The name of the country comes from the Belize River, which in Maya means "the road from Itza".

Capital of Belize. Belmopan.

Belize Square. 22965 km2.

Population of Belize. 359,000 people

Belize GDP. $1.624 billion

Location of Belize. Belize is a state in the northeast of Central America. It borders with Mexico in the north and northwest, Guatemala in the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea in the east.

Administrative divisions of Belize. The state is divided into 6 districts.

Form of government in Belize. A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State Belize. The Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General.

Supreme Legislature of Belize. Bicameral Parliament - National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).

Supreme executive body of Belize. Government.

Major cities in Belize. Belize.

Official language Belize. English.

Religion in Belize. 57.7% are Catholics, 34.3% are Protestants.

Ethnic composition of Belize. 43% Mestizo, 30% Creole and Mulatto, 11% Maya, 7% Garifupa, 3% East Indian.

Currency of Belize. Belize dollar = 100 cents.

Climate of Belize. The climate on the territory of the state is tropical, trade wind. The average annual temperature is about + 26 °C and the annual rainfall is 2000 mm.

Flora of Belize. 92% of the island is covered with tropical rain forests. In the north there are savannahs.

Fauna of Belize. The fauna of Belize is quite diverse - jaguar, deer, tapir, a large number of different birds and reptiles live here.

Rivers and lakes of Belize. The largest rivers are Rio Hondo and Belize.

Sights of Belize. In Belize - St. John's Cathedral (1812) and Government House (1814).

Useful information for tourists

Tourists are attracted here by the rich flora and fauna, coastal reefs. The best time to travel to Belize is during the dry season from November to May. This is the peak tourist season and most hotels raise their prices to the maximum. In summer and autumn, the trip will cost much less, but there is a chance to get into one of the many hurricanes.

Belize Map

Belize wikipedia
Site search:

general information.

Belize is a country in Central America, in the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula. In the east, it is washed by the Caribbean Sea, in the extreme southeast - along the Gulf of Honduras. The area is 22.96 thousand km2. The population is 279.5 thousand people (2005). The capital is Belmopan. The official language is English. The monetary unit is the Belize dollar. Administrative-territorial division: 6 districts. Belize is a member of the United Nations (1981), OAS (1990), CARICOM (1974), IMF (1982).

State system.

Belize is the only country that is part of the Commonwealth. The constitution came into force on September 21, 1981. The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy.

The head of state is the British monarch, represented by the Governor General, who must be a citizen of Belize.

The governor's powers include foreign policy and internal security.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral National Assembly (Parliament): the Senate, consisting of 8 members (5 appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the recommendation of the leader of the opposition, 1 on the recommendation of the Governor General) and the House of Representatives (29 members elected by universal voting rights for a period of 5 years).

Executive power is vested in the government, which is led by the prime minister, the leader of the party that won the election.

The main political parties are the People's United Party and the United Democratic Party.

nature.

The northern part of Belize is low-lying, flat, sometimes swampy plains in the coastal zone - there are many lakes and lagoons. The barrier reef stretches along the entire coastline (included in the World Heritage List). In the southwest, Belize is in the Mayan Mountains, consisting of one teammate (the highest point in Belize is Victoria Peak, 1122 m), as well as the surrounding hills with limestone shell and caves. The climate is tropical winds.

The average temperature is 22°C on July 27th. Precipitation is 1300 mm per year in the north to 4500 mm in the south. The northern and central part of Belize is characterized by a dry season from January to April. The coastal lowland is characterized by uniform moisture throughout the year. Coastal areas often suffer from devastating hurricanes.

The main rivers are Belize (the river basin is more than 25% of the territory), Sibun and Nova are all waterways.

More than 60% (2000) in Belize is occupied by humid tropical evergreen forests with valuable species (mahagonievoe, firewood, Sapodilla, etc.) Red-yellow ferralite earth.

Mountain forests are characterized by a mixture of leaf species. Northern Belize has deciduous rainforests and savannahs. River valleys with fertile alluvial soils are actively developed under reeds or agricultural plantations. Low lagoons are surrounded by mangroves.

For Belize, typical representatives of South American animals: World Monkeys, Tapir, Capybara, Peaks, Agouts, Trees of trees, Legion. There are over 500 bird species in the forests, including the toucan.

Belize has 36 protected natural areas with a total area of ​​912,000 hectares, including Chiquibul National Park, the world's only reserve Jaguar - Coxcombe Basin.

population. 73.6% of Belize's population are Creole and Hispanic whites. Garifon ("Black Caribbean") who speak Arawakan is 6.1%, Maya (Yukateki, Kekki, etc.) 10.6%.

From other ethnic groups - Indo-Pakistani, Germans, Jews, British, Americans, Chinese. The average annual population increase is 2.2% (birth rate is 27 per 1000 inhabitants, mortality is 5.3 per 1000 inhabitants, infant mortality is 31.1 per 1000 live births).

The average life expectancy is 71.4 years (men - 69.9 years, women - 73 years). The birth rate was 3.2 children per woman (2000-2005). The share of young people (under 15) is very high - 40.9%; older (over 65) only 4.3% (2004). Average age population is 19.4 years. The average population density is 12.2 persons/km2; The most densely populated coastal regions.

