Travel Tips and Resources
Belize has the second largest living barrier reef in the world running the entire 185-mile length of the country, and is revered among scuba divers and fishermen. But there is much more – 3,000 foot-high mountains, cascading waterfalls, jungles and wildlife, and dramatic Maya sites and rich culture.
Nature is the biggest draw to Belize: manatees, monkeys, keel-billed toucans, rare orchids, green iguanas and blue morpho butterflies, Jaguars and 570 bird species, to name a few. The highlights for divers are the famed Blue Hole and three coral atolls: Lighthouse Reef, Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Islands. Visit partially excavated Maya sites such as Caracol, Xunantunich, Altun Ha and Lamanai. Explore the country’s vast caves and glimpse into the Maya underworld, where you can see fire pits, artifacts and skeletons of human sacrifices while hiking, tubing or canoeing with headlamps.
Belize has three primary tourist destinations. Ambergris Caye off the north coast especially attracts divers and snorkelers. Highlights are Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. The main town, San Pedro, features sand streets, art galleries and a few beach bars over the water; golf carts serve as transportation.
The Cayo District, on the western border with Guatemala, hosts a tropical rainforest and the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. The town of San Ignacio is the base for many adventure tours. Placencia, along the south coast, has the nicest beaches in the country and is a gateway to the offshore cayes and atolls.
