Belize
Belize
Capital city description
Belmopan is the capital of Belize. It is located near the town of Roaring Creek, in the Belize River valley, 50 miles (80 km) inland from Balize city, the former capital on the Caribbean coast. Public sector jobs in the administrative and technical departments of the central government offices are one of the most significant sources of employment in the city.
Belmopan is home to many businesses, five international banks, and several national and local financial institutions.
Climate
Belize is characterized by a tropical climate with slightly different seasonal variations from other Caribbean countries. Its wet season occurs from May to October, and its dry season occurs from November to April. The mean annual temperature ranges from 23-27°C, providing some variation throughout the country, with the coast generally exhibiting hotter temperatures than the interior.
Languages spoken
English is the official language of Belize, but most of the population also speaks a creole patois, and many Belizeans are multilingual. Yucatec, Mopán, and Kekchí are spoken by the Maya in Belize.
Fun/Fascinating Facts
1. Belize has the only Jaguar reserve globally, otherwise known as the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife sanctuary.
2. The tallest building in Belize is a Mayan temple.
3. Belize has the lowest population density in Central America. There are a lot of islands off the coast to live on in addition to the mainland… over 400.
4. The Great Blue Hole is the world’s most enormous sea sinkhole and heaven for deep-sea divers. It’s a giant 407 feet deep and 984 feet across a depression in the center of the sea. It is also part of the more extensive. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.
5. More than 90% of the people of Belize can read, and most can talk in three languages: English, Spanish, and Creole.
Unique Customs/Traditions
- The traditional food of Belize is rice and beans. Stew chicken and potato salad is our staple dish. Some of the other traditions that Belize has is relative to celebrating holidays.
- The Garifuna culture shares a unique death celebration called Dugu. It is a tradition brought from the coasts of Africa by enslaved people brought to Belize. In the culture, it is believed if a person becomes sick and no Western medicine or doctor can cure the ailment, and it is due to the spirit of an ancestor who is displeased.
- Mayan night of soul celebrates In October; Mayans traditionally place food and drink out for their ancestors who have passed to honor their lives. The food and drink are placed near the doorway. Incidentally, it is considered bad luck to walk forward into the house when you are returning from a funeral for fear the spirits will follow you into your home.
Popular universities
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE | The University of Belize was founded in 2000, and it is a private higher education institution located in Belmopan Cayo. This institution also has branch campuses in the following location(s): Belize City. The University of Belize offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e., certificates, diplomas, and associate or foundation degrees) and bachelor's degrees in several areas of study. | |
| GALEN UNIVERSITY | Galen University was Founded in 2002. It is a for-profit private higher education institution located in the town of San Ignacio. The Ministry of Education officially accredited it, Youth and Sports, Belize, Galen University(GU) is petite, with an enrollment range of 250-499 students and three faculties. Galen University (GU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e., certificates, diplomas, and associate or foundation degrees), bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees in several areas of study. | |
| CENTRAL AMERICA HEALTH SCIENCE UNIVERSITY, BELIZE MEDICAL COLLEGE | Central America Health Sciences University, Belize Medical College was established in 1996, it is a for-profit private higher education the institution is located in Belize City, Belize. Central America Health Sciences University, Belize Medical College (CAHSU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees in several areas of | |
Festivals & Events
Belize Carnival
Date: February
Fiesta de Carnaval, or the Belize Carnival, is held the week before Lent begins. The wildest celebrations in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye feature a traditional flour fight.
Other features of this loud celebration include singing, dancing, parades, a painting competition, and special group dances called comparas.
Easter in Belize
Date: April
Easter is a weeklong religious holiday in Belize where visitors can expect nationwide shutdowns as Belizeans attend religious services and take family trips from Good Friday through Easter Monday.
Many towns and cities across Belize feature extraordinary reenactments of the crucifixion, the most famous and colorful of which takes place in Benque Viejo del Carmen in western Belize.
Lobster Festival
Date: July
The Lobster Festival is an event featuring fresh-caught grilled lobsters and lobster tacos, kabobs, and other treats. The festival's main highlight is the LobsterFest Block Party, held in the evening at Central Park in San Pedro's town center.
Tropical cocktails, live music, and dancing create a Caribbean carnival atmosphere filled with punta, reggaeton, and soca rhythms. Delicious smells and drumbeats spread all over the area.
