Mennonites began establishing farms in Belize.

The Modern Period

By the dawn of the 20th century, Belize had nearly 40,000 inhabitants. In 1954, Britain granted voting rights to all adults in Belize. In 1961, Britain began the de-colonization process and set Belize on the path towards independence. In 1973, the colony was renamed Belize.

On September 21, 1981, Belize became a fully independent and sovereign country.

Where to stay in Belize

With so much to see and do throughout Belize, you want to stay in the perfect vacation spot. Cahal Pech Village Resort is a top choice to consider. With its spacious guest rooms and beautiful setting coupled with amenities like a restaurant and a bar, you will have all that you need to feel at home while in Belize. Plus, the Cahal Pech staff offer assistance arranging tours to the spectacular ceremonial caves, nature reserves and Mayan ruins and have a fleet of vehicles on hand to take you to different natural areas and parks throughout the region.

Questions about traveling to Belize? Contact us today at info(@)cahalpech.com. We will love to help you plan your Belize vacation.

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1 The Great Blue Hole of Belize 

Belize Blue Hole

More than 10,000 years ago, the rising waters at the end of the last great Ice Age led to a series of enormous caverns being engulfed by the Caribbean Sea. Geological forces created what is now known as the Belize Blue Hole, a nearly perfectly circular expanse of sapphire water measuring 300 meters (980 feet) across and 125 meters (410 feet) deep. The Belize Blue Hole lies in the center of an offshore atoll called Lighthouse Reef, an island of coral 60 miles from Belize City.

Legendary marine biologist and documentarian Jacques Cousteau explored the Belize Blue Hole in the 1970s and declared it to be one of the top ten best dive spots on the planet. The Belize Blue Hole attracts divers from around the world due to the amazing experience of exploring enormous underwater stalactites and stalagmites (some measuring up to 12 meters or 40 feet in length) and otherworldly beautiful passages in its depth.

Interestingly, the geological formations on display change as divers head deeper into the Belize Blue Hole. Less of a "color" dive than a chance to explore unique geological formations, the Belize Blue Hole is also home to some strange denizens, including the occasional blacktip tiger, bull, or hammerhead shark, Pederson's shrimp, neon gobies, angelfish, groupers, and purple seafans. A profusion of different coral types thrive in the shallower portions of the Belize Blue Hole, including elkhorn and brain corals.

Experienced divers will find plenty to engage them in the Belize Blue Hole. Starting at the surface, divers enter a steeply walled entrance to about 110 feet where the first stalactite formations can be seen. From there, divers can explore overhangs or negotiate around gigantic stalagmites while still enjoying good visibility down to around 200 feet. Further deep, the reduced light levels add a gothic atmosphere, but experienced divers can make their way down to around 270 feet (82 meters) to explore underwater dunes and bedrock ledges.

The Belize Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

#2 Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave or the ATM Cave

#3 Victoria Peak, the second highest mountain in Belize.

#4 Hol Chan Marine Reserve - the most popular snorkeling destination in Belize.

#5 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary - home to the world's first jaguar preserve.

#6 The ancient Maya City of Caracol, the largest archaeological site in Belize.

#7 The Mountain Pine Ridge - the oldest of Belize's natural parks.

#9 Ambergris Caye, the largest and most popular island in Belize.

#10 Caye Caulker, the second largest island in Belize.

Xunantunich. Ancient Mayan Ruins. Belize.

Ancient Mayan towns can be seen in both Mexico and  

Belize

 . Below are photos from a tour through a Mayan town in Belize:

Belize is home to some of the larger pyramids. While the highest pyramid is El Castillo in Tulum , Mexico at almost 23 feet (7 meters),   

Xunantunich

 in Belize, is 131 feet (40 meters) tall. It is also famous for its preserved stucco facade, seen below:

Another benefit of visiting Belize is the smaller number of tourists, allowing for a more relaxed tour and a better view of the pyramids.
While Tulum offers beautiful beaches, there are, short, allotted bathing times. Around the Cozumel island in Mexico, it is easy to get around via taxi. In Belize there is the option to buy a 7-hour tour by ship through Xunantunich. It is located near the town of San Ignacio, near the Mopan river, on the border of Guatemala.
The guides use puns such as 'You better Belize it', and 'It's unBelizeble' when conducting tours. 
The jungles are thicker and more beautiful the closer you get to the Maya mountains and the border of Guatemala. 
Crossing the river.

Near the crossing is a small market:

Iguanas hang from trees by the river:


The central part of the complex houses 6 squares, and 26 palaces and temples. 
Impressive lawns surround the pyramids. Not every building has been excavated, partly due to the high costs and the fact that tree roots are so expansive that there is the risk that the building may collapse during an excavation.  

 

El Castillo pyramid

  was built in the 5th century A.D. and is 131 feet (40 meters) high. 

The stucco facade:

The facade contains symbols that depict life and death.
Below is the side that depicts life:

And below is death. Note the crosses over the eyes:

You can climb onto every pyramid in Xunantunich, unlike Tulum.
The views from El Castillo are worth the climb:


The view from its peak:

The jungle behind the pyramids:


Howler monkeys make up part of the wildlife:

Another excavated site.


Large mounds in the earth seem to cover parts of the site:

One of the guides.


Lunch in San Ignacio:

Belikin Beer and wine made with cashew nuts:


National flower - the orchid:

Until 1973 the country was called British Honduras.

Some of the houses in the area:



While walking through Belize city has its attractions, guides have mentioned how it is safer in the more rural areas:

A

Xunantunich. Ancient Mayan Ruins. Belize.

