Belize Travel Guide

, as the beaten-up school bus works its way down the old Hummingbird Highway. Sometimes this smallest of countries appears innocent, naïve and relaxed.

This Belize travel guide covers a smorgasbord of landscapes, from mountainous, tropical rainforests with abundant wildlife to fertile subtropical foothills where cattle are rearer, sugar, rice, and fruit trees are cultivated, and bird-filled coastal wetlands and small islands - known as cayes - with beautiful beaches.

Measuring 174 miles north to south and just 80 miles across, the country nestles on the coast between Mexico and Guatemala, with a land area of about 8860 sq miles, including hundreds of cayes. The reefs and cayes form a 184-mile barrier reef with crystal-clear water and are a major attraction for world-class diving, snorkelling and sport fishing. And hidden beneath the depths is the magnificent Blue Hole, one of the world's best dives.

Inland, rivers and rainforest invite you to head out, trekking, paddling and biking, to visit the ancient ruins of the Maya, or to cave in their spiritual underworld. For the beginner and the specialist birdwatching is an endless pleasure.

Our Belize travel guide provides an insight into this fascinating culture. With a Caribbean history and a Central American geography, Belize is a subtle blend of cultures that encourages the laid back attitude of the small (just 311,000) but ethnically diverse population, who paint an intriguing picture in this culturally different, English-speaking Central American nation.

Belize Travel Guide Highlights
Caracol Forgotten city, once centre of the Maya world.	Northern Cayes Scuba dive to the depths of the Blue Hole.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Best chance of seeing a jaguar in Belize.	Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Your very own Indiana Jones experience.
Great Blue Hole A 200-ft rappel drop down Actun Loch Tunich cave.	Belize Zoo Highly recommended, even for those who don't like zoos.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary One of the best birding spots in Belize.	Altún Ha Ruins Essential for anyone interested in Maya civilisation.
Mountain Pine Ridge Great hiking amid spectacular forests, rivers and waterfalls.	Placencia Small fishing community with idyllic beaches.
Lamanai Ruins Wander freely around this impressive Mayan ruin.	Lubaantun Home of a major late-Maya ceremonial site.