Belize, Central America Facts and Belize Tourism Information

What's So Great About Belize?

Tucked into a forgotten corner of the Caribbean, Belize has remained apart from the growth of the rest of Central America. Today it harbors the region’s last unspoiled marine and rainforest environments and offers some of the most exciting adventure travel in the Americas. Belize is also inexpensive to get to and easy to travel in. English is the primary language, and US dollars are accepted throughout the country. There are enough incredible places to explore to keep you coming back for years to come!

"Belize Time"

The first thing we'd like to remind you is DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!! Belize travel can be wonderful, relaxing, frustrating, exciting, or dilatory. Of course, much of what happens is situational, but your reaction to events can make a world of difference. Please remember that everything always works out fine in the end. Just take a deep breath, slow down, and keep smiling! We have to remind ourselves of this all the time. It's a different latitude with different attitudes.

Have questions about our island or about Belize?

Don't hesitate to give us a call: (800) 390-5715, or send us an email: slickrock@slickrock.com. We've been working in Belize for 24 years and would love to hear from you.

Belize Quick Facts

Belize is a fantastic country. Not only is it a fascinating place to visit, but it is also easy and inexpensive to get to, English is the official language, and it is a great winter destination as it enjoys a warm winter climate. The population (300,000) is about the same as Corpus Christi, Texas, and the country itself is about the size of New Hampshire. The society is multicultural, consisting of African-European Creoles, Spanish-Indian Mestizos, African-Indian Garinagus, Mayan Indians, and a few Europeans, North Americans, and Asians. Outside of the "troublemakers" in Belize City, Belizeans are, for the most part, genuinely friendly people, who lead a laid-back Caribbean lifestyle.

Although the capital city is Belmopan, the largest city in the country is Belize City, with a population of about 70,000. Belize was known as British Honduras until 1981 when they gained their independence from Britain. They are on Central Time but do not observe Daylight Savings Time. The water is safe to drink in most areas, and the standard of health care is among the highest in Central America.

Belize Weather

Belize enjoys a subtropical climate, somewhat similar to that of South Florida, with temperatures typically in the 70s to mid-90s. There is a "wet" and a "dry" season, with the dry season lasting approximately from late November through May. Rainstorms can occur during the dry season, but they are usually brief. Over the past few years, changes in global weather patterns have made the dry and wet seasons less predictable. Hurricanes are a potential threat from July to early November. The worst in recent memory was Hurricane Iris, which struck Placencia in southern Belize in October 2002. Our FAQ page has more information on Belize weather.

Request complete information on our Belize adventure packages!

Belize Tourism

Despite what you may have heard, Belize remains a little-visited country; the number of international visitors to Belize is about one-half the number that visits Costa Rica. Cancun alone gets four times the annual number of visitors to all of Belize. Only about 35% of Belizean visitors are from the United States and over half of the tourists go to either Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker. The next most-popular destination is the Cayo District, the area around San Ignacio.

Money in Belize

The exchange rate is two Belize dollars to one U.S. dollar, but there is no need to change your money to Belize dollars from U.S. dollars; U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere. You need to continually use the Belize change you receive, because you will lose on the exchange if you have any left at the end. It is best to have cash for cabs and isolated areas. Traveler’s Checks are more of a problem than an asset because on our trips you are only in "civilization" when banks are closed. Traveler’s Checks take six weeks to clear, so small businesses such as taxis, restaurants, or hotels in rural areas would be giving you a six-week loan by accepting them; consequently, few of them do. Getting cash is also difficult for our staff, so we cannot cash them for you; tipping your guides with Traveler’s Checks causes a problem for locals as personal checking accounts are not common in the country. Long Caye Dive Shop does accept Traveler’s Checks. The few ATMs in Belize City are often out of order, and if you arrive right before your trip meeting you have no time to take a cab to an ATM anyway, so to rely on that system would be a mistake. US checks are not accepted in Belize. For these reasons, it is best to bring cash only. You can carry some of your cash in a money belt, and the rest of it worn under your clothing when moving to and from the country. We use this system ourselves with great success. Valuables are safe on our island, in our van, and in the hotels we use on our trips. However, we cannot guarantee the safety of your property. We cannot be held liable for any losses of property or cash while on a trip.

