The Little Country that Does

Have you ever imagined only being five hours from paradise. Five hours, yes that is all it take to go from Canada to the beautiful country of Belize. I did say beautiful, why you ask? Well I will try and describe many of the things I really enjoyed about this small central American /Caribbean country. For those that do not know Belize is located on the caribbean sea just south of Mexico and borders Guatemala on its western border. There have been a land dispute between the two countries for quite some time but don’t let that deter you. This is a land that will be forever etched into your consciousness.

Languages

Sunrise on the Caye

I come from a bilingual country unfortunately I am uni lingual and that language is English- although you may not be able to tell from my writing. This is important as all or at least most Belizeans speak English, in fact it is taught to them in school as the primary language, followed by Spanish and various other dialects. This is ideal for a single tongued person. All communication is done this way, I have tried to speak Spanish, but we it sound more like a very poor version of French inevitably I end up speaking English, in Belize this is not an issue.

Cultural makeup

As descendants from the Mayan culture, these people are very proud of their heritage. But being Mayan is just the beginning of the makeup of the modern Belize. You can still meet persons that are direct lineage from the indigenous peoples. Over the course of time many other cultures have integrated into Belizean culture that make this country very unique. Creole, African, Rastafarian, English influences are everywhere. Belize was once known as British Honduras until 1973, when the country was renamed to Belize and has been an independent country since 1981. Thus the culture is vast and always very interesting to explore.

Wild Life

Croc on the Shores of The New river

If you like friendly people, you have come to right place. They love their country and no wonder, it is beautiful with many natural and cultural beauties to behold. The vastness of the Caribbean sea at your doorstep. An interior that is ladened with wildlife and jungles. Jaguars still roam these rain forests, although most tourists never see them, rarely are they alive to be able to tell the tale. The howler Monkey, Crocodiles, the Manatee and the Toucan are just a few of the prestigious animals that you may encounter. Oh yeah there are also hummingbirds and some pretty amazing spiders- only in the wild

Recreation

I have to admit, that while we were there the weather was perfect, the month of December had seen us basking in the high 20 degree Celsius with some days hitting the magic 30- heavenly. With all the great weather Belize has an ideal way to cool off, and that is water sports. Diving, snorkeling, are two of the premiere activities, with many dive shops and tours virtually everywhere, shop around for a deal as there are many to be had. While on the ocean maybe a deep sea fishing expedition is more to your liking- Marlin anyone?

If swimming and lounging are more to your liking there are beaches to frolic on while enjoying a cocktail, rum based drinks and Beer seem to be a favorite, I was rather partial to Belkin refreshing and very reasonably priced. On Ambergris Caye, you can try and find the “secret beach” it really is not a secret anymore, it is located North of San pedro- Very easy to find. A nice place to relax for an hour or three. This is just the straw stirring the drink when it comes recreation. I may need to devout a series to recreation alone…

Cuisine

Fresh octopus salad

You can pack your day with great activities, or simply shop your day away, but one think you can not do is miss some of the amazing cuisine that Belize has to offer. Being of such diverse background of course translates into Belizean cuisine. As much as rice and beans are a staple- a personal favorite of mine along with the Johnny cakes ( these are a particular favorite for breakfast, so have to get to a cantina early to enjoy as the sell out quickly.)

Belizean cuisine consists far beyond the essentials, with experienced chefs that can prepare any meal that you have in mind. Some of the freshest and tastiest seafood I have ever encountered is served daily. So fresh that I have given up seafood here at home as the flavour is very underwhelming. If ceviche is something you like then Belize is a place to be ( salivating at the thought of it right now). As you may have guessed Belize has cuisine for all palates and budgets.

After a solid day of recreation and some amazing food, perhaps a cocktail or two, and some late night dancing. A cool room with a Caribbean breeze is next on the agenda. A place to lay your head, to start it all again the next day. In Belize you will find a friendly people with a laid back attitude that will surely incite you to relax and chill. Whether it is in the pool or on the ocean or enjoying amazing cuisine with your friends and family, this is a location that I would surly choose to return

If you have been and would like to share your experiences please do so in the comments area. We had a great time, but what about you? Please share.
Cheers.

VTE