Benque Viejo Del Carme Fiesta
Date: July
Benque Viejo Del Carme Fiesta includes a lively carnival and other attractions. This multi-day celebration is commonly known as "Benque." It typically begins on July 1 with a series of religious celebrations called Las Aboradas, followed by 15 days of carnival rides, pageants, parades, live music, and a firework show to close out the festivities on July 16.
Día de San Pedro
Date: June
Every June, the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye holds a week-long party to celebrate its founding. Día de San Pedro is a three-day celebration honoring San Pedro’s namesake and Patron Saint. The festival will take place on the 29th Feast Day of St. Peter.
Cashew Day
Date: May
Cashew Day is a food and wine event in Beliz every year in May; the village puts on a Cashew Festival and Agricultural Show where local farmers and artisans display the eponymous nut in dozens of spectacular forms, including the must-try cashew wine and cashew jelly.
Visitors dine on finely prepared Caribbean dishes and sample local wine made from the fruit of the cashew tree while listening to live music.
Attractions / Top Sights
Belize Barrier Reef and Great Blue Hole
When to visit: December to April
The Belize Barrier Reef is the most famous tourist attraction, attracting nearly half a million visitors in Belize. The reef offers many recreational activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, and diving. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a picturesque slideshow for its waters and colorful marine life.
Great Blue Hole, a giant submarine sinkhole, is the highlight of the reef. This stunning natural wonder is home to colorful tropical marine life in crystal blue waters. Discovery Channel lists it as one of the 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth.
Caye Caulker
When to visit: December to April
Caye Caulker is a stunning small coral island in the Caribbean Sea and is accessible by high-speed water taxi or small plane. The island has become a famous Belize attraction for backpackers and other tourists for its relatively low prices, laid-back vibe, and abundance of restaurants and bars.
The island is made up of a sand bar over a limestone shelf. An underwater cave named Giant Cave is found below the Caye in the limestone. In front of the village, a shallow lagoon, between 6 inches (150 mm) and 14 feet (4.3 m) deep, meets the Belize Barrier Reef to the east.
Mayan Ruins in Cayo District
When to visit: December to April
Cayo District covers the central-western part of Belize and has several major Mayan archaeological sites, namely Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and El Pilar. Caracol is the largest and most important Mayan site and consists of temples and palaces.
Caracol is the most prominent site in Belize. At 43m (141 ft), its highest pyramid is one of the tallest buildings in the entire country. Xunantunich and Cahal Pech are located just outside the city of San Ignacio. Xunantunich is home to some fascinating Mayan hieroglyphics.
Placencia
When to visit: Between December and January
Placencia is a famous peninsula in southern Belize and has the best mainland beaches and houses the most incredible offshore coral cayes. The eastern side of the Placencia Peninsula is a long expanse of white sand beach.
A long and narrow bay bounds the western side. The beautiful beaches, together with the abundant, inexpensive accommodation, make it a great place to relax and one of the attractions in Belize.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
When to visit: December to May
Situated on the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains in the Stann Creek District, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1990 and is one of the first sanctuaries to protect jaguars. It houses many endangered animals, including pumas, tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, and snakes. It is also a bird lovers’ paradise, with over 290 different species recorded sightings.
Furthermore, the stunning place offers expansive picturesque views and exciting adventures. Waterfall Trail is the most famous because of a swimming hole with cascading falls.
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
When to visit: March to May
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a nature reserve in the Cayo district to protect the native pine forests of Belize. It spans 430 sq km and encompasses spectacular hills and gorges formed by some of the oldest rocks in Central America.
The reserve is home to exotic wildlife like the ocelot, king-vulture, and tapir. However, it is safe enough for hiking and horse-riding in the designated areas. Some of the favored spots in reserve include Rio on Pools and Rio Frio Cave. The reserve also houses the two powerful waterfalls of Central America — the Hidden Valley Falls and the Big Rock Falls.
Punta Gorda
When to visit: December to April
Also known as P.G., Punta Gorda is the southernmost town of Belize and one of the most famous tourist places in Belize. The most visited attraction of Punta Gorda is the Mayan ruin site Lubaantum.
Nature and wildlife lovers can head to the interactive crocodile sanctuary. Joe Taylor Creek, Snake Cayes, and Sapodilla Cayes are popular places for kayaking, diving, swimming, and bird watching.
Belize Zoo
When to visit: December to April
Located some 47 kilometers (29 mi) west of Belize City on the Western Highway, Belize Zoo, developed on 12 hectares (29 acres), the zoo was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola.
It is home to more than 175 animals of about 48 species native to Belize. The natural environment of Belize is left entirely intact within the zoo.