Belize

First colonized by British buccaneers in the 1600’s who used the numerous cays to prey on Spanish shipping, its varied landscape and size offer the traveler a unique destination.  With a 175-mile barrier reef, one of the largest in the world, Belize has become a magnet for scuba divers and underwater photographers. 

 Formerly the home of the Mayans, sites such as the Mayan ceremonial center at Altun Ha and the pyramid of Xunantunich can be visited and explored.

 Belize boasts of some 450 species of birds making it a favorite with birdwatchers. 

 The land is low with mangrove swamps and cays along the coast but rising to Victoria Peak (3 700 ft.) in the south.  Some remote areas are only accessible by boat or seaplane. Mahogany, sugar, citrus fruits, and fish are important exports. A democracy, Belize achieved independence in 1981 and is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. 

 Tourism is now a mainstay of the economy and there are numerous hotels offering a wide range of accommodations to the traveler.

Belize Ambergris Caye

Approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Belize City, the almost perfectly circular Blue Hole is more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) across and some 400 feet (123 meters) deep.

click on photo to enlarge

The hole is the opening to what was a dry cave system during the Ice Age. When the ice melted and the sea level rose, the caves were flooded, creating what is now a magnet for intrepid divers. Today the Blue Hole is famed for its sponges, barracuda, corals, angelfish—and a school of sharks often seen patrolling the hole’s edge.