Belize: Adventure, Sun, And Relaxation

Belize is a Central American country that offers a unique blend of beach and jungle vacations. It is widely known for its diving and snorkelling opportunities, with the world's second-largest barrier reef, including the famous Great Blue Hole. Beyond its coast, Belize boasts pristine jungles, abundant wildlife, ancient Maya sites, and a rich cultural heritage.

Belize is a small, easy-to-navigate country with a diverse range of attractions. It offers incredible hiking experiences, such as the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, which features sacrificial remains and ancient Maya artefacts. The country is also a diver's paradise, with the Great Blue Hole and other top diving sites. As the former heartland of the Mayan civilisation, Belize has the highest concentration of Maya archaeological sites, including Xunantunich, Caracol, and Altun Ha.

The country's laid-back culture encourages visitors to relax and explore its natural wonders, including waterfalls, rivers, and nature reserves. Belizean cuisine is a delightful amalgamation of various cultural influences, including Mestizo, Maya, Creole, and Garifuna traditions. The country also offers easy access to wildlife, with opportunities to spot howler monkeys, wildcats, and a diverse range of bird species.

With its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and cultural diversity, Belize promises a truly unique and spectacular vacation experience.

Belize's beaches and jungles

Belize is a small country in Central America, but it is home to a dense ecosystem with a lot to explore. The country has two prominent and stunning habitats: the jungle and the beach.

Belize's Beaches

Belize has a magnificent coastline along the Caribbean Sea and over 200 offshore islands, at least 20 of which are inhabited. The beaches range from opulent resorts to abandoned islands offering seclusion. The most popular beaches in Belize are on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Ambergris is 35 miles (56 km) east of Belize City and is the largest and most expensive island, attracting families. Caye Caulker, on the other hand, is popular with backpackers. Both islands offer incredible activities, including snorkelling, diving, kayaking, swimming with sharks, and manatee-watching tours.

The Placencia Peninsula is home to the longest stretch of beach in mainland Belize. It is known as a "barefoot perfect" getaway, stretching across three villages: Maya Beach, Seine Bight, and Placencia Village. All of these beaches are public, and Placencia Village offers a mix of tourist amenities and local culture.

Belize's Jungles

Belize's interior is a wild frontier for adventurous travellers, featuring tropical rainforests and ancient Mayan ruins. Popular activities in the jungle include zip-lining, horseback riding, and birdwatching. Belize is home to over 500 species of birds, and the jungles are a great place to spot them.

The country also boasts well-preserved Mayan sites, such as Caracol and Altun Ha, which showcase the technical engineering capabilities of this ancient civilization. The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave is another popular attraction, where visitors can explore the remains of Mayan sacrifice victims.

Combining Beach and Jungle

Belize's compact size means that it is easy to access both the beach and the jungle during a single trip. Many resorts offer excursions and packages that combine the two, providing a well-rounded Belizean experience.

Diving and snorkelling

Belize is a diver's paradise. With over 400 islands, 298 kilometres of coastline, and the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, it is a prime scuba diving destination. The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest reef in the world and is home to hundreds of species of coral and fish. The warm, clear waters are rich with marine life, offering great conditions for beginners and thrilling experiences for advanced divers.

The Blue Hole is perhaps Belize's most famous dive site, but there are many other spots to explore. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, of which the Belize Barrier Reef is a part, extends up to the Yucatan Peninsula and includes the famous Great Blue Hole. This aquatic sinkhole, measuring 400 feet in circumference, was named one of the best dives in the world by Jacques Cousteau. While it is not suitable for beginners, it is a must-see for experienced divers.

Belize is also known for its world-class snorkelling. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located off the coast of Ambergris Caye, is one of the most popular snorkelling spots in the country. Here, you will find vibrant coral reefs and a diverse array of marine life, including nurse sharks, rays, turtles, and even the occasional dolphin. For a more relaxed snorkelling experience, Caye Caulker offers solid snorkelling sites like Coral Gardens, as well as a manatee habitat.

The Turneffe Atoll is the largest of Belize's three major offshore atoll reefs and is known for its varied features, including shallow reefs, wrecks, and diverse sea life. Elbow, a popular stop for large fish, and Sayonara, a 1985 passenger boat wreck adorned with starfish and clams, are just a couple of the many dive sites Turneffe has to offer.

With its abundance of islands, reefs, and marine life, Belize is a dream destination for divers and snorkellers of all experience levels. The warm, clear waters and diverse underwater landscapes make for unforgettable adventures and experiences.

Mayan history and culture

Belize was once the heart of the Mayan empire, and the country is home to the highest concentration of Maya archaeological sites. The ancient Maya civilisation spread across Central America, encompassing over a million inhabitants at its peak. The Maya built a network of trading posts, stone cities, and farms, and left behind pyramids, palaces, causeways, and irrigation networks.

