Belize

Region

Central America, Caribbean coast.

Area

22,965 km² (8,867 sq miles).

Population

266,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population density

11.6 per km².

Capital

Belmopan City.

Population: 12,300 (2004).

Belize City (the former capital) has a population of 59,400.

Government

Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1981.

Geography

Belize is situated at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and borders Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country's area includes numerous small islands (cayes) off the coast. The coastal strip is low and swampy, particularly in the north, with mangroves, many salt and freshwater lagoons and some sandy beaches crossed by a number of rivers. To the south and west rises the heavily forested Maya mountain range, with the Cockscomb range to the east and the Mountain Pine Ridge in the west.

More than 65% of the area of the country is forested. The land to the west along the borders with Guatemala is open and relatively scenic compared to much of the interior. The shallow offshore cayes straddle a coral reef second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Language

English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken to some extent by over half the population. Garifuna (Carib), Maya and Creole are also spoken as well as a German dialect (by the Mennonites).

Religion

The people of Belize are mainly Roman Catholic (approximately 60% of the population). Other small groups practice Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Bahai, as well as other Christian denominations.

Time

GMT - 6.

Social Conventions

British influence can still be seen in many social situations. Flowers or confectionary are acceptable gifts to give to hosts if invited to their home for a meal. Dress is casual, although beachwear should not be worn in towns. It may be inadvisable to discuss politics, particularly if of a partisan nature.

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Said Musa since 1998.

Head of State

HM Queen Elizabeth II represented locally by Governor-General Sir Colville Young since 1993.

Recent History

Said Musa was re-elected in 2003 with his People's United Party (PUP) winning 21 of the 29 assembly seats. However, the PUP's second term has been marred by financial problems, allegations of corruption and violent protests, including a riot in Belize City in April 2005. Drug-related violence has also been a problem.

Furthermore, in 2006, the US state department included Belize on a list of countries considered not to be doing enough to tackle human trafficking. The PUP was heavily defeated in the March 2006 local elections by the opposition United Democratic Party (UPD). The next general election is due in 2008.

Climate

Subtropical with a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. High annual temperatures and humidity. Dry and hot climate from January to April, with rainy season from June. The hurricane season is from June to the end of November.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens.

Hotels

Belize has few first-class hotels, but smaller establishments give good value. There are mountain lodges in the interior and resort hotels on the Caribbean coast. Budget options range from simple guest houses to basic beach cabins. The Belize Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses) and the Belize Tourism Industry Association (see Accommodation Information below) list accommodation on their websites.

Self Catering

Long-stay visitors can rent apartments on a monthly basis.

Camping / Caravanning

There are budget campsite facilities in most districts. A few hotels and guesthouses in the cayes offer camping on their private beaches or yards. The Belize Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses) lists campsites on its website.

GDP

US$1.08 billion (2005).

Main Exports

Sugar, citrus concentrate, banana and fish.

Main Imports

Food, consumer goods, building materials, vehicles and machinery.

Main trade partners

USA, EU, CARICOM and Mexico.

Economy

Agriculture is Belizes principal economic sector - cane sugar accounts for almost half the countrys exports, while the banana industry is the countrys biggest employer, although the latter is threatened by a new EU import regime. Citrus fruit production and exports of seafood have increased in the past few years.

The tourism industry also plays an important part in Belizes economy. Overnight tourists increased by 3% in 2005, a more moderate rise than in previous years however.

Belize registered annual growth of 3.1% in 2005, while inflation increased slightly to 3.7%. Unemployment dropped from 11.6% to 11%. In 2006, the economy was predicted to grow by 2 to 3%, with inflation expected to increase to 4.5%.

Exports are forecast to do well as sugar and citrus earnings rise. Additionally, Belize Natural Energy has confirmed the discovery of 50 million barrels of sweet crude oil; only now have technological developments made oil extraction viable.

Business Etiquette

Lightweight suits are often worn. Appointments should be made and business cards are acceptable. October to March are the best months for visits.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1700. Some businesses are open Saturdays.

Money

Belize Dollar (BZD; symbol BZ$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of BZ$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of BZ$1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The Belize Dollar is tied to the US Dollar at US$1 = BZ$2.

Currency Exchange

Currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and travel agencies. Most businesses accept US Dollars. ATMs in Belize do not always accept foreign cards; Belize Bank ATMs usually do, but ATMs should not be relied upon as the only source of cash.

Credit / Debit Cards

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bills of customers using credit cards.

Travelers Cheques

These can be exchanged; commission will usually be charged.

Currency restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0800-1300, Fri 0800-1630. Times may vary according to destination.

Exchange Rates

Date: Jan 2009

£1.00 = BZ$2.86;

$1.00 = BZ$1.97;

€1.00 = BZ$2.68

Duty Free

The following goods may be imported into Belize without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.

1l of wine or spirits.

BZ$200 of gifts or goods for personal use.

Prohibited Exports

PreColumbian articles, marine products, unprocessed coral or turtle shells.

