One Little-known reason to visit beautiful Belize
Really! There is only one reason to vacation in Belize.
You may already know a little about Belize. However, you may not realize everything Belize has to offer, especially for being such a small nation. At 8,867 square miles, with a population just approximately 400,000, this little country has much to offer touists looking for adventure, and/or simple relaxation. Looking for an unforgettable journey a bit off the beaten path? Well, Belize may be just what you are looking for.
You’ve probably seen several lists about the top 5 or 10 reasons to visit a destination. Well, Belize only has ONE reason! Hopefully, this one reason will help you decide why Belize should be on your bucket list.
Diversity! That’s right. Diversity. The beauty that is Belize is diverse of geography, culture, adventures, and wildlife! What more could you ask for? Let me expand on that a bit…….
The Geographical Diversity of Belize is immense. Belize boasts a Savannah, Mountains, Jungle/Tropical Rain Forest, Coastal Plains, Mangroves, Swamps, Rivers and Lagoons. There’s even Vaca Lake, created as a result of a hydro Dam, with 5 waterfalls spilling into it. And let’s not forget the 100+ islands that are part of Belize! Oh yes, Belize islands are much, much more than Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker! Check out Tobacco Caye with approximately 4 square acres and some of the best snorkeling right from the shore!
Belize is also home to one of the largest wildlife corridors in Central America, connecting two nature reserves that are home to jaguars and pumas, among other wildlife. If you drive from Belize City toward San Ignacio or other Southern locales, you’ll drive right through it!
Even the Belize climate is more diverse than you might think. The overall climate is sub-tropical, but in the mountains the temperature can dip into the 40’s during the winter. While the mean annual humidity is 83%, the cooling trade winds do a good job of counteracting it. The annual mean temperature is @ 80 degrees. Another bonus is that Belize is considered to be off the main hurricane alley!
The Diversity of Adventures & ‘Things to Do’ are endless. You could never schedule enough time in a single vacation to do everything. From Beaches, Diving & Snorkeling on the Coast & Islands, to Caving, River Tubing, Kayaking/Canoeing, Waterfall Rappelling, Ziplining, Biking & Hiking inland, there is just so much to do. You can relax on the beach or in the jungle for your entire vacation, or max out on adventures – or combine the two for some balance. Most visitors find this flexibility one of the best features of Belize, especially when there are differences of opinions as to what makes a great vacation!
And let’s not forget the incredible Maya Ruins. There are over 100 Maya Archeological Sites located throughout Belize. Some of the most popular are Caracol, Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM), Xunantunich, Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, Lamanai and El Pilar.
The Cultural Diversity of Belize is one of the most extensive of any country. But before I go there, I must share that Belizeans of all cultures are the kindest and friendliest of people. The citizens of Belize have been referred to as a ‘melting pot’ of cultures including, Kriol (descendants of African Slaves), Mestizo (Hispanic), Mayan (yes, the Mayans still exist!), Garifuna (Caribbean), East-Indian, Chinese, Mennonites and British. Belize is the only country with people on the national flag, and the two figures on the flag celebrate the cultural diversity of Belize, in a way that no other country does! With this cultural diversity comes a wide selection of amazing Belizean Food! Learn how to make chocolate as the ancient Mayans did. Spend some time tasting the various rums made in Belize. Hit the food carts in some of the larger towns or find the hidden ‘hole-in-the-wall’ gems everywhere in Belize and eat where the locals go! You won’t be disappointed.
The Cultural Diversity of Belize is also reflected in the many Belize Holidays. There’s not enough space here to share the multitude of Belize festivals but here’s a link to provide a ‘taste’ of the many Belizean food festivals.
One of the most amazing aspects of Belize is the Diversity of Wildlife, and the lengths that are taken to protect it. Approximately 26% of Belize (land and sea) is preserved within a total of 95 national reserve areas; including marine reserves, bird sanctuaries, forest reserves, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, natural monuments, national parks and of course archaeological reserves. Most of the wildlife centers are open to the public and provide an up-close glimpse into the lives of Belize animals, including; the Baboon Sanctuary (Howler Monkeys), the Raptor Center, Manatee Rehab (Wildtracks), Belize Bird Rescue, Jaguar Preserve, and the Belize Zoo (a rescue zoo). But, if you spend just a little while looking in the waters and jungles of Belize, you’ll have first-hand encounters with many of the native creatures!
So, you can see, there really is only one reason to visit Belize – Diversity! There is literally something for everyone! For more information about all Belize contact me, Cheryl, at info@LuckyDreamerLodge.com. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have!
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We, Jeff and Cheryl, ventured to Belize in 2014. We purchased some land in Cristo Rey Village in Cayo on the Macal River. We built our home and two guest bungalows over the next 5 years. So here we are in an Amazing jungle village full of wonder & delight on a daily basis. Thank you for letting us share our little slice of jungle-heaven with you. We hope this blog inspires you to visit someday – and maybe we can meet up!
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