Belize Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Belize, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Belize Information

Overview

For the outdoor enthusiast, Belize presents unlimited opportunities. The country has a lot more in common with the Caribbean island states (its style of architecture, for example) than its Central American neighbours. Every destination in Belize has its share of archaeological and national parks, marine and nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Mayan temples tower above rainforest canopies while an incredibly colourful array of marine wildlife finds protection in Belize’s barrier reef.

Belize is a country of various cultural, language and ethnic groups. Approximately 200,000 people in Belize consist of Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese and East Indian heritage. Due to racial harmony, religious tolerance and a relatively non-violent political culture, all of these different elements have mixed and blended successfully, to give Belize a widespread reputation for its friendly peoples.


Top Things To See

Gaze at the longest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere: Belize’s reef covers 296km (185 miles), including a nearly continuous wall of coral stretching almost 224km (140 miles) from Mexico to the Sapodilla Cayes.

Head offshore to Ambergris Caye’s resorts or chill out at a beachside cabaña in laid-back Caye Caulker: the islands make ideal bases for diving and snorkelling.

Visit Altun Ha, a major Mayan ceremonial centre and trading centre in the Classic period (AD 250-900); an extraordinary head of the sun god, ornately carved in jade, was found here and is now a national symbol of Belize.

Take a motorboat up the New River from Orange Walk to Lamanai: the spectacular Mayan citadel ruin sits in its own archaeological reserve, which also contains a museum, the remains of two 16th-century Spanish churches and a 19th-century sugar mill.

Discover the famous perfectly carved crystal skull found in a temple vault on the Mayan site of Lubaantum, near the town of San Antonio, in the Toledo District inland from Punta Gorda.

Travel into the Chiquibul rainforest to Caracol: the immense Mayan city in the Cayo district is home to the tallest man-made structure in Belize – Canaa (Sky Palace), rising 43m (140ft) high.

Enjoy fine views and secluded streams in the 121-hectare (300-acre) Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the Cayo district. The area contains the Hidden Valley Falls, which plunge 305m (1,000ft) into the valley.

Catch a glimpse of a jaguar in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) of tropical forest were set aside in the Maya Mountains in 1984 to protect the jaguar population. Other residents include jaguarundis, howler monkeys and toucans.

Wander through Belize City: among the sights are St John’s Cathedral (the oldest Anglican church in Central America) and Government House, the former residence of the governor-general, built in 1814 and now accommodating the House of Culture Museum (website: http://nichbelize.org).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

Plummet into the depths of the Blue Hole: the startlingly vivid blue sinkhole measures 300m (1,000ft) across and over 120m (400ft) deep and is considered one of the best dive sites in the world.

Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Hol Chan Marine Reserve: a highlight is swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley.

Windsurf or sail off the cayes. The water is so clear beneath, it may be possible to spot fish, stingrays and even dolphins. The best wind conditions usually occur from February to June.

Sea kayak at Glover’s Reef Atoll: the remote, 260-sq-km (100-sq-mile) lagoon contains beautiful, pristine reefs.

Go birdspotting at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: the park is most notable for its jaribu stork population and is also home to howler monkeys, crocodiles, coatimundis, turtles and iguanas.

Join a manatee-watching boat trip: these gentle aquatic mammals are an endangered species, typically growing to about 3m (9.8ft) long.

Cool off in St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park: the turquoise waters of the Blue Hole, a 7.6m- (25ft-) deep collapsed sinkhole, are a popular swimming spot. The park is home to an abundance of birds, animals, flora and St Herman’s Cave, an ancient Mayan cave.

Go caving: Belize’s interior hides thousands of caves. The most accessible is Rio Frio Cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge area. Others which are easy to visit include Che Chem Ha Cave in Cayo district and Blue Creek Cave in Toledo.

Canoe along the Macal River in Cayo district: among the endangered species found here are Morolet’s crocodiles, tapirs and jaguars.

Catch fish: Belize’s barrier reef is home to grouper, snapper, jack and barracuda, while the deeper waters conceal sailfish, marlin, bonito and pompano. Possible river catches include the enormous jewfish, snook, tarpon and cubera.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

There is a selection of restaurants which serve international, Chinese, Creole and Latin American food. Service and quality vary but the food is generally cheap.

