Blue
Hole is another popular dive site within a day
trip from San Pedro on the the
Ambergis Caye. It used to be and underground cave millions of years
ago until its ceiling collapsed turning the cave into a 120 m
(380 feet) deep hole filled with sea water.
Hol
Chan Marine Reserve is
a well-known dive and snorkeling site within a short boat ride
from Ambergris Caye. 10 m (30 feet) deep coral reef formations,
abundant marine life, steep-sided caves, sea grass beds and
mangroves attract many visitors.
TRAVEL
TIPS
When
To Go
Belize has subtropical
climate with a mean annual temperature of 27° C (80 F). During winter
temperatures go down to 17-19 ° C (62-65 F). Summers
are hot, and on the mainland tempeartures often reach 35-40° C
(95-100 F), while on the ocean coast and on
the cayes it is pleasantly cool because of the constantly blowing
winds. The dry season lasts from
November through May. The humid and rainy season in Belize runs from
June to the end of October. Rainfall is heaviest in the south of Belize
and in the inland jungle
areas. The hurricane season in Belize normally runs from June to
November.
The best season for visiting Belize is December through May, when
the weather is dry, not too hot. Time around Christmas and Easter
holidays is the busiest with the highest prices for accommodations.
Personal Safety and Security
There have been incidents of
assaults,
including armed robbery and rape, targeted at tourists in
Belize. Armed criminal gangs operate in and around densely
forested areas of Belize and close to a number of tourist
sites.
Mugging is a risk to travellers especially in Belize City and other
urban and tourist centres. Muggings can occur at any time:
day or night. Avoid dark alleys, keep valuables out of sight, do not
wear expensive jewellery. Travel in groups where possible.
Use a qualified and referenced guide for trips off the beaten track.
While touring in Belize City, remain in the tourist zone north
of the marina. There are plenty of tourist police officers monitoring
the area, and should you have a problem, feel free to contact them.
Political
demonstrations can occur in Belize City and Belmopan,
often
at short notice. Some
demonstrations
have resulted in civil disorder. Avoid getting caught up in
demonstrations, monitor local media and avoid large gatherings of
people or
demonstrations.
There has been a number of water
sports-related incidents resulting in
injuries to and fatalities of foreign tourists in Belize.
The incidents were caused by severe weather conditions and inadequate
safeguards being applied by
local tour operators. Consult weather forecasts locally and ensure that
you use registered
and licensed operators before undertaking any sporting activities.
Exercise particular care when travelling in the
Belize/Guatemala
border area because of the ongoing dispute between the
two countries. You are strongly advised to use only the
officially recognised border crossings.
Driving Tips
You can use your driving licence
to drive in Belize for visits under 3 months. Road traffic accidents are a common
occurrence and local driving
standards are poor. Take great care when driving.
Local
Laws and Customs
Do not get involved with drugs of any kind:
possession is still considered a serious crime in Belize and can lead to a fine
and/or imprisonment. Homosexuality is generally considered to be
socially unacceptable and
some homosexual acts are illegal.
Visa Requirements
US, Canadian, Australian, and EU
passport holders do not need a visa for up to 30 days, but they will
need a valid passport with at least 6 months’ validity before
travelling to Belize. Cruise ship visitors do not even need a passport.
Check the list of
Embassies of Belize to the World
or
Embassies of Other Nations to Belize
for more details.
Health
Medical facilities throughout Belize
are limited. Serious cases
are normally evacuated to the United States at the expense of the
patient. Your insurance policy should cover medical
evacuation by air ambulance.
Dengue fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can
occur throughout the year. There is no vaccine
to prevent dengue fever which is spread through mosquito bites. Dengue
fever has severe flu-like symptoms and can
sometimes be fatal. To avoid being
bitten you should use mosquito repellent regularly and cover up with
suitable clothing.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive
travel
and medical insurance before travelling to Belize.
Emergency numbers are 101 (for the police), 100 (for medical services),
and 112 (from a mobile phone).
Languages
English is the official language. Spanish is also widely
spoken, especially in the west of Belize. Other languages include
Creole and Mayan.
Money
Matters
US
dollars are
accepted everywhere in Belize, although change will often be given in
Belizean dollars.
Most hotels, restaurants and shops in major towns and tourist
areas accept major
credit
cards and travelers' checks.
Belize has a
sales
tax of 8% and is applied to
all goods and services except hotel accommodations. There is a
7
percent hotel tax. Some hotels also add a 10-15 percent "service
charge" to the bill.
Tipping
is common. Acceptable tipping is 10%.
What
To Buy
Carved hardwood figures, slate carvings, black
coral jewelry, pottery, woven
baskets.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 110, 50Hz (the same as elsewhere in North
America).
You can find more information for travelers on the
official
Belize Tourism
Board website.
BRIEF
HISTORY
The territory of modern Belize was the site of several Mayan city
states until their decline at
the end of the first millennium A.D. Following the Maya came European
whalers and pirates. The British and Spanish disputed
the region in the 17th and 18th centuries. Belize formally became the
colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK
and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala
refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the
mainstay of the economy as the old export agricultural commodities such
as
sugar, banana, and oranges have lost ground. Current concerns
include an unsustainable
foreign debt, high unemployment rate, involvement in
the South
American drug trade, increasing urban crime, and growing cases of
HIV/AIDS infection.
GEOGRAPHY
Area:
total: 22,966 sq km; land: 22,806 sq km;
water: 160 sq km.
Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season: May to November; dry
season: February to May.
Terrain: flat,
swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south.
Natural
Resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower.
Environmental
Problems: deforestation; water pollution from sewage,
industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste
disposal.
PEOPLE
Population:
300,000.
Major
Ethnic Groups: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%,
Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%.
Religions:
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27%, other 14%, none 9.4%.
Languages:
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9%
(official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%.
GOVERNMENT
Type:
parliamentary democracy.
Capital
City: Belmopan.
Time
Difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time). Check
current time.
National
Holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981).
ECONOMY
For the economy of Belize tourism is the
number one earner followed by exports of marine
products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. Within the last
few years GDP has been steadily growing due to the Belize government's
expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Major
concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable
foreign debt. A key short-term objective is the reduction of poverty with the
help
of international donors.
Unemployment
Rate: 9.4%.
Agriculture
Products: bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured
shrimp; lumber.
Major
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction, oil.
Export
Commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish
products, molasses, wood.
Export
Partners: US 32.6%, UK 32.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3.6%.
Import
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages,
tobacco.
Import
Partners: US 34.8%, Mexico 14.6%, Cuba 7.5%, Guatemala 7%,
China 4.2%.
Currency:
Belizean dollar (BZD). Check
current rate of exchange.
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