Friendly Belize
Belize City is known as one of the most dangerous towns in Central America, according to some guide books. Most people use it as a quick stop before heading off to the beaches, or cruise passengers simply spend their time shopping in the terminal or heading off on an organized tour.
If you take the time to actually walk around the town and explore it a little, you will find that it is a fun place to be with friendly and welcoming people. Travel books advise people to skip Belize City if you can, but after all it is the countries largest urban hub, and by avoiding it you will miss a large part of what Belize is all about.
Belize is steadily growing as a popular stop for Cruise liners. The terminal is one of the nicest buildings in the city filled with shops and eateries. Passengers rarely leave here unless they are running off on a tour to see the sites. It is too bad for Cruisers, they never really see the real Caribbean cities that they visit. Each Terminal looks and feels like the last and yet to walk around the downtown area, you will find a unique energy and vibe.
Explore the architecture from stilt houses to Colonial buildings left over from the English settlement of the 1500’s. Make sure to stop for some food while out and about. Belize city offers local fare, seafood and international cuisine. Culture, food and even language is varied in this small Caribbean nation. People speak the official language of English, but are also fluent in Creole, Spanish and even Mayan and German.
You are now free to move on knowing that you gave the city a chance and you can book a water taxi right from downtown to take you out to an island on the Caribbean Sea. The Cayes of Belize are a popular destination and for only $10 you will be zipped out to Ambergris Caye or to it’s smaller and more relaxed neighbour, Caye Caulker.
The relaxed Caye Caulker is a popular place for the backpacker crowd. Far less touristy and quieter than Ambergris Caye, it feels as if you are relaxing in Jamaica. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island keeping noise and pollution to a minimum. You will see the odd golf cart or you can rent a bike to check things out. Rooms are cheaper and you won’t find any enormous resorts desecrating the land.
Located just 1 mile from the Belize Barrier Reef, it offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. Hire a boat to take you out to Shark Ray Alley and you will swim with the sharks as manta rays brush up against you. A marine preserve for the past 12 years, the coral and marine life is second to none in the world. Dolphin sightings are commonplace and you will be sure to spot barracuda’s, octopus, stingrays, eels and lobsters.
The blue hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world and it is located in the waters of Belize. A perfectly formed giant blue hole in the middle of the sea attracts established divers. At 400 feet deep, it is not for new divers. If you have your deep diving certificate, you will be able to bounce down to 150 feet here where you will witness giant stalactites in still deep blue water. Most operations chum the water to attract sharks that circle above as you complete your dive.
If getting into the water with natural predators isn’t your cup of tea, take a sailing trip to visit other Islands. Belize has several islands and you can take a trip to have a picnic lunch on the beach or enjoy an island drink at an upscale resort on Ambergris Caye. You can find a company to go with by simply walking down the main sandy street where operations line the path.
After your day exploring, you will be needing some great food and drinks and Caye Caulker has its fair share of restaurants. From fresh catches of the day to Italian or Jamaican Jerk, you will find something to satisfy your pallette. After dinner, head down to the beach and enjoy a cocktail as you listen to a band and find yourself content to just be.
To name everything that there is to do in Belize would take a book. Explore its jungles by foot, enjoy an inland kayaking trip and explore Central America’s largest Cave system. If you are a history buff visit one of the many Mayan ruins and for animal lovers, you can stop by the jaguar sanctuary. Beach life can even be found on the mainland and Placencia boasts the best beaches in the country.
It won’t take long until development catches hold in Belize and it turns into another Cancun. Unfortunately, that is the way of the world. So don’t wait, visit Belize today and get to know the people of this laid back country filled with beautiful scenery and breathtaking views.
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