Belize Presentation

GEOGRAPHY OF BELIZE

• Capital: Belmopan

• Area: 8,886 sq. miles (22,968 sq. km)

• Coastline: 174 miles (386 km)

• Population: 331,900

• Official language: English

San Ignacio Town:San Ignacio Town is the main town in the Cayo District of western Belize and is an ideal base to explore ancient Maya cities like Caracol and Xunantunich, ceremonial caves like Barton Creek and Actun Tunichil Muknal, and cascading water falls like Rio on Pools and Big Rock waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Nature Reserve.

Caye Caulker:Caye Caulker is a small and beautiful island off the coast of Belize and is an ideal base for snorkeling and diving adventures. Its white sandy beaches, cool breezes, fresh seafood, turquoise Caribbean waters and a magnificent barrier reef at its doorstep are top reasons why you have to visit this island.

Placencia:Located in the Stann Creek District, Placencia is a long, narrow and sandy peninsula along Belize' Caribbean coastline and offers a laid-back ambience with various accommodations, and the best restaurants in Southern Belize. Inland tours like Monkey River and the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve can also be explored from Placencia.

Ambergris Caye:Located Ambergris Caye is the largest and most popular island in the northern waters of Belize and measures 25 miles long and 5 miles across. It is located just 35 miles northeast of Belize City and can be reached on a 10-minute plane ride or an hour and half boat ride.

Hopkins:Hopkins is a tranquil Garifuna village on the coast of Stann Creek District and is considered by many Belizeans as the cultural center of the Garifuna population in Belize. Some of the major activities to do in the area are snorkeling, scuba diving, Garifuna drumming and singing and even Garifuna cooking.

South Water Caye:South Water Caye is a lovely and underrated Caye and is perched on top of the great Belize barrier reef. It is located only 10 miles off the coast of Dangriga and Hopkins in southern Belize. The size of South Water Caye is just 15 acres and is part of Belize's world heritage site which has been zoned to protect fishing nurseries and unique marine habitants.

Dangriga:Dangriga is the largest town in Stann Creek District in Southern Belize and is considered a major capital of the Garifuna people. The name "Dangriga" is derived from a Garifuna word meaning 'sweet water' and the town is also the birthplace of punta rock -- a fusion of acoustic Garifuna and electric instruments.

Punta Gorda:Locally known as P.G, Punta Gorda is the southernmost town in Belize and is also the capital of the Toledo District. The population is comprised of around six thousand people and consists of Garifuna, Maya, East Indians, Creoles and some Lebanese and Chinese.

Sarteneja:Located on the Shipstern Peninsula in the Corozal District, Sarteneja is a quaint and picturesque Mestizo and Creole community that sits on a unique and tropical bay setting at the North Eastern Sea point of Belize. Sarteneja is derived from the Yucatec Maya "Tzaten-a-Ha" which is thought to translate as "water in the rock".

Belize Zoo:Set in natural forest, 31 miles from Belize City, the Belize Zoo is one of the finest zoos in the Americas. Many of the animals in Belize Zoo are wild animals that were kept as pets by individual collectors and the zoo tries to recondition such animals for a return to the wild. Unless you’re a seasoned wildlife photographer, this is likely to be the best place to get excellent photographs of the animals of Belize.

Actun Tunichil Muknal:Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve near San Ignacio. The cave was discovered in 1992, and was subsequently featured on the National Geographic Explorer film, “Journey Through the Underworld”.

Xunantunich:The Maya ruins of Xunantunich are located atop a ridge above the Mopan River near San Ignacio, within sight of the Guatemala border. Most of the structures date from about 200 to 900 BC. Xunantunich consists of a series of six plazas surrounded by more than 26 temples and palaces. 

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary:The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the biggest, protected destinations in Belize. The reserve was founded in 1990 as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar. Although roughly 60 of Belize’s 700 jaguars are believed to live in the sanctuary, your chances of seeing one are very slim.

Lamanai:Located in northern Belize, Lamanai was once a considerably sized Maya city. The ancient ruins are not completely uncovered yet. Archaeological work has concentrated on the investigation and restoration of the larger structures such as the High Temple, a 33 meter tall temple. Since it was still occupied by the Maya when the Spanish arrived, Lamanai, which in Maya means “submerged crocodile”, is one of the few Mayan sites to retain its traditional name.

Caracol:Located Siting high on the Vaca Plateau, 500 meters (1650 ft) above sea level, Caracol is the largest Maya site in Belize. It was once one of the largest ancient Maya cities, covering some 168 square kilometers (65 mi²). At its peak around 650 AD it had an estimated population of about 150,000, more than twice as many people as Belize City has today.

Great Blue Hole:The most popular dive destination in Belize, the Great Blue Hole offers divers interesting observations of limestone formations that mold its walls. This massive sinkhole under the water is near the Lighthouse Reef and creates a perfect circle of deep blue water. The deeper one dives into the Great Blue Hole, the clearer the water and the more breathtaking the scenery, as the array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formations become more complex and intense.

Thank You…