Belize: General Information

Belize is a sliver of a country located just below the boot of Mexico and to the east of Guatemala.  It’s eastern coast borders the Caribbean sea. In the Caribbean, Belize has many beautiful Cayes and Islands with waters teeming with aquatic life. The country is very small as a whole, with slightly less land mass than the state of New Jersey. Even though Belize is small, it is a very diverse country with people from all backgrounds. No matter what your ethnicity is, you will not feel out of place in Belize. The diverse population can be attributed to the countries deep history that is traceable back to the Mayans during the preclassic era. More recently, in the 16th century, the Spanish began influencing the region. Later, the English began using the area for logging and the slave trade. Years later, the region officially became part of the British empire. As a result, Belize is the only Central American Country that uses English as their official language. However, Spanish is widely spoken as well as Belizean Creole. Today Belize still has close ties to England as it retains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

If you are traveling to Belize, you may be surprised to know that the entire population of Belize as of 2014 was under 350,000 so most places feel very rural. If you are traveling with a US or UK passport, visas are not required before arriving in Belize. Belize only has one international airport and it is located in Belize City (BZE). Belize City is not actually the capital of Belize. The capital of Belize is Belmopan, it is about one hour away from Belize City by car, and is where you would likely find your countries embassy. When you arrive in Belize, you will notice right away that most people you come across are very friendly and willing to give you tips and advise on what to see, what to do, and the best way to get around.