Ancient Mayan towns can be seen in both Mexico and  

Belize

 . Below are photos from a tour through a Mayan town in Belize:

Belize is home to some of the larger pyramids. While the highest pyramid is El Castillo in Tulum , Mexico at almost 23 feet (7 meters),   

Xunantunich

 in Belize, is 131 feet (40 meters) tall. It is also famous for its preserved stucco facade, seen below:

Another benefit of visiting Belize is the smaller number of tourists, allowing for a more relaxed tour and a better view of the pyramids.
While Tulum offers beautiful beaches, there are, short, allotted bathing times. Around the Cozumel island in Mexico, it is easy to get around via taxi. In Belize there is the option to buy a 7-hour tour by ship through Xunantunich. It is located near the town of San Ignacio, near the Mopan river, on the border of Guatemala.
The guides use puns such as 'You better Belize it', and 'It's unBelizeble' when conducting tours. 
The jungles are thicker and more beautiful the closer you get to the Maya mountains and the border of Guatemala. 
Crossing the river.

Near the crossing is a small market:

Iguanas hang from trees by the river:


The central part of the complex houses 6 squares, and 26 palaces and temples. 
Impressive lawns surround the pyramids. Not every building has been excavated, partly due to the high costs and the fact that tree roots are so expansive that there is the risk that the building may collapse during an excavation.  

 

El Castillo pyramid

  was built in the 5th century A.D. and is 131 feet (40 meters) high. 

The stucco facade:

The facade contains symbols that depict life and death.
Below is the side that depicts life:

And below is death. Note the crosses over the eyes:

You can climb onto every pyramid in Xunantunich, unlike Tulum.
The views from El Castillo are worth the climb:


The view from its peak:

The jungle behind the pyramids:


Howler monkeys make up part of the wildlife:

Another excavated site.


Large mounds in the earth seem to cover parts of the site:

One of the guides.


Lunch in San Ignacio:

Belikin Beer and wine made with cashew nuts:


National flower - the orchid:

Until 1973 the country was called British Honduras.

Some of the houses in the area:



While walking through Belize city has its attractions, guides have mentioned how it is safer in the more rural areas:

A

#12 Dangriga, the home and cultural center of the Garifuna people in Belize.

#13 Barton Creek Cave, one of the largest river caves in Belize.

Belize Culture

Garifuna Life in Belize

Every year on November 19th, Belize celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day, the arrival of the first Garinagu to Belize.

The celebration includes parades, live music, drumming, dancing, prayers, and Garifuna mass.

Important to note:

Since 1943 November 19th has been a public holiday in the Stan Creek and Toledo districts called Garifuna Settlement Day. From 1977 November 19th has been a county wide public holiday.

To commemorate the event, we decided to share with you pictures and additional information of Garifuna Life in Belize.

Photos and captions courtesy of Lebawit Girma.

A thriving Afro-Caribbean community

Despite being declared endangered by the United Nations in 2001, the Garinagu -- one of the smallest cultural groups in Belize -- has managed to sustain its traditions through music, dance, food and worship. The Garifuna people are descendants of Carib Indians (South American natives who settled on the Caribbean island of St Vincent) and West Africans who were said to have escaped from Spanish slave ships in 1635 and made the island their home. Resistant to the arrival of the British to St Vincent in 1763, the Garinagu fought attempts to use their land for sugar cane plantations and many were killed or imprisoned. Those remaining were exiled to Honduras and eventually migrated by dugout canoe along the Central American coast, reaching Belize in 1802. Today, Garinagu communities make up only 4% of Belize’s more than 325,000 people, and most can be found along the country’s southern coast in the towns of Dangriga and Punta Gorda and the villages of Hopkins, Barranco and Seine Bight. (Lebawit Girma)

Garífuna culture today

Barranco has just more than 100 residents, and travellers can take a tour of the small village for insight into the Garífuna way of life, visiting the impressive village dabuyaba (temple) and the traditional homes, which are still built with walls made of royal palm and sugar cane. You might also see an impromptu drumming session at the village shop, where a host of lively characters gather daily to exchange stories and jokes. (Lebawit Girma)

Traditional items

The Culture House, a small museum in Barranco, features displays of traditional women’s dress, consisting of long checkered dresses and head scarves; Garífuna language books, compiled and published by the National Garifuna Council to record and pass on the spoken language; and traditional Garifuna cooking instruments (pictured), such as cassava straining tools, used to extract the poisonous juice out of cassava roots. (Lebawit Girma)

A culinary legacy

Originally a farming and fishing community, the Garífuna came to Belize in canoes filled with their staple foods, such as cassava, plantain, coconut and sugarcane. Today, cassava plants continue to grow in the fertile Garífuna areas and men still go fishing -- though it is no longer a means of survival. Traditional cooking utensils such as coconut graters are a common sight, as is this mortar and pestle, reminiscent of the community’s West African ancestry. Local restaurants often serve Garífuna dishes, such as ereba, cassava bread, and hudut, fish cooked in coconut broth and served with mashed plantains. (Lebawit Girma)

Beats of the forefathers

Music, song and dance are a significant part of local life and the Garífuna drum – a connection to the group’s African ancestry -- is unique in design, made of hollowed wood logs with one string or wire in the middle to create a vibration sound. The Lebeha Drumming Center in Hopkins and the Warasa Drum School in Punta Gorda offer drum making and drum playing workshops, and lessons in punta dancing, a Garifuna dance style consisting of rapid, circular hip movements, reminiscent of traditional West African dances. (Lebawit Girma)

Tourist hot spots

Located along Belize's Caribbean coast, Garífuna villages and towns (such as Hopkins, pictured) have beautiful, unpopulated stretches of beach and a laid-back atmosphere. As a result, they are fast becoming a favourite for those in search of a cultural experience and a tropical setting. Faced with this rising wave of tourism, the reserved Garífuna people are adapting to change. Local residents have opened beachfront eateries serving snacks like cassava bread, cassava porridge and darasa (green banana tamales), and visitors will also find live drumming shows and drum making workshops in beachfront bars and hotels. (Lebawit Girma)

