- LOCATION
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Belize is in northern Central America, located at 17°15' north of the equator and 88°45' west of the Prime Meridian on the Yucatán Peninsula. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the east, with 386 km (239 miles) of coastline. It has a total of 516 km (320 miles) of land borders — Mexico to the north-northwest 250 km (155 miles) and Guatemala to the south-southwest 266 km (165 miles).
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- Beize Geography
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Belize's total land area is 22,960 km² (8.864 square miles, of which 22,800 km² (8.803 square miles) is land and 160 km² (61 square miles) is water; this makes the country twice as large as Jamaica, slightly larger than El Salvador or Wales, about half the size of Nova Scotia, and about the size of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of its major islands, Ambergris Caye is larger than the popular Caribbean tourist destination Barbados. Its continental shelf is calculated at 8,227 km² (3,176 square miles). Belize's claims an Exclusive Economic Development Zone of 200 miles that consists of 12,839 km² (4,957 square miles).
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Belize has countless mangrove cayes that are uninhabitable by humans,
but provide an unmatched habitat for birds and marine life. Many species of
birds, fish, shellfish, and other exotic marine organisms begin their lives within
the protection of the mangrove.
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But Belize's offshore islands locally known as cayes, are tropical wonders with their white sandy beaches, coconut palms and lush vegetation and have led to the development of
many fine resorts catering to water sports enthusiasts and marine
naturalists and eco-tourism.
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The northern half of the mainland of Belize is a savannah that was once the bed of a an ancient and long disappeared sea. This terrain is covered with a thin layer of soil, that supports varied forest vegetation including tropical forest. The northern coastal area is mixed swamp and limestone with rich varieties of tropical hardwoods. Belize is on the U.S. News and World Report's List as a Top Retirement Location.
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Central Belize has loamy soil and rich savannah land. About forty miles southwest of Belize City, the land rises to between 1,200 and 3,680 feet above sea level in the enchanting Mountain Pine Ridge District and the Maya Mountains. The Maya Mountains and the Cockscomb Range form the backbone of the southern half of the country, the highest point being Doyle's Delight (1124 meters above sea level) in the Cockscomb Range. Enough rainfall runs off the northwest from the highlands in a number of creeks that converge to form the Macal River in the western Cayo District. The Macal River itself merges with the Mopan River at Branch Mouth in Santa Elena, Cayo District to form the Belize River that flows into the Caribbean Sea near Belize City.
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Southern Belize features the Stann Creek District along with its many hills, valleys and mountains including several rivers that over eons have enriched the southern coast allowing significant agriculture development for bananas and citrus, and more recently shrimp and fish farming. The Placencia Peninsula and the Toledo District are the southern jewels of Belize.
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- Belize Climate
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The climate is subtropical, tempered by trade winds. Temperatures in coastal districts range from about 10 °C (50°F) to about 35.6°C (96°F); inland the range is greater.
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Rainfall varies from an average of 1,295 millimetres in the north to 4,445 millimetres in the extreme south. The dry season usually extends from February to May and there is sometimes a dry spell in August.
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Ocean temperatures vary between 74 degrees Fahrenheit and 84
degrees Fahrenheit.
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- Belize Rainfall
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Belize weather is characterized by two seasons: a rainy and a dry season. Belize annual rainfall - most of the year's rainfall occurs during the period June to November, that is, the rainy season. It is noted that the transition from dry to the rainy is very sharp. Belize annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches (1524mm) in the north to 160 inches (4064mm) in the south. Except for the southern regions, the rainfall is variable from year to year. The onset of the rainy season begins in the early May
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- People of Belize
- The population of Belize is estimated at 330,000, The majority, about 60 per cent are Latino, and the balance is a mixture of Creole, Maya, Gargantuan, Mennonite, European and Chinese.
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- Belize Language
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English is the official language of Belize, but Spanish is widely spoken and most Belizeans are bilingual in Spanish and English. Other languages include Garifuna and Maya.
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- Belize Business Hours
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Banks: Monday - Thursday 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Friday 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
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Commerce & Industry: Monday - Saturday 8:00 A.M. to 9.M.
Most large stores and supermarkets are also open on Sundays.
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- Belize Public and Bank
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New Years Day - January 1; Baron Bliss Day - March 9; Good Friday; Holy
Saturday; Palm Sunday; Easter Monday; Labour Day-May 1; Commonwealth Day- May 24; St.
George's Caye Day - September 10; Independence Day - September 21;
Pan American Day - October 12; Garifuna Settlement Day - November 19;
Christmas Day - December 25; Boxing Day - December 26.
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- Belize Currency
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The Belize Dollar (BZ$) has a fixed rate of exchange of BZ$2 to US$1.
