About Belize:
Belize works at any age. You'll find exotic wildlife in abundance, Maya ruins that stand with the finest in the region, living Maya communities open to visitors, white-sand beaches, and snorkeling and diving along the second-longest barrier reef on earth.
A holiday here lets you stand at the foot of those ruins while a guide explains the customs of the people who raised them, watch colourful wildlife at close range, walk into the vast caves where the ancient Maya held ceremonies, then unwind on a Caribbean beach the same week. Adventure travel in Central America remains a well-kept secret, and Belize sits at its heart. Guatemala and Mexico press against the western and northern edges, the Caribbean runs along the east, and between them lie broad sand beaches, offshore island paradises and rainforest full of birds and animals. San Ignacio, capital of the inland Cayo district, makes a fine base for tubing on the Macal River, caving, and day trips out to ruins and waterfalls. Belize City itself has handsome colonial homes and plenty of colourful characters.
San Ignacio & the Cayo District:
Jungle rainforest, mountain pines, waterfalls, wildlife, birds, butterflies and tropical plants all shape the look of this district. Spend a morning in the San Ignacio market and you'll see Mennonite farmers selling cheese next to Maya women with baskets of oranges.
The famous ATM Cave, majestic Maya ruins, the bustling market town and adventure activities like zip-lining make the Cayo one of Belize’s most popular destinations. Allow a full day for the cave trip; the guided walk in takes about 45 minutes and means wading through waist-deep water with a headlamp.
Lamanai & Orange Walk:
Remote eco-lodges in the north, around Orange Walk, sit in country rich in wildlife and bird life, and give you one of the best chances anywhere of seeing a jaguar in the wild.
The same area holds the amazingly preserved Lamanai ruins, reached by river boat past the homes of rural Mennonite communities on the bank.
Toledo & Punta Gorda:
Lesser-visited Toledo, down south, remains a very natural and unspoiled part of the country.
Rainforest, wildlife, spice plantations and adventure like swimming at Blue Creek Cave combine with Maya cultural visits and home stays for a genuinely off-the-beaten-track experience. Punta Gorda serves as the main town and the ferry port to Guatemala.
The Cayes & Islands:
The biggest barrier reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres lies offshore, and the many cayes and islands along Belize’s Caribbean coast suit diving, snorkeling, sailing and ocean fishing, with luxury hotels offering fantastic tropical beach R&R.
Ambergris Caye is the largest island, but options vary with the more laid-back Caye Caulker and many smaller private islands. At Caye Caulker the split at the north end gives you calm, shallow water and a bar about 20 metres from the shore.
Placencia:
Belize’s premier mainland beach resort sits in the south east, on a thin peninsula strip 16 miles long.
Home to soft white tropical sand, this bustling seaside town offers great beach and poolside R&R, sea kayaking and access to reef snorkeling and diving. Inland attractions include the great Monkey River wildlife trip, and you're likely to spot manatees near the river mouth if the boat cuts its engine.
Hopkins:
Hopkins is a laid-back bohemian coastal fishing village and a centre of Garifuna culture and food.
Less busy and built-up than Placencia, this unspoiled small beach and diving resort offers some great hotels. As well as the chance to chill, the area is convenient for the nearby Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve and the famous Scarlet Macaws at Red Bank.
ABC of Belize’s Adventure, Beach & Culture, and the 3Rs of its Reef, Rainforest & Ruins. Visit the natural beauty of jungle, mountains and waterfalls. See amazing wildlife including monkeys, wild cats, fantastic bird life and butterflies. Relax on white sand tropical beaches fringed by a barrier reef offering world-class diving and snorkeling. Combine all this with the splendour of ancient Mayan ruins; an eclectic cultural mix of Maya, Mestizo, Mennonite, Garifuna and Creole peoples; and adrenalin-fuelled adventure such as zip-lining, caving and canyons.
Brief history:
Maya civilisation spread across Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and flourished until about 900 AD. Europeans first reached the area in the early 16th century, and settlement began when English seamen were shipwrecked here in 1638. Piracy, indiscriminate logging and sporadic conflict with native tribes and the neighbouring Spanish colonies also marked this period. During the late 18th and early 19th century Belize grew into a more official colony of the UK under the name of British Honduras, and became a crown colony in 1862. Self-governing since 1964 and renamed Belize in 1973, the country reached full independence under George Price in September 1981.