Jankanu festivals

A centuries-old Garífuna tradition is the jankanu, a West African masquerade dance in which slaves would dance and mock their European slave masters by wearing pink flesh-coloured masks, white clothes and suspenders. In the Garífuna jankanu dance, which takes place on 26 December in every Garífuna town and village, the performer dictates the beat to the drummer with his movements: feet together, knees bent, arms raised, palms facing the drummers and hips rocking quickly side to side. The costumes also have special touches, including cowry shells strapped above the knee and feathers shooting up from the masks. (Lebawit Girma)

Worship

Every major Garífuna village has a temple, where the dügü or family reunion, is hosted. This sacred ritual is rooted in West African culture, and entire villages gather together to pay tribute to the spirits of the ancestors and celebrate life after death. This mass, which includes drumming, praying, chanting and feasting, takes place about once every two years, or any time a Garífuna feels called by the spirit of the ancestors to host the event. Many travel to the villages for the occasion, both from abroad and other parts of Belize. (Lebawit Girma)

The Languages of Belize

Belize has a small population of approximately 360,000 people, but the country is a true melting pot of different cultures, heritages, and languages.

Here are the different languages spoken in Belize:

English

Belize was the only British colony in the region, and today, the official language in the country remains English. All laws, signs, and schools use English, and English is the native tongue of approximately 80% of the population.

Many people in Belize, particularly the Creole, speak a unique Caribbean version of English at home that is similar to standard English, but it can be hard for outsiders to understand. The official term for this is Belizean Creole (or Kriol), and it is the tongue most groups use to converse with one another.

Spanish

Many people in Belize, including the Mestizo people, speak Spanish as their native tongue. In addition, many Spanish-speaking people from surrounding Mexico and Guatemala live in Belize. In some areas of the north, "Kitchen Spanish" is widely spoken, a simplified version of the language that combines some elements of Belizean Creole. Approximately 30% of Belizeans speak Spanish.

German

The Mennonite community has been in Belize for centuries. Originally from Europe, the Mennonites speak an archaic form of German known as Plattdeutsch. A small subgroup of Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German (Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch). There are approximately 7,000 Mennonites in Belize.

Chinese

The Chinese have been in Belize for more than 150 years. Although just 2% of the population, native Chinese are well-known for their entrepreneurial spirit.

Garifuna

The Garifuna language was recognized by the United Nations in 2001 for its intangible contribution to human heritage. A mixture of European and indigenous Caribbean tongues, Garifuna is spoken primarily in the southeast of the country. Approximately 6% of the population in Belize is Garifuna or 16,000 people.

Maya

Three different Maya dialects continue to be spoken in Belize, Q'eqchi, Mopan, and Yucatec. Some Maya are the original descendants of the ancient Maya civilization in Belize while others emigrated to the country in previous centuries to avoid persecution by the Spanish.

Arabic

Syrian and Lebanese people have been in Belize for more than 100 years, usually found in the larger towns and cities.

East Indian tongues

Originally from the Indian subcontinent, East Indians or Indo-Caribbeans are found throughout the country. Today, most East Indians speak English but many of them still speak their heritage language at home, including Hindi and Urdu.

Mennonites in Belize

Belize is known for its stunning beaches and coral reefs as well as for its vibrant culture, jungles, wildlife and more. While these are all popular features of Belize that draw tourists to the area, the country is also home to many different cultures such as the Mennonites.

The Mennonites initially began relocating to the area in the 1950s to enjoy religious freedom and to live more harmoniously with nature. They live with sustainability and pacifism in mind and are known for having a tightknit and compassionate community.

When you visit Belize, you may be able to differentiate Mennonite groups from their unique apparel choices as they are easily identified by their clothing, except the ones who have modernized to a large degree or have never been traditional, because they have converted in recent times.

The women tend to wear bonnets and long dresses while the men wear denim overalls and hats.

Some of the Mennonites that live in Belize particularly in Upper Barton Creek generally reject the idea of technology and machinery, such as cars that are used for individual transportation. They do, however, use tractors and motorized farm equipment because they serve an important communal purpose. They also prefer to travel via horses and carts because it keeps the community closer together. Smartphones and other forms of technology are occasionally used, such as by adults for business purposes, but this type of usage is limited.

If you plan to visit Belize soon, visiting a Mennonite community can provide you with a fascinating look at this unique ethnic group. Cahal Pech Village Resort is a leading resort in San Ignacio that provides you with a convenient starting point to explore Mennonite communities, such as Upper Barton Creek and Spanish Lookout. Tours can even be arranged through the resort so that you can conveniently explore these communities as desired.

Cahal Pech offers much more for you to enjoy on your Belize vacation. Standard rooms, as well as private cabanas with hardwood flooring and thatched roofs, are available. In addition to offering comfortable and well-decorated accommodations, an on-site restaurant and massage services are available.

The outdoor pool overlooks the scenic Belize River Valley and the resort is an ideal location to explore Mayan ruins and other popular attractions nearby.

Belize Holidays

Holidays Celebrated in Belize

Belizeans take their holidays very seriously and they know how to mark the special occasions with a good celebration. On many important holidays like Christmas and Holy Friday, the whole country practically shuts down with reduced transportation services, closed government offices, banks, grocery stories and schools.

The following is a list of the national holidays celebrated in Belize and why they are so special.

New Year’s Day – January 1st

Similar to the U.S., New Year’s Day is a traditional holiday that is celebrated in Belize. To give time for people to recover from the previous night’s celebrations, everything is usually closed.

Baron Bliss Day – March 9th

Baron Bliss Day (National Heroes and Benefactors Day) is a celebration honoring an eccentric businessman who came to Belize to enjoy fishing and sailing. After he perished, he left his fortune to help in the construction of schools, libraries and other important institutions. The people of Belize honor his memory with a ceremony and other festivities.