Food and Drink

There is a selection of restaurants which serve international, Chinese, Creole and Latin American food. Service and quality vary but the food is generally cheap.

National specialties

Tacos, corn or flour tortillas, with shredded chicken, onions, cabbage and cilantro.

Rice-and-beans; for a change of pace, switch to beans-and-rice (where the beans are cooked separately and spooned with their own gravy over white rice).

Split peas and pigtail over rice.

Game meats, including deer, hicatee, iguana or gibnut.

Plantains, fried to a sweet golden brown.

National drinks

Coconut rum mixed with pineapple juice.

Belikin beer.

Fresh orange, lime, watermelon or cantaloupe juice.

Tipping

Few places add service charges, and 15% is normal.

Nightlife

While Belize could not be considered a major clubbing destination, there is no shortage of bars throughout the country. In Belize City, the main spots tend to be the bars in the top-end hotels, which usually have live bands. There is also a casino here. San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, has a lively bar scene and a couple of clubs.

Health

Diphtheria - Sometimes,

Hepatitis A - Yes,

Malaria - Yes,

Rabies - Sometimes,

Tetanus - Yes,

Typhoid - Yes,

Yellow Fever - No*.

Note: * A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.

Health Care

There are seven government hospitals - one in Belmopan, one in Belize City and one in each of the other five main district towns, but, generally, medical facilities are limited. Medical services in rural areas are provided by rural health care centres, and mobile clinics operate in remote areas. Medical insurance is strongly advised.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009

1 Jan New Year's Day;

9 Mar Baron Bliss Day;

10-13 Apr Easter;

1 May Labour Day;

24 May Commonwealth Day;

10 Sep St George's Caye Day;

21 Sep Independence Day;

12 Oct Columbus Day;

19 Nov Garifuna Settlement Day;

25 Dec Christmas Day;

26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010

1 Jan New Year's Day;

9 Mar Baron Bliss Day;

2-5 Apr Easter;

1 May Labour Day;

24 May Commonwealth Day;

10 Sep St George's Caye Day;

21 Sep Independence Day;

11 Oct Columbus Day;

19 Nov Garifuna Settlement Day;

25 Dec Christmas Day;

26 Dec Boxing Day

Things to Do

Plummet into the depths of the Blue Hole: the startlingly vivid blue sinkhole measures 300m (1,000ft) across and over 120m (400ft) deep and is considered one of the best dive sites in the world.

Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Hol Chan Marine Reserve: a highlight is swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley.

Windsurf or sail off the cayes. The water is so clear beneath, it may be possible to spot fish, stingrays and even dolphins. The best wind conditions usually occur from February to June.

Sea kayak at Glover's Reef Atoll: the remote, 260-sq-km (100-sq-mile) lagoon contains beautiful, pristine reefs.

Go birdspotting at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: the park is most notable for its jaribu stork population and is also home to howler monkeys, crocodiles, coatimundis, turtles and iguanas.

Join a manatee-watching boat trip: these gentle aquatic mammals are an endangered species, typically growing to about 3m (9.8ft) long.

Cool off in St Herman's Blue Hole National Park: the turquoise waters of the Blue Hole, a 7.6m- (25ft-) deep collapsed sinkhole, are a popular swimming spot. The park is home to an abundance of birds, animals, flora and St Herman's Cave, an ancient Mayan cave.

Go caving: Belize's interior hides thousands of caves. The most accessible is Rio Frio Cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge area. Others which are easy to visit include Che Chem Ha Cave in Cayo district and Blue Creek Cave in Toledo.

Canoe along the Macal River in Cayo district: among the endangered species found here are Morolet's crocodiles, tapirs and jaguars.

Catch fish: Belize's barrier reef is home to grouper, snapper, jack and barracuda, while the deeper waters conceal sailfish, marlin, bonito and pompano. Possible river catches include the enormous jewfish, snook, tarpon and cubera.

Things to See

Gaze at the longest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere: Belize's reef covers 296km (185 miles), including a nearly continuous wall of coral stretching almost 224km (140 miles) from Mexico to the Sapodilla Cayes.

Head offshore to Ambergris Caye's resorts or chill out at a beachside cabaña in laid-back Caye Caulker: the islands make ideal bases for diving and snorkelling.

Visit Altun Ha, a major Mayan ceremonial centre and trading centre in the Classic period (AD 250-900); an extraordinary head of the sun god, ornately carved in jade, was found here and is now a national symbol of Belize.

Take a motorboat up the New River from Orange Walk to Lamanai: the spectacular Mayan citadel ruin sits in its own archaeological reserve, which also contains a museum, the remains of two 16th-century Spanish churches and a 19th-century sugar mill.

Discover the famous perfectly carved crystal skull found in a temple vault on the Mayan site of Lubaantum, near the town of San Antonio, in the Toledo District inland from Punta Gorda.

Travel into the Chiquibul rainforest to Caracol: the immense Mayan city in the Cayo district is home to the tallest man-made structure in Belize - Canaa (Sky Palace), rising 43m (140ft) high.

