Just 750 miles from Miami, Belize lies on the Caribbean coast of Central America between Guatemala and Mexico. Populated by a mere 200,000 people, it is a country of approximately 9,000 square miles. It has inland mountain ranges with peaks over 3,500 ft, dense tropical jungles, a coastline of mangrove swamps, and 266 square miles of offshore coral islands. The 185-mile-long barrier reef parallels the shore from 10 to 30 miles out, with prime diving locations around the out islands.
Tours to Belize are labeled "expedition" or "safari" rather than "vacation." Its offshore accommodations and facilities are considered primitive by Caribbean standards-few TVs, phones or automobiles on most of the islands-yet Belize's jungles and unspoiled reefs lure intrepid divers back again and again.
Visitors arriving in Belize City will find a safer environment than in the past, thanks to a special Tourist Police Force formed in 1995 that has reduced crimes against tourists by 72%. Despite the improvement, it's still wise to avoid flashing expensive cameras, jewelry, or money around.
On the mainland outside Belize City one finds fairly rugged and varied terrain, alive with yellowhead parrots, giant iguanas, monkeys and a curious creature called the gibnut-described by Belizean author, Robert Nicolait, as a cross between a fat rabbit and a small pig.
The heart of dive tourism is Ambergris Caye, a bustling resort and fishing community, the largest of the out islands or "cayes." Its main town, San Pedro, is a few hundred yards from the Hol Chan Marine Preserve, the northernmost point of the Barrier Reef, and is the jump-off point to Belize's smaller cayes and atolls. Ambergris is just 20 minutes by air from Belize City or an hour and 15 minutes by ferry (see end of chapter for transportation details). The northern portion of Ambergris is accessible by boat only, but plans for a road are under consideration. Transportation on Ambergris and the other islands is by golf cart or on foot.
A new area for divers is Placencia, a quaint fishing village located on a 16-mile coastal peninsula, 100 miles south of Belize City. There are some coral heads off the beaches, but a half-hour boat ride will bring you to Laughing Bird Caye, a small island surrounded by pristine reefs, and the remains of old wrecks. Several Spanish galleons went down in this area over the years and occasionally a gold piece washes up on the beach. Placencia is an intriguing new place to explore.
Visit Belize during the dry season, from February to May. Annual rainfall ranges from 170 inches in the south to 50 inches in the north. Heaviest rainfall is from September to January. August is frequently dry.
Cruises
21 Days - Caribbean - Miami to Miami aboard Queen Elizabeth
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Queen Elizabeth14 Days - Caribbean East/west Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun Princess14 Days - Caribbean Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Star Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Star Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princes
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun Princess9 Days - Western Caribbean - Miami to Miami aboard Queen Elizabeth
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Queen Elizabeth7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princes
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess21 Days - Caribbean - Miami to Miami aboard Queen Elizabeth
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Queen Elizabeth14 Days - Caribbean East/west Adventurer - Port Canaveral (Orlando) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) aboa
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Caribbean Princess14 Days - Caribbean Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Star Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Star Princess14 Days - Caribbean Adventurer - Port Canaveral (Orlando) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) aboard Sky Pr
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sky Princess14 Days - Caribbean Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Star Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Star Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/West Adventurer - Port Canaveral (Orlando) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) aboa
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sky Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/west Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princ
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess9 Days - Western Caribbean - Miami to Miami aboard Queen Elizabeth
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Queen Elizabeth10 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Galveston to Galveston aboard Regal Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Regal Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Star Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Star Princess9 Days - Western Caribbean - Miami to Miami aboard Queen Elizabeth
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Queen Elizabeth6 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Galveston to Galveston aboard Regal Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Regal Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princes
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/west Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/West Adventurer - Port Canaveral (Orlando) to Port Canaveral (Orlando) aboa
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Caribbean Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/West Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princ
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princes
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess6 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico Holiday - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Majestic
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Majestic Princess14 Days - Caribbean East/west Adventurer - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Enchanted Princ
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Enchanted Princess7 Days - Western Caribbean With Mexico - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Sun Princess
Destination: Caribbean
Ship: Sun PrincessCaribbean Twilight - Miami Florida to Miami Florida
Destination: Transoceanic
Ship: Vista