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Destination Guide
North Cayes South Cayes Belize District Cayo District Corozal District Orange Walk District Stann Creek District Toledo District Belize Briefs
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Quickly learn the important things you need to know before you go to Belize. This section gives you all the important facts and figures regarding Location, Population, and even Climate. Our FAQs section also provides information on what to take and how safe the country is during the day or night. You can use the link above to view a question & answer format of the most popular topics on travel to Belize. We also encourage you to drop us an email with any questions you may have. We can't answer everything in this summary. If we do not directly know the answers to your questions we will forward your questions to our contacts of authority in Belize who can answer them. We will quickly relay the answer back to you. If we can be of service to you please ring our bell.
Belize is located south of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America. It is bordered by Mexico on the north and Guatemala on the west and south. Belize has a 280 km (174 mile) coastline joining the Caribbean Sea. Just off the coast are located a network of islands called cayes. The cayes are the high points of the worlds second longest barrier reef.
The total land mass including the offshore cayes is 22, 963 sq km (8866 sq miles). The country is broken into 6 separate state like districts. Corozal District is the furthest point north and is mostly composed of lowlands, swamp, and marsh. The Corozal capital is Corozal Town located at the northern most area near the Mexican border. Corozal takes up 1860 sq km (718 sq miles) or 8% of the total land area of Belize. Belize District is located in the eastern section of Belize and includes Belize City, its capital city. Belize District encompasses 4204 sq km (1623 sq miles) or 18% of the total land area of Belize. Belize City, located in the extreme eastern area of the district is the largest city in Belize with a population of just over 25,000 people. Orange Walk District includes the savannas of the northwestern region of Belize. Orange Walk Town is the capital of the district. Included in Orange Walk District is Gallon Jug, an agricultural based farming region where a number of famous brand name products such as Gallon Jug Coffee, Marie Sharps Hot Sauce, and the famous Marie Sharps Jams are produced. Orange Walk takes of an area of 4737 sq km (1829 sq miles) or 21% of Belize territory. Cayo District is the beginning of the Belize highlands where untamed jungle and rain forest combine with a mountainous terrain and several uncontrolled large rivers to complete a scene of old world safari. Cayo is located in the western region of Belize and shares a long border with Guatemala. Cayo District houses the nations capital of Belmopan and popular tourist location of San Ignacio, Xunantunich, and Caracol. Cayo District includes 5338 sq km (2061 sq miles) of Belize land mass or about 23%. Stann Creek District is located in the southeastern region of Belize and includes the popular destination of Placencia Peninsula. The capital region of Stann Creek is Dangriga. Stann Creek includes the highest point in Belize at Victoria Peak (1200 m), The Cockscomb Basin, Sleeping Giant Mountain Range, the Jaguar Preserve. Stann Creek District uses 2167 sq km (840 sq miles) of area or about 9% of the total area of the Belize land area. Stann Creek is the location of the nations largest banana grove and boast the highest yield of citrus fruit in the country.
Toledo District is the most untamed region in Belize. The district is contained in the far southern region. The capital city of Toledo is Punta Gorda located at the southeastern coastline. Toledo includes the second highest point in Belize at Richardson Peak (1000 m) and includes 4648 sq km (1795 sq miles) or 20% of the total area of Belize. Only the Orange Walk District is larger in total square kilometers. Toledo has the least amount of infrastructure and the smallest population of all the districts in Belize.
Cayes include a network of cayes strewn along the worlds second longest barrier reef. The cayes cover an area of 689 sq km (266 sq miles) and include Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Turneffe Islands, Caye Chapel, Laughing Bird Caye, Glover's Atoll, The Silk Cayes, Ranguana Caye, the Sapodilla Cayes, and approximately 200 other smaller islands. These coastal waters offer the three of the top five dive sites in the world as rated by Skin Diver Magazine.
You
can view detailed maps of each district including the North and
South Cayes simply by clicking on the
The population of Belize is estimated at 250,000 people (1999 est.) or approximately 11 people per every square kilometer (28 per capita per square mile). This is considered a sparsely populated area. Belize is composed of several ethnic groups:
The growth rate of the population is 2.16% per year.
Belize Time Zone is the same as Central Standard Time in the United States. Belize remains on constant Standard Daylight Time not changing with seasonal variations of the sun light. The current time in Belize is
A passport is required to enter Belize. Maximum stay without re-stamping your passport in 30 days. United States citizens and Nationals of the European Community member nations do not require visas. Visas are required for the Nationals of the following countries: China, Columbia, Cuba, India, Libya, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, and Taiwan. To obtain a visitor's permit, an application must be submitted to the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, Central America (Telephone 011-501-8-22423 or Fax: 011-501-8-22662). Since visa requirements are subject to change, please contact the Belize Embassy, 2535 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20008 (Telephone: (202)332-9636, Fax: (202)332-6741), for up-to-date information.
Belize uses the North American standard of 110 / 220 v.