Most hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tour operators will accept U.S.
currency, traveler's checks, or credit cards. When using your Credit
or Debt cards in Belize, some establishments will add a 5% service charge to
your bill - make sure you enquire before running up a tab. The Belize Bank, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Bank have branches and Belize Bank ATM service countrywide. If your Credit or Debit Card has the Sirius or Plus Banking logo, you can withdraw cash from these machines 24 hours a day. Maximum daily cash withdrawal is U.S. $500. The most widely accepted Credit Cards in Belize are Visa and Master Card.
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- Belize Electricity
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Belize electricity is the same as that in North, Central and South America 110/120 Volts A. C. at 60 Hertz so your laptop, cell phone and camera chargers, shaver, hair dryer, iron and other utensils you may decide to bring with you will run fine.
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- BELIZE HEALTH SERVICES
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There are three well staffed (one public and two private) hospitals and many private doctors in
Belize City. Each district has a public Regional Hospital. Both private hospitals accept medical insurance you may have.
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Potable water is available throughout Belize and purified water is widely available either in 5 gallon, one gallon, litre and half litre bottles at any convenience store, gas station or grocery store. We recommend Crystal Water which is produced by the local Cocal Cola franshise but there are many other purified water bottlers.
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There are no serious epidemic diseases of note in Belize. No inoculations are
required for entry, but anti-malaria tablets are optional for
extended visits to its jungles.
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- POSTAL RATES
- Belize Post rates to the U.S.A. are BZ$0.60 for letters and
BZ$0.30 for postcards. Post rates to Europe are BZ$0.75 for letters
and BZ$0.40 for postcards.
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- Belize Taxes and Service Charges
- Hotel Room
Tax.............................................................................9%
- Service Charge (In lieu of
tips)........................................................10%
- Airport Departure
Tax......U.S.$39.25 (New for 2011 $5.00 "Rider Tax" on all local flights).
- Departure Tax Water or Land:..........$18.75
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- TAXIS
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Taxis are available all over Belize. You can identify them by their by their green license plates. Rates fluctuate with the price of fuel but currently run at US$3.00 per drop within a reasonable distance inside a city or town.
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Always agree on a price before engaging the service of a taxi as Belize's taxis do not have meters.
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- TELEPHONE SERVICE
- Belize Telecommunications Limited and SMART provide telephone
communication, cellular and Internet services worldwide. BTL uses the GSM spectrum for cell phones. Thus if you own an unlocked GSM phone you can bring it to Belize buy a chip for about U.S. $25. and make calls worldwide by loading credit from calling cards available at most any shop in Belize. You can purchase a basic name-brand unlocked GSM cellular phone in Belize for under U.S. $50.
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- TIME
- Belize time is GMT-6 all year which is the same as United
States Central Standard Time. Belize does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
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- ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- A valid passport and visa, if required, is necessary for entry
into Belize. U.S. and other nationals (see VISA section below) do not require a visa to visit Belize - only a valid passport is required. Visitors can stay in Belize for thirty (30) days. Extensions may be granted upon application
to the Belize Immigration Department at the Offices in Belize and Belmopan Cities. Travelers should exhibit that they
have sufficient funds for their visit - about (US$50.00 per person per day), as
well as a return ticket to their next destination.
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- VISAS
- United States citizens and Nationals of Canada, Israel, the Caribbean Community, and the European Community
member nations do not require visas. Visas are required for nationals of most other countries, Check with your travel agent if you are not sure. To obtain a visitor's permit, an application must be submitted to the nearest Belize Embassy or Consulate in your area. More Belize Visa Application Information can be found here.
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- What To Wear In Belize
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Casual wear is the norm in Belize. Formal ware is required only if you are attending a state function and even then a dinner jacket will be O. K.
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Your jewels and expensive watches you can leave home because you will not need them.
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Loose fitting, white or light colored cotton clothing, along with a comfortable pair of hiking shoes or boots are appropriate for exploring the interior.
- Purified water, beverages, and snacks are widely available so no need to drag this to Belize. Yes, upscale supermarkets stock imported purified water such as Evian if you need it.
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- WHAT TO BRING
- Passport, Visa (if applicable), Prescription Drugs, Personal
Items, Spare Eye-glasses, Sunglasses, Sun Tan Lotion, Sun Screen, Camera, Cash, Travel
Checks, Credit Cards. IMPORTANT ADVISORY: The maximum cash or value in cash or checks that you can bring into Belize is U.S.$5,000. per person and you MUST declare this at the port of entry.
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- Personal Accesories and Insurance
- You may bring your own SCUBA diving gear with certification card and dive log,
snorkeling gear, binoculars, fishing tackle, but SCUBA equipment rentals and certified dive masters and trainers are available throughout Belize especially in the islands and beach resorts. Travel and Health Insurance is recommended. especially for stays over three days or simply for peace of mind.
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