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Latour Travel Guide to Belize -

Travel Highlights: Belize City - The English-speaking former capital of British Honduras Maya Mountains - Pine forests, cascading waterfalls, adventure tours The Barrier Reef - Diver's paradise that runs offshore the length of Belize Blue Hole - 400-ft.-deep cavern made world famous by Jacques Cousteau Ambergris Caye - One of scores of Belize's idyllic Western Caribbean isles "Lost Cities" - Explore ancient Maya Altun Ha, Xunantunich and Caracol - Overview Tiny, English-speaking Belize offers an amazing range of travel adventures. The country's Great Barrier Reef, largest in the Americas, runs for 185 spectacular miles along Belize's Western Caribbean coast. Highlight for divers is the famed 400-ft.-deep Blue Hole. Inland many coastal mangroves and cool mountain pine highlands form natural sanctuaries of exotic plants and wildlife, and still contain the ruins of ancient Maya cities. The country's largest population center is Belize City (pop. 50,000). Capital city is Belmopan, recently relocated in the interior, and home of the country's growing archaeology museum. Country Facts Size: 8,867 sq. mi., about the size of Vermont. Population: 200,000+. Capital: Belmopan (pop.7,000). Largest City: Belize City (pop. 47,000). Language: English is the official language. Spanish is also widely spoken, as are Garifuna, Creole and Maya. Electricity: Both 110 volts, 60 cycles and 220 volts, 50 cycles. Often a voltage converter and two-prong plug adapter are necessary for U.S. appliances. Religion: Roman Catholic, as well as many Protestant denominations. Time: Same as U.S. Central Standard Time. Public Holidays Jan. 1: New Year's Day Mar. 9: Baron Bliss Day Holy Week: Fri., Sat., Sun. of Easter weekend May 1: Labor Day May 24: Commonwealth Day Sept. 21: Independence Day Nov.19: Garifuna Day Dec. 25: Christmas Travel Facts How to Get There American Airlines offers daily nonstop flights between Dallas-Ft. Worth and Miami to Belize City. There's also an increasingly popular, low cost, scheduled bus service from Cancun, Mexico (via Chetumal) to Belize. There is a jungle road from Guatemala, but travel can be delayed by rain. City Codes BZE: Belize City (international airport) TZA: Belize City (domestic airport) SPR: San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) Entry Requirements: Valid U.S. passport. No visa required for American Citizens. Taxes/Surcharges: International departure tax: $10. Hotel taxes and service charge: 5%. Tipping: Usually not included on a restaurant bill; normally 10 to 15% additional. Currency: Belize dollar. Exchange is widely available in hotels, banks and businesses. Banking hours: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturday 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. Shopping: Handicrafts include woodcarvings and straw objects. Albert and Queen streets in Belize City offer a wide selection. Also popular is the downtown National Handicraft Center on Fort Street. Food and Drink: Excellent seafood, featuring lobster, tops most menus. Local dishes include meals of rice, beans and tamales (cornmeal with fish wrapped and baked in leaves). A local country favorite is cow foot soup. The national drink is rum, which is good, as is the locally brewed Beliken beer. Telephone Area Codes: country code (501); Belize City (2) and San Pedro (26). Weather: Most of Belize is part of the limestone flatlands that becomes Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The highlands of the southwest interior contain pine forests, mountains and waterfalls. Dress is very casual and comfortable, especially on the islands. Major Destinations - Getting Around There is extensive air taxi service to all points within the country. No town or village is further than 25 minutes by air from Belize City. Hourly connections to San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) are available via three local carriers from the municipal airport in downtown Belize City. Less frequent connections can also be made directly from the international airport. Distances are manageable, and car rental is a suitable alternative. Water taxis also link Belize City with the barrier reef islands. Belize City A remnant of its days as British Honduras, Belize City was the former capital of the colony and survives today as Belize's largest city. Since its independence from Britain in 1978, when the capital was moved to Belmopan, Belize City has remained the commercial and administrative center of the country as well as the international air gateway. The city is located on a small peninsula on the Caribbean coast, and all points within the country are easily reached via domestic air or road system from here. Accommodations are good. Sightseeing