About Belize
A Bit of History
Wedged into the northeastern corner of Central America, just south of Mexico, Belize offers some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery – both above and below water – in the Caribbean. Add to this the magnificent landscapes, archaeological sites, and wildlife to rival any destination in the region, and it’s easy to see why the number of visitors to this little jewel of ours increases every year. Despite our small size – roughly that of Wales or Massachusetts – Belize has the lowest population density in Central America, a fact that contributes to our easy-going, friendly, and noticeably uncrowded character.
As Belizeans, our recognition of the importance of our natural heritage means that the country now has the greatest proportion of protected land (over 40 percent) in the hemisphere. As a result, our densely forested interior, with its plentiful natural attractions, including the highest waterfall in Central America and the world’s only Jaguar Reserve, remains relatively untouched. Our rich tropical forests support a tremendous range of wildlife, including Howler and Spider monkeys, tapirs and pumas, Jabiru Storks, and Scarlet Macaws. Spend anytime inland and you are sure to see our national bird, the unmistakable Keel-billed Toucan. Although Belize is the only Central American country without a volcano, we do have some rugged uplands – the Maya Mountains, situated in our south-central region and rising over 1100m. Our main rivers start here, flowing north-east to the Caribbean, and forming some of the largest cave systems in the Americas along the way. Few of these magnificent caves have been fully explored, but each year more become accessible to visitors.
In addition to these natural attractions, Belize boasts a wealth of archeological remains. Rising mysteriously out of our forests are the ruins of the ancient cities of the Maya – the civilization that dominated the area from around 2000 BC until the arrival of the Spanish. Traces of this astonishing culture can be found all over our country; Maya ceremonial artifacts have been discovered deep inside both dry and wet caves. And although only a few sites in Belize have been as extensively restored as the great Maya cities in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, many are at least as large, and in their forest settings you’ll see more wildlife and a lot fewer tour buses.
Belizean territory comprises marginally of more sea than land, and for a lot of visitors it’s the sea that’s the main attraction. Lying just off our Belizean shore is one of the continent’s most astonishing natural wonders – the dazzling turquoise shallows and cobalt depths of the longest barrier reef in the Americas. Beneath the surface, a brilliant Technicolor world of fish and corals awaits divers and snorkelers, while scattered along the entire reef, a chain of islands, known as cayes, protects our mainland from the ocean swell. Beyond our reef lie the real jewels in Belize’s natural crown – three of the only four coral atolls in the Caribbean. Dawn here is a truly unforgettable experience, as the red gold disc of the sun rises over the foaming reef crest. Our reefs and islands, among the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet, are increasingly under threat; Belize, however, is at the forefront of practical research to develop effective protection for the entire coastal zone, which for visitors means a chance to explore some of the best marine reserves in the world.
Culturally, Belize is as much a Caribbean nation as a Latin one, but with plenty of distinctively Central American features – above all, a blend of races and cultures that includes Maya, Mestizo, Mennonite, East Indian, African and European. Belize attained its Independence from Britain in 1981, and therefore, English is first and foremost our official language. Spanish, however, is just as equally common; but it is our rich, lilting Creole, based on English but typically Caribbean, that’s spoken and understood by almost every Belizean.