National specialities:
• Tacos, corn or flour tortillas, with shredded chicken, onions, cabbage and cilantro.
• Rice-and-beans; for a change of pace, switch to beans-and-rice (where the beans are cooked separately and spooned with their own gravy over white rice).
• Split peas and pigtail over rice.
• Game meats, including deer, hicatee, iguana or gibnut.
• Plantains, fried to a sweet golden brown.

National drinks:
• Coconut rum mixed with pineapple juice.
• Belikin beer.
• Fresh orange, lime, watermelon or cantaloupe juice.

Tipping: Few places add service charges, and 15% is normal.

Nightlife

While Belize could not be considered a major clubbing destination, there is no shortage of bars throughout the country. In Belize City, the main spots tend to be the bars in the top-end hotels, which usually have live bands. There is also a casino here. San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, has a lively bar scene and a couple of clubs.

Shopping

Souvenirs include Belizean art and jewellery, clothing, handcrafted wood and bamboo products, Belizean spices and sauces and local beauty treatments. Travellers should be aware of their home country’s rules on importing exotic goods. In the UK, for example, there are restrictions on importing tortoiseshell goods and jewellery made from endangered coral.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200, 1300-1630 and 1900-2100. Some shops close on Wednesday afternoons.


Climate

Subtropical with a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. High annual temperatures and humidity. Dry and hot climate from January to April, with rainy season from June. The hurricane season is from June to the end of November.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
9 Mar Baron Bliss Day.
21-24 Mar Easter.
1 May Labour Day.
24 May Commonwealth Day.
10 Sep St George’s Caye Day.
21 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Columbus Day.
19 Nov Garifuna Settlement Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
9 Mar Baron Bliss Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May Labour Day.
24 May Commonwealth Day.
10 Sep St George’s Caye Day.
21 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Columbus Day.
19 Nov Garifuna Settlement Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: Yes

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Yes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No*

Health Care

There are seven government hospitals – one in Belmopan, one in Belize City and one in each of the other five main district towns, but, generally, medical facilities are limited. Medical services in rural areas are provided by rural health care centres, and mobile clinics operate in remote areas. Medical insurance is strongly advised.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Belize Dollar (BZD; symbol BZ$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of BZ$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of BZ$1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

The Belize Dollar is tied to the US Dollar at US$1 = BZ$2.

Currency Exchange

Currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and travel agencies. Most businesses accept US Dollars. ATMs in Belize do not always accept foreign cards; Belize Bank ATMs usually do, but ATMs should not be relied upon as the only source of cash.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bills of customers using credit cards.

Traveller's Cheques

These can be exchanged; commission will usually be charged.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0800-1300, Fri 0800-1630. Times may vary according to destination.


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passport Note

All travellers are required to show evidence of sufficient funds (minimum £50 per day) and proof of return or onward ticket at the point of entry.

Passports

Passport valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay required by all nationals referred to in chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above and nationals of their overseas territories for stays of up to 30 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria and Romania.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Single-entry: £60; Multiple-entry: £110. Handling fee of £5 for all applications.

Working Days Required

Most visas are issued the next working day. Some applications may require authorisation from the Director of Immigration and the Nationality Service in Belize; this will take up to four weeks.


Contact Addresses

Belize Tourism Board

Street address: Lower Flat, New Horizon Investment Building, 3 1/2 Miles Northern Highway, Belize City, Belize
Postal address: PO Box 325, Belize City, Belize
Tel: 223 1913 or 1 800 624 0686 (toll-free from the USA only).
Website: www.travelbelize.org

Belize High Commission in the UK

3rd Floor, 45 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LP, UK
Tel: (020) 7723 3603.
Website: www.belizehighcommission.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800; 1000-1300 (consular section).

Caribbean Tourism Organisation in the UK

22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com

Embassy of Belize in the USA

2535 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 9636.
Website: www.embassyofbelize.org

Caribbean Tourism Organisation in the USA

80 Broad Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA
Tel: (212) 635 9530.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Belize are trouble-free. However, travellers should be on their guard and exercise caution, as there have been occasional violent incidents against tourists.

The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

The hurricane season in Belize normally runs from June to November.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel  




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.