:: Belizean American Expatriate Association ::

Adventure
 Holidays are a time for relaxation – but they are also the best opportunity to get a little adventure into your life. Belize offers an extraordinary range of exciting activities on foot, on horseback, by boat or land transport.  Belize abounds in spectacular natural features which offer refuge to a vast diversity of flora and fauna. What could be more memorable than the grace and beauty of dolphins escorting your boat on the way to the cayes? Or the delight of watching green parrots flying from tree to tree before they roost for the night? Picture yourself sitting atop a Mayan pyramid overlooking the plaza below. Can you imagine how these once bustling cities must have appeared in ancient times? Or perhaps you will kayak down rivers teeming with fish, and find yourself surrounded by birds and iguanas basking in the sun. Troops of howler monkeys call to each other from majestic riverside trees.
The world renown Belize Barrier Reef extends 190 extraordinary miles from north to south. This natural wonder has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and features three atolls and hundreds of coral encrusted cayes (islands). On the mainland, each of our six districts has its own distinct flavor. Lush rainforests, pine savannahs, mountains, wetlands, mangroves, rivers and lagoons blanket the interior. These diverse areas play host to a wide range of activities for those seeking adventure and provide a glimpse into one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet. Scores of researchers are drawn to our shores, but you don't need to be a scientist to appreciate the lush landscape , aqua seas or the many quaint inns and lodges and attractive hotels that draw interesting visitors from around the world.

Belize is a premier destination for special interest travelers. The casual diver and snorkeler on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye is within 15 minutes of Hol Chan Marine Preserve while the diver or snorkeler in Placencia might be lucky enough to encounter a whale shark, which at 40 plus feet, make this docile creature the largest fish in the sea. The serious diver can opt to stay at one of the lodges dedicated to diving or fishing on the atolls, or spend several nights on a live aboard dive boat or plush private charter.

The same reef that produces world class diving, also offers a wide variety of fantastic fishing opportunities. You'll find prize game fish both inside (on the flats) and outside the reef, as well as in our rivers. Our prevailing south easters blowing at 5-15 knots and light chop to choppy seas are perfect for sailing. We can arrange crewed and bareboat charters to ply our islands, coastline and waters.

Majestic Maya ruins dot the length and breadth of our land. Archeologists have uncovered numerous temples, pyramids and cities while many more remain hidden under dense jungle foliage. Rushing rivers coursing through limestone carved out some of the most extensive cave systems in the world. The mysterious Mayans performed their ancient ceremonies inside these caves and left behind jewelry, pottery, decorative arts, ceremonial altars and wall carvings. Our caves provide exciting recreational adventures and are a tremendous reservoir of information for archeologists studying this remarkable civilization.

Belizeans are generally bright, friendly and talkative. People still smile, wave and eagerly greet each other on the streets. You'll enjoy good conversations with the people you meet. We are a diverse population, with all 240,000 Creoles, Spanish, Garifuna, Mayans, Lebanese, Mennonites, Europeans and Asians pretty much integrated into society and getting along. Our government is based on the British Parliamentary system and our representatives are democratically and peacefully elected every five years.

Belize is nearly 9,000 square miles, about the same size as Massachusetts or Wales. We are south of Mexico in the Western Caribbean and enjoy a sub tropical climate. Breathtaking vistas, rainbows, floral scents and pleasant sounds envelope you by day. Our night skies are dazzling and the sounds of nocturnal creatures who inhabit the night are a stunning symphony you won't soon forget. In fact, everything in Belize is unforgettable.

A visit to Belize is more than a vacation. It's an experience that will be indelibly etched in your mind and soul. Belize is that very special place people return to..send friends to...again and again. 
 

Activities
 

Belize is a great destination for active travelers offering a vast array of specific sport and adventure opportunities in a small area. Whatever your taste in recreation, Belize has something for you. The diving possibilities that Belize offers are hard too match and include the Blue Hole and second largest Barrier Reef in the world. Other activities include snorkeling, hiking, white water rafting, surfing, mountain biking, bird watching, fishing, etc. Sports attract many people and in Belize they are accessible to pros and novices alike. There are few places on the globe where travelers can enjoy such a diversity of landscapes. From lowland jungles and mountainous forests to spectacular coral reefs and idyllic beaches, the region offers exciting places to practice an vide array of adventurous sports.

 

Diving and Snorkeling.
 