Our all inclusive Belize trips cover everything except alcoholic beverages, Belize exit tax, scuba diving, tips, and taxis to and from the airport.

Belize Medical

On all of our trips we are far from medical care. Guests should bring all medications for chronic or recurring ailments. Recent medical and dental exams should be completed to ensure that you are fit for travel, and you should carry health insurance documents. If you purchase a travel insurance policy it will cover medical costs in the country, as well as your last-minute trip cancellation and other risks of travel (call TravelEx at 800-228-9792 and tell them you are traveling with Slickrock. Slickrock's location number is 44-0013). You can also visit TravelEx's website.

Our trips are not overly-strenuous, but good general physical condition is a must. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you must be capable of moderate to vigorous exercise for a few hours each day. We are not qualified to evaluate your fitness, so you must determine if your own fitness is appropriate. If you are overweight, in poor physical condition, or have special medical considerations you should call us first and consult with your physician before signing up for a trip. We recommend that all participants have a medical checkup.

Out on our island we are somewhat isolated from the typical medical risks of the tropics. Everyone should be vaccinated within the past five years for tetanus. You should also talk to your doctor about allergic reactions to marine life, and bring appropriate medications that your physician recommends. Those who travel inland should consult a doctor about malaria, dengue fever, and hepatitis, and remember that a course of malaria medication needs to be started two weeks prior to departure. There is no threat of malaria, dengue fever, or hepatitis on our island.

We are not able to advise you beyond "ask your doctor" about the threat of malaria inland because the region of infected mosquitoes changes monthly. Although present, cases of malaria in Belize are rare. The prevention drug for malaria in this area is the prescription drug Chloroquine. Most travel clinics and many Internet sites will recommend malaria protection for all parts of Belize, but mosquito control in larger metropolitan areas has eliminated mosquito habitats close to human population settlements. Less dangerous than malaria, dengue fever can also be contracted from infected mosquitoes. There is no medication for dengue fever; it goes away by itself after about four days. Please don’t ask us to tell you whether to get protection for malaria, even doctors do not agree; it is a personal choice. Malaria pills are bad for you, but getting malaria is worse. The only true protection against both malaria and dengue fever is to not get bitten by a disease-infested mosquito. The best prevention for bites is to wear a bug repellent that contains at least 30% DEET. One site on the Internet with information on malaria prevention is http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationBelize.aspx.

Hepatitis A is contracted through infected water; our drinking water is safe. If you plan to travel extensively in remote areas before or after our trip you should consider the Hepatitis A vaccination. The biggest health hazard on our trips is the threat of sunburn. Be careful the first few days, a bad sunburn can ruin the rest of your trip. Also, seasickness can occur on travel days out to the island.

Our guides are trained in First Aid, but cannot be expected to serve as doctors. All participants should be sure their own medical coverage is adequate. We assume no responsibility regarding provision of medical care. Before your adventure, the best precautions are don’t get hurt and make sure you are in good health the week before the trip. For more details on avoidable problems, please refer to our page: Our Hints for a Better Vacation. Remember you will be in an isolated area 35 miles off shore; there is no emergency room and you can’t call 911, although we do have emergency contact with the mainland.

Belize Transportation: How do I get around in Belize?

Rental cars

We list two rental car places in Belize, although we don't have personal experience with any of them. Rental cars allow you to stop along the way without having to deal with storing your luggage. If planning to go to Tikal, be sure to ask if they will let you take their vehicle across the border. Check out their websites for specific rates.

Flying in-country

Two airlines service Belize. There are daily flights between Belize International Airport, Belize Municipal Airport, Dangriga, Placencia, Big Creek, Punta Gorda, Corozol, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, and Ambergris Caye. You can also fly to Flores, Guatemala. Sample rates: Belize International Airport to Dangriga: one way: $54. Consult their excellent websites for exact prices and schedules.