Holy Thursday - Good Friday - Holy Saturday - Easter Sunday - Easter Monday

Easter is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in Belize. At the midday hour of Holy Thursday, banks and government offices shut down in preparation for the days ahead. Good Friday is a solemn day filled with religious processions and family time. Since Belizeans are crazy about cycling, the yearly Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycle Race is a popular venue with fairs and dances to follow. Easter Sunday is celebrated with mass and family get-togethers. Although some celebrations continue, the week of festivities begin to wind down on Easter Monday.

Labor Day – May 1st

Labor Day is a well-deserved holiday that centers around the working people. Although the day is similar to Labor Day in the U.S., it commemorates in May instead of September. The actions of activists such as Antonio Soberanis and Samuel Haynes helped the citizens of Belize fight for fair wages. Celebrations typically include a live formal address given by the minister of labor and activities such as family gatherings and picnics.

Commonwealth Day – May 24th

Started as a British holiday to observe the queen’s birthday, Commonwealth Day now celebrates the culture and people of Belize. Activities include youth activities, horse races and events recognizing the culture of Belize.

St. George’s Caye Day – September 10th

Marking the day when British settlers conquered the Spanish navy in 1798, this holiday is a great time for Belize to vacation and party.

Independence Day – September 21st

Independence Day celebrates the day the country gained its freedom from Great Britain. Events to mark the celebration include flag raising, music, dancing, carnivals and an array of Belizean food.

Columbus Day – October 12th

Columbus Day is similar to the U.S. and observes Columbus discovering the new world in 1492.

Garifuna Settlement Day – November 19th

This special day celebrates the arrival of the Garifuna into Belize. The group originally hailed from St. Vincent Island. Their ancestors were escaped slaves who married native Carib Indians. They were then forced by the British to relocate. The community celebrates with dancing, live re-enactments and parades.

Christmas Day – December 25th

The Christmas holiday is equally important to the residents of Belize. From tree lighting and Christmas mass to holiday dinners and dancing, it’s a magical time of year for the community.

Boxing Day – December 26th

Boxing Day is a traditional British celebration that follows the Christmas holiday. In addition to boxing up presents, revelers enjoy music, parades and dancing.

San Ignacio Market Tour

One of the top attractions in Belize is the lovely open-air market in San Ignacio Town. Situated right on the banks of the Macal River, the market is a place where artisans, farmers, and craftsmen come from all over the country to sell their goods and trade gossip.

Saturday is the most popular time to visit the market, as this is when the most vendors fill the area with a rainbow of delicious produce, handcrafted furniture, homemade cheeses and dairy products, souvenirs, and even traditional medicines. A tour of the market is a great way to see the melting pot of Belize as its finest, listening to shoppers and vendors chat in Maya, English, German, Creole, and Spanish as they bargain for the best prices.

On display are a true cornucopia of locally grown fruits, vegetables, cereals, condiments, spices, herbal remedies, homemade clothing, artwork, crafts, and even tropical plants.

Whether you're stocking up on goodies or just prefer to enjoy the colorful ambiance, a trip to the San Ignacio Market pairs perfectly with a trip to nearby bars, shops, and restaurants, a great way to relax and unwind while ensuring that you get the perfect souvenir of your time in Belize. Touring the market is the perfect introduction to the polyglot, multicultural society of Belize as well as meet friendly locals.

From Cahal Pech Village Resort, the San Ignacio Market is about a 15-minute journey on foot. Guests can also choose to take a taxi, which will take about five minutes to get to the market from the resort.

9 Things Belizeans Do on Good Friday

Good Friday is observed by many Belizeans as a Holy Day and is considered the day that Jesus died. It is one of the most peaceful days in the country as most people stay home with their families.

Here are 9 things Belizeans do on Good Friday:

They do not swim in the river or Caribbean Sea because they believe in the superstitious belief that they will turn into a mermaid or merman.

In the Town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen in western Belize, many people attend the live and colorful re-enactment of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

They eat the hot Cross Bun which is a traditional Easter food.

They do not drink liquor on Holy Friday.

They listen to gospel music.

They attend their church's commemorative service in the afternoon.

They do not travel until after 6pm.

They wait patiently for the Cross Country Bicycle Race.

They decorate the roadside altars with beautiful tropical flowers in remembrance of Jesus death.

5 Things to Eat in Belize

The famous Belizean Rice & Beans

Fry jacks, rice and beans, stew chicken, black dinner or chimole, and conch fritters are the five Belizean foods that the writer recommends to travelers.

“Fry jacks are deep fried tortillas that can be eaten with different cheeses or refried beans”. “Rice and Beans typically cooked in coconut milk, is a very commonplace accompaniment many dishes in Belize, and stew chicken is widely eaten around Belize as are stew beef and stew fish,” writes Alexandra.

“Chimole is a must try dish when visiting Belize and it is very popular come dinnertime and Belize is also very well known for its seafood so tasting the local offerings from the sea including conch with conch fritters being a popular appetizer in Belize and lobster is a must,” the editor declares.

Where To Visit In Belize?

If you've been itching to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery, you wouldn't be alone. Positioned directly on the Caribbean Sea, Belize has been one of the best-kept vacation secrets for decades. It's not that travelers are completely unaware of Belize's beaches and islands, but the true depth of experiences this small country has to offer is what's really worth getting excited about. If you're visiting Belize, there are a few top choices for location. Here's how they rank.

Ambergris Caye

You'd be hard-pressed to pick a better location than Ambergris Caye. With a length of 25 miles, it's the largest island off the coast of Belize. And despite sitting less than a mile from the Belize Barrier Reef, it's only a short ride from the shore. This is a beautiful island with plenty of gorgeous resorts — but if there's one disadvantage to visiting Ambergris Caye, it's that the island is a bit too well known. It can become frenetic during peak tourist season.

Caye Caulker

If you want something a little more relaxed, Caye Caulker provides a promising opportunity. Smaller than Ambergris Caye but also less overwhelmed with tourists, Caye Caulker offers a full range of luxury options while providing all the beauty and natural adventure you could hope to find on the Caribbean Sea. Things move slower here, but that's kind of the point.

