For long term travelers in the Americas, Belize has likely been on your radar even if you haven't been here. For others, this may be the first you've heard of it. This tiny Central American country is exploding in popularity, and now is the time to visit. Roughly the size of the US state of Massachusetts with a population under 500,000, 60% of the country is still forested. 

 

Located just south of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and just east of Guatemala, Belize is a truly unique country. The astounding biological diversity rivals the beautiful cultural diversity. 

 

In colonial times, Belize was a colony of Great Britain, while the rest of Central America was colonized by Spain. So it has a bit of a Caribbean feel. The kriol people are descendents of Brits and African slaves. We also have a large number of Latino people who immigrated mostly from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The Garifuna people are descendents of Africans who escaped from a sinking slave ship and indigenous Arawak. They were forced to flee their homeland of St Vincent and settled largely in coastal Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. There is a small but very significant number of indigenous Mayans who remain, many of whom continue to carry on ancient traditions. These widely varying cultures live mostly in harmony, and the mix of clothing, music, art, and food is delightful. 

 

Similarly, the ecological diversity is also amazing. From pine forest mountains in the northwest to fully tropical jungle in the deep south with the world's second largest barrier reef lying alongside, Belize has a truly astounding diversity of animal and plant life. We have mangrove coasts, sandy beaches, islands, wetlands, savannahs, pine forests, and broadleaf jungle just to name a few. Mountain streams, natural pools, coral reefs, waterfalls, and big rivers are all ready to explore. Oh, and it all sits on a vast network of caves loaded with Mayan artifacts. Belize is an outdoor explorer's dreamland. 

 

If I have succeeded in selling you on my adopted home, here is what we are offering. There are several different package options.

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