Geography and weather.
The highest point of Belize is 1160m. Most of the country is tropical lowland. Mangrove swamp covers much of the coastline. Offshore the limestone extends eastward forming part of the second longest reef system in the world.
There is a basic rainy season May - November. Generally the hottest time will be the months of March - May, when it can get extremely hot and humid. Water visibility is best from March to September, but is still considered good most times of year for divers.
The hurricane season on the Caribbean side of Central America runs from September to November. Usually this only means high winds and occasional storms, and sunny days do tend to prevail throughout the year. It's highly unlikely that the full force of a hurricane would hit any of the areas we pass through on our tours, yet our tour leaders are fully prepared to take any necessary action and would make itinerary changes if required to ensure the safety of clients.
Visas.
Most nationals don't need a visa for Belize, though it's worth checking with your nearest embassy or consulate. As a tourist you're usually entitled to 30 days, however depending on the immigration official you can be allocated fewer days.
On entering you may be asked to fill out an immigration card. A copy of this card should stay in your passport until you exit the country. There's no official fee to enter Belize, but to exit you must pay an official fee. Your tour leader will remind you of this on tour.
Money.
The local currency is the Belize Dollar, usually written ‘BZ$’. Belize has a fixed exchange rate of 2:1 with the US dollar, and you may use either currency throughout the country, however you will usually get change in Belize dollars.
Remember that once out of Belize you won't generally be able to use or exchange Belize dollars. Therefore you must make sure you spend, exchange or donate any left-over money before leaving the country.
ATMs are located in Belize City and San Ignacio. Visa, Plus, MasterCard and Cirrus/Maestro are accepted in some Belizean ATMs, as long as you have a four-digit PIN. Visa cards are the most widely accepted and ATMs will only give you local currency, not US dollars. There are no ATMs on Caye Caulker and other machines can often be out of order.
You should also be able to get a cash advance at the bank, usually only possible for Visa and sometimes Mastercard, although some banks will require a copy of your passport.
Credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants and agencies. The most accepted credit card is Visa and sometimes Mastercard (American Express is not widely accepted), although authorisation can sometimes be denied due to poor computer connections or other problems. Now and then a commission is charged when paying by credit card, up to 8% although 5% is standard.
Although bank cards are often the easiest way to go, there are times where they won't work for you even if your bank at home tells you it will. Don't rely on your card as your only source of money. Always have a few back-ups with you.
Belize generally accepts torn or marked US dollars, so if your notes are damaged you may want to off-load them here. Changing or using damaged notes in Honduras, Guatemala or Mexico will give you serious difficulties. Travellers cheques are very quick and easy to use and exchange in Belize as long as they are in US dollars.
Shopping.
Bargaining is not common in Belize, since shops usually hold to set prices.
Belize is not as well known for its handicrafts and textiles as its neighbouring countries are, but you can find some nice hand-made jewellery in Caye Caulker. In San Ignacio you can buy some interesting ‘rainforest remedies’ (health products), and throughout Belize you can buy world-renowned reggae and punta music CDs.
Tipping.
A 10% service charge is added to the restaurant bill throughout most of Belize. If it's not added on, it's still expected, especially in the more expensive restaurants. There may also be ‘taxes’ added to your bill, on top of the service charge. Sometimes this is included in the menu price, other times it is added at the end. You aren't expected to tip taxi drivers unless they go out of their way for you, although you should tip anyone who helps with your luggage, about 50 to 80 cents.
Local transport.
Taxis are recommended for getting around the San Ignacio area, as local buses can be non-existent or unreliable. Expect to pay roughly BZ$5 for each local taxi, and up to BZ$10 for a longer journey. Taxis in Belize don't run on meters and you should always confirm the price before getting in the car.
Security.
Crime in Latin America is not as bad as its reputation, as long as you're sensible and alert. Thieves do operate in parts of Belize, but if you're cautious and sensible (not paranoid) you should be fine. Try to keep away from dark quiet areas if on your own, particularly late at night, and try to always take a taxi. If you've had a few drinks and are returning to your hotel at night, it's best to take a taxi directly to the hotel. We suggest that whenever possible you leave all of your important documents in the hotel safe. However you should always carry some form of ID or a photocopy of your passport.