About half of the population lives in cities (the largest in Belize, where about 22% of the population is concentrated). 108,500 people work in the employment sector, of which 95,900 people (including agriculture, forestry and fishing, 20.4%, industry and construction - 18.2%, 61.4% - in the service sector).

The unemployment rate is 11.6% (2004). More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line, more than 1/10 - in poverty.

religion. The majority of the population of Belize (2000) are Christians, of which more than 50% are Catholics, about 30% are Protestants of various denominations (including Anglicans - 5.3%, Methodists - 3.5%, Mennonites - 4.1% of Pentecost - 7.4%, Seven Day Adventists 5.2%.

Catholic missionaries appeared in Belize in the 16th century, Anglicans in the 18th century.

S. A. Tarkhov.

Historical outline. The oldest cultures in Belize are cities of hunters, fishermen, collectors (9-2 thousand BC).

Settlements with traces of intensive gathering or early agriculture, pottery, light on clay foundation appeared in the II millennium BC (Cuello). The Middle Yaya period (about the 1st half of the 1st millennium BC) represents several settlements whose economy is based on the development of agriculture. This population correlates with the Maya people. The Belize area was part of the central part of the Maya civilization in the classical period, there were several cities.

The coast of the Caribbean Sea, which belongs to the territory of modern Belize, was discovered by the 4th expedition of H.

Belize (state)

Columbus in 1502 after the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Central America, in the northern part of modern Belize was included in the governorship of New Spain (founded in 1535), in the south - the captain-general of Guatemala (arose in 1560).

In the 1630s and 1640s, British pirates established their bases at the mouth of the Belize River, and migrants from the Jamaican area began to arrive. The economy in these countries was based mainly on the use of the work of black slaves imported from Africa.

Repeated attempts by the Spanish authorities to take control or evict the English colonies from the colony were unsuccessful.

By the middle of the 18th century, the settlers (the richest of them) alone led the colony to the National Assembly, but the Spanish authorities failed to be exposed, and the British government showed no interest in them. The situation began to change in connection with the struggle between Great Britain and France (see Seven Years' War 1756-63). As a result, the right to reside in the British colonies and to carry out economic activities confirms the Paris (1763) and Versailles (1783) contracts and expands the Anglo-Spanish Treaty in 1786 (at the same time as the official representative of the British government appeared in the colony).

The war between Spain and Great Britain in 1796-1802 led to the actual transfer of power into the hands of the British (the status of the column was officially established in 1862). Its leadership was entrusted to the Governor of Jamaica. In 1838, slavery was abolished in the colony. From 1840 it became known as British Honduras. However, Guatemala disputed the rights of Great Britain on the territory of the colony for a century and a half, and sometimes the conflict took on an acute form (1860, 1930, 1975).

During the colonial period, the economy of British Honduras, based on plantations that produce raw sugar, bananas and citrus fruits for export, also played an important role in the harvesting of precious rocks.

The complete dependence of the colonial economy in the homeland began in the 20th century to cause discontent among the local population, mainly Mestizos and Creoles.

As early as the 1930s, an independence movement began in the colony, which organized forms after World War II. The role of the Colonial Legislative Assembly, in which the People's United Party (ALP) has held key positions since 1954, has increased. Britain agreed to the introduction of internal self-government in 1964. In 1970, the capital moved from Belize to Belmopan. In 1973, British Honduras received a new name - Belize.

In September 1981, Belize became independent. In 1984, how to cede power to the United Democratic Party (UDP), who was at the forefront of dynamic politics, the mayor of Belize City M. Esquivel. The defeat of the CCT in the National Assembly elections in 1989 and the return to power in 1993 meant that Belize would create a stable two-man system, which was confirmed in the elections in 1998 and 2003, with a victory that leaves the PBS (leader Musa, a Palestinian birthday).

The strengthening of democratic institutions in Belize has not been accompanied by convincing solutions to complex economic and social problems.

V. I. Gulyaev (archeology).

objects.

The main branch of the economy until the sixties was the timber industry (logging, including precious species, sawing and processing of wood, furniture production). Due to the intense recession, production volumes fell more than 15 times in the 1990s, while timber exports declined (approximately 35,000 m3 in the early 2000s); afforestation is done for planting eucalyptus, boron. In the 1960s and 1980s, agricultural specialization dominated, while raw sugar and bananas were the main exports (citrus production has been most dynamic since the mid-1980s).

Structural reforms have been introduced since the late 1980s, including privatization (energy, water, ports, telecommunications), liberalization of foreign trade, and acceptance of foreign capital. Since the beginning of the 90s, tourism has become one of the most important sectors of the economy, and he began to do business in the sea. The International Companies Act 1990 completely exempts offshore companies registered in Belize from taxes (over 20,000 companies in total); a program to create free economic zones(operates in the Corozal region on the border with Mexico since 1995 and at the international airport since 2003).

The volume of GDP amounted to 1778 million US dollars (according to purchasing power parity, per capita - 6.5 thousand dollars); GDP growth 3.5% (2004).

The Human Development Index is 0.737 (99 out of 177 countries, 2002). Approximately 68% of GDP comes from services, about 13% from agriculture and fisheries, about 9% from industry.