Placencia

"Things move slower" is also exactly the vibe you can expect to find in Placencia. As a peninsula that's only a half mile wide despite being 16 miles long, it has all the advantages of an island getaway without forcing you to take a ferry. Placencia is also rich in personality thanks to the presence of three separate villages and a large population of the local Afro-Caribbean Garifuna people. The peninsula itself can be navigated by a golf cart, while the interior and the sea are both within reach.

San Ignacio Town

Luxury beach property is easy to find in Belize, but the interior deserves just as much praise. The Cayo District is still largely comprised of rich and untouched wilderness that's sprinkled with still-imposing ruins from the Maya Empire. San Ignacio Town serves as the perfect gateway to adventure, and one that helps you enjoy everything that the country has to offer. If you're ready to book your trip, be sure to check out Cahal Pech Village Resort. We can help you plan the perfect Belize vacation that finds the perfect ratio of beach and jungle.

What is winter like in Belize?

If the last thing you're dreaming of is a White Christmas, we've got some good news for you. Since it straddles the Equator and kisses right up against the Caribbean Sea, it's like paradise in this Central American country all year long. That means you don't need to just forget about the possibility of slow. You can forget about the possibility of long sleeves altogether. Here's what you need to know before booking your winter trip to Belize.

The Climate

While there's some variance from one season to another, winter is actually one of the more pleasant seasons in Belize. The highs generally fall in the low 80s, while the daily lows rarely dip below the 70s. Even better, winter falls squarely in the middle of Belize's dry season. Rainfall is rare, but it's typically sporadic when it does appear and only helps make the temperature more pleasant.

Health and Safety

There's no place that's completely safe from crime, and visitors will always be a target during tourist season — but the risk is what to expect on the typical vacation. Lock up your valuables, avoid flashing large amounts of cash, and stay away from untrustworthy neighborhoods in major urban hubs like Belize City. Fortunately, Belize's latest policies to combat COVID-19 can keep you safe from both crime and the risk of infection. The Tourism Safety Corridor consists solely of tourism-related businesses that meet the "Tourism Gold Standard". It's a set of certifications that allow you to do what you want safely, and it extends all the way over the country — including into must-see frontier life that in the Cayo District.

The Crowds

You aren't the first person to consider fleeing to Belize for the winter, but that doesn't mean that you need to be stuffed in with crowds of tourists. The most obvious advice is to stay away from the most crowded areas. Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Placencia Peninsula are all popular for a reason, but there are plenty of hidden gems throughout the country as well. The Cayo District stands apart as one. As a former seat of power for Maya royalty, it's a wild wonderland that's littered with activities and ruins.

The Finances

The best way to save money while traveling is to come during the off-season, but Belize is an inexpensive country even when the snowbirds come flocking — and great deals and packages can usually be found throughout the year. Cahal Pech Village Resort represents a critical gateway between the coast and the Cayo District, and we offer a variety of seasonal specials and packages that let you create a bespoke but affordable itinerary for your trip.

Belize Wildlife and Nature Vacations

Belize is a country overloaded with amazing wildlife and tantalizing vistas. Close encounters with jaguars, tapirs (the national animal of Belize), manatees, crocodiles, numerous tropical birds, coral reefs and countless waterfalls is just a brief trip away for tourists and locals.

If you were to pare the Belizean identity down to a handful of characteristics, a deep admiration for local wildlife would easily make the list; ocelots, toucans, macaws, tapirs and even snake-like caterpillars can easily be witnessed, sometimes even all in the same day.

Visitors will be pleased to know that you can easily see these creatures without ruining the day or imperiling lives thanks to easy access to knowledgeable tour guides that are more than willing to inform and educate interested parties.

Whether you want to take a carefree stroll through Belize Zoo's menagerie or rough it in Chiquibul Jungle for a more primal wildlife exposure experience, chances are good that anyone can find the perfect nature tour to suit their tastes. Remember, never feed the wildlife and only go on a tour with a recommended guide.

A Small Sample of Notable Nature Tours

• Horseback Riding. This is a horseback riding tour through many of Belize's natural vistas, from its jungles, savannas and forests.
• Actun Tunichil Muknal Caving Tour. This is a tour of "ATM Cave," also known as the Cave of the Crystal Sepulcher. Not only do you get the experience of a guided walking tour, but you can also see the crystallized remains of the "Crystal Maiden."
• Mountain Pine Ridge Tour. This your of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, allows you to walk, hike and even surf through parts of the Belize Pine Forest.
• Big Rock Fall, Butterfly Farm and Barton Creek Cave. This full-day tour is an immersive nature experience that allows you to hike downstream, go swimming around waterfalls, see swarms of vivacious butterflies and even explore caverns filled with Maya remains and relics.
• Jaguar Paw Cave Tour. Explore a cave and use an inner tube to ride along the rivers on the return trip. There is also an option to zip-line through the jungle canopy, getting a high speed trip at a howler monkey's-eye level.
• Lamanai and the Safari of the New River. The New River is a waterway filled with a diverse and amazing array of creatures. Crocodiles, various birds of prey, and the water-striding Jacana birds can all be encountered along its stream and banks. Visitors hike along the river's course until they arrive at Lamanai. Lamanai is a Maya ruin known for ornate masks, plentiful multicolored birds and howler monkeys.

It is also worth remembering that you will need some place to stay in between your nature excursions and there is no finer establishment to do so than Cahal Pech Village Resort. Not only does it offer an excellent chance to easily reach out to nature but you can also enjoy top-tier accommodations when you are ready to relax.

Money and Foreign Currency Advice for Travelers in Belize

The local currency in Belize is known as the Belize Dollar. Often abbreviated as either BZD or BZ$, the currency is permanently pegged to the US dollar at 2:1. This means that two Belizean dollars will always equal one American dollar, so you'll never need to worry about calculating exchange rates.

