travel to Belize

Belize is a country located in Central America, being one of the smallest in the continent. It is located in the Caribbean Sea and whose borders are to the north with Mexico and to the west and south with Guatemala. Its geography is characterized mainly by its dense tropical forests that constitute more than 60% of the territory, which are large producers of cane and banana. The coastal area of the country has numerous cays that form a row along the coast, as well as an enviable reef ecosystem (the second largest in the world, behind the Australian barrier). In the interior of the country, several low-lying mountain ranges stand out, such as the Maya Mountains and the Cockscombs.

It is a country practically unknown to most people, which is why it makes it an exotic and attractive tourist destination. Its capital is Belmopan, although the most populated city is Belize City, followed by San Ignacio. Its territory is divided into a total of six districts.

Belize is a country that bases its economic engine in the tourism sector, being its largest market the North American, although there are more and more Europeans who dare to visit the country. Without a doubt, the tropical climate, marine and terrestrial fauna and flora, and its cultural diversity are the inducements that make Belize a very attractive and competitive tourist destination.

Culturally, Belize still has well-preserved remnants of the Mayan empire. A clear example of this is the ruins of Caracol, located in the depth of the jungle and where there are still remnants of this great archaeological city to discover. Also the ruins of Altun Ha, a smaller but highly recommended site; Xunantunich, which stands out for its Castle where you can climb and enjoy the views; and Lamanai, whose buildings and their sculpted stones in the interior of the jungle are worthy of admiration.

This country offers us to live unique experiences, such as diving the depths of the Great Blue Hole located within the Lighthouse Reef. It has more than 120 meters deep and 300 meters in diameter, which gives that characteristic dark blue colour to the centre of the circle. Within it you can spot species such as sharks, marine rays and other invertebrates, as well as stalactites and stalagmites to the sides of the hole. Diving by Shark Ray Alley is also a good option. It is a portion within the Hol Chan marine reserve, which is the site of various species of marine and coral animals.

Belize also offers several nature reserves and protected land parks to be visited by tourists. We highly recommend excursions through the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, which offers beautiful waterfalls and pools, and abundant bird species such as parrots, toucans, momotids and the lemon green macaw among others. The Cokscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary has the most popular jaguar reserve in the country.

For a quieter experience, visitors can choose to lie down in a hammock and drink freshly squeezed fruit juice at San Pedro Beach, Caulker Caye and Ambergris Caye, with the sole purpose of relaxing and enjoying the paradisiacal landscape. Or, you can go kayak the Glover Atoll, composed of a dozen islets where you can see the reefs, colourful fish, sea turtles and rays of all kinds.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

To enter Belize, it is necessary to present the passport in force, unless it is a passenger of a cruise, in which case it will not be necessary. A round trip ticket is also required. If the minimum stay of 30 days is exceeded, you must request an extension of entry, which will be $ 25 for the first six months and around $ 50 for each additional month after the previous six months.

Citizens from the European Union will not require a visa if their stay is less than 30 days. See if you need a visa.

EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES: https://www.embassypages.com/belize

PRINCIPAL AIRPORTS OF BELIZE

• Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, in Belize City (Codex BZE)
• Belize City Municipal Airport, in Belize City (Codex TZA)
• San Pedro Airport, in San Pedro (Codex SPR)
• Corozal Airport, in Corozal (Codex CZH)
• Dangriga Airport, in Dangriga (Codex DGA)
• Placencia Airport, in Placencia (Codex PLJ)
• Punta Gorda Airport, in Punta Gorda (Codex PND)

SECURITY

Keep your personal belongings and money on public roads well-guarded.

Do not show objects of great economic value or carry large amounts of money.

Avoid walking through high risk areas alone, in addition to walking on the street or traveling by car at nightfall.

Make a photocopy of your identity documents and your passport, and leave the original copies in the hotel safe.

If you want to drive around the country, you have several car rental companies at your disposal. It is highly recommended to drive 4x4 vehicles because the secondary roads are poorly paved.

Be careful when bathing in the beaches and cays, since the presence of lifeguards is scarce and the marine currents are strong. If you want to do diving activities, always do it with the supervision of an authorized expert.

Hurricane season occurs from June to November. In case of the proximity of said meteorological phenomenon you should go to your embassy or corresponding consulate to receive the protocol of action. If you do not have time, strictly follow the instructions of the local authorities and stay in a well-protected place with sufficient provisions.

HEALTH

Hire a comprehensive medical insurance if necessary.

Drink bottled mineral water and avoid consuming it directly from the tap.

Check that the food has been previously disinfected with drinking water.

Protect yourself well from the sun and heat with sunscreen and light clothing, also keep well hydrated.

Use mosquito repellents in order to prevent bites especially in the rainy season, since dengue cases have been detected in the country.

The yellow fever vaccine is COMPULSORY for people from endemic countries.

CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURES

The climate of Belize is of subtropical type, which has two distinct epochs: the dry season that goes from January to May and from August to September; while the rainy season starts between the months of June and July, and from October to November. The weather is quite mild throughout the year, and is more or less humid and rainy depending on the season. Temperatures usually vary between 23 and 30ºC throughout the year.

BUSINESS HOURS

Shops open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while from Monday to Friday the schedule is extended from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The administration and the banking entities generally attend from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

TIPS

Hotel and restaurant workers are expected to receive tip. Normally it is usually given 15%, although you can add 5% more if the service perceived by the customer has been satisfactory.

Foreigners must pay 37 $ Belizeans when leaving the country to finance the Belizean nature reserves.

ELECTRICITY

The electrical voltage of Belize varies between 110 and 220 volts, and with a frequency of 60 Hz. The types of plug used are type B and G. See if you need an adapter.

TELEPHONES OF INTEREST

The phone code is +501.

Some telephones of interest to tourists are the following: police / emergencies 911; firefighters 90; Ambulance 90 for the Belize City, if you are in the outskirts dial 911.

TIME ZONE

UTC-6 throughout the year.