Foreign tourism accounts for more than 20% of GDP (about 10% of the working population is employed by tourists); About 200,000 people visit Belize every year, with about 440 hotels.

The largest tourist center is San Pedro. The main tourist attractions are the ruins of the Mayan settlement, the sandy beach of the coast (Plasencia region), the Barrier Reef (diving and diving on the Amber and Kolker ridge).

The main agricultural crops are sugarcane (collection of 1.1 million tons, mainly in the north and northwest of the country, Corozala County and Orange Walk), citrus fruits (oranges, 168,000 tons, about 40 thousand tons of grapefruit per year, mainly in areas of Stann Creek and Cayo export through Dangriga Harbor) and bananas (70 thousand tons, 2004); The production of new export products began - papaya (12 thousand tons), pineapple, mango, cayenne pepper.

For domestic consumption, growth in corn (35 thousand tons in 2004), rice (13 thousand tons, in the Belize Valley), legumes (including beans, exports) and vegetables. Cultivation of cattle, pigs. Fish and seafood are carried out in coastal waters; A shrimp industry has been developed (more than 7,500 tons per year, mainly for export).

Electricity production - 117 million kWh (2002).

There are 6 small power stations; about 1/3 of electricity is produced by hydroelectric power stations on the Makal River. More than 90% of industrial production produces food industry, including sugar production (more than 1/2 of the cost, plants in Tower Hill), drinks, citrus concentrates (Dangriga).

There are enterprises in the clothing industry (from imported fabrics, products are mainly produced for export (in 1992, an export production zone was opened in the Belize region).

The length of motorways is 2.9 thousand km, of which 651 km are hard surfaces; 805 km of local highways are used only during the dry season.

The deepest seaports Belize, Dangriga. There are over 4,000 ships in the fleet (of which 95% are foreigners registered under the Belizean flag); large vessels (moving more than a thousand registered gross tons) - 295. The length of inland waterways (for small vessels) is 825 km.

43 airports, of which 5 are hard surfaces. International airport in Belize.

Approximately 90% of exports are food products, including seafood (26% of the value in 2004, about 80% - shrimp, 14% - lobster), sugar (20%), oranges and grapefruit concentrate (19.3%), bananas (13%), papaya (5.6%), which are mainly exported to the US (55% of costs), UK, CARICOM and EU, Mexico. Imports of petroleum products, machinery and equipment, consumer goods mainly from the United States (39%), Central America, Mexico.

A. Tarkhov.

Healthcare. Sport. Tuberculosis incidence - 105 cases, HIV infection - 46 cases (2002). The main causes of death in the adult population are cardiovascular diseases, injuries, infections (including malaria), neoplasms.

At the beginning of the 21st century, there are ten thousand doctors and eight medical workers. Health care expenditures account for 5.2% of GDP (budget financing - 45.1% of total expenditures, private sector - 54.9%). The public sector regulates primary and inpatient care. Private medical practice is limited.

Issues of physical culture and sports are considered by public organizations.

In 1967, the IOC recognized the Commonwealth Games Association and the Commonwealth Games. Athletes from Belize have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1968. The most popular sports are boxing, cycling, light and weight, shooting.

V. Nechaev (Health).

education:.

Primary education is free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 14. Most schools run the church. All cities have secondary schools. Specialized education is carried out by the institutes: technical, pedagogical, agricultural, Youth Development Center, Center vocational training, Continental School for Adults (has 74 branches throughout the country); National University (2000) (all in Belize).

The literacy rate in the country is 80% (2000). National Library (1935).

architecture and art . The oldest artistic monuments belong to the Maya cultures.

They include: the architectural complexes of Altyn Kha (350 BC - 950 AD, the remains of temples and the second memory structure, jade head of the sun god Kiniga-Ahav, grave jewelry), Lamanai (from the very high pyramid preserved on the territory of May, around 100 BC No. n.), Karakol and others.

From the 16th century, buildings in the colonial style appeared in Belize (a church not far from ancient city Lamanai, built by Spanish missionaries). 19th and 20th century architecture is represented mainly in Belize and Belmopan.

Catholic Church represented by the Diocese of Belize City, Belmopan, under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Kingston (Jamaica); administered by a bishop and assistant bishop (since December 12, 2001).

episcopium has 13 parishes. At San Salvador Cathedral (1858)

Belize (state)

Belize. Most elementary schools are run by the church (government funded).

Anglican Church has the Diocese of Belize, which is part of the Commonwealth of Anglicans Province of West India. It unites 8 parishes; St. John's Cathedral is in Belize (1812), 28 active churches, 18 elementary schools, theological institute.

Protestant denominations and sects: World Federation Baptists (48 communities - 1998), Methodists (4%),

. (14 communities - 1990), Mennonites (4% - 1998), Nazarene (31 communities), Pentecost (2%), The Church of Jesus Christ of Saints last days(Mormons, 13 congregations), Seventh-day Adventists (3%), members of the Assembly of God, etc.

The country also has communities of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha'is and others.

Sources, Notes

* The value is calculated by linear interpolation, taking into account the two closest values ​​\u200b\u200bto each other (Date-> population) (unofficial).
** Migration growth is included in the calculation of birth rate growth: Birth rate = Population + Mortality.
*** We do not have population figures before 1950.