Just like the American dollar, the Belize dollar is divided into 100 cents. Bank notes come in $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations. The reverse of every bank note features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain as Belize is a member of the Commonwealth. The front of Belize notes feature local wildlife or prominent buildings in the country. Belizean coins are one cent, five cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, and a $1 coin.

Belize Bank notes are latest-generation currency with distinctive security features including watermarks. Counterfeit notes are rarely found in Belize. Damaged notes can be exchanged at the Central Bank of Belize in Belize City or Belmopan.

Prices in Belize are usually expressed in Belize dollars, but American currency is widely accepted. Belize charges a departure tax of $39.25 for non-locals, and this must be paid in American currency.

Belize law allows individuals to bring in a maximum of $5,000 US dollars regardless of form (cash, checks, bearer bonds, etc.) Belize law requires that all visitors declare their total currency holdings upon entering the country if they exceed $5,000 US dollars. Violators may be arrested and/or fined triple the amount of any undeclared funds.

American currency can be exchanged for Belizean dollars at banks, some upper end hotels, and currency exchange businesses. Depending on where you go, you may find a slightly more favorable exchange rate (2.01 BZD per 1 USD). All licensed money changers will require you to fill out a form with personal information. It is best to avoid freelance money changers (known locally as "peseros") who do not require you to fill out any paperwork. Unlicensed money changers are frequently found around the border areas with Mexico or Guatemala.

It can be very difficult to exchange Belizean dollars for other currencies once you leave the country. Travelers are advised to convert all remaining Belizean dollars in their possession before departing Belize.

There are ATMs (cash points) throughout Belize. These usually work with American, European, and Canadian bank cards. Belizean ATMs usually charge a nominal fee of 3-5 BZD for international card withdrawals. Consult your local bank to see if your card will work in Belize.

10 Most Beautiful Belize Islands

Last updated on December 2, 2021 in Belize

Belize has much to offer travelers, especially those who love the ocean or spending time lounging on a beautiful palm-fringed, white sand beach. It is a gorgeous country that boasts many stunning cays, lush jungles as well as the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Belize is also a relatively new country, having only gained its independence from Great Britain in 1981. It is also the only country in Central America where English is the official language. An overview of the most gorgeous islands in Belize:

10. Silk Caye[SEE MAP]

flickr/Walter Rodriguez

Sometimes referred to as Queen Cayes, Silk Caye is a stunning, often photographed isle located in southern Belize. The beautiful clear waters surrounding this stunning little isle teem with a large variety of marine life, including sea turtles, rays and sharks. In 2009, Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine chose Silk Caye as its 15 most ultimate beach in the Caribbean.

9. Glover's Reef Atoll]

flickr/Walter Rodriguez

Glover’s Reef Atoll is a stunning atoll that consists of five islands and an almost continuous coral elliptical shaped reef. This atoll is located near the Cayman Trench, which reaches depths of 7,500 meters (25,000 feet) and is one of the deepest in the world.

Not surprisingly Glover’s Reef Atoll, which also contains a protected marine reserve, is very popular with snorkelers and scuba divers as a large variety of sea life is drawn to both the atoll’s shallow lagoons and surrounding deep waters. This reef is named after John Glover, an infamous pirate who once used the atoll as his stomping grounds.

8. South Water Caye

flickr/Advantage Lendl

This tiny island, which is roughly 800 meters (2,600 feet) in length, is a true tropical gem. Located just 9 km (14 miles) off of the coast of Dangriga, South Water Caye boasts stunning white sand beaches and glorious water views.

It also lies in the middle of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize’s largest protected marine park, which makes it a scuba divers and snorkelers dream. Visitors won’t even need a boat to visit the reefs, which are just a quick swim from South Water Caye’s shores.

7. Goff's Caye]

Visitors to Goff’s Caye will find a small isle, just 1.2 acres in size. Although small, Goff’s Caye is a pretty island that is blessed with sugar-white sands and lovely blue waters. Because this caye is located only 30 minutes by boat from Belize City, it is also a popular day trip.

In addition, Goff’s Caye is also a popular excursion stop for cruise ships. Goff’s Caye features concessions on site for guests looking for a bite to eat or a chair in which to sit. In addition, because this caye is situated on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, snorkeling is one of the most popular activities for guests to this island.

6. St. George's Caye

flickr/Deanna Keahey

This small caye is located just 13 km (8 miles) away from Belize City. It is home to St. George’s Caye Resort, which features lovely over-water bungalows on stilts. The mood at this resort is very romantic and so children under 15 are not permitted as guests.

Because St. George’s Caye was Belize’s first capital, visitors will find a number of charming colonial buildings on this island. In addition, this island has been declared a historic landmark.

5. Tobacco Caye

flickr/V31S70

Only three acres in size, Tobacco Caye is a small island located at the northern end of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, approximately 16 km (10 miles) from Dangriga. Travelers to this island can choose from 6 different small and modest lodges in which to enjoy some rest and relaxation.

Because Tobacco Caye is located in a protected marine reserve, it is known for being an excellent spot for shore diving. Over the years, this cay has earned a devoted following among backpackers and snorkel and scuba enthusiasts.

4. Laughingbird Caye

flickr/satanoidLocated just 18 km (11 miles) off the coast from Placencia, Laughingbird Caye is a popular spot for visitors, snorkelers, scuba enthusiasts and anyone looking for a pleasant day trip. This mini atoll is a protected national park that stands on a faro, which is a ringed reef that surrounds a lagoon. A large variety of colorful fish and other marine life call the waters of this national park home.

This caye was named for the laughing gulls that once populated this island. Unfortunately, as the island became more popular with, the gulls relocated to quieter cayes. To encourage these and other birds to return to Laughingbird Caye, the island has been divided into three zones: Recreational, Buffer and Preservation. In addition, there are no overnight stays allowed on this tiny isle.