"Belize is one of the western Caribbean's premiere dive destinations..." Belize's barrier reef has been named one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. There are many places to dive and snorkel all along Belize’s territory and include the cayes, the atolls, various spots on the reef and the mainland. Water visibility generally reaches 100+ feet. The water temperature stays close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit all year long and the barrier reef makes for calm water almost year round. With all the diving resorts and hotels catering to divers, you will have no problem combining your dream diving/snorkeling spot with and the hotel of your choice.

Windsurfing
 

Belize is a perfect place to enjoy the fabulous sport of windsurfing. The Cayes provide flat and quiet waters that are created by the protecting reef. The constant onshore/side shore winds provide an ideal location for beginners to have a first lesson. For the intermediate it is fantastic for speeding and chop hopping. Runs of 10 miles plus are possible both tack and it is also perfect for practicing water starts and carve gibes. The water below is so clear that you can see fish and stingrays and it is not unusual to see dolphins as you sail. For the more experienced surfer, there are several wave sites and of course access to the swells on the outer reef.

 Birding
 

In Belize you have the opportunity to observe hundreds of different species of birds. It is possible to view over a 100 species in just a few days! Belize has recorded over 540 species of birds within its borders. Because of Belize's small population and lack of industry, much of Belize has remained virtually undisturbed. About 60% of the country is still forest therefore creating the perfect habitat for birds and wildlife. On various islands you will find reserves for birds such as the reserve for the black catbird on Caye Caulker and a bird sanctuary on Man-of-War Caye where you will find pelicans, frigate birds and brown bobbies. You will see more birds than what you bargained for!

Canoeing/Kayaking
 

Second only to Australia's Great Barrier, the active attractions of the 180-mile reef system off Belize’s Caribbean coast are self-evident: crystal-clear waters, a massive array of tropical fish, and vibrant coral formations all make up a near-unexplored, magical undersea world. For sea kayakers, the presence of the Belize Reef has an added benefit: It transforms what would be choppy waters into a smooth-as-glass paddler's playground that extends up to 35 miles off the coast, affording unobscured views of the aquatic wildlife and access to your pick of deserted cayes.

The Glover Reef Marine Reserve, some 20 miles off the coast, is one of the best places to experience Belize's complex and varied underwater ecosystem. Just don a mask and peer below the surface to see elkhorn and brain coral, feather plumes and sea fans, angelfish and parrotfish, and countless other vibrant distractions. In the middle of Light House Reef, divers can drop 135 feet into the caves of the world-renown Blue Hole, an enormous indigo spot, as seen from the sky, that was formed in an ice age 12,000 years ago. Underwater visibility reaches as far as 200 feet, and the reef system itself stretches from the southern tip of Mexico to the Gulf of Honduras—rest assured, you won't run out of places to explore. But, should you long for variety, Belize is more than up to the challenge. For the kayak-bound, Ranguana Caye, Laughing Bird Caye, Long Caye, and the other isles scattered across the coastline may epitomize your definition of paradise. Turneffe Atoll is sport fishing at its best, the mainland is literally covered with Mayan ruins, and the country's heartland offers endless opportunities for mountain biking, rainforest treks, and river kayaking. On Turneffe's northeastern side, divers can check out four sunken ships on the reef.

Two options govern most sea kayaking trips: base camp or expedition outings. Base campers typically hole up at a coastal town or on an island and spend each day exploring a different part of the neighboring reef system. Expedition kayakers embrace a more self-sufficient approach, traveling with hammocks (and tents, should the weather turn rough) and basic camping equipment, fishing for their own food, and sleeping under the stars. Expedition outings allow for greater exposure to the less-popular parts of Belize's coast and easily foster the tempting illusion of being stranded on a deserted isle (with the comforting reality of having a sea-faring vessel close at hand). Most days require three to four hours of kayaking, and stronger paddlers have their pick of secluded coves and islands to explore. Both types of kayaking trips are best taken with regional outfitters. Independent kayaking in Belize can be undertaken, but access to some of the best parks and atolls is hard to manage unless you've got a local contact.

Caving

Belize has unbelievable cave formations. With abundant limestone and a wet climate, there are a great number of caves throughout Belize. Although most caves have not been thoroughly explored yet and because of the isolation of them you will find natural splendors and archaeological significance such as ancient Mayan Pottery and abundant species of animals such as blind white crayfish and numerous arachnids. Rio Frió, St. Herman's and Barton Creek Cave are some of the caves that are accessible and inviting to be explored. Many caves are closed to public exploration because most have archaeological significance.