The offical language of Belize is English but many languages are spoken in Belize. Upon your arrival you will suddenly realize that the ethnic diversity of the country makes for its charm and a diverse set of languages is a part of the culture. English is widely spoken but according to region, one language or another may dominate. Belize District and most points east including the islands and cayes offshore English is common and Creole is the second language. In Cayo District to the west English is shared almost 50/50 with Spanish. Creole and other languages are spoken less. The third most popular language in the Cayo is the 40 or so dialects of the Mayan language. North, the Orange Walk district English is the main language and Creole and Spanish take a much lesser role. In Corozal English and Spanish are both widely spoken. Points south, including the Stann Creek area, Creole exceeds English as a first language but again English is well known. Garifuna, a very difficult language to understand even in its rough translation to English, is also very common. In Toledo Spanish is the first language and dominates the region. English is a second language. Mayan, Creole, and Garifuna are also very commonly heard in this region.
If you speak English then you should be able to get around anywhere in Belize. It is handy if you can also speak Spanish but not at all required.
The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZ$). It trades on the open market fixed 2 BZ$ to 1 US$. Other currencies change their exchange rates according to changing currency exchanges on the open market. Therefore, exchange to US$ prior to entering the country to assure you will received a fixed currency exchange once you arrive. It is a good idea to exchange US$ for BZ$ at a local bank once you are in the country. This will earn you additional respect and easy purchasing in Belize and eases the worry of losing money on the exchange. Most places in Belize will accept the US$. Most international Visa, Mastercard, and American Express is accepted country wide. It is recommended you keep with the mentioned cards since service of Diners, Carte, and other cards is spotty and undependable. Most places in Belize will exchange travelers cheques for a fee and the Banks in Belize offer a great service of currency and travelers cheques exchanges. Most banks will issue charges to your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Warning: It is advised that you not take currency exchanges from locals and that you not trade services for cash directly with individuals. Showing the amount of currency you are holding is never wise no matter where you travel on vacation. This same advice applies to Belize. Travel smart and be conservative and you should be okay. It is also advised that you not leave large sums of cash or expensive personal items in your room or with tour guides during your stay. Most hotels, lodges, and resorts will allow you to turn in your items for safe keeping at the main office. Do not take offers from locals working at the hotels to take your personal items or cash to the hotel or resort safe. You should request a deposit receipt from the hotel or resort owner or manager when turning in any items for safety deposit.
Previously a British Commonwealth and colonial colony, Belize became an independent country in 1981. Belize was formerly known as British Honduras. Belize is recognized as an independent nation worldwide including in Guatemala.
An age long border dispute continues today between Belize and Guatemala which at this time is unresolved by the international court. This border dispute is debated in court only and for the most part has not resulted in any formal exchange of gunfire or weapons. Some local squatting continues where Guatemalan refuges cross the border illegally and take ownership of lands in Belize. These squatters are usually detained and returned to Guatemala. In some cases violence has been reported between these refuges and locals as well as government officials during expulsion. A formal refuge program was enacted by the Belize Government but remains a dead law not enforced due to tensions between the two countries. This border dispute and government exchange of words has never resulted in the injury or imprisonment of tourist visiting Belize.
Belize is a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Britain, which means Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state, represented by a Governor General who is appointed by the queen upon the recommendation of the Belizean government. Belize follows British parliamentary democracy, with the governing party holding power for up to five (5) years "at pleasure" (as long as the party maintains majority support in the 29 member House of Representatives). A nine member appointed Senate and executive branch completes the three branches of the self government of Belize. Belmopan is the political center from which law and court are administered. Visit the official website of the government of Belize at http://www.belize.gov.bz.
Belize is subtropical and equatorial. The yearly average temperature is 79 deg. Fahrenheit. Across regions the coastal areas generate the most constant average temperatures. The Savannas of Orange Walk record the greatest variation in average temperatures while the inner Maya Mountains are cool during the dry season and can be very warm during the wet season. Rainfall varies from year to year and from region to region. On average the country receives about 143 inches of rain per year. Toledo receives the most rain on average with 170 inches. Corozal and Orange Walk receive the least amount of rain on average with less than 70 inches typically.
There are two (2) distinct seasons in Belize; the dry season (November through May) and the wet season (June through October). The month of August is often a wet season exception where little rain is received and temperatures tend to be very warm. By the end of the dry season fires often plague the interior jungle areas and moratoriums on camp fires and outdoor burnings are issued. From June through October the Northern Hemisphere hurricane season affects Belize. The greatest number of storms to hit the region have occurred in September but there have been latent storms during November and earlier storms in June. The early months of the season are typically uneventful. The dry season records a lower average temperature as well. The wet season is humid and temperatures peak on average.
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Map of Belize
NowList™ 
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magnify icon at the top left corner of each of the district maps
in our Click-On-Maps tour of Belize. These maps are a great
way to learn the territories. 