3. Half Moon Caye]

flickr/anoldent

Nature lovers will find much to like about Half Moon Caye, which is a national park and Belize’s first marine conservation area. This caye is home to over 90 different bird species — including frigates and red-footed boobies. It is also populated with interesting reptiles, including the Island Leaf-toed Gecko, which can only be found in Belize.In addition, the waters surrounding Half Moon Caye are home to a large variety of fish species. Snorkelers and divers can enjoy either swimming through the shallow waters in Half Moon Caye’s lagoon or head out to its amazing wall. Half Moon Caye is located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef, which is also the site of Belize’s arguably most famous diving spot, the Great Blue Hole.

2. Caye Caulker]

One of the best known Belize Islands, Caye Caulker’s casual atmosphere, cheap prices and abundance of bars and restaurants draw numbers of backpackers and tourists who are looking for a break from traveling around Central America.

There are many dive shops on the island, and several dive tours are available to premier spots like Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Turneffe Atoll, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and the famous Blue Hole. A narrow water canal, called “The Split,” offers a swimming hole and picnic area.

1. Ambergris Caye]

wikipedia/Adam Reeder




ly Ambergris Caye, which measures 58 km (36 miles) long, is the largest of Belize’s hundreds of small islands. Most of the action on Ambergris Caye can be found in its biggest village, San Pedro. On this caye, which is home to approximately 7,000 people, visitors will find a large number of restaurants, bars and accommodations.

Though most of the accommodations on Ambergris Caye tend to be relaxed and casual, a few luxury properties are starting to sprout up. Ambergris Caye is one of the best of Belize’s island for soaking in the sun during the day and partying at night. In addition, this lovely little caye was even named by Islands.com as the Best Island to Live On.

Map of the most beautiful islands in Belize

Where to Stay in Belize

 

Belize is something of an anomaly – a former British colony in the middle of mostly Spanish-influenced Central America, and a Caribbean country at that, too. Gaining independence in 1961, the country dropped its old name of British Honduras in 1964 and officially became Belize.

 

Since then, it has been an ever-growing tourist destination. This is mainly down to the fantastic coastline that it boasts, which features many stunning beaches. But there’s nothing more stunning in Belize than the incredible Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

 

Marine life teems in the vibrant reef, home to sharks, rays, parrotfish and a host of other species. In springtime, it’s possible to spot – and swim with – whale sharks in the waters off Belize.

 

Map of the best places to stay in Belize

Inland, there are cultural treasures galore: the ruins of Mayan cities and temples dot the country; national parks – featuring cave networks and rainforests – can be trekked through; and the culture of Belize – made up of Europeans, Creoles, Asians and indigenous populations of Garifuna and Mayan – is a treasure in itself.

 

From villages to towns, on tropical islands or in the highlands, there are a number of places to stay in Belize. Basing yourself in any one of them will open up a beautiful and culturally-rich country for you to explore.

 

San Pedro

 

Set on the southern side of Belize’s biggest island – Ambergris Caye – San Pedro is a town with a difference in the former British colony. Most of the inhabitants have their roots in Mexico, having fled to San Pedro over a century ago following conflict in their home country. As a result, the culture and language are distinctly Hispanic. Another claim to fame is that it is the inspiration for the Madonna song, ‘La Isla Bonita’.

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San Pedro – set on an island – is most famous for its diving and snorkeling spots. For example, there’s Shark Ray Alley, known for its string rays and nurse sharks (hence the name), and the reefs at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Back in town, you can walk the sandy streets sampling tasty seafood and drinking at beachside bars. When it comes to accommodation, it’s mainly spread out along the coast with a few inland options, and comes in all forms, from budget to luxury.

Caye Caulker

 

 

The tiny island of Caye Caulker is something of a dream destination; you can tell that from the number of amenities there are for potential visitors to the island. There are over 50 hotels in a space that’s just five square miles, plus a number of restaurants and bars.

 

Backpackers and tourists who find their way here are rewarded with not only a slice of paradise, but entertainment and many places to eat and drink, too. Thankfully, many of those hotels are budget to mid-range, meaning visiting this beautiful spot is affordable to almost anybody.

 

The island is split in two by a channel – known locally as ‘the Split.’ The north shore of this channel features a pretty white-sand beach and a good bar. Being situated on the Belize Barrier Reef, this island is rife with opportunities to spot marine life in the shallows with a snorkel. To the north, you can explore mangrove forests, too.

Placencia

 

 

Placencia is located on the southern tip of the Placencia Peninsula, in the Stann Creek District of southeastern Belize. Another dream destination in terms of its paradise credentials, this place is known for its wide palm-lined beaches, excellent marine life, and culture. Dive sites abound offshore with a boat ride out to the Belize Barrier Reef.

 

There’s an excellent white sand beach in the form of Maya Beach, which truly is like a slice of tropical heaven. To the north, there are opportunities to see more cultural sights, like traditional drumming and dancing; you can see saltwater crocodiles and even manatees in Placencia lagoon!

 

A low-key fishing village when it’s not being a very popular tourist destination (even Puritans settled here from Nova Scotia in the 17th Century), accommodation in Placencia is, for the most part, plentiful and affordable, with just a few high-end options for those who want to splurge.

San Ignacio

San Ignacio is the second-largest town of Belize, located in the country’s central western region in the west area of the Cayo District that borders Guatemala. Even though it’s a small town, it packs a huge cultural punch. Nearby are the ancient Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech, which was inexplicably abandoned in the 9th Century AD, and the magnificent ruins of Xunantunich, which was left by its population around 750 AD.

Both – and many more archaeological sites besides – are fascinating spots to wander around, marveling at the millennia-old architecture. Other than that, hiking, caving, and other nature-based activities are popular in this area.

