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CountryOnlineFind.com > Reception >
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Belize (BZ) |
| Continent: |
North America |
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| Surface: |
22.966 km ² |
| Inhabitants: |
301.750 |
| Capital: |
Belmopan |
International banking code (ISO Codes): |
BZ |
| Official language: |
English, Spanish, Maya |
Code: |
+501 |
| Currency: |
Dollar bélizéen |
Number plate: |
BH |
| Routes of Belize: |
135 |
Routes towards Belize: |
268 |
| Preferred airports: |
Punta Gorda (PND), Caye Chapel (CYC), Corozal (CZH), Caye Caulker (CUK), Belize City (TZA), Belize City (BZE), San Pedro (SPR), Dangriga (DGA), Placencia (PLJ) |
| Principal cities: |
Belize, San Ignacio, Orange Walk, Belmopan, Dangriga, Corozal, San Pedro, Benque Viejo, Punta Gorda, Valley off Peace, San Jose Soccoths, San Jose Micrometer caliper, Meditation, Bank Channel, San Jose |
| Airline company based in Belize: |
Maya Island Air, Tropic Air |
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Tourist guide Belize (North America) |
The Belize is a country located at the south-east of the Central America on the peninsula of Yucatan in the Caribbean Sea. The country has in the west of the common borders with Guatemala and Mexico on 540 km and is the only country of America not to have an direct access with the Pacific Ocean.
Geography: the north of the country which was before under water, presents today a landscape of plains covered with a thick tropical forest. All the coastal region presents a ground muddy and marshy then rises gently while going towards the interior of the grounds, towards Belize City to reach a basic altitude mountain bordering the 1.100 m in the solid mass of the Mayas which is stretched to the Guatemalan border. It is here, in this area, old high-place of the Maya culture that draws up itself to 1.122 m, the Peak of Victoria, more the high summit of the country.
Cours d' water: the longest river of the country is the homonymous river, the Belize, a 290 km length and on which goods transport by inland waterway being used is carried out to supply the areas far away from the tropical forest.
Climate and period of voyage advised: it reigns in the Belize a hot and wet climate, even tropical, controlled by the trade winds blowing of the North-East which make it pleasant. The temperatures average day laborers are constant and turn around 26°C. One does not observe too important falls of temperature during the night. For the period of the rains, between June and November, of the natural disasters such as cyclones frequently occur, this is why it is to better go to the Belize between December and April because the falls of rains are in this period rarer and the climate is more pleasant there.
Official languages and spoken languages: the official language is English, which makes of the Belize the only country of Central America not have Spanish like official language. Spanish is nevertheless spoken there by 20% about the population as well as Mayas languages.
Health and vaccinations: generally one advises with the travellers to be made vaccinate against hepatitis has, typhus, the polio, the diphteria and tetanus. To prevent the viral diseases transmitted by the insects and the mosquitos, it is in general enough to cover well and apply products anti-insects. There exists in the Belize throughout the year, especially in the campaigns, a real risk to catch paludism. It would be thus advisable to consult a doctor before your departure in order to define a preventive strategy. The health system is unfortunately satisfactory only in the big cities such as Belize city and Belmopan and in the tourist places. In general, the health care institutions require an immediate payment. It is also advised to contract an insurance travels including/understanding an insurance repatriation for the most serious cases. For more safety and to avoid risks of infection, it is recommended to consume only bottled water, to peel the fruits well and to make cook vegetables before consuming them. Lastly, think of providing you with a small first-aid kit of voyage.
Conditions of entry on the territory: the French nationals must be in possession of a valid passport as of a visa of temporary stay obligatory which one can get near the embassy of the Belize. The minor travellers must be provided with an individual passport.
For further information concerning vaccinations, the conditions of entry and the security instructions, you can, for example, to consult the site of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Travel and transport: from Paris (CDG), several companies propose flights bound for the international airport of the Belize, located close to Belize City, Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE), unfortunately almost always with a stopover on the American ground. To go on the surrounding coral islands, Cayes, one can borrow “Toilets Taxis” of Belize City.
The capital: Belmopan, planned then built after a cyclone practically entirely destroyed the old capital, Belize City, in 1961, is since 1970 the new capital of the city and shelters 15.000 inhabitants. The building of the National Assembly, built like a Maya temple, is the only building worthy of a visit. All the other institutions, the seats of international companies and the embassies are always localized in Belize City. The two cities, separated by approximately 80 km are connected between them by the new highway. The old capital, Belize City, shelter 80.000 inhabitants and are thus more the big city of the country. It has also the largest port and the largest coach station from which one can practically join all the interior destinations and even certain cities of Guatemala. Among the sites which were not destroyed, one counts in the downtown area the Swing Bridge, the town hall dating from the colonial time, the old American embassy, the church Baptist of Queen Street and the headlight of Strong George.
Tourist sites and places of bathe: the Belize can enorgueillir itself of many tourist sites, to start with Cayes, these coral islands off the coasts, most important in the northern hemisphere and most important after the Large coral barrier of Australia, the most beautiful site of diving of the world. Many vestiges of the Maya culture present on the territory and the territories of the adjoining countries, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, constitute them also a great tourist attraction. It is supposed that more than 1400 ruins still remain to locate on the ground belizéen. Maya civilization existed during more than 4000 years and, with its apogee, between 250 and 900 after J.C, its population the million individuals reached. Among the Maya sites most important, one can quote Lamanai, Nobmul or Cuello, all three located daN district Walk the Orange. Lamanai is the one of greatest sites discovered to date. One can admire there much archaeological remainders going back to this time. Whereas many sites had already been abandoned before the arrival of Spanish because of the food shortage, Lamanai densément was still densément populated. The city has also two Spanish churches and a sugar refinery located in the tropical forest. One can reach the ruins either with foot, or by boat, or in the plane.
The ruins of Caracol, located on the plate of Vaca, in the province of Cayo, are another Maya site very appreciated tourists. But the site, considered as largest of the country, is, for the period of the rains, very difficult of access. They is there that the pyramid of Canaa is, the largest building built by the man on the ground belizéen. This site, a 43 m height, has a single beauty, in particular because of the tropical forest of Chiquibul which one can admire in background. The province counts still various Maya sites such as Xunantunich, El Pilar, Cahal Pech and Pacbitun. In fact, the country abounds in smaller sites, but nevertheless interesting, of the sites which have just been discovered or which were not the subject of a thorough archaeological study yet.
Parallel to Maya civilization, other great tourist attraction, the coral reef, is located in the Gulf of Mexico and, since 1996 is classified with the world heritage of UNESCO. The barrier, miraculeusement preserved, is a true paradise for the plungers. He can admire there a marine animal-life of an amazing richness, corals of all the colors like all kinds of fish and marine animals. The sea, along the reef, is strewn with coral islands, Cayes. Largest and more visited, the archipelago of Ambergis Caye, composed of 200 small islands, was inhabited by Maya and has today a very good infrastructure which enables him to be the greatest tourist center of the country. Ambergis Caye is also very practical to carry out excursions in all the area.
Religion: most of the population bélézienne is Christian, mainly catholic. Nevertheless, the Catholicism practiced here by the descendants of the Maya is a mixture of shamanism, animism and ritual Christians.
Big cities and possibilities of lodging: Belize City, San Ignacio, Orange Walk, Belmopan, Dangriga and Corozal Town.
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Flights expensive not preferred towards and of Belize/BZ
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