Belize in a nut shell

[ColdinNH99]

Belize is a New Hampshire-sized country with a proud Mayan heritage. It's the only country in Central America where English is the official language, as it was once controlled by the British. (Until 1981, it was a British colony known as British Honduras.) With a population of just over 300,000, Belize boasts some of the most beautiful and accessible wilderness in the Western Hemisphere.

 

Tourism is by far the biggest industry in Belize. Eco-tourists flock to Belize to dive, swim, snorkel, fish, kayak and sail in the 150 mile long Belize Barrier Reef--the second longest reef formation in the world. They also come to admire the hundreds of species of birds, see the Mayan ruins, go caving, enjoy river trips and camp in the wild.

 

Belize enjoys a sub-tropical climate, with an mean annual temperature of 80° F (27° C). Trade winds blow along the coast and on the cayes most of the year, typically keeping temperatures pleasant even in the hottest months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Impressions

 

For travelers to Belize, your first stop is Belize City. Belize City is home to over a quarter of the country's population, and is the country's commercial capital. Belize City used to be the country's capital, but a hurricane in 1931 wreaked havoc on the city, and the capital was moved inland to Belmopan. While Belize City may possess some colonial charm, it's more often than not a place where you'll catch a bus or boat to transit to your day's destination.

 

Cruise ships will drop anchor a few miles outside of Belize City's harbor (it's too shallow for the draft of the cruise ships) and be taken ashore by speedy ship's tenders run by the Belize port authority. It'll take about 20 minutes to go from your ship to the Tourist Village docks in Belize City. All excursions to the interior and the offshore islands will begin at the Tourist Village.

 

There are basically three things to do on your visit to Belize. Scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming in the offshore reefs are what brings most folks to Belize, as these reefs are some of the most beautiful in the world. You can also check out the Mayan ruins that exist inland at Altun Ha, Lamanai, Cahal Pech and Xunantunich. And lastly, you can participate in some of the eco-tours, including cave tubing and river rafting, that make Belize a great place to visit.

 

If you decide to spend some time in Belize City, just be vigilant about your surroundings and what you're doing. The cruise ship personnel will tell you that the city isn't a safe place to visit. For the more intrepid traveler, Belize City can be an interesting experience. Many of the shops, restaurants and sights of touristic interest are located in the downtown Fort George area, situated within a few blocks of the Belize City Tourism Village.

 

 

 

Time Zone

 

Belize is on Central Time, six hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

 

Belize City Local Time

 

Language

 

English is the official language of Belize and is widely spoken. Many locals also speak English-based Creole (Kriol). Other languages spoken include Spanish (widely spoken in the west of Belize), Maya, Garifuna and Mandarin.

 

 

Dealing with Money in Belize

 

Currency

 

 

The Belize Dollar is Belize's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the local dollar amount. Each dollar is comprised of 100 cents. Bills come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 dollars. Coinage comes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, as well as a $1 coin.

 

The exchange rate is fixed at 2 Belize Dollars per US dollar.

 

Banks and ATMs

 

Banks with ATM machines are to be found in downtown Belize City. All ATM transactions have you taking a cash advance against your Visa card (most widely accepted) or MasterCard. ATM machines in the city can be found at the following locations:

 

Tourist Village: You'll find ATM machines conveniently located in the Tourist Village, where your ship's tender docks in Belize City.

 

Belize Bank: 10 North Front Street; 60 Market Square; and 21 Regent Street, in Belize City. Belize Bank's ATMs accept international credit cards, including Visa, Master Cards, Cirrus, Plus and Visa Electron.

 

Atlantic Bank: At the corner of Cleghorn St. and Freetown Road, in Belize City. Atlantic Bank's ATMs accept international credit cards, including Visa, Master Card, Cirrus, Plus and Visa Electron.

To see the locations of Belize City's ATMs, see our Belize City ATM map.

 

Using US Dollars in Belize

 

Since US dollars are widely accepted in Belize, you don't have to change your US dollars into Belize dollars. If you're using US dollars alone, make sure to bring smaller denominations to pay for incidentals and taxi rides. And if you're using US Dollars, your change more than likely will be made in Belize currency.

