| Look Up! The man yells when walking from the | | | | Located just 1 mile from the Belize Barrier Reef, |
| bus station to the waterfront of Belize City. | | | | it offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in |
| Hesitant, you worry that he is trying to distract | | | | the world. Hire a boat to take you out to Shark |
| you to relieve you of your belongings. After all, | | | | Ray Alley and you will swim with the sharks as |
| Belize City is known as one of the most | | | | manta rays brush up against you. A marine |
| dangerous towns in Central America. Instead, you | | | | preserve for the past 12 years, the coral and |
| are treated to a view of thousands of birds flying | | | | marine life is second to none in the world. Dolphin |
| overhead as he says, "welcome to my country, | | | | sightings are commonplace and you will be sure to |
| enjoy the beauty of Belize". | | | | spot barracuda's, octopus, stingrays, eels and |
| Whatever your vision of Central America is, | | | | lobsters. |
| check it at the door before entering this beautiful | | | | For experienced divers, The Blue Hole is not to be |
| and welcoming country. Many travel guides will tell | | | | missed. Made famous by Jacques Cousteau, dive |
| you to "get out of Belize City and head for the | | | | 150 feet into this collapsed cave as sharks circle |
| islands." It is too bad really, because they are | | | | above the hanging stalactites. If you are not |
| causing people to miss out on meeting the very | | | | already a diver, take an open water diving course. |
| proud and helpful citizens of this vibrant town. | | | | Prices are reasonable and you will experience the |
| Cruise ships stop here regularly and whisk tourists | | | | chance to see even more wildlife and gain an |
| off to Tikal in Guatemala, or to Amgergris Caye | | | | appreciation for the ocean. |
| off of the coast. The port is well developed and | | | | Finding a company to go with is easy, just walk |
| you can spend time walking around the shops in | | | | along the main dirt road and you will find dive |
| the comfortable terminal. However, walking | | | | operators and snorkel shops lined up to take you |
| around the city is where you get the true | | | | out. |
| Caribbean flare. | | | | If getting into the water with natural predators |
| Settled by the English in the late 16th century, | | | | isn't your cup of tea, take a sailing trip to visit |
| Belize City is a mix Colonial buildings and Creole | | | | other Islands. Belize has several islands and you |
| Culture. Eat international cuisine, or enjoy the local | | | | can take a trip to have a picnic lunch on the |
| fare at Jembel's Jerk Pit or Big Daddy's Diner. | | | | beach or enjoy an island drink at an upscale |
| Music pumps from inside shops as smiling people | | | | resort on Ambergris Caye. |
| great you speaking perfect English, only to turn to | | | | Caye Caulker may not be overly developed, but |
| their companion and talk in rhythmic Creole. The | | | | you can still enjoy great food ranging from |
| official language of Belize is English, but you will | | | | Seafood, to pasta and barbecue. The nightlife isn't |
| often hear a mix of Spanish, Creole, Mayan and | | | | wild, but you can find a nice bar to enjoy a drink |
| German throughout the land. | | | | or two, look out over the water while swinging on |
| After soaking up the culture and cuisine in the | | | | a hammock or listen to some live music well into |
| country's largest city, catch a water taxi to head | | | | the evening. |
| out to Caye Caulker. For $10, you will be | | | | Belize is certainly full of many more sights. It |
| transported to paradise. Far less crowded than its | | | | boasts rainforest's and islands, and the largest |
| overdeveloped neighbor Ambergris Caye, this little | | | | cave system in Central America. It is teeming |
| island is a gem of a destination. | | | | with wildlife from Howler Monkeys to Jaguars. Like |
| The laid-back vibe of the island has an air of | | | | its surrounding neighbors, it has Mayan Ruins |
| Jamaica, and reggae booms from bars and | | | | scattered throughout the country for you to |
| restaurants. Walk along the dirt roads to look for | | | | enjoy and beautiful beaches can be found |
| a beach front hotel and you can spend as little as | | | | everywhere, the best being in Placencia on the |
| $20 for a room. Only golf carts drive on the | | | | mainland. |
| island, so you won't have to worry about exhaust | | | | It would take weeks to truly discover everything |
| pollution or noise. The resident's work hard to | | | | that Belize has to offer, but if you have the time, |
| preserve their culture and large-scale development | | | | it is certainly worth the investment. |
| is not in its future. | | | | |