It's advisable not to wear expensive-looking watches or jewellery, and don't carry a wallet in your back pocket or carry loose hanging bags. Keep your camera concealed when not in use. Remember that most thieves don't use violence but rely mostly on diversionary tactics, which can take place at any time of the day or night. Don't be paranoid, but just be aware that it could happen at any time. Stay vigilant and the chances are nothing will ever happen to you. The safety of our passengers is our tour leaders’ number one concern and they will provide all necessary local information during the pre-departure meeting.
Local food and drink:
Seafood is available in Belize, particularly lobster and shrimp. Chicken and pork are also readily available, as well as steak on the mainland. Most meals come with some kind of salad. Other common side dishes include coleslaw, potato salad, rice and beans and sweet fried bananas (plantains). You can get very good, cheap set meals for lunch, as this is the main meal of the day. Apart from the delicious local food, many international restaurants are also found in Belize. Italian, Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants are abundant.
Lobster or shrimp, grilled, fried, marinated, served with various sauces and spices, are not to be missed. Note that lobsters are only in season from mid-June to mid-February. The conch season begins when the lobster season ends. Shrimp are usually available year-round.
Local burritos are some of the best in the world. You can get vegetarian, chicken, shrimp or lobster fillings. There's a fantastic chilli sauce to be found on every Belizean restaurant table called ‘Marie Sharp’, and it comes in mild, hot, extra hot and BEWARE HOT.
If you're a strict vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available, especially in small towns. Our tour leaders will do their best to provide interesting vegetarian alternatives for included meals.
Central American fruit is fresh and cheap. There are some fantastic selections of fruit smoothies and juices on offer. Papaya, melon, watermelon, mango and pineapple are all very popular. Smoothies can be made with either water or milk. Always specify if you don't want sugar. Latin Americans have a very sweet tooth and will usually automatically add the sugar.
Central America is known for its good beer. Belize beer is a little stronger in flavour than the other countries. Belikin Beer is the national beer. Ever since the pirates settled in Belize, rum has been the spirit of choice. White rum and coconut rum are most common. Belize isn't known for its wine and it's best to order Chilean wine, although this may be expensive.
Bottled water is available on Caye Caulker, and water refills are available at most stores.
Time Difference.
The time difference in Belize is GMT/UTC -6.
Voltage.
110 volts, US-style two-pronged plugs
Economy of Belize:
Belize is a small Central American nation with a population of just over 400,000 people. Despite its small size, Belize has a strong and growing economy. The country has a thriving tourism industry, which accounts for around 25% of the country’s GDP and is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings. Other sectors that contribute to the economy include financial services and the agricultural and fishing industries.
Belize’s economy depends heavily on natural resources and the services sector. Agriculture and fishing form the mainstay, with sugar cane, bananas, citrus fruits and timber among the major exports. Fishing also matters a great deal, and the country ships out shrimp, lobster and other seafood.
Services have grown in recent years too, particularly banking and financial services, telecommunications and tourism. Strong foreign investment has come in, particularly in banking, offshore finance and real estate.
Belize has also benefited from its proximity to the United States and its open-door policy towards foreign investment. Several free trade agreements with the United States, Canada and Mexico have opened greater access to foreign markets. On top of that, Belize has signed a number of bilateral investment treaties with other countries, providing further incentives for foreign investors.
The government has implemented a number of reforms in recent years to improve the country’s economic prospects. These include the introduction of a Value Added Tax to increase government revenues, a free trade agreement with the United States, and a new foreign exchange regime.
As a result of these reforms, Belize has seen its economy grow steadily in recent years, with the International Monetary Fund expecting the economy to grow by around 4.5% in 2020. Increased foreign investment, increased tourism and a strengthening services sector have driven this growth. Belize is expected to keep benefiting from its open-door policy towards foreign investment, allowing the country to continue to grow and develop its economy in the coming years. The Mennonite farms around Spanish Lookout supply a good share of the country's poultry and dairy.
