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Belize Handbook BelizeHANDBOOK Invest In Your Future IN LATIN AMERICA [email protected] USA/CANADA 1.800.290.3028 GRAN VINEYARD ESTATES ECIDEVELOPMENT.COM ARGENTINA Table of Contents Country Map 4 Departure Tax 16 District Map 5 Travel Entry Requirements 17 Introduction 6 Districts 23 Geography 7 Cayes and Atolls 25 Weather & Climate 8 Economy 29 Demographics 9 Education 30 Language 10 Cost of Living 31 Religion 10 Banking 32 Currency 10 Taxes 33 Government & Politics 11 Tourism and Ecotourism 34 National Emblems 12 Things to do 35 Sports 13 Cuisine 39 Holidays 13 Hotels by District 42 Dress Code 14 Restaurants by District 47 Visitor Information 14 Embassies & Consulates 51 Time Zone 14 Safety 52 Phones 14 Health 53 Local Laws 15 Why Ambergris Caye? 58 Business Hours 15 Enjoy Retirement in Belize 60 Sales Tax 15 Why ECI Development? 62 Gratuities 16 Payment Options 16 Souvenirs 16 3 BELIZE HANDBOOK 4 BELIZE HANDBOOK 5 Introduction Formerly known as British Honduras until Charles Darwin called “the most remarkable its renaming in June 1973, soon succeeded by reef in the West Indies”. Whether simply full independence from colonial rule in 1981, relaxing in the sunshine or taking the plunge Belize offers a tropical paradise experience into a snorkeling or scuba diving adventure, just a stone’s throw from the United States. any visitor can find something to love while vacationing in Belize. Although Belize is the only Central American country without a western coastline, it Those whose Spanish speaking ability is shaky compensates for its lack of a Pacific outlet or nonexistent, fear not: Belize prides itself on with its own unique offerings. Visitors can being a multicultural society wherein English take advantage of the placid blue waters, is the official language. stunning sunsets, lush jungles, and what BELIZE HANDBOOK 6 Geography Belize is the northernmost country in Central government‑protected “green zone” in the America, located along the Caribbean coast. interest of preserving the nation’s unspoiled On the north, it borders the Mexican state of wilderness. That rainforests are home to a Quintana Roo; on the west, the Guatemalan number of endangered or rare species, from “department” (state or province) of Petén; big cats (pumas, jaguars, ocelots) to colorful and on the south, with the Guatemalan tropical birds (keel‑billed toucans, agami department of Izabal. The Belize Barrier Reef herons, macaws, and snowy egrets). Among to the east spans approximately 190 miles; it the trees can be found 4,000 distinct species of is included within the greater Mesoamerican flowers, including no fewer than 250 different Barrier Reef System, the second largest in orchids alone. the world, behind only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. In 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef Belize’s coastline is as notable as its interior, was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and arguably more so. The Caribbean coast worthy of international preservation based on is lined with around 450 islands and smaller its collective interest to humanity. islets known as cays or cayes (pronounced “keys”), or cayo in Spanish. Ambergris Caye In total, Belize covers over 14,260 square miles is the largest of these at 90 square miles, – an area slightly larger than that of nearby El but other cayes can be as small as just 0.006 Salvador or Wales, and only slightly smaller square miles in area. than the state of Massachusetts. The country is only 70 miles across and approximately 250 Of the four coral atolls in the Western miles long from top to bottom. Hemisphere, all but one are located off the coast of Belize: Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Belize’s northern and southern borders Atoll Islands, and Glover’s Reef. The Turneffe are largely defined by the natural path Atoll Islands is both the largest and closest of the Hondo and Sarstoon Rivers, with to the coast, around 25 miles offshore. the Caribbean to the east and Mexico and South of Turneffe Atoll Islands is Glover’s Guatemala’s land borders to the west. The Reef Atoll, the most developed atoll in the cardinal directions roughly indicate the four Caribbean. Thanks to its nearly continuous types of territory which comprise Belize as a ring of coral reef and no‑fishing regulation whole: the northern lowlands, the southern enabling an abundant and diverse marine life, mountains, the western swamps and plains, Glover’s Reef bears both marine reserve and and the tropical eastern coast. U.N. World Heritage Site designations. The Lighthouse Reef Atoll, though the furthest Over 66% of the territory in Belize is forested, offshore at 50 miles away, is the closest with much of that explicitly considered a atoll to Belize’s Blue Hole, the impressively 7 Weather & Climate Like other sub‑tropical nations, Belize has two it nonetheless experiences heavy afternoon seasonal