The first Marriott-branded hotel throughout Belize Seagrape Drive, San Pedro, Belize Phone +954 915 4997 • [email protected] 2 AlaiaBelize.comCARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM 3 A curious place ... 4 CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM ourism provides employment The “Tourism Gold Standard Recognition for thousands of Belizeans and Program” - an extensive set of health and Tcontributes significantly to the safety protocols and guidelines - has been country’s economic development. The introduced for hotels, restaurants, and COVID-19 pandemic has impacted tour operators to enhance the tourism Belize’s tourism industry in unimaginable industry’s health and safety standards, by ways, just as it has for so many other adapting new behaviors and procedures countries in our region and across the to ensure both employees and travelers globe. Agile monitoring and management are confident in the safety of Belize’s efforts however, have so far allowed for tourism product. These new measures successful containment and heightened represent a new level of commitment to safety and security measures. the tourism industry, for the continued establishment, implementation and Belize is small in size but vast in cultural enforcement of standards to protect our and biological diversity, offering visitors guests and the local community. more than just a hammock on a sandy beach and tropical breezes. Home to the This publication is therefore geared world’s second largest barrier reef, the towards educating our visitors on the new only jaguar reserve in the world, thousand- health and safety measures, as well as year-old Maya sites, a melting pot of serve as a travel guide highlighting some culture and heritage, and adventures of the destinations’ best experiences. galore - Belize offers vacation experiences that pack a punch and can whet the From all of us at the Belize Tourism appetite of just about every traveler. Ask Board any visitor to Belize what they remember most though, and they’re likely to tell you – the people. A curious melting pot Welcome to Belize – we of cultures have combined to create the look forward to sharing our Belizean experience of food, music, art and ‘Jewel’ with you and invite language that is unmatched. you to immerse yourself in Growing in popularity over the past 10 all the beauty, culture, and years, Belize is making the bucket list of diverse history that can be travel enthusiasts across the globe. As travel resumes, the tourism environment found in every corner you is more competitive than ever as tourism- visit! dependent economies vie for the interest of travelers to choose their destination for their next vacation. Belize, with its wide array of tourism attractions and activities, is perfectly poised to welcome back visitors to our shores. CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM 5 Contents 32 Chasing a Grand Slam in Belizean 04 Welcome to Belize Waters 07 From the Publisher 34 Swim with sharks in Belize 08 About the Cover 36 ʺ˘˧˧˜ˡ˚˧˛˘ˌʸˆʟʵ˘˟˜˭˘˥˘˗˘Ёˡ˘˦ 09 Ministry of Health Contacts by District romance 10 Reimagining Belize’s New Travel Era 38 Wide Open Nature 12 Tourism Gold Standard Recognition 42 What to Expect at Belize Program International Airport (BZE) 14 Traveler Classification for Belize 46 Corozal and Orange Walk 16 Visitor Process at (BZE) International 48 Top locations to spot wildlife Airport 50 Belize’s Wonder: The Great Blue 18 Learn more about Belize’s Gold Standard Hole Safe Corridors 52 The Belize District 20 A kaleidoscope of experiences awaits 54 What to expect on your next tour you in Belize 22 Map of Belize 58 The Cayo District 24 ˇˢˣЁ˩˘˥˘˔˦ˢˡ˦˧ˢ˩˜˦˜˧ʵ˘˟˜˭˘ˡˢ˪ 62 Descend to New Depths of 26 What to pack for your Belize trip Xibalba 27 Getting to Belize 64 Healing from the outside in: Forest 28 Belize’s Protected Areas Bathing 30 San Pedro & Caye Caulker and Private 66 A cinematic experience in Islands Belize: The Family Coppola 62 Hideaways Belize’s Gold Standard for 12 Hotels and Tour Operators FISH RIGHT, EAT RIGHT 40 IN BELIZE 48 56 THE MUNDO MAYA 6 PHOTO CREDIT: DUARTE DELLAROLE CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM 68 The Stann Creek District: Dangriga, Hopkins, Placencia 72 Vacation on the Caribbean Rim 78 Belize by night 82 Belize’s Cultural Diversity 84 A Birder’s Destination 86 A natural niche for investment 87 10 reasons to invest in Belize 88 Toledo District 89 A District for the wayward foodie From the 90 What’s in Season 92 Most memorable Belize Celebrations Publisher 93 #belizegoldbook - Instagram We are at the dawn of a new travel era - one Competition that no one on the planet predicted. The global pandemic has brought many changes among us all, with one of the largest impacts being on the travel industry. However, resiliency is no stranger to tourism, and we now have the opportunity to reassess our businesses and ways of operations ISLAND ˙ˢ˥ ˙˨˧˨˥˘ ˣ˥˔˖˧˜˖˘˦ʡ ʼˡ ʵ˘˟˜˭˘ʟ ˦ˣ˘˖˜Ё˖˔˟˟ˬʟ 44 the tourism industry’s health and safety GETAWAYS ˦˧˔ˡ˗˔˥˗˦˛˔˩˘˕˘˘ˡ˦˜˚ˡ˜Ё˖˔ˡ˧˟ˬ˜ˡ˖˥˘˔˦˘˗ʡ Countrywide, the country continues to adapt new behaviors and procedures to ensure ˖˜˧˜˭˘ˡ˦ʟ˥˘˦˜˗˘ˡ˧˦˔ˡ˗˧˥˔˩˘˟˘˥˦˔˥˘˖ˢˡЁ˗˘ˡ˧ Socially Distant in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s 70 tourism product. Stays in Belize This premier edition of the Belize Gold Book is here to remind you that besides the Diving on the adventures that make Belize such a curious 80 Doorstep of the destination, Belize is a naturally resistant destination that is tailor-made for social Western distancing. Until then, the Belize Gold Book is here to peak your curiosity for your next visit Caribbean to Belize. Sincerely, Tanya McNab Creative Director Caribbean Culture + Lifestyle PHOTO CREDIT : BELIZE TOURISM BOARD CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM 7 About the Cover Located 9 miles by boat from Belize City, St. George’s Caye was Belize’s first capital in the 1700s. Today, time stands still: there is no electricity, no cars and no grocery shops. But on this quiet oasis, you can reclaim the real by reducing life to indulgent essentials against a glistening Caribbean Sea by day, and some of the best stargazing by night. Be overzealous in pursuit of a naturally socially distant experience, where the day can start with a solo paddle at sunrise to catch breakfast, only to grill it just minutes later. Or just as easily, you can lazy the day away in a colorful Specializing in new hammock to the soundtrack of wind in coconut fronds. construction condo and Breathe in relaxation and awaken a sense of discovery resort properties on in unexpected places, like St. George’s Caye in Belize. Ambergris Caye and As a destination for those seeking life-affirming experiences, Belize awaits. beyond. We’ll find the right match for you! Cover Drone Photography By: Patrick Courtenay We Represent the Buyer! ST. GEORGE’S CAYE, BELIZE PRIVATE VACATION HOME RENTAL www.CasaAlmarBelize.com EXCLUSIVE SAN PEDRO AGENT [email protected] Located at the Sunbreeze Hotel #7 Coconut Drive Sleeps up to 16 guests, includes chef, boat, captain, (across from Tropic Air) tour guide, private docks, kayaks and resort amenities. Contact us to book your vacation! www.jgroupbelize.com [email protected] BZ# +501-615-7045 8 US# 1-408-649-0384 CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONTACTS By District BELIZE COUNTRY CODE IS +501 COROZAL 675 6667 • 670 9469 • 670 9468 ORANGE WALK 670 9367 • 670 9375 SAN PEDRO 672 0911 • 671 0911 CAYE CAULKER 668 2547 BELMOPAN 822 1815 • 663 0691 BELIZE CITY 613 0787 • 223 2722 SAN IGNACIO 664 2694 • 824 4804 DANGRIGA 522 2494 • 629 7439 • 601 1045 INDEPENDENCE 632 4702 • 603 5123 TOLEDO 722 0410 • 625 6415 • 637 6497 Toll Free 0-800-MOH-CARE CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM 9 International Entry and Exit • Wearing a face mask for the entirety of your journey, deplaning and processing inside the airport Reimagining • Physically distancing 6 feet, guided by signage, floor decals, and sneeze guards at all ticket Belize’s New and information counters • Health screening inside the Travel Era health surveillance unit, with a substantial expansion of the The Covid-19 pandemic has changed arrival hall (Terminal 2) the way we think about travel. Destinations across the globe are faced with a continuously evolving Promoting challenge to integrate protective measures that minimally impact the Health guest experience. Belize, though small, has implemented strict management and containment Screening efforts in an effort to protect both citizens and visitors, as well as created enhanced health and safety guidelines for the industry as we re-imagine travel under a ‘new norm’. These enhanced measures include reinforcing sanitization and hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment for tourism workers, compliance monitoring of operators within the tourism industry, in depth training for front-line workers, enhanced guest communications, and more, all geared towards assuring our guests and tourism workers, that Belize’s tourism product Local Transportation is cleaner and safer than ever before. While in Belize, travelers can expect to & Tour Operators see the following changes. • All must be a Gold Standard Operator approved by the Belize Tourism Board. • Health screening with contact- less temperature checks prior to boarding of any transport - whether by land, sea, or air • Mandatory use of face masks for drivers and passengers throughout 10 CARIBBEANLIFESTYLE.COM Restaurants • Transitioning to a paperless visitor entry process, including, • Enhancing cleaning and sanitization the Belize Health App to assist • Floor markers for social distancing with health screening and reminders, especially in queues monitoring, digital kiosks, • Reducing maximum capacity, mobile entry forms, and including 6’+ between tables and increased use of baggage seating arrangements scanners. • Encouraging online ordering, digital • Reducing foot traffic to official menus, and increasing availability employees and ticketed of both take-out and room service passengers inside the airport options terminals.