Places / North & Central America
Belize
Visited
At a glance
- Region
- Central America
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Population
- 417,000 (2024)
- Area
- 22,966 km²
- Languages
- Belizean Creole, English, Spanish
- Currency
- Belize dollar (BZD)
- Drives on the
- right
- Calling code
- +501
Visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Before you go
Overview
It is located at the northeastern coast of Central America in the Caribbean.
The country recorded a population of 383,071 in 2018 and covers an area of 22,965 km2.
Its capital city is Belmopan.
The most populous cities are Belize City and San Ignacio. Other major cities are Belmopan, Orange Walk Town and San Pedro.
Carocol Mayan Ruins
History
The Spanish were the original settlers in Belize between the 16th and 19th centuries. Their rule ended in 1862 when the country was declared a British colony and was called British Honduras. The constitution formed in 1954 gave the country some independence.
The country gained full autonomy and changed in 1964 and it changed its name to the current name. It later attained full independence in 1981.
Food & culture
The Belizean culture is influenced by Kriol, Maya, East Indian, Mestizo and Garinagu customs.
The main crops grown in the country are citrus, sugar cane, bananas, maize, papaya and beans.
The most common dishes include rice and beans, stewed chicken, chimole, temales, salbutes, ceviche and garnache.
Wildlife
The animals found in the country are jaguars, puma, margay, ocelots, wild cats, scarlet macaw, jaguarondi, Baird’s tapir and kinkajou.
Festivals & events
Independence Day is celebrated on 21st September.
Belize carnival comprising of street theatre, music, dances and costume are held in September.
Other festivals are Placencia sidewalk art festival, john canoe dance contest and lobster feast.
Things to see
There is the Great Blue Hole, a popular sinkhole, used for scuba diving 318 m across and 124 m deep.
There is also the Caye Caulker, a small island divided by a split with a bar, sandy beach, caulker village and a mangrove forest.
You could also visit the Belize Barrier Reef that comprises of several coral reefs off the country’s coast stretching for 180 miles from the coast.
Other must-visit places are Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, Lamanai Archeological Reserve and Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
Interesting facts
It has the world’s only Jaguar reserve called Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve .
It is the where the ancient Maya Empire before the European settlement was located.
The Belize Barrier Reef is the world’s second-largest barrier reef system in the world after Australia’s one.