The figures shown are based on an approximate calculation using the function: population in 1900 = 70% of population in 1950.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). World Demographic Prospects: A 2015 Revision. These estimates and forecasts were made according to the medium-term birth rate option. Used with permission from the United Nations.

Downloaded: 2015-11-15 (un.org)
City density map created from population.city using data provided to us by 1km.net. Each circle represents a city with a population of over 5000. Link
The population density map was created according to the instructions of daysleeperrr on reddig.

Link1. Data source: Gridded Population of the World (GPW), 3rd online edition in Socioeconomic Data and Applications (SEDAC) at Columbia University. Link2. Additionally used: Data from the database (version 2.0) Globsl Land Cover Char and MOD12Q1 binary data from shadedrelief.com.

Link3 (PNG,0.5Mb).

Belize / Language

The official language is English.

Although the Constitution contains no provisions in an official language, English is the language of business and legal procedures, education, etc.

English is spoken by 3.9% of the population, to some extent it owns about 80% of the population. The most widely spoken language is Spanish (nearly 46% of the population), followed by Creole (a mixture of English, Spanish and May) at 32.9%.

Other languages ​​used include Garifuna, German, Ketch, Mopan, Maya, Chinese and Hindi.

← Back | Language | Next →

• Countries of the world
• America
• Caribbean
  • Year of foundation
  • Geographic location, area, borders
  • population
  • Human Development Index for the period 1980-2005
  • colonial period
  • Independent Belize
  • Constitutional foundations, features of the form of government
  • Separation and mutual participation of the branch of government
  • Characteristics of the Executive
  • Head of state (monarch) 1952-2012
  • Heads of government (prime ministers) in 1981-2012
  • Characteristics of the legislature
  • Characteristics of the judiciary
  • Territorial-state structure
  • Local self-government and self-government
  • External Influences on the Design and Functioning of Political Institutions
  • Conflicts and cracks
  • Official ideology, ideological differences and conflicts
  • Religion and the state, the role of religion in politics
  • Features of the party system
  • Representation of political parties in the House of Representatives after the 2008 elections
  • The political role of the military / law enforcement agencies
  • Non-Governmental Organizations, Social Components of the Political System, Interest and Influence Groups
  • Position and role of the media
  • Gender equality / inequality
  • National economy in the context of the global economy
  • The main indicators of the economy for the period 1990-2010.
  • Weight in the global economy for the period 1990-2010
  • Sources of influence on the international environment and international processes
  • Military spending in 1990-2008
  • Cooperation with international organizations, the main external partners and partners, relations with Russia
  • External and internal threat to the security of the state
  • Belize in the evaluation of the corruption detection index in the period 2003-2008
  • Placement of the territory of the country in the zone of increased risk of natural disasters
  • Economic Threats
  • Threats to human security

Iraq
The book talks about the Republic of Iraq, a state located on …

On the Caribbean coast in Central America, there is a small state of Belize, famous for the ancient Mayan civilization that flourished on its territory and unique natural and tourist sites, including
famous Belize Barrier Reef.

Belize, a former British colony, gained independence in 1981, and today the young state is an equal member of the British Commonwealth. Belize considers the Queen of England to be its monarch, but in reality its political structure is based on the principles of parliamentary democracy.

The official language is English. The country with a population of just over 300 thousand people covers an area of ​​about 23 thousand square kilometers. Belize country phone code: +501

The capital of the state is Belmopan, specially built in the center of the country.
Belmopan is located about 80 km from the coast and is a modern city with all the attributes of an administrative center: government agencies, banks, offices, luxury hotels and restaurants.

The largest city of Belize, its historical, cultural, commercial and tourist center is Belize City. More than a quarter of the total population of the country lives here.

belize city located on a picturesque sea coast, which, combined with traditional colonial architecture and the original way of life of the local population, gives the city a special flavor and charm.

city ​​market- a kind of showcase of the country. Everything that attracts numerous tourists is presented here: traditional products of local craftsmen, exotic fruits and the freshest seafood.

The city has two airports and a seaport, which provides comfortable transport links, both international and local, to deliver tourists to the nearest islands.

Geographic reference

special geographical position country has left its mark on its climate. Average monthly temperature almost all year round it fluctuates around +26°С, the rainy season, brought by the trade winds, lasts from May to July.

Due to the large amount of moisture, about half of the territory of Belize is tropical forests: broadleaf, coniferous and mangrove along the coast. Valuable tree species that grow here in large quantities - one of the sources of government revenue.

Experience the Antilles in the Caribbean

Most of the country's territory is flat and low-lying, with many swamps, lakes and lagoons. Mayan mountains about 1000 m high rise only in the south.

Endless forests inhabit the great many species of a wide variety of outlandish animals and exotic birds, many of which are unique and are not found anywhere else on the world map. This makes Belize attractive for numerous tourists who prefer ecological and educational walks to beach holidays.

History of Belize

Belize known for being rich interesting events historical past. In the pre-colonial period, the Maya Indians lived on the territory of the country, whose culture flourished by the 9th century.

The Spaniards, who landed on the Caribbean coast in the 16th century, faced opposition from local tribes. Over time, the Maya Indians were forced out into inaccessible mountainous areas, and the future of then Belize began glorious pirate past.

