Our Belize specialists are experienced and passionate about the country - between them they have spent many weeks a year researching new experiences and ensuring everything is of the highest standard. They know Belize inside out.
Practical Information
Belize is a very different country to travel around than the rest of Central America: things move at a slower pace.
It’s a fabulous place to relax, take your time, appreciate beautiful scenery, spot wildlife and experience something new - anything from canoeing, caving and river tubing to scuba-diving, spotting manatees and swimming with sharks, all of which our specialists have extensively researched.
Getting around
Despite its small size and reliance on tourism the infrastructure is poor. Many of the roads are bumpy and unpaved, and although our drivers are well accustomed to the conditions we often suggest chartering an aircraft as an alternative means of travel to your next stop.
The views from the air are spectacular and give you a completely different perspective of the country.
Combining Belize with other countries
As well as a destination in its own right a trip to Belize can easily be combined with neighbouring Guatemala.
Language
The official language in Belize is English, although many mestizos (those of mixed Maya and European blood) only speak Spanish. The increasingly used creole language has both an English and a Spanish version, and is often a mixture of the two languages.
Food and drink
The national dish of Belize is rice & beans, but in certain restaurants you can also get lobster and tropical reef fish. Many of the hotel restaurants offer a mix of international and national dishes. The national Belikin beer is very tasty.
Tipping
As always, tipping is voluntary, not obligatory. In restaurants, usually 10% is acceptable with 15% for exceptional service. In some cases, this will be added to your bill automatically, so do check this before paying.
Money
The Belizean Dollar is fixed at an exchange rate of US$1 to BZ$2, which makes calculating costs rather easy. Generally, in conversation, most people refer to the US currency as dollars, and the Belizean as simply "Belize". Belize is generally a pretty expensive country in comparison to other areas in Central America, and prices are usually around the same as in the US. UK pounds are not easy to change in Belize so please take USD. Almost all hotels and tour operators will accept the major credit cards, although a 5% tax is often added. Travellers Cheques are not widely accepted. It is best to carry small denominations of cash, as change can be difficult to come by.
Social etiquette
Belize is a relaxed country and the people very friendly but please ask permission before taking photographs.
Under The Skin
Read
'Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer' by Rosita Arvigo This text is the story of American herbologist Rosita Arvigo's apprenticeship to Don Elijio Panti, one of the last and most respected traditional healers of Belize. 'Our Man in Belize' By Richard Timothy Conroy. A memoir of British Honduras as it was.
Listen
A mixture of Spanish salsa, European rock and Reggueton.
Watch
'The Mosquito Coast', was filmed in Belize. Starring Harrison Ford and River Phoenix and directed by Peter Weir, the film is about an inventor who relocates his family to the Central American jungle.
Eat
Rice and beans is the typical dish in Belize, a delicious mixture of rice & refried beans, often accompanied by chicken but by the coast and on the cayes the seafood is delicious.
Drink
Belikin beer is the national beer of Belize, found almost everywhere and a welcome drink in the heat!
Word
No worries man!
Trademarks
Caribbean cool, laid-back atmosphere, jungle.
Coffee beans.