phases: wet season and dry season. storms, strong winds, and up to 150 inches Dry season comes first in the year, from worth of rain in some areas. June and August about February through May; wet season are the wettest months, but a reprieve comes follows from around June through December, during the “little dry” in late July or early with the months of January functioning as a August, when the rains let up for a little while. transitional period between seasons. Average March, right in the middle of dry season, sees daily temperatures remain steady around the most hours of sunshine over the year. 84‑86°F/29‑30°C, with temperatures no lower than 60°F/16°C in Belize’s version of winter. Like the temperature, humidity in Belize remains largely stable throughout the year at Although rain during Belize’s dry season falls around 83%, though this can vary throughout infrequently and only for brief periods of the country based on region. The north in time, wet season more than makes up for the particular is far less susceptible to the rest of lack of rainfall. Rainy season is synonymous the country’s high humidity, and the gentle with hurricane season, and though Belize is easterly trade winds offer a cooling breeze spared much of the brunt of major hurricanes, throughout the dry season. BELIZE HANDBOOK 8 Demographics Belize is an ethnically diverse nation, where approximately 52% of citizens consider themselves some variation on Latino, Hispanic, or “Mestizo” – a person of mixed European and native descent. Many Belizeans can claim some percentage of native Maya ancestry; however, due to many native peoples’ death via disease or war, many of today’s Belizeans with Maya descent are immigrants from Mexico or Guatemala. Kriol (or Creole) Belizeans, descended from black slaves brought over from Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries, used to be the largest demographic group in the country. They have since been outnumbered due to an influx of immigration from neighboring central American countries and emigration to the United States. Today, they comprise of about 25.9% of the Belizean population. The Garífuna (or Garinagu), an ethnic group of Afro‑Caribbean descendants, make up 6.1%. As of July 2020, the estimated population of Belize numbers is approximately 398,268. Although it remains the least densely populated nation for its size in Central America, it has reported the greatest rate of growth in the region in recent years, at around 1.86% in 2020; however, most of this growth can be attributed to immigration rather than domestic fertility, which is decreasing. As Belizeans’ increasing life expectancy clashes with its reduced birth rate, the average age of the population is increasing and the elderly cohort growing. Around 20% to 30% of the total population resides in Belize City, the country’s former capital and still its principal port and a major commercial hub. It is the largest city in Belize by far, with a population of over 61,461 (2020). San Ignacio comes second, with just 16,812 residents, according to a 2010 census, and Belmopan – the country’s current capital – has around 13,381 residents. Other major cities include Orange Walk Town, San Pedro, Corozal Town, Dangriga, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Ladyville, and Punta Gorda. 9 Language Currency Belize is the only country in Central America The currency in Belize is the Belize dollar where English is the official language, thanks (BZ). It is tied to an exchange ratio of 2:1 to their heritage as a former British colony. with the American dollar, although actual Although it is not necessarily a primary exchange rates may vary very slightly. Bills language, with only 5.6% of the population are available in denominations of 100, 50, 20, speaking it at home, over 62.9% of the 10, 5, and 2. Coins are available in 1 dollar, 50, Belizean population reports that they can 25, 10, 5, and 1 Belizean cent denominations. speak English fluently, with another quarter A “shilling” in Belize refers to the 25‑cent demonstrating some knowledge of it. With coin. the majority of the population considered bilingual or multilingual, communication U.S. dollars are accepted throughout Belize; should present no obstacles. however, the Belize dollar is only valid within the country and in nearby towns along its Visitors will also hear speakers using Spanish border. Belizean law stipulates that only the or Kriol (an English‑based Creole language Central Bank of Belize should be allowed similar to Jamaican Patois), languages to deal with transactions involving foreign adopted from the populations who also currency, but businesses nationwide openly settled in Belize. The country harbors a small flout this rarely enforced restriction, freely percentage of speakers conversant in German accepting U.S. dollars as payment for goods (mainly Mennonites), as well as the three and services.
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