Belize attracts more than 850, 000 visitors every year to explore the mysteries of ancient Maya sites such as Altun Ha or Lamanai. It is a bird-watcher’s paradise at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and a snorkeller’s delight at the reef off Caye Caulker. Belize is a part of paradise.

Belize spreads its area across the Central American jungles and into the Caribbean Sea. It blends palm-dotted islets with ancient civilisations, national parks with luscious lagoons. Snorkellers swim through translucent seas gazing at a reef wonderland of coral, fish, dolphins and turtles or take their trek inland to investigate some of the 570 bird species that call Belize home.

Juxtaposed with these natural gifts, commercial tourism is country’s biggest source of employment and investment, making it the country’s biggest environmental threat. Belize does not have the resources to truly protect its sanctuaries so often accepts millions of investment dollars for condo and resort buildings.

Population: 320, 000
Capital: Belmopan
Languages: English
Currency: Belize Dollar, AU$1 = BZ$1.53
Religion: Christian, Hindu
Neighbours: South Mexico, Guatemala
Area: 23, 000 sq km
Time: UTC – 6
Seasons: Wet – June to November, Dry – December to May