Information for Travelers

About Belize

Location

Belize, previously known as British Honduras, lies on the East coast of Central America in the heart of the Caribbean Basin, bordering on Mexico to the North, Guatemala to the West and South, and flanked by the Caribbean Sea to the East.

Geography

The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attraction to Belize.  The barrier reef, which is 185 miles long, is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.  The cayes are islands and/or mangroves, 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.  Although the mangrove cayes are normally uninhabitable by humans, they do provide a superior habitat for birds and marine life.  Many birds, fish, shellfish, and marine organisms begin their lives within the protection of the mangrove.  On the other hand, the island cayes, which are distinguishable by their palm trees, have provided the foundation for the development of many fine resorts to serve water sports enthusiasts and marine naturalists.  The cayes and atolls are excellent for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating, sailing, sailboarding, and sea kayaking, and also provide a habitat for both nesting birds and turtles.

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 forests.  The coastal area is neither land nor sea, but a sodden, swampy transition between the two.  It consists of mangrove and grasses, and it is bordered by tussock grasses, cypress, and sycamore where the land separates from the water.

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 in the enchanting Mountain Pine Ridge District and the Maya Mountains.  Abundant rainfall runs off to 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.

The southern part of Belize, with its watershed to the southeast from the Maya Mountains, consists of short rivers that rush through slopes combed with overhanging ledges and caves.  The rivers, carrying sand, clay and silt, have enriched the coastal belt over the years, allowing Belize to develop significant agricultural products such as citrus and bananas.  Because the annual rainfall is some 170 inches, southern Belize has a true tropical rain forest that is rich with ferns, palms, lianas, and tropical hardwoods.

Climate

The climate is subtropical, with a prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea.  The country has an annual mean temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity in the central region is tempered by the sea breezes.

Variation in weather patterns creates the interesting difference in geology, plant, and animal life.  A summer high temperature rarely exceeds 96 degrees Fahrenheit and winter lows are seldom below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, even at night.

Saltwater temperature varies between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rainfall

Annual rainfall ranges from 50 inches in the North to 170 inches in the South.  Although the rainy season is usually between June and August and the dry season is between February and May, global weather changes are making historical patterns somewhat unpredictable.  At the end of October, the weather does become cooler and from November to February, there can be intermitent rain showers.  Average humidity is 85 percent.

Business Hours

Banks: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Commerce & Industry: Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

A few businesses are open on Saturdays and even fewer are open on Sundays

Currency

The Belize Dollar (BZ$) has a fixed rate of exchange of BZ$2 to US$l. Most hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tour operators will accept U.S. currency, traveler's checks, or credit cards.  When using your credit cards in Belize, most establishments will add a 5% service charge to your bill. Always make sure that you understand which dollar rate is being quoted. Is it Belize Dollars or U.S. Dollars?

Postal Rates

Postal rates to the United States are BZ $0.60 for letters and BZ $0.30 for postcards.

Time

Time observed year round is GMT-6, which is the same as United States Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Belize.

What to Wear

Belize is a very informal country, with a very casual life-style. Unless you are invited to a Government function, you may leave your formal attire at home.

If you are visiting the cayes and/or the barrier reef, bring your shorts, t-shirts, and bathing suits, as well as some comfortable tennis shoes or deck shoes.  Because the sun is probably more intense than what you are used to at home, bring a hat to protect your head from the tropical sun when you are boating and/or fishing.  In addition to protecting your eyes from both the sun and the reflective glare off of the water, a pair of polarized sunglasses will enhance the variable colors of the coastal waters of Belize.

Loose fitting, light-colored cotton pants and shirts, along with a comfortable pair of hiking shoes or boots are appropriate for exploring the mainland or trekking through the rain forest.

Be aware that water, beverages, and snacks are not always readily available while sightseeing, so a day pack, a water bottle, energy bars, camera, film, binoculars, poncho, hand towel, etc., are useful accessories.