Belize is a small country of 8,867 square miles that sits on the northeastern coast of Central America. The friendly neighbor of Mexico and Guatemala, Belize shares an ancient Mayan past and common ethnic backgrounds with Central America. But it is the salty air drifting over from the Caribbean Sea that has infected the country with a colorful Caribbean flamboyance that can be seen through its distinct Colonial/Caribbean-style architecture, coconut-based dishes, white sandy beaches, laid-back ambiance and its English and Creole dialects. Belize is in fact the only Central American country with English as a first language. With approximately 270,000 people living peacefully in a secure political environment, enriched in diverse cultures, Belize is a premier ecotourism destination.
Name: Belize
Capital: Belmopan
Size: Approximately 8,867 square miles
Location: Central America on the Caribbean Sea. Two hours from Miami or Houston. Bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the West and south.
Climate: Sub-tropical, with trade winds from the Caribbean Sea.
Temperature: Summer: 70º – 85º F/approx. Winter 70º – 80º/approx.
Language: English is the official language. Spanish, Ketchi & Mopan Maya, Garifuna and other languages are spoken.
Population: 338,597 (2013 est.)
Government: Independent nation since 1981. Parliamentary Democracy, Member of the British Commonwealth.
Currency: Belize Dollar (BZD$). USD$1.00 = BZD$2.00
Time: US Central Standard Time, year-round.