Enjoy fine views and secluded streams in the 121-hectare (300-acre) Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the Cayo district. The area contains the Hidden Valley Falls, which plunge 305m (1,000ft) into the valley.

Catch a glimpse of a jaguar in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) of tropical forest were set aside in the Maya Mountains in 1984 to protect the jaguar population. Other residents include jaguarundis, howler monkeys and toucans.

Wander through Belize City: among the sights are St John's Cathedral (the oldest Anglican church in Central America) and Government House, the former residence of the governor-general, built in 1814 and now accommodating the House of Culture Museum (website: http://nichbelize.org).

Travel Advice

Most visits to Belize are trouble-free. However, travellers should be on their guard and exercise caution, as there have been occasional violent incidents against tourists. The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

The hurricane season in Belize normally runs from June to November.

Passport note

All travellers are required to show evidence of sufficient funds (minimum £50 per day) and proof of return or onward ticket at the point of entry.

Passports

Passport valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay required by all nationals referred to in chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above and nationals of their overseas territories for stays of up to 30 days.

Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and costs

Single-entry: £60; Multiple-entry: £110. Handling fee of £5 for all applications.

Working days required

Most visas are issued the next working day. Some applications may require authorisation from the Director of Immigration and the Nationality Service in Belize; this will take up to four weeks.

Telephone

Country code: 501.

Mobil Mobile Phones

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good along most of the coast and along the main routes to Mexico and Guatemala. Handsets can be hired from Belize Telecommunications Ltd at the international airport.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in urban centres and popular tourist centres.

Media

Belizes constitution guarantees a free press, though exceptions are provided for in the interest of national security, public order and morality. There are no daily newspapers; some of the weekly papers are subsidised by political parties. All TV channels are privately run.

Post

Mail to Europe takes up to five days.

Post Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0800/0830-1200 and 1300-1630. A few open on Saturdays.

Press

The major weeklies include Amandala,The Belize Times,The Reporter and The San Pedro Sun, a community paper published on Ambergris Caye.

The Guardian is a United Democratic Party-affiliated paper.

Radio

Love FM is a commercial music and news station.

Estereo Amor is a private, Spanish-language station.

Krem FM is a commercial station.

More FM is a private music station targeted at younger listeners.

Wave Radio is United Democratic Party-affiliated.

Getting around by Air

Local airlines connect Belize City with the main towns and cayes. Flights leave from both the international airport and the municipal airstrip. The main carriers are Maya Island Air (website: www.mayaislandair.com), Tropic Air (website: www.tropicair.com), Caribee Air Service and Javier's Flying Service.

Water

There is a scheduled boat service from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, Caye Chapel and Caye Caulker. Boats also run from Corozal Town (near the Mexican border) to San Pedro.

Road

All-weather roads link Belize's main towns, though torrential rain seasonally severs these links, particularly at ferry points. The Manatee Highway, running from the Western Highway to Dangriga, is unpaved and floods easily. The Southern Highway from Dangriga to Punta Gorda, the Northern Highway to Mexico and the Belize to Belmopan road are in generally good condition. However, road traffic accidents are still a common occurrence and local driving standards are poor. Traffic drives on the right.

Bus

There are inexpensive daily bus services to most towns and villages, and to the Mexican and Guatemalan borders. Travel is usually in hot and overcrowded old US school buses, though there are a few air-conditioned express services.

Car hire

Many international and local firms operate in Belize City as well as in Ladyville, Dangriga and San Ignacio. Visitors usually need to be 25 years old to hire a car. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for excursions south of Belize City.

Regulations

The speed limit is 90kph (56mph) on highways and 40kph (25mph) on most other roads. Seat belts are compulsory.

Documentation

A national driving licence is acceptable for three months, after which an International Driving Permit is required.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Belize City to other major cities/towns in the country.

Getting there by Air

American Airlines (website: www.aa.com) flies from Miami to Belize City. Continental Airlines (website: www.continental.com) flies from Houston. There are no direct flights from London to Belize; passengers can fly non-stop to Miami or Houston and join a connecting flight.

Departure tax

None.

Main airports

The Philip S W Goldson International Airport (BZE) is 16km (10 miles) northwest of Belize City.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city (journey time - 20 minutes); prices should be agreed with the driver beforehand. Taxi drivers are not tipped. There is an airport bus to the city centre, but it runs infrequently and should not be relied upon (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank, shops, restaurant and bar. Note: Belmopan, the capital, is 84km (52 miles) from Belize City by road.

Getting there by Road

There are road links with Chetumal on the Mexican border and Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala.

Regular scheduled buses serve these routes, leaving every half hour or hour for Belize City. It is easy to enter Belize by bus from US border cities via Cancun, Mexico City and Chetumal.

Travellers entering Belize by car from Mexico or Guatemala must obtain a temporary importation permit at the border, valid for one month; drivers need to show all travel documents, insurance papers and proof of car ownership or rental documents.

Visitors leaving Belize by road must pay a US$18.75/BZ$37.50 land departure tax, payable in either currency.