Belize: Trip Preparation & Destination Information

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Belize: Trip Preparation & Destination Information

About Belize

Overview

Belize, a nation on the east coast of Central America, has a total land area of 8,869 square miles. The dense jungle to the west is home to Caracol, an ancient Mayan archaeological site, located in the Cayo District just outside of Belize City. With 240 miles of Caribbean coastline, snorkelers and scuba divers alike can enjoy the beauty of the Belize Barrier Reef and the Great Blue Hole, the world’s largest sea hole. This world-class scuba destination is famous for its clear water and varied tropical marine life swimming between the beautiful coral formations. Originally British Honduras, the official name of the territory was changed to Belize in June 1973, and full independence was granted on 21 September 1981.

Accommodations in Belize can be simple and rustic. Often rooms do not have air conditioning and provide fans for cooling. Additionally, on the islands, showers do not have hot water as they are supplied by collected and treated rainwater.

Capital City: Belmopan 

Population: 405,272 (2022 est.) 

Currency: Belize Dollar (BZ) 

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (GMT -6) 

Emergency Number: 911

Outlet: Type A/B

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Packing List

Speak the Language

Language: English is the official language of Belize, but most of the population also speaks Belizean Kriol, and many Belizeans are multilingual.

 

  • Hello - Heloa
  • Goodbye - Gudbai
  • Thank you - Tenk yu.
  • How are you? - Weh di gaan an?
  • What’s your name? - Weh yuh naym?
  • My name is… - Mi naym da…
  • Where is... - Weh/weh-paat… 
    • the bathroom - baachroom
    • beach - beech.

 

Google Translate: Download the Google Translate app or click here 

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Weather

BELIZE CITY WEATHER

Fun Facts

  • Half a dozen great cats, including jaguars and pumas, are indigenous to Belize and Central America. Belize is the only country in the world with a nature sanctuary dedicated to preserving these magnificent animals, a protected area called the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve.
  • Hundreds of years before the arrival of European colonists, the Maya Empire stretched for over a thousand miles in what is now Central America. Today’s Belize was located in the center of all of the most important Maya trade routes. Visitors to Belize can explore more than 900 different Maya ruins and sacred sites.
  • In 1971, famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau discovered what had long been the sole province of local fisherman – the Great Blue Hole, a unique diving site in the middle of an offshore coral atoll. The Great Blue Hole is regularly voted as one of the Top 10 best diving sites in the world.
  • Belize has its own version of Big Foot/Sasquatch, called El Sisimito. It is a large creature that has no knees, has its feet backward and likes human flesh.
  • Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language. However, you will still hear a mixture of Creole, Spanish, Garifuna and Mayan languages being spoken on the street.

Tipping

Tipping Suggestions: Tips for Guides, drivers and restaurants are not included. Tips provide supplemental income, and, while not mandatory, are greatly appreciated. If the local teams have added to the experience, please reward them.

Guides USD $10-20 per person/per day
Drivers USD $3-4 per person/per day
Restaurants  USD 10-15% of total bill

 

FAQ

Where can I find information on travel safety? Check out the US Department of State's website for the most up-to-date information on safety while traveling.

 

Is Belize LGBTQ+ friendly? For information on LGBTQ+ travel advice and tips, this LGBTQ+ Belize Travel Guide has been put together in partnership with EveryQueer to help you travel safely and have the trip of a lifetime.

 

Is the water safe to drink? Tap water should be avoided by travelers. You should also avoid brushing your teeth with tap water when possible. For drinking water, make sure to drink treated water which can be found at all lodging accommodations. 

 

Do I need a Visa? For Visa information, click here. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after you return home and has two or more blank pages. Otherwise, some countries may not let you enter.

 

What about vaccines? For vaccination information, click here.

 

Do you recommend travel insurance? While not required, we highly recommend all travelers get travel insurance for their trip to protect themselves from the unknown! Check out travel insurance options from our partner, worldnomads.com, or from a provider of your choice.

 

How much should I pack? As we will be using shared transfers and spaces throughout our tour we recommend all travelers pack as lightly as possible. Please take a look at our luggage restrictions below.

 

What does public transportation look like? As a tourist, the best way to get around Belize is by plane, taxi (this includes water taxis), shuttles and car rentals. Buses run on major highways and stop whenever passengers shout that they are near their stop. Catching the bus is cheap but can take a long time to get around.

 

Is Uber or Lyft available? Belize does not have any rideshare services like Uber or Lyft.

Luggage Restrictions

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