By Marina K. VillatoroBelize is the smallest of all the Central American countries but don't let that fool you because it has lots of miles of beautiful white sanded beaches, Mayan archaeological sites such as: Caracol, Xunantunich and Lamanai, rain forests filled with wildlife, lots of animal species, and a culture with a very noticeable British influence but unique at the same time.
It is believed that this country's name comes from the native word be'lix, meaning "muddy water", as they referred to the Belize River. They have an estimated population of only 333,000 in an area twice as big as Jamaica. Here you can find lots of different cultures including Garifunas, Creoles, Europeans and Mayans. There might be a lot of cultures in Belize but all of them have a thing in common: They are warm and friendly people.
Belizean cuisine is influenced by British, Mexican and Western Caribbean cooking. In this country plantains, rice and coconut milk are ingredients of almost all traditional dishes.
This is the only country in Central America where the official language is English but Spanish and creole are common too. It has a tropical weather with a range of 16 to 30 C year round, yes even during the rainy season! This along with national parks and a Barrier Reef, over 1,000 offshore Cayes or islands offers tons of fun things for travelers to do such as:
* Fishing close to the reef
* Scuba diving among colorful fishes
* Snorkeling around the coast
* River rafting
* Mangrove kayaking
* Hiking in the rain forest
* Bird watching guided tours
* Discovering Mayan ruins
* Cave tubing
* Cruising tours
And for all for all of those travelers concerned about the environment this is also a place where eco tourism is becoming very popular in this country.
So stop giving it too much thought and come over to this Caribbean Paradise!
It is believed that this country's name comes from the native word be'lix, meaning "muddy water", as they referred to the Belize River. They have an estimated population of only 333,000 in an area twice as big as Jamaica. Here you can find lots of different cultures including Garifunas, Creoles, Europeans and Mayans. There might be a lot of cultures in Belize but all of them have a thing in common: They are warm and friendly people.
Belizean cuisine is influenced by British, Mexican and Western Caribbean cooking. In this country plantains, rice and coconut milk are ingredients of almost all traditional dishes.
This is the only country in Central America where the official language is English but Spanish and creole are common too. It has a tropical weather with a range of 16 to 30 C year round, yes even during the rainy season! This along with national parks and a Barrier Reef, over 1,000 offshore Cayes or islands offers tons of fun things for travelers to do such as:* Fishing close to the reef
* Scuba diving among colorful fishes
* Snorkeling around the coast
* River rafting
* Mangrove kayaking
* Hiking in the rain forest
* Bird watching guided tours
* Discovering Mayan ruins
* Cave tubing
* Cruising tours
And for all for all of those travelers concerned about the environment this is also a place where eco tourism is becoming very popular in this country.
So stop giving it too much thought and come over to this Caribbean Paradise!
About the Author:
Marina K. Villatoro, has lived in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. With her first hand experience, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