is limited. Nevertheless, Belize City still offers the visitor an interesting blend of Afro-Caribbean culture on the Central American mainland. From Belize City full-day excursions can be made to most major points within the country, including many of the country's protected areas. To The North The following nearby sites can be combined in a one-day excursion from Belize City: Altun Ha: Just 30 miles north of Belize City is Altun Ha, a small but significant post-classic Maya archaeological site. Here the world's largest jade carving, weighing over 10 pounds, was found. It is housed in a vault in capital city Belmopan. - Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: Thirty five miles from Belize City this popular visitor destination features exotic plants, tropical flowers and butterflies. Trail and boat tours are offered. Bermudian Landing Community Baboon Sanctuary: Started as a cooperative project with the help and financial assistance of the Milwaukee Zoo and World Wildlife Fund, the Baboon Sanctuary on the Belize River protects the endemic Black Howler Monkey. To The West Belize Zoo: En route west from Belize City toward San Ignacio one soon reaches this excellent, small zoo containing over 100 species of the wildlife found within the country. The zoo is a rewarding half-day excursion from Belize City. Belmopan: The new capital of the country warrants a stop to visit the national archaeological collection. San Ignacio Area: On the border with Guatemala, the San Ignacio area offers the special-interest traveler an exciting array of opportunities. Jungle lodges and adventure camps abound in the area. The nearby ruins of Caracol are also becoming increasingly popular. Bird watching, hiking, float trips, and seminars in the use of Indian herbal medicines are just a few of the eclectic activities offered at the camps. Good hotel accommodations are available in the town of San Ignacio. From here, an all-weather road connects the area with neighboring Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal. Xunantunich: On the outskirts of San Igancio, 80 mi. west of Belize City, and reached by hand-operated river ferry, stands the classic Maya site Xunantunich. The main pyramid's ornate roof-comb can be seen rising above the jungle floor for miles. Well worth a visit. To The South: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: Nestled in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, this sanctuary is one of the last remaining natural habitats of the jaguar. Here one may climb 3,675-ft. Victoria Peak, Belize's highest mountain. Mountain Pine Ridge: Very few expect to find cool green mountains and cascading waterfalls in Belize - but it's true!The area of Mountain Pine Ridge is unique in that it is the only pine forest of its kind in Central America and houses hundreds of species of migratory birds each year. In addition, the explorer will delight in finding fascinating caves and spectacular waterfalls that plummet 1,000 feet over green cliffs. The recently excavated ruins of Caracol are also a major attraction. Placencia: Far south along the coast this is a quiet, unspoiled, rustic beachfront resort. To the East: Ambergris Caye: The Barrier Reef coast of Belize has earned the reputation of being one of the world's finest dive sites. Ambergris Caye, the most developed of the reef's off-shore isles and cayes, is 36 miles from Belize City and offers a wide range of accommodations for both the diver and sun-seeker. The 20-min. flights connecting the island with Belize City operate daily from both the international and municipal airports. San Pedro, the lone village on Ambergris, has charter boats available for diving and fishing. The underwater Hol Chan Marine Park is also accessible from Ambergris. Accommodations are good and range from deluxe resort properties to funky island inns. Caye Caulker & Caye Chapel: All along the famed Barrier Reef, which runs the entire length of the country, many other islands (accessible by water taxi from Belize City) are becoming increasingly popular with divers and deep sea fishermen. They include Caye Caulker, the Turneffe Islands, and Half Moon Caye. Nearby are Lighthouse Reef and the incredible 400-ft.-deep, stalactite-filled "Blue Hole," first explored by Jacques Costeau. Special Interest Travel: Diving: World-class SCUBA and skin diving are the feature of Belize's barrier reef. Major dive resorts are located on several offshore islands. Archaeology: Major sites including Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Caracol (and several lesser known ruins) often offer visitors the opportunity to see on-site excavation in progress by archaeological teams. Rare Flora Tours: Exotic orchids and bromeliads highlight plant collection and viewing tours throughout Belize.