Busses

Busses are often the best way to go, and they are inexpensive. Bus prices and schedules change too often to include here, but remember, this is a country where most of its citizens depend on bus service. There are at least four bus companies in the country. Also be aware that busses don't run as often on Saturday or Sunday, for example, a route which has hourly service during the week may only have two choices on Sunday. The staff at your hotel will be familiar with busses in their area.

Taxis

Taxis are available everywhere, are more expensive than the bus, but make a lot of sense under certain circumstances. If you are traveling with a group of four, taxis are a great deal. Some cab drivers also act as an impromptu guide, hoping for a tip.

Our favorite taxi driver in Belize City is Vida Gillett. She is wonderful! You make advance reservations with her via email: alvibra2002@yahoo.com, or call her at any of these numbers: 011-501-605-5897 (her cell), 011-501-605-6969 (her husband's cell, he is also a cab driver), or 011-501-202-4387 (her home number). But don't call for a cab reservation months in advance, it could get lost .... wait until about 2 or 3 weeks prior to the date you need it.

There is also a shuttle service that runs daily from San Ignacio to Belize City. Contact them through the Aguada Hotel, 011-501-804-3609 or email, aguada@btl.net. The shuttle to San Ignacio is about $50 US per person.

Recommended Hotels In Belize City

View our Belize City map to located recommended hotels and restaurants in Belize City.

It is impossible to completely avoid Belize City because you fly in and out of the city before and after your trip. We make all accommodation arrangements for your trip; this information is provided for early arrivals. If you arrive early or stay late, you’ll need to make your own reservations for the additional nights. These are our two favorite hotels in Belize City. The Biltmore is near the airport, and very easy for our guests since we stay there either before and after the trip, or meet there and stay there after, depending on which package you have chosen. The Mopan is downtown, which is interesting, and very affordable. Please tell them that you heard about them from Slickrock. There are high taxes in Belize that are not included in room rates, and most lodges also tack on a 10% service charge. So expect a 9%-19% tax on top of the rates below. All rates can change without notice.

Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel

3-1/2 miles Northern Highway, Phone: 011-501-223-2302, e-mail: reservations@belizebiltmore.com, website: www.belizebiltmore.com The Biltmore is where you will stay with us while in Belize City. It is a full-service hotel located on the outskirts of Belize City, three miles from downtown. Single or double rates are $88 for registered Slickrock guests only (regular rates: $154.) If you are staying additional days and want to stay at the Biltmore make your reservations in advance and directly with the Biltmore for the special rate to apply. Do not try to use the Best Western on-line reservation system found on their website. It is useless for Belize. You must make reservations by email or phone. There are many things to do right at the hotel. It has a business center, a beautifully landscaped courtyard, swimming pool, gym, restaurant, bar, gift shop, and a tour desk. Their in-house tour company is the easiest place to arrange for day tours before or after your stay.

Hotel Mopan

55 Regent St. Phone: 011-501-227-7351, email: hotelmopan@btl.net, website:

www.hotelmopan.comRates are $45-75, depending on room. Newly renovated, this spacious old house has 14 rooms with private baths, cable TV and free WiFi access. The bar is known as a friendly meeting place for both locals and travelers. With clean, comfortable rooms and guest computers for internet access, this is our favorite budget hotel in Belize City.

Further Information About Other Things to Do in Belize

This webpage is a list of our favorite things to do in the country. If you plan to come early or stay late, you should consider getting a guidebook. There are well over a dozen guidebooks about Belize. It is important to search for the most recently updated information you can find when consulting a guidebook. You can view a list of all Belize guidebooks, with publication dates, on our Belize Books and Island Library page.

For a travel package that includes all of our favorite Belize things to do check out Belize Adventure Week. On this package you will experience sixteen sports in 8 days! Of the many scuba diving centers in the country, ours has some of the most pristine coral reefs right off our shore!

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Slickrock Adventures pioneered Belize adventure vacations. Our ecotourism trips based out of our private Caribbean island at Glover's Reef set trends in the industry. Specialists in sea kayaking vacations, we also teach you to surf, windsurf, snorkel, scuba dive, whitewater kayak, raft, and cave at our island resort and in the tropical rainforests of Belize. With world-class snorkeling and diving just a few yards off-shore, you will discover why so many of our guests return year after year.