The country of Belize was known as British Honduras until they gained their independence in 1981 and officially became Belize.

Belize and the US are friendly allies.

The Belize economy is tied to the US – the exchange rate, at all times, is two Belize dollars equals one US dollar. US dollars are accepted as legal tender. 

The official language of Belize is English. All children in the country are taught English in school.

Belize is located in the Central Time Zone although they do not recognize Daylight Savings Time. 

Belize is located just below Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, on the Caribbean Sea, just below the resort cities of Cancun and Cozumel, and bounded on the west and south by Guatemala.

Belize has approximately 400,000 residents in a land mass approximately the size of New Jersey.

The climate is subtropical, a land of mountains, swamps, jungle and coastline and home to the world’s second largest barrier reef formation. 

The people are a blend of Central American and Caribbean cultural backgrounds with a British influence. Belize ethnic composition is about 53% Hispanic, 22% Creole, 11% Mayan, 6% Garifuna and 8% other.

Direct flights to the Belize International Airport are available from Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Atlanta and Miami. 

Belize is a pleasure to visit. With its beautiful Caribbean shoreline and islands, barrier reef, citrus valleys, jungle rivers, tropical mountains, Mayan ruins, simple villages and friendly people, it is a great location for family vacations, eco-tourism, diving, snorkeling and jungle adventures. You are guaranteed to fall in love with the people and the place.