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The cayes or islands, the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attractions to Belize. The barrier reef, which is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, is 185 miles long. The cayes and atolls provide great opportunity for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating, sailing, and kayaking, and also serve as a habitat for both nesting birds and turtles. In the central part of Belize the land is higher. It is between 1,500 and 3,680 feet above sea level in the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and the Maya Mountains. Breathtaking waterfalls, historic Mayan cities and majestic mountains are but a few of the attractions that can be enjoyed in this area.
CLIMATE
The climate is subtropical, with a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. The country has an annual mean temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is nicely tempered by the Sea breezes. The variation in weather further emphasizes the interesting difference in elevation, geology, plant and animal life. Summer high temperatures, are normally around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter lows have rarely gone below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, even at night.
RAINFALL
Normally, the rainy season is usually between June and November and the dry season is between February and May. Usually, the weather becomes cooler at the end of October and this lasts up until February. Average humidity is 85 percent. Annual rainfall ranges from 50 inches in the North to 170 inches in the South.
PEOPLE
The population of approximately 250,000 people consists of a mixture of Creoles, Garifunas, Mestizos, Mayas, Caucasians, Mennonites, Lebanese, Chinese, and East Indians. Belize has gained a widespread reputation for its friendly people.
LANGUAGE
English is the official language of Belize, Spanish is the second language and Creole is the commonly used dialect you will hear spoken throughout the country.
CURRENCY
The Belize Dollar (BZ$) has a fixed rate of exchange of BZ$2 to US$1. Most hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tour operators will accept U.S. currency, traveler's checks, or credit cards.
TIME
Time observed year round is GMT-6, which is the same as United States Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Belize.
GETTING TO BELIZE
Getting to Belize: Belize is about 2 hours and 15 minutes by air from Miami, Florida and Houston, Texas. U.S. gateway cities to Belize include Miami, Dallas-Forth Worth, Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana. Direct flights are also available from Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C; and from Toronto, Canada. From Mexico, direct flights to Belize are available from Cancun and Chetumal. Most Central American countries offer direct flights to Belize, including Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica. Direct service from the UK and/or Europe may be available in 2008. American Airlines: . Direct flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami. Continental Airlines: Nonstop from Houston. Taca Direct flights from Houston, Miam Costa Rica, El Salvadori. Delta Airlines: Direct from Atlanta, United Air Lines: Direct from Atlanta.
Getting Around by Air in Belize: International travelers fly into the newly renovated and expanded Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City. From there, connections can be made to various destinations within Belize, including: Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Dangriga, Big Creek, Placencia and Punta Gorda; as well as to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. Travelers already in Belize City should utilize the smaller Municipal Airport for in-country flights, as costs are much lower.
Belizean Airlines Offering In-Country Service:
Tropic Air: Belize International, Belize Municipal, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Corozal, Placencia, Punta Gorda, Flores (Guatemala)
Island Air-Island Air: Belize International, Belize Municipal, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Corozal
Private Aircraft: Private aircraft must enter Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City. Bus services National Transport, Belize Bus Owners Cooperative and others depart out of Belize City for most of the major towns (Corozal, Orange Walk, San Ignacio,Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belmopan, Dangriga, Punta Gorda) and border towns in Mexico and Guatemala. Most Belize bus companies also offer runs into Chetumal, Mexico, and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. Guatemalan bus lines such as Linia Dorada operate comfortable air-conditioned buses from Guatemala, across Belize and into Mexico. Smaller tourism vans from Guatemala also ply this route.
Entry Requirements
With the exception of cruise ship passengers, all visitors to Belize must present a valid passport before entering the country. Driver's licenses and birth certificates are not approved travel documents and cannot be used to enter the country. Passports must be valid up until time of departure.
In cases where a visitor remains in the country for over 30 days, an extension of entry must be requested. Extensions are available for the cost of US$25. per month up to a period of six months. After six months the government doubles the extension fee to US $50 per month. Extensions are avialble at the Immigration Department in Belize City and the capital Belmopan
Visas
Nationals of the following countries do not require visas: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, United States of America, Venezuela, CARICOM member states and members of the European Union.
Nationals of the following countries must secure a visa to enter Belize: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bosnia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Japan, Korea (North and South), Libya, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Zaire.
The Government of Belize maintains a restricted list of countries, and in order to enter Belize, nationals of the following countries must secure a visa, pay the appropriate fees and must obtain permission from the Director of Immigration: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar(Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, People's Republic of China, Peru, Srilanka, Syria, Thailand and the United Arab Emigrates.
Belize Immigration and Nationality Department, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, Central America.
Telephone +501-822-2423 Fax: +501-822-2662 Animals
Animals must be accompanied by a certificate of freedom from infection/contagious disease by a veterinarian following examination not more than 48 hours prior to shipment; animals must also be certified as having been vaccinated against rabies not less than one month nor more than six months prior to departure; and must be free of open wounds. Dogs must have a valid
certification of vaccination against distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis. Animals may be required to be re-vaccinated against rabies on arrival if certifications are deemed unsatisfactory.
Currency and Credit Cards
Local currency is the Belize Dollar. One U.S. dollar is worth BZ$2. U.S. dollars should be exchanged directly in purchasing goods and services, as banks will charge a fee (currently is at .0125) to exchange U.S. to Belize dollars. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Belize.
Credit Cards, Travelers' Checks: Nearly all hotels, restaurants and shops in the major towns and tourist areas take all major credit cards. Street vendors and smaller establishments in remote areas may accept only cash or travelers' checks. It's important to keep travelers' checks in a waterproof pouch, as they are considered void if they get wet. Representatives of VISA, Master Card and American Express can be contacted at the four commercial banks in Belize City (Atlantic Bank Ltd., Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean International (Barclay), and the Belize Bank. Banks are generally open Monday-Friday from 8 AM-1 PM and Saturdays, 8 AM-11 AM. American Express has a representative at Belize Global Travel Services in Belize City.
Credit cards with the Interlink, PLUS or STAR logos can access Belize Bank ATMS for cash withdrawals countrywide. The daily limit is US$500.
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LOCATION Belize, previously British Honduras, lies on the East coast of Central America and in the heart of the Caribbean Basin. It is bordered by Mexico to the North, Guatemala to the West and South, and the Caribbean Sea to the East. Geographically Belize is located between 15° 52' 9" and 18° 29' 55" North Latitude, and 87° 28" and 89° 13' 67" West Longitude with an area of 8,866 sq. miles including 266 sq. miles of islands.
