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Country Information
Belize is the smallest independent country in Central America and shares boarders with Mexico to the North and Guatemala to the South and West. Belize offers an extensive array of natural wonders, from rainforests that are rich in wildlife and numerous tropical birds to the white sandy beaches and the world’s second largest barrier reef. Belize shares a rich Mayan Heritage along side Guatemala. An important part of Belize’s history is the Mayan legacy of outstanding palaces and temples. Hidden in the rainforests are the ancient Mayan sites of Caracol and Lamanai, which are well worth exploring.
| Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full Country Name | Belize |
| Area | 22,966 sq km |
| Population | 266,440 |
| Capital | Belmopan |
| Time Difference | 6 Hours Behind GMT |
| Visa | A visa is not required depending on length of stay |
| Currency | Belizean Dollar |
| People | 49% mestizo, 25% Creole, 11% Maya, 6% Garífuna |
| Language | English |
| Dialling Code | 00 501 |
| Electricity | 110/220V 60 Hz |
Visas:
A Visa is not required depending on length of stay
Health risks:
Yellow Fever, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
When to Go:
In Belize the high season for tourists corresponds roughly with the dry season: December to May. The shoulder months – especially December – receive a fair amount of rain, but not enough to scare away the multitudes of travelers who want to spend their holidays in the tropics. Most hotels and resorts are more expensive during this period (high-season rates are quoted throughout this book).
The biggest influx of tourists comes between December 15 and January 15, and during the weeks around Easter. Some hotels and resorts, especially top-end accommodations, charge extra-high prices during these peak periods. If you’re using top-end or some midrange accommodations, you’ll certainly save money by avoiding these seasons.
The rainy season runs from June to November. The early months, especially May and June, are actually a wonderful time to travel to Belize: you can avoid the tourist bustle and lodging is slightly cheaper. The only ownside is that it’s outside the lobster season, so you’ll have to forego at least one local specialty. Rivers start to swell and dirt roads get muddy. Some more remote roads may not be accessible to public transportation. With too much rain, some of the caves such as Actun Tunichil Muknal are dangerous and therefore closed to the public. Southern Belize is especially precarious during the rainy season; this relatively remote region receives two to three times as much rain as the rest of the country.