 

 

 

 

Weather

 

Belize enjoys a sub-tropical climate, with an mean annual temperature of 80° F (27° C). Trade winds blow along the coast and on the cayes most of the year, typically keeping temperatures pleasant even in the hottest months.

 

There are two seasons in Belize: dry season and rainy season. The dry season lasts from mid-November through May, while the rainy season runs from June to November. Annual rainfall averages ranges from 60 inches in the north to 160 inches in the south. Most of the rainfall takes place during the rainy season.

 

Hurricanes occasionally blow in from the Caribbean, occurring most often in August and September.

 

The water temperatures are pretty consistent throughout the year, averaging between 79° and 83° F.

 

Belize City Average Temperatures

 

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Avg High - F808083858787868686848280

Avg High - C272728293131303030292827

Avg Low - F707174767979797877757371

Avg Low - C212223242626262625242322

Belize City Average Precipitation

 

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Avg, Inches4.82.72.01.83.78.48.17.19.710.17.66.6

Avg, mm12260514694213206180246257193168

 

Belize City, Belize

Get the 10 day forecast

 

 

73°F

Partly Cloudy

 

Feels Like: 73°F

Humidity: 94%

Wind: SSE at 5 mph

 

 

Vacation Planner

Airport Delays

Hit the Road

Keeping an eye on the Tropics

 

Keeping In Touch

 

Internet Access in Belize City

 

Internet Cafe

 

You can find several internet cafes in downtown Belize City; their rates are fairly reasonable, but the speed of your internet connection can be quite variable. Here's the easiest cyber cafe to find in Belize City:

 

Click & Sip is an internet cafe that can be found at the Tourism Village; it's where the ships' transfers dock in Belize City.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

 

Here are a few suggestions for those seeking Wi-Fi in Belize City:

 

Click & Sip, located at the Belize City Tourism Village, offers Wi-Fi.

 

Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina, located adjacent to the Belize City Tourism Village at 2 Marine Parade Street, offers Wi-Fi in their public areas; non-guests pay when logging in. Phone: (501) 223-3333

 

Wet Lizard Restaurant & Bar, located at 1 Fort Street, offers Wi-Fi at their restaurant/bar. Phone: (501) 223-5973.

 

The Great House Inn, located at 13 Cork Street (2 blocks from the Tourism Village), offers Wi-Fi in their public areas. The Smoky Mermaid Restaurant is located on the first floor. Phone: (501) 223-3400.

To see where you can get Internet Access in Belize City, see our Map of Belize City Internet Access Locations.

 

Cellular Phone & Data Services

 

Travelers with American cell phones and wireless devices should be aware that their carriers will add a variety of international roaming charges when their phones or data devices are used in Belize. Check with your carrier for the precise details. Roaming charges for calls back home and data usage are really expensive in Belize.

 

The Country Code for Belize is 501, and the city code is 2.

 

 

Cell service: Verizon users must use a quad-band GSM phone when calling from Belize City.

Data services: Through its partner, Verizon offers 3G coverage in Belize City when using a UMTS-capable device with an active SIM card and global plan.

See details on Verizon's cell and data services pricing and coverage maps.

 

 

Cell service: AT&T's GSM service in Belize City is provided by Belize Telemedia.

Data services: AT&T offers 2G EDGE service in Belize City through its partner Belize Telemedia.

See details on AT&T's cell and data services coverage maps.

 

 

Cell service: Sprint's users must use a quad-band GSM phone when calling from Belize City.

Data services: Through its partner Belize Telemedia, Sprint offers 2G GPRS coverage in Belize City when using a UMTS-capable device with an active SIM card and global plan.

See details on Sprint's cell and data services coverage maps.

 

 

Cell service: T-Mobile's GSM service in Belize City is provided by Belize Telemedia.

Data services: T-Mobile offers 2G service in Belize City through Belize Telemedia.

See details on T-Mobile's cell and data services pricing.