English and Scottish pirates along the coast created their settlements, which served as a convenient base for them to attack Spanish merchant ships and colonies.

The colonialists were also engaged in the preparation of valuable timber, for which large quantities of slaves were imported from Africa. The result of such a complex historical development- a peculiar composition of the population of Belize.

The main part of the natives- mestizos and creoles, about a tenth of the Mayan Indians; other ethnic groups are represented in small numbers. The colonial past of Belize lasted until the second half of the 20th century.

The turbulent history of the country has left a rich and extremely interesting legacy that actively attracts tourists from all over the world. Artifacts created by the great Mayan civilization are priceless: numerous temples, palaces, objects of worship.

Most famous centers that have survived to this day ancient civilization that have become objects of archaeological research: Shunantunich, Kueyo, Altun-Kha, Karakol, Lamanai and others.


The structures located in them date back to the 3rd - 10th centuries. Numerous tourists who willingly visit the world-famous ancient Mayan settlements are struck by the majesty of the stepped pyramids, huge cult masks and bas-reliefs on the walls of temples.

Interest is caused by the so-called fake mayan arches- the main distinguishing feature of their architecture. The museums present amazing household items and decorations of the Indians found in their burials.

Mysterious civilization of the Mayan Indians has not yet been fully explored. Archaeologists and historians are waiting for numerous discoveries.

BUT tourists have the opportunity touch the secrets of a great civilization directly, without intermediaries and the presence of numerous crowds. These places are not yet as traveled as, for example, Europe.

Sights of Belize

The largest city in the country is rich in sights - belize city, where the Belize Historical Museum is located, located in the same historical building of the former colonial prison.


The exhibits of the museum will tell about the Mayan civilization, the life of the Indians, their religious rites, as well as a long colonial past.

Belize City Maritime Museum- another unique place, the unique exhibits of which will tell about the romance of navigation, the conquest of uncharted places and naval battles.

The city also has National Center for Handicrafts, where the unique products of Indian craftsmen and the traditions of their manufacture are carefully preserved.

Colonial architecture of the coastal cities of Belize - Another attraction that deserves the attention of travelers.

The walls of old mansions and churches remember the Spanish and English colonizers, famous sailors and pirates. The main decoration and pride of Belize City- St. John's Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Central America.

Small in territory, but having unique natural sites, the country attracts tourists with its national parks and reserves.

Visitors are expected diverse exotic flora and fauna, picturesque mountain and plain landscapes, noisy waterfalls and mysterious caves. Convenient and safe hiking trails are laid through the parks.

Here you can see rare creepers, the sacred Mayan ceibu tree, iron tree, watch hundreds of bright tropical birds, meet armadillos, anteaters, tapirs or other exotic animals.

Outlandish plants in national parks labeled with name and description. Belize has the only jaguar sanctuary in the world, which is also open to the public.

The main tourist attraction of the country - Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest after the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

Over the entire length of this unique natural object with a total length of 280 km, there are more than a hundred species of soft and hard corals, about 500 species of fish.

Some areas are home to rare sea turtles, lamatinas and the sharp-snouted crocodile. In the eastern part of the reef system, there are three separate atoll islands of Turnef, Glovers Reef and Lighthouse Reef.

The latter is famous for the fact that on its territory there is the Great Blue Hole of Belize, which is a karst funnel with a diameter of 305 m and a depth of 120 m.

The unique natural object has become widely known for Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who named him one of the best places for diving in the world. On the picturesque islands of the Belize Reef, there are world-famous resorts with unique diving centers.


A beach holiday on the sea coast of Belize attracts many tourists from all over the world. Unusually favorable conditions during the holiday season, when the water temperature coincides with the air temperature, make this place a paradise for vacationers.

Beaches are very popular among tourists both in the mainland and in the more exotic, island.

Leisure Belize

As a rule, tourists are offered, in addition to the world-famous unique diving among the corals in Belize, tours to other types of water recreation: windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing.

Friendly service staff in comfortable hotels complement the pleasant atmosphere of the resorts of Belize. The problem is supposed to be only one: tourists will have a difficult choice among the vast number of types of pleasant and interesting pastime - all the exciting things that this amazing country has to offer.

Climate of Belize

And one more subtlety: When going on a trip, you should choose the right time for rest. Due to the peculiarities of the maritime climate and possible seasonal hurricanes, the best time to visit the resorts of Belize is from December to April.

Video of Belize

Liked the article?