The Maya were highly advanced for their time, with a complex language, a unique system of hieroglyphic writing, and impressive construction and engineering skills. They also had a sophisticated understanding of mathematics, astronomy, and farming techniques.

Today, three distinct groups of Maya people continue to live in Belize: the Yucatec, Kekchi, and Mopan Maya. They live in spaciously laid-out villages, some near ancient ceremonial sites, and make up about eleven percent of Belize's population. The Maya in Belize speak a variety of languages, including Yucateco, Mopanero, Kekchi, and Spanish, and primarily practise subsistence agriculture.

Belize offers tourists the opportunity to explore this rich Mayan history and culture. There are numerous well-preserved Maya ruins across the country, including sites at Altun Ha, Lamanai, Caracol, and Xunantunich. The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave is home to the remains of victims of Mayan sacrifices. The Dance of the Deer is a unique Belizean tradition, performed with elaborately costumed dances and carved wooden masks, which portrays the Spanish Conquistadors' disrespect for nature.

Wildlife and nature

Belize is a nature and wildlife lover's dream destination. The country is home to a diverse range of ecosystems and habitats that support a variety of species, both on land and in the water. The government has implemented several environmental laws to protect the country's natural beauty, with roughly 36% of the country designated as protected land. Ecotourism and sustainable tourism are crucial in Belize, with 95 reserves of varying protection levels.

Belize has the most accessible tropical wilderness in the Western Hemisphere, with incredible jungles and an impressive coast. It is a birdwatcher's paradise, with almost 600 species of birds identified in the country, including the Keel-Billed Toucan, the country's national bird. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Southern Belize is the only jaguar reserve in the world and is also home to spider monkeys and howler monkeys.

Belize also boasts one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, with more than 100 types of coral and over 500 species of fish. Whale sharks and West Indian manatees are commonly spotted, and the reef is a popular spot for divers who want to explore underwater caves and the Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau.

The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tour is a popular attraction, where visitors can explore the remains of Mayan sacrifices. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is another popular spot for divers and snorkelers, with beautiful caves, coral, and tropical fish. The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve offers a break from the heat of the lowlands, and the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve provides insight into ancient Mayan culture.

Belize's rainforest covers half the country and is home to a vast array of wildlife, including jaguars, tapirs, crocodiles, and the colourful Scarlet Macaw. The forest boasts over 500 species of birds, 250 types of orchids, and 700 species of trees.

With its diverse ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and protected natural areas, Belize offers a unique and unforgettable nature and wildlife experience for travellers.

Local food and drink

Belize's food and drink scene is heavily influenced by its diverse cultures (Mestizo, Maya, Creole, and Garifuna). Here's a breakdown of what to expect when it comes to local food and drink in Belize:

Breakfast

Belizean breakfasts are hearty and filling. Eggs are a common option, often served scrambled with diced tomatoes in the Maya style. Beans are also a staple, and you'll often find them served with "johnny cakes" (hot, biscuit-like rolls) or "fry jacks" (deep-fried dough puffs). Another typical breakfast dish consists of stewed chicken, refried beans, and flour tortillas, sometimes replaced with "fry jacks".

Lunch

Rice and beans are the national staples of Belize and are served in various ways. They are often cooked together in coconut milk and mild spices, accompanying grilled fish or meat. Alternatively, the beans may be cooked separately in a spiced stew and served on top of boiled rice.

Dinner

Seafood takes centre stage for dinner, given the country's long Caribbean coastline. Grilled fresh grouper, red snapper, shrimp, and conch are popular choices. Chicken is also prevalent and often features in stews or burritos. Don't miss the opportunity to indulge in freshly caught lobster during the lobster season, which runs from June to February.

Specialities

Belize's Afro-Creole Garifuna people have their own unique dishes. Cassava and plantain are key ingredients in their cuisine. Their signature dish is "hudut", which consists of fish cooked in coconut milk and served with mashed ripe and green plantains. In the south, Maya staples such as "caldo" (a spicy meat and root vegetable stew), "cochinita pibil" (slow-roasted pork flavoured with recado, a local spice), and "ixpa'cha" (fish steamed inside a leaf) are commonly found.

Drinks

Belize offers a range of refreshing drinks to complement its cuisine. Freshly pulped tropical juices are a perfect match for a day on the Caribbean beach, with watermelon, papaya, mango, and lime being popular choices. For something stronger, Belikin beer or rum punch are local favourites. Belikin beer, featuring the Maya ruins of Altun Ha on its label, comes in various styles, from lager to stout to premium brew. Rum has a long history in Belize, with the country's oldest distillery, Travellers Liquors in Belize City, producing the iconic Travellers One Barrel since the 1950s.

Frequently asked questions