 

Kindle Connectivity

 

 

In Belize City, there is no 3-G service available, your best bet is to download your Kindle 3G data at a cyber cafe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Holidays & Festivals in Belize

 

Look for the following local festivals and events taking place in and around Belize City for the remainder of 2014 and in 2015:

 

2014:

 

Garifuna Settlement Day, November 19. Festivals are held, mainly in the southern areas of the country, to mark the first arrival of the Garifuna in 1832 in Dangriga.

 

Christmas Day, December 25. Public holiday.

 

Boxing Day, December 26. Activities include parties, dances, horse races, and some Garifuna dances are performed.

2015:

 

New Year's Day, January 1. An official public holiday.

 

Fiesta de Carnaval (the Belize Carnival), February 14 to 17. An annual event celebrated nationwide, but primarily in Belize City and Ambergris Cay. Groups compete in comparsas (special dances).

 

Baron Bliss Day, March 9. Celebrates Baron Bliss, an eccentric English-Portuguese adventurer who became Belize's greatest benefactor. Harbor regatta is held in front of the lighthouse, and horse and cycle races are also held.

 

Good Friday, April 3. On Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, beginning at 3:00 p.m., most villagers participate in the procession carrying the cross through the town.

 

Holy Saturday, April 4. An official public holiday.

 

Easter Monday, April 6. An official public holiday.

 

Labour Day, May 1. Kicked off by an address by the Minister of Labour, followed by parades and rallies held throughout the country. Other activities include a kite contest, cycle races, harbor regatta and horse race.

 

Crooked Tree Cashew Festival, May 1. Celebrates the cashew harvest season. Includes live punta music, cashew wine, Caribbean-style dishes, games and folklore stories.

 

Commonwealth Day, May 25. Celebrated nationwide. Activities include horse races in Belize City, as well as cycle races between Cayo and Belmopan.

 

National Day, September 10. Also known as St. George's Caye Day. Commemorates a battle in 1798, in which the Spanish were defeated by slaves, Baymen and British soldiers. Activities include official ceremonies and parades; carnivals, sporting activities and pop concerts are held several days prior to this event.

 

Independence Day, September 21. Marked by flag-raising ceremonies, parades, music, dance and food festivals held throughout the country.

 

Columbus Day/Pan American Day, October 12. Celebrated with regatta racing in Belize City.

 

Garifuna Settlement Day, November 19. Festivals are held, mainly in the southern areas of the country, to mark the first arrival of the Garifuna in 1832 in Dangriga.

 

Christmas Day, December 25. Public holiday.

 

Boxing Day, December 26. Activities include parties, dances, horse races, and some Garifuna dances are performed.

 

 

 

Belize City Cruise Port Schedules

 

Belize City is a very popular port on Western Caribbean cruise ship itineraries.

 

As a general rule, ships arrive at the city's cruise ship pier between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, and depart between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

 

In 2014, Belize City is slated to host 912,000 passengers sailing on 306 ships, up 38% and 35%, respectively, from 2013. For further information, see our Belize City Cruise Ship Schedule - 2014.

 

In 2015, Belize City is slated to host 801,000 passengers sailing on 272 ships, down 12% and 11%, respectively, from 2014. For further information, see our Belize City Cruise Ship Schedule - 2015.

 

 

 

Cruise Lines Making Port in Belize City

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[JimAOk1945]

Thanks for taking the time to write this amazingly detailed overview of Belize. I'm sure it will prove very helpful to first time visitors.

 

We enjoyed our visit there last year on the Adventure of the Seas and look forward to going there again in the future.

[OCruisers]

Fantastic review of Belize! Hope many will read! Thank you for your time to do it! :)

We especially love the opportunity in Belize to go to the Barrier Reef (2nd largest in the world.)

LuLu

[taillon]

Thank you! We will be there for the second time in two weeks! I am getting anxious!!

[VidaNaPraia]

Thanks for the great write up.

 

"For travelers to Belize, your first stop is Belize City."

Given that this is a cruise forum, perhaps that holds true for most here.

 

However, for other travelers, Belize can easily be reached from Cancun and the greater Yucatan peninsula through Chetumal, and an onward ferry to Caye Caulker to go diving/snorkeling.

[slome131]

do you recommend a scuba company to go out with...or will there be enough time in port to explore the outer reefs?