This small, but vibrant nation is neighbour to Mexico on its northern border, Guatemala, located on its western border, and bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea. It is separated by sea from its southwest neighbor, Honduras. Enhanced by dense rain forests and pristine waters, Belize also boasts an expansive terrain including the lovely region of the Mountain Pine Ridge in the Northwest where one can find an impressive waterfall which cascades over 1000 ft below into the forest.

To the South one can find the Cockscomb Basin well known as the home of the only jaguar reserve in the world. Many tourists consider this an extraordinary opportunity to experience this magnificent creature. Belize is located in the Western Caribbean and remains a prime milieu for tourists, vacationers, and environmental enthusiasts.


Belize is approximately 8,866 square miles in size. Its mainland is approximately 180 miles long and close to 68 miles wide. Belize also consists of over 200 cayes (islands), ranging in size from a few hundred feet to 25 miles long and four miles wide. Most of these islands are located inside the 200 mile Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Outside this protective reef is the famous Blue Hole, a natural wonder alleged to have been created by a collapsed underwater cave. Further out in the ocean are a group of small islands (or Cayes). The largest of these cayes is Ambergris Caye, which is a popular destination for tourist and vacationers.

This nation expresses a unique combination of cultures. It is a nation of immigrants. With a population of approximately 320,000. This intriguing country\'s culture is influenced by an interesting collection of races: Maya, Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, Lebanese, German Mennonites and Chinese immigrants. A recent census revealed that Mestizos have overtaken the Creoles as the dominant race. While English is the official language, most Belizeans speak a broken English dialect called Creole. Spanish is also a very popular language and there is also a strong Jamaican influence in music and cuisine.

The national animal of Belize is the Baird\'s Tapir, and its national bird is the vibrant Keel-billed Toucan. Interestingly enough, Belize is a mecca for an abundance of flora and fauna. The national flower of Belize is the delicate black orchid and the country is a habitat for endangered species including the scarlet macaw, the three-toed sloth, the green turtle, and the manatee.


Belize weather is characterized by two seasons: a rainy and a dry season. Throughout the year the preponderance of rainfall occurs during the June through November months, considered the rainy season. Most unusual is the abrupt transition from dry season to the rainy season. For the regions to the south, the volume of rainfall varies from year to year. However, in general Belize annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches (1524mm) in the north to 160 inches (4064mm) in the south.

The average temperature along the coastal regions is 81°F/ 27°C, while in the hills it averages 69°F/21°C . The coldest month of the year is January and the warmest temperatures are experienced during the month of May.

Accessibility
It takes approximartely 2 hours and 15 minutes to arrive in Belize by air from Houston, Texas and Miami, Florida. Direct flights are available from Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. and U.S. gateway cities to Belize include Miami, Dallas-Forth Worth, Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana.

From Mexico, direct flights to Belize are available from Cancun and Chetumal; and from Canada via Toronto. Most Central American countries offer direct flights to Belize, including Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica. Direct service from the UK and/or Europe if not already offered, should become available sometime this year.

For more information about Belize, please visit www.belize.com