Introduction to Belize

INTRODUCTION TO BELIZE

Belize is the smallest country of Central America’s seven nations. Roughly the size of New Jersey, USA or Wales, UK, Belize is located along the Caribbean Sea, wedged between Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south.

Belize’s collection of tiny Caribbean islands and extensive reef system are probably the country’s most famous and certainly most astounding claim to fame. That’s due to the 700-mile-long MesoAmerican Reef, the world’s second largest barrier reef, which lies just offshore parallel-ing Belize’s entire coast.

This reef is smaller only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef on the other side of the globe. In the America’s the MesoAmerican Barrier Reef rules. Originating much further north at the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the reef runs south along the entire Belize coast, extending even further south past Guatemala and into Honduras.

Caye Caulker island Belize

In Belizean waters the reef runs 185 miles, is protected by law as the Belizean Barrier Reef and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It consists of hundreds of barrier islands called Cayes (pronounced ‘keys’) of all different sizes. It also contains three of the Caribbean’s four atolls.

Many cayes are simply clusters of mangrove trees. The few inhabited islands are little more than low sand bars with palm trees, tropical vegetation and small towns. Belize’s astounding Blue Hole, a 400 meter deep pit in the sea, is one of it’s most famous dive sites. Other sites offer deep walls or colorful coral reefs. Needless to say, Belize is an excellent country for snorkeling and diving.

But Belize has several other claims to fame as well:

* It is Central America’s only English-speaking country. That’s a direct result of England colonizing the region in the mid 1800s, when they dubbed it British Honduras.

* Amazingly, the nation of Belize was born only 35 years ago, when it gained independence from England in the very late year of 1981. That makes Belize Central America’s youngest nation. It also has the lowest population density in the region – only 15 residents per square km.

* Belize’s other claims to fame are its pristine tropical jungles, extensive cave systems and some of the world’s most impressive Mayan ruins.

More than 3000 years ago the region now known as Belize was the main center of the great Mayan civilizations, which extended into what is now Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the north and Guatemala to the south. This is the place where all the prominent Mayan cities ruled the Americas for more than 2000 years.

Mayan girls

While the great Mayan civilizations collapsed mysteriously over 1000 years ago, today many Mayan people still live throughout Belize, Yucatan and Guatemala. Several different Mayan tribes continue living their traditional lives as subsistence farmers/gatherers in Belizean jungles, along rivers and at coastal areas.

Many still wear traditional Mayan hand-woven clothing, eat traditional foods and perform traditional music, performances & ceremonies. Some Mayans earn their living selling woven fabrics, simple musical instruments, jewelry and other handicrafts to travelers in popular tourist destinations.

Meanwhile, several massive Mayan cities, pyramids and temples have been discovered and reclaimed from dense jungle. Many ruins are easy to explore independently or by group tours.

Today, Belizean people are a very eclectic mix of Mayans, Europeans, Mennonites and Garifuna people. The Garifunas are descendants of African slaves who were deported by the British from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in the mid1800s.

photo by atomicity on Flickr CC

Rather bizarrely, a huge population of Mennonites thrive in Belize’s central and northern areas. Looking like they got stuck in pre-industrial-revolution Europe or America, Mennonites stand out dramatically in an otherwise developed country.

Sporting plain-colored hand-made clothes and traveling by horse and cart, Mennonites are very successful dairy, beef and vegetable farmers. They’ve built large stores and delivery businesses, selling cheese, ice cream, milk, beef and vegetables. They are some of the most successful and productive people living in Belize today.

Languages commonly spoken throughout Belize include Garifuna, Creole, Spanish and three main Mayan dialects.

waterfall near Hummingbird Highway – Belize

As for Belize’s pristine jungles, the extensive eco-systems still support 5 species of large jungle cats, hundreds of other mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Roughly 36% of Belizean land is undeveloped and protected in various national parks.

Because of the extensive reefs, islands, jungles, cave systems and Mayan ruins, Belize has become a big international adventure travel destination.

Belize is one of Central America’s most expensive countries. It’s growing tourist industry caters primarily to short-term luxury travelers, family & package trippers and cruise ships. The various upscale beach-side hotels, jungle resorts, sailing & diving trips and adventure vacations are the easiest and most prominent methods of visiting Belize.

Belize is a bit harder to explore for budget travelers. All the adventure tours, resorts and package trips are expensive, comparable to US / European prices. Budget accommodation is limited, but possible to find in most popular locations. Street food and small local eateries serve up a variety of local cuisines at fairly low prices, though not as cheaply as in Mexico or Guatemala.

Jaguar Reef Lodge – Hopkins – BElize

Budget travel in Belize is doable. But budget travelers will have to forego most of Belize’s best assets – most of its cave systems, jungle parks, Mayan ruins and snorkeling/diving trips. That means exploring Belize is much more rewarding on a luxury budget.

That having been said, I’ve been exploring Belize for over two weeks on a pretty tight budget and have camped at a beautiful beach, stayed in a lovely hostel, had two private rooms, trekked in a jungle and swam in the most amazing turquoise-colored sea I’ve ever seen. So even budget travelers can enjoy many great adventures here…

But much more on traveling in Belize on a budget coming up soon!

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