Subscribe to site updates via RSS, or stay tuned

(since 1972). From 300 BC to 900 AD Mayan civilization flourished here. In the 1520s, the Spaniards conquered the territory of B., while sowing. hours became part of New Spain (Mexico), and south. became part of the captaincy general of Guatemala. In 1638, the first English colony was founded on the coast; in 1798 the British finally ousted the Spaniards. Since 1862 became a colony (British Honduras); independent state since 1981, although Guatemala considers B. its territory. The head of state is the Queen of England, represented by the Governor General. Parliament - National assembly - consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Mountainous landscapes predominate in the south (the city of Victoria, 1,122 m), and marshy lowlands in the north. 92% of the territory is covered with tropical rainforests. Coast with sandy beaches and mangroves; there are deep lagoons. Population 256 thousand people. (2001); half of the townspeople. Mestizos (Spanish-Indians) - 43.6%, Creoles and mulattoes - 29.8%, Maya (live in the north and west) - 11%, Garifuna (black-skinned Caribs of African descent; resettled in the 18th century from the British West -India) - 6.7%, east. Indians - 3.5%; Europeans (in cities and on the coast). They speak English, Spanish and Mayan languages. Catholics - 57.7%, Protestants - 34.3%. Sel.-khoz. lands occupy 3% of the territory. Grown: sugar. cane, citrus fruits, bananas, maize, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, beans, vegetables. In the 1980s, commercial production of cocoa, coconuts, and peanuts was mastered. Large horn. livestock, pigs. Fishing for lobsters, shrimps, sea turtles (exported frozen). Harvesting and processing of valuable wood species; cement, food, tab. prom-st; pr-in clothes, footwear. Underground production of marijuana (export to the USA). Cash unit - Belize dollar
2) (Belize City), ex. capital, main city and seaport of Belize, on the shore caribbean near the mouth of the river Belize is surrounded by mangroves. 53 thousand inhabitants (2003). The settlement was founded by English sailors in early XVII in. Since 1884 - adm. center of the colony of British Honduras. Constantly exposed to hurricanes and floods (1931, 1961, 1978), which is why it was decided to move the capital inland (1970). Sawmill, furniture, woodworking, fish, food. prom. Through the deep-water port, mahogany, cedar, sugar, citrus fruits, coconuts, bananas, and maize are exported. Intern. the airport. Institute of Baron Bliss (Mayan antiquities), archaeol. museum, national library. Faculty of the West Indies University. Many buildings of colonial architecture, wooden buildings, new concrete buildings. Anglican Cathedral (1812). Fort George (1803).

