Why is belize a special place

Not registered? Register here. Mangroves and citrus trees line the mile winding road from its capital Belmopan to the coastal town of Dangriga, only disturbed intermittently by small villages with colourful houses. Head west and you'll reach the lively city of San Ignacio — a mandatory stop for travellers exploring the country's archaeological treasures.

As well as inland adventures, Belize also has the second longest barrier reef in the world, were you can swim with nurse sharks and gawp at the extraordinary marine life including corals, turtles, and stingrays. Well-preserved Mayan temples and caves cover the length and breadth of Belize. The largest and most visited site is Caracol, where the Caana pyramid takes centre stage. Also in the Cayo District is Xunantunich, which boasts intricately hand-carved friezes and stelae.

Stand atop its tallest building, El Castillo The Castle , and you can spot Guatemala in the distance. Such is the popularity of this cave that visitors are willing to hike, cross the river three times and swim to get to it. Twenty-eight per cent of Belize is protected land, making it a refuge for rare, and otherwise unseen wildlife. Birders should head to Mountain Pine Ridge and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary to spot jabiru, Muscovy, scarlet macaws, egrets, and double-crested cormorant.

These include Caracol, Lamanai and Lubaantun. In , the first European settlement was established by England and for years, many more English settlements were set up. For one hundred years after that, Belize was a representative government of England but in January , full self government with a ministerial system was granted. In fact, we are the only English language-speaking country in Central America. While English is the official language of Belize, Kriol is the language that we all speak.

Even our most up-tight citizens sound relaxed. We have a Caribbean lilt and our words seem a bit shorter. Here, even our language is a diverse adventure. Spanish, African-based Garifuna, Maya-Kekchi, Maya Mopan, Mandarin, German are just a few of the languages that form the unique dialects we speak throughout the country. In Belize, our traditions and customs are varied and represent more than eight diverse cultures.

The hundreds of cayes and coral islands are also among the best places to visit in Belize , with their stunning beaches and world-class diving sites. Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It is located on a small peninsula at the mouth of the Haulover Creek. It was the capital city until flooding and other damage from a hurricane prompted the government to relocated to Belmopan in the s. Most tourists use Belize City as a transportation hub and spend little time in the city.

With that said, Belize City is still the cultural center of Belize and offers a relatively large number of cultural attractions. The country has plenty of rivers, creeks, waterfalls, ponds, and lagoons. Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of the various cultures Mestizo , Maya , Creole , and Garifuna that call the country home. Expect to eat fry jacks and refried beans for breakfast and rice and beans with stew chicken for lunch. Belize offers easy access to wildlife and nature.

Imagine being alone, paddling down the river and hearing the various sounds of birds and other wildlife. Everywhere in Belize is surrounded by nature, offering easy access to the outdoors year-round. For anyone who loves swimming among beautiful fishes, sharks, stingrays, and other marine wildlife, snorkeling in Belize is a must!

Your options include enjoying luxury accommodations at some of the best beach destinations in Belize or visiting remote islands where you can pitch a tent and sleep under the stars. So glad to read you and others had such an amazing time in Belize, it is so beautiful! Anyone looking to travel there in the near future should absolutely check out this article, a great drinking guide to where to find some great places to grab a drink in Belize!

Visited ruins swam in river ponds dove the grat blue hole. The reef is absolutely beautiful. Taking a cruise in late January…. Only one day in Beliize. Want to learn to snorkel.