Guide to Belize

Name: Belize

Capital: Belmopan

Location: On the northeastern corner of Central America, on the Caribbean coast between Mexico and Guatemala

Area: 22,965 sq km / 8,867 sq miles

Language: English,Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Major Religion: Christianity

Population: 256,000

Life Expectancy: 70 years (men) 74 years women

Currency: Belizean Dollar = 100 cents

Internet domain: .bz - There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centres and tourist areas, and an email centre at the BTL office in Belize City.

International dialling code: +501

Mobile Coverage: Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telecommunications Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available.  

Postal services: This is reliable with mail taking up to five days to reach Europe. 

Time Zone: GMT + 8

Tipping: A service charge of 10% is almost always added to hotel and restaurant bills, so tipping is unnecessary. If a service charge has not been added tipping is voluntary. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped.

Climate: Belize has a subtropical climate with brisk, prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. Average temperatures are 79 degrees Fahrenheit with an annual rainfall of up to 170 inches. The rainy season is between June to August and the dry season is between February to May. It is often hot and humid and the average humidity can be as much as 85 per cent. Evenings in the forests of the Mountain Pine Ride are generally pleasantly cool, while the lowland jungle is always steamy and humid. On the cayes, the sun's heat is tempered by the ocean breezes.

Best time to go: Between December and March when the vegetation is lush and the skies are clear. This is however peak season and the priciest time.

Tourist Board: www.travelbelize.org

Entry Visa Requirements
With the exception of cruise ship passengers, all visitors to Belize must present a valid passport before entering the country. Please note that driver's licenses and birth certificates are not approved travel documents and cannot be used to enter the country. Passports must be valid up until time of departure.

In cases where a visitor remains in the country for over 30 days, an extension of entry must be requested. Extensions are available for the cost of: Up to 6 months for US $25, After 6 months US $50 per month

VISA INFORMATION

Nationals of the following countries do not require visas:
UK, Australia , Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand , Norway, United States, Venezuela, CARICOM member states and Nationals of European Community countries.

Nationals of any other country not listed above do require visas.

Entry visas should be obtained outside of Belize. For the nearest place to obtain a visa please visit: Belize Consuls and Embassies.

In cases where a visa has not been secured, one will be issued upon arrival at entry points. This will be facilitated only where prior approval has been granted by Immigration.

Airport: Philip Goldson International Airport, BZE, Tel Tel: +501 (0)2 252 045. Transfers: An airport bus runs to the city centre, taking about half an hour, but the buses tend to be unreliable. Taxis are available at the entrance to the main terminal. They are unmetered and a price should be negotiated before hiring.

Highlights
The Barrier Reef - a series of gorgeous coral islands
Chan Chich - Mayan ruins and rainforest
The Macal Valley and Mountain Pine Ride Nature Reserves.

Belize is on the Caribbean coast, nestled between Mexico and Guatemala and offers an intriguing mix of tropical forests rich with wildlife, majestic 3,675 foot mountains, mysterious Maya temples, and diving and fishing experiences beyond compare.

Geography
The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are on of the main attraction to Belize. The barrier reef, which is 185 miles long, is the longest in the Western Hemisphere. The cayes are islands, that are located between the mainland and the barrier reef, on the barrier reef, and on or within the barrier reef perimeters of the offshore atolls. The northern half of the mainland of Belize is a plain that was once the bed of a sea. The land is covered with a thin layer of soil that supports scrub vegetation and dense hardwood tropical forest. The central part of Belize consists of sandy soil that supports large savannas. Approximately thirty miles southwest of Belize City, the land begins to rise dramatically to between 1,500 and 3,680 feet above sea level into the enchanting Mountain Pine Ridge Area and the Maya Mountains. Abundant rainfall runs off the northwest from the highlands in a number of streams which flow into the Macal River. Ultimately, the Macal River and the Mopan River converge to provide the headwaters of the Belize River.

10 October 2007