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

state in Central America, in the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Belize was a British possession for almost two centuries and from 1840 to 1973 was called British Honduras. The country gained independence in 1981. It is part of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain.
Belize is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east. In the northwest, the Rio Ondo separates it from the territory of Mexico, and in the south and west it borders on Guatemala. The greatest length of the country from north to south is approx. 280 km, and from west to east (excluding offshore islands) - approx. 105 km. The area is 22,965 km.
Administratively, the territory of Belize is divided into 6 districts: Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo. In 1991, the population of Belize City, the country's main port and largest city, was estimated at 45.2 thousand people. The population of the capital city of Belmopan, which became the administrative center of the country in 1971, is 3,700 people. By the year 2000 Belize City is projected to have a population of approximately 54,000 and Belmopan to over 6,500.
Nature. The northern part of the country is a low-lying, marshy plain. In the southern part, the coastal plain is separated from the inner mountainous-hilly region, the central part of which is formed by the Maya Mountains, elongated from the northeast to the southwest. Here is the highest point in the country - Victoria Peak (1120 m). To the northwest of these mountains, within the district of Cayo, there is a ridge with heights of more than 900 m. Along the coast, at a distance of approx. 30 km from it, a barrier reef stretches.
The climate of Belize is tropical trade wind. The average temperature in July is 24–26 ° C, in January - 20–24 ° C. The average annual rainfall is from 1340 mm in the north (Corosal district) to 4520 mm in the south (Punta Gorda). On the coast, the northeast trade wind moderates the summer heat, but away from the coast, summer temperatures can exceed 38 ° C. Humidity is high, especially in the coastal part. The dry season lasts from February to May, and the maximum precipitation occurs from June to October. Belize is in one of the most tropical cyclone-prone areas in the Caribbean and periodically suffers massive damage from storms and hurricanes. Most of the south of the country is covered with dense rainforests. Many valuable species of trees grow in Belize, such as mahogany, cedar, rosewood (dalbergia); in the past, logwood and chicle resin, which is used to make chewing gum, were actively harvested.
In the north of the country flow major rivers Rio Ondo and Belize, which used to be used to transport timber. Since precipitation is much more abundant in the south of the country than in the north, periodically they lead to floods on small rivers originating in the Maya mountains, which significantly complicates the movement of road transport.
Population Belize is heterogeneous in composition, reflecting its long history of settlement. Many residents have an admixture of African blood. Creoles, descendants of African slaves and English settlers, speak a Creole dialect of English language. The so-called Garifs, or Black Caribs, descendants of Africans and Carib Indians resettled by the British from the West Indies, speak a language belonging to the Indian group. A significant proportion are also Hispanic mestizos of Hispano-Indian origin and representatives of the three Mayan groups; a few descendants of immigrants from the countries of the Middle East, China and Europe also live here. The official language is English, it is taught, however, according to the 1991 census, only 54% of the population speak this language fluently.
The influx of refugees from neighboring Central American countries in the 1980s and 1990s had a significant impact on the composition of the population. In the 1980s, the number of mestizos increased significantly, and they became the largest ethnic group in the country, this was also facilitated by emigration to the United States approx. 60 thousand Creoles and Garifs. Historically, Belize has been a peaceful country, but all these changes in the composition of the population have led to tensions in interethnic relations.
Belize is the most sparsely populated country in Central America. This will continue until at least 2005, when the population is estimated to be approx. 270 thousand people. In 2003, the number was 266.44. At the same time, the share of the urban population is expected to increase slightly, reaching 52% in 2000 (compared to 50% in 1996). Currently, mestizos make up 44% of the population, Creoles - 30%, Garifs - 7%, Mayans - 11%; all other ethnic groups account for a total of approx. eight%. The increase in the number of mestizos since 1980 has been noted mainly in the northern and western districts, where the Hispanic population predominates. The population in areas densely populated by Belizeans of African descent has declined due to emigration processes.
Mestizos, Maya Indians and Garifs belong mainly to the Catholic Church, although the influence of Protestant evangelical churches has penetrated into some areas. Most Creoles are members of the Anglican or Methodist Church or other Protestant denominations, although many of them are Roman Catholic.
Political system. The official head of state is the British monarch, who is represented by the Governor General, but his functions are purely ceremonial. Legislative power belongs to the National Assembly, which consists of the House of Representatives (29 deputies elected for 5 years) and the Senate of 8 appointed members. Executive power in the country is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister; the government is accountable to the National Assembly. The Prime Minister is the leader of the party with the majority in the House of Representatives.
There are two main political parties in the country: the People's United Party (PUP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP). The first of them was in power from 1961 to 1984, later control of the government often passed from one party to another.
Economy. Belize is an agricultural country. The state of the country's economy has long been determined by fluctuations in demand in world markets for goods exported from Belize. Until the 1950s, the economy was based on the export of raw forest products, primarily logwood and mahogany and chicle resin, used in the manufacture of chewing gum. In the 1950s, falling world prices for these goods and the depletion of local resources forced the colonial authorities to take steps to make the economy more diversified. Production for the export of raw sugar, citrus fruits and bananas was increased; at present, these products together provide up to 60% of foreign exchange earnings from exports. About 11% of export earnings come from fish and other seafood, 20% from industrial goods, mainly ready-made clothing and woodworking products. Imports are dominated by machinery and equipment.
Tourism is developing rapidly, accounting for 18% of GDP. Tourists are attracted to the country mainly by the monuments of the ancient Mayan culture. Belize, along with Mexico and Guatemala, is a member of the international Maya World project, the purpose of which is to study and protect (including the control of tourist visits) the Maya cultural sites on the Yucatan Peninsula within these three countries. In 1992 Belize was visited by approx. 247 thousand tourists, mainly from the USA.
Despite the successful development of the above sectors of the economy, Belize is largely dependent on the import of manufactured goods. By the end of the 1970s, the country had become self-sufficient in important agricultural products such as rice, corn and beans. Fulfilling the conditions for granting IMF loans, the government of Belize in 1984 reduced government purchase prices for the main types of agricultural products, after which food imports began to grow. In 1993, export receipts were $132 million and import expenditures were $250 million. Government revenue in the same year was $125 million, with duties on imported goods and other indirect taxes being the main sources of revenue. .
In recent years, the drug trade has played a huge role in the entire life of society. By 1985, illicitly cultivated marijuana had become the largest source of foreign exchange earnings, Belize is believed to have become the fourth largest drug-sending country in the United States. Marijuana production declined markedly as a result of the US-funded drug control program, but the resulting niche was quickly filled by cocaine trafficking, as Belize is the main transit route for Colombian cocaine to the US. Since the services local residents traffickers are often paid for in cocaine, in the early 1990s Belize was hit by an outbreak of drug addiction and an associated rise in crime.
The main currency of the country is the Belize dollar, equivalent to about half the US dollar.