 

Back in town, San Ignacio has a lively local atmosphere, and the town’s main thoroughfare – Burns Avenue – is a good place to start an exploration of the surrounding streets with its bars and restaurants. Hotels are affordably budget and mid-range in town, with some more secluded, retreat style 4 and 5-star hotels out of town.

Belize City

Formerly the capital of Belize back when the country was known as British Honduras, Belize City is the nation’s largest city. As such, it’s a buzzing place to base yourself on a trip to Belize.

There are numerous relics of its colonial past. These include the former government house (now the House of Culture Museum), the Museum of Belize – housed in a former prison, the brick-built St. John’s Cathedral, and the Swing Bridge – the oldest of its kind in Central America and one of the few manually operated ones still in use around the world.

 

Other than its architecture and history, modern day Belize City is marked by its lively yet laid-back Caribbean culture. But being a large city, it is known also for its poverty and crime. Not being a major destination, there are surprisingly few hotels in town, mostly mid-range in price and located in the eastern end of the city, near the coast.

 

Hopkins

Recently voted ‘The Friendliest Village in Belize’ by a Belizean magazine, Hopkins is considered to be the center of the country’s Garifuna population – an Amerindian people who make up a small portion of Belize’s ethnic landscape. Making up a long sliver of land on the coast in the Stann Creek District, Hopkins is a blissful beach destination with an interesting cultural side to match.

 

The village hosts its own Hopkins Day each year, as well as a Garifuna Independence Day, featuring drumming and dancing that goes on well into the night!

 

The Belize Barrier Reef is just 30 minutes away by boat from Hopkins, and offers a chance to swim with an array of marine life (including sharks!), whilst adventuring in the Maya Mountains around 20 minutes inland is great for outdoors enthusiasts – you’ll even stumble across the ruins of Mayan civilization in this area, too. Or you can just chill on the beach, go stand-up paddle-boarding, and take things easy. Hotels in Hopkins are surprisingly numerous and mainly budget to mid-range in price.

 

Belmopan

Belmopan was founded in 1970 after Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City, forcing the government of British Honduras (at the time) to come up with a new site for the country’s capital. The name of the city is a mix of two words: Bel(ize) and Mopan, a nearby and major river in the country.

 

Mostly centered around a ring road, the focal point of the capital is at the striking National Assembly Building, uniquely modeled on a Mayan temple.

 

Located almost in the dead center of Belize, in the country’s Cayo District, Belmopan is not known for its culture – like many ‘new capitals’ around the world. However, it’s got a lively market, plus let’s not forget, it’s a major transport hub and a good place to base yourself for nearby national parks. There aren’t many hotels in town, but these are mostly affordable options.

Things to Do in Belize City by CruiseBe

This time we’d like to talk about the best 

things to do in Belize City

 !
Although this city has lost its status of the country’s capital, it remains the financial and economic center of Belize. This popular cruise port of call is situated in Central America. The Caribbean Sea, the gentle sun, and the fresh breeze - it's a real paradise, isn't it? Belize is famous for its white beaches with palm-trees, reefs with cute inhabitants, Masonic lodges, and Mayan pyramids hiding in thick jungles. Let's begin our virtual tour of attractions in Belize!

1. 

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, Belize
Photo by: Bernard DUPONT/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Mysterious, alluring, bone chilling – it’s all about the famous Belizean cave. Actun Tunichil Muknal is the Mayan archaeological site with ancient artifacts, picturesque grottoes, and even… real skeletons. You’ve got to be really brave to face this challenge.

2. Caracol

Caracol, Belize
Photo by: Russell Harrison Photography/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

It is the largest Mayan archaeological site and one of the most popular landmarks in Belize. There are numerous stelae, altars, and other monuments. Caracol is a great place to feel like a part of this mighty civilization.

3. 

Xunantunich

Xunantunich, Belize
Photo by: Ian Mackenzie/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

You can admire the magnificent Xunantunich Mayan ruins endlessly. You can even climb all those ancient structures! However, it’s important to get ready for this – both physically and mentally!

4. The Belize Zoo


It is not the zoo in the usual sense. Animals don’t live in cages here but in their usual habitat. That’s why you’ll only meet happy and friendly tropical creatures in the Belize Zoo.

5. Lamanai

Lamanai, Belize
Photo by: Bernard DUPONT/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Are you ready to conquer another impressive Mayan construction? You can easily do that in the Lamanai Mayan Site! What’s the reward for your eagerness and persistence? Breathtaking views and penetration into the secrets of nature and ancient intellect.

6. Altun Ha

Altun Ha, Belize
Photo by: Steve Sutherland/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

We continue our virtual tour of the ancient Mayan sites. Our next stop is Rockstone Water – or Altun Ha. In addition to powerful temples and other structures, there’s a lovely market. Moreover, it is an ideal location to taste exclusive Belize beer – 'Belikin.'

7. Cahal Pech

Photo by: Mig Gilbert/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Of course, we can’t miss this former residence of a wealthy family. Cahal Pech is the small cozy Mayan site located on the hill. There are not many people there – just you, nature and the eternal Mayan ruins.

8. St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park

Photo by: Haakon S. Krohn/Wiki/CC BY-SA 3.0

It’s time to become one with pristine nature. The best way to do that is to visit this national park. It has numerous trails, caves, tropical inhabitants, and many other surprises.

9. Barton Creek Cave

Photo by: Bernard DUPONT/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Being one of the most popular Belize tourist attractions, this place will impress everyone. By the way, Barton Creek Cave is still a significant location for archaeologists. You have an opportunity to make your own discovery there.

10. Museum of Belize

Photo by: Connie Ma/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

To complete your knowledge of history and art of Belize, you can visit this museum situated in Belize City. The former prison houses numerous artifacts, exhibits of stamps and coins, cultural heritage of the country, etc.

Belize City is a perfect mixture of history, archaeology, wild nature, and amazing tourist attractions. Have a nice trip!

Best Belize attractions map: