Belize – Caribbean Getaway in Central America
Belize, the beautiful Central American country on the Caribbean Sea, offers a wealth of travel adventures, from scuba diving to exploring ancient Mayan sites to hiking in lush tropical forests.
Belize facts and information
Time and weather
The weather in Belize is everything you could want from your typical tropical island paradise. Daily high temperatures in Belize range from the low to high 80s (F) year-round.
Two seasons to keep in mind when planning a trip to Belize are the rainy season and the lobster season. Like many other tropical destinations, Belize experiences an annual period of frequent, usually short-lived, rainy season that runs from June through November in Belize.
If you’re one of those already contemplating your first meal in Belize, the country’s very tasty and fairly affordable lobster is effectively off-limits for part of the year, February 15-June 15, when the lobster is busy. . making more lobster.
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world, behind only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef runs 186 miles from Cancun, Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras.
Lots of Nature, Few People
Approximately 40 percent of Belize’s territory is under some form of official environmental protection. Despite being just over 5 percent the size of the state of California, Belize is home to one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. With a population of only about 333,000 people, Belize has the lowest population density in Central America and the third lowest in the Americas after Guyana and Suriname.
Attractions in Belize
tropical island cays
Ambergis Caye and Caye Caulker northeast of Belize City are the best known and most popular of the Belize Cayes. The larger Ambergis Caye is home to San Pedro and also happens to be the inspiration for singer Madonna’s song La isla bonita. Caye Caulker takes a step back in time to a more relaxed tropical vibe, less affected by notoriety and commercialization.
Snorkeling and Diving
Belize’s long Caribbean coastline offers a wealth of world-class diving and snorkeling opportunities in the clear, warm waters that surround the stunning coral formations of the Belize Barrier Reef. Thanks to the reef’s fascinating biological diversity, divers and snorkelers can get up close and personal with a wide variety of incredible marine life, including: multiple varieties of sharks, rays, sea turtles and whales, as well as scores of tropical fish species. dressed in all the colors of the rainbow.
Some of Belize’s best known hotspots for snorkeling and diving adventures include: Blue Hole, Glover’s Reef, Hol Chan, Lighthouse Atoll, Shark Ray Alley(s) (official and unofficial), and a host of other great local spots (just ask your friendly licensed guide).
Mayan ruins and sites
Belize is also home to more than 900 Mayan sites and ruins. The most popular and important Mayan sites in the country include Altun Ha, which can be seen on the label of Belize’s national beer, Belikin, Cahal Pech near San Ignacio, and Lamanai. Altun Ha, Caracol, Cerros, Cuello, and Lamanai are among the earliest known Mayan cities. Belize is also a popular starting point for trips to Tikal in Guatemala.
rainforest and jungle
One of the highlights of Belize’s dense tropical forests and environmental conservation programs is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in the Stann Creek District. Also commonly known as the Jaguar Preserve, Cockscomb became the world’s first jaguar sanctuary in 1984. In addition to being home to jaguars, the 200-square-mile swath of lush vegetation and wildlife habitat is home to a wide variety of fascinating and exotic animals and Belize plants. , including: cougars, ocelots, armadillos, tapirs, howler monkeys, and keel-billed toucans, the national bird of Belize.
Just a few miles north of Cockscomb, Mayflower Bocawina National Park allows visitors to experience the wonders of the rainforest’s exotic and diverse vegetation while hiking trails that run alongside and lead to the tops of waterfalls.
Environment, Organizations and Volunteering
A large number of public and private organizations devote considerable time and energy to environmental conservation programs aimed at protecting Belize’s vast biodiversity and rich natural ecosystems. The Belize Audobon Society, one of the country’s leading NGOs, manages nine protected areas in Belize: Actun Tunichil Muknal, Blue Hole, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (Jaguar Preserve), Crooked Tree, Guanacaste, Half Moon Caye, St. Herman’s Blue Hole, Tapir Mountain, Victoria Peak.
travel logistics
Belize’s natural wonders are easily accessible to visitors from North and South America. While flight times are slightly longer from other parts of the world, the country’s international airport, just north of Belize City, also sees many visitors from Europe, Asia, and other regions of the world.
Once inside Belize, major attractions from Belize’s tropical island cays to inland Mayan sites can be easily reached within a few hours’ travel by boat, plane, or rental car.