Transport and communication. The total length of highways connecting Belize City with Guatemala and Mexico is 2560 km. In the southern part of the country car roads mostly unpaved and during rains periodically become impassable. An international airport near the city of Belize serves airlines connecting the country with the United States and the states of Central America; there is also air communication with most cities in the country.
Several newspapers are published in Belize. The government radio company owns several radio stations that broadcast on the AM and FM bands. There is no own television in the country, but almost the entire territory is covered by a cable network, through which mainly US television programs are transmitted.
Healthcare. There are 8 public hospitals and 29 medical centers in the country, where citizens receive free medical care. There are also private clinics in Belize City. In 1998, there was one doctor for about 2,000 inhabitants. Government Health and Procurement Programs drinking water contributed to a significant reduction in infant mortality compared to the 1950s. In the late 1980s, it was 24.8 per 1,000 newborns. However, in the 1990s, this figure began to rise again and in 1997 reached 34 per 1000. By the way, the real figures may be higher, since in rural areas often no record of infant mortality is kept. The real scourge of the country is malaria and dengue fever.
Public education. The country introduced compulsory education for children aged 6 to 16 years. Primary schools are funded by the state, but most of them are run by the church. All cities have secondary schools. In 1986, the country's first university was opened in Belize City. educational institution– University College of Belize (a branch of the University of the West Indies); the course of study in it takes 4 years. The literacy rate in the country by Central American standards is quite high - 70% (1998).
Story. In the late classical period of the Maya civilization (by the end of the 1st millennium AD), approx. 400 thousand people. At the beginning of the 16th century, when Europeans landed here, some Maya tribes still lived in the coastal lowlands. The Spaniards also tried to penetrate into the interior of Belize, but were forced to abandon these intentions, having met with strong opposition from the Maya ( see also maya).
In 1638, English pirates settled on the coast of Belize and attacked Spanish ships. Later, British settlers began harvesting logwood, from which a substance used in the manufacture of dyes for fabrics was extracted and had great importance for the wool-spinning industry in Europe. The Spaniards allowed the settlers to occupy this territory and carry out logging, demanding in exchange help in the fight against piracy. In historical documents of the beginning of the 17th century. it is noted that at this time Negro slaves began to be brought from Jamaica to work in logging. By 1800 Africans outnumbered settlers of European origin by four times. By this time, mahogany had become the main export item, pushing sandalwood into second place (this position continued until the 1950s).
Fearing to provoke an attack by the Spaniards, the British government initially did not recognize these settlements as its colony, which allowed the settlers to establish their own laws and form a government independent of England. During this period, the central legislature, the People's Assembly, was controlled by a few wealthy colonists who owned most of the forests and lands. In 1786, the British government for the first time appointed its official representative, the superintendent, to Belize. At the beginning of the 19th century Great Britain tried to establish tighter administrative control over the settlements in Belize, demanding, in particular, under the threat of suspension of the activities of the People's Assembly, to comply with the instructions of the British government on the abolition of slavery. Slavery was officially abolished in 1838.
In 1862, Belize was officially declared a British colony and renamed British Honduras, and a lieutenant governor was placed at the head of the administration instead of a superintendent. With the change in status, the right to appoint the government began to belong to the lieutenant governor. Dominant position in British Honduras at the end of the 19th century. occupied by the Belize Estate and Produce Company, which owned half of all privately owned land. This company enjoyed great influence in the Colonial Office, which is partly why the mahogany trade continued to dominate the country's economy into the next century.
During the economic crisis of the 1930s, the colony's economy was on the verge of collapse as a result of a sharp drop in demand for timber in the UK. The consequences of the devastating hurricane of 1931 were added to the disasters caused by mass unemployment. In 1934, a wave of demonstrations and speeches swept the country, marking the beginning of the independence movement. In response, the British authorities abolished criminal liability for violation of the terms of the labor contract by workers and legalized trade unions.
The economic situation of the colony improved during World War II, however, after the war, the colony's economy again fell into a state of stagnation. In 1949, Great Britain decided to devalue the Honduran dollar, which worsened the situation and led to the creation of a People's Committee, which demanded independence for British Honduras. Later, the People's Committee was transformed into the People's United Party (PUP), which advocated constitutional reforms, in particular, the enfranchisement of all adults. In the 1954 elections, the NOP won 8 out of 9 seats in the Legislative Assembly. In the course of further constitutional reforms, the leader of the NOP, George Price, took over as the first minister of the colony in 1960. In 1964, Great Britain granted internal self-government to British Honduras, and in 1973 the colony was named Belize. Price took over as prime minister, and members of the Legislative Assembly joined the cabinet.
Although back in 1961 Great Britain declared its readiness to grant independence to the colony, the formal declaration of independence of Belize took place only twenty years later. The reason for this was the claims of Guatemala, which referred to the rights allegedly inherited from Spain. In fact, the border between Belize and Guatemala was established in accordance with the agreement of 1859 between Great Britain and Guatemala. Guatemala's territorial claims resumed in the 1930s. In 1975, Guatemala even threatened to send troops into Belize. In response, Britain sent its ground forces, warships and jet fighters to the area. In 1980, the UN adopted a special resolution recognizing the independence of Belize; the only country to vote against the resolution was Guatemala. Belize was proclaimed an independent state on September 21, 1981.
In 1984, when the United Democratic Party (UDP) defeated the NLP in the national elections, Belize saw its first change in ruling party. The government was headed by UDP leader Manuel Esquivel, former teacher and Mayor of Belize City. In 1989, the NOP returned to power, and Price again took over as prime minister. In July 1993, the UDP led by Esquivel won by a slight margin. The 1998 elections brought victory to the PNP, which controlled both the government and the National Assembly. The post of prime minister was taken over by the NOP candidate Said Musa.
Belize has been a member of the UN since 1981, the Organization of American States since 1991, and is part of the Caribbean Community.

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

BELIZE

An independent state in the northeast of Central America. It borders with Mexico in the north and northwest, Guatemala in the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea in the east. The area of ​​the country is 22965 km2.
Population (for 1998) - 230100 people, the average population density is 10 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Mestizos - 43%, Creoles - 30%, Maya - 11%. Language: English (state), Spanish, Creole dialects. Religion: Catholics - 62%, Protestants - 30%. The capital is Belmopan (about 5,000 people). The largest city is Belize City (50,000 people). The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, represented by Governor General Colville N. Young (since 1993. The head of government is Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel (since June 1993). Monetary unit is the Belize dollar. Average life expectancy (as of 1998) : 72 years - men, 75 years - women Birth rate (per 1000 people) - 31.1 Death rate (per 1000 people) - 5.5.
In pre-Columbian times, Belize was the territory of the Mayan kingdom. At the beginning of the 16th century, it became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and in 1836 - a British colony called British Honduras. Belize remained the last British colony on the American mainland until 1981. The country gained independence on September 21, 1981. However, British troops remained in the country until October 1994.
The country is a member of the UN, the IMF, the Organization of American States. British Commonwealth of Nations.
The fauna of Belize is quite diverse - jaguars, deer, tapirs, a large number of different birds and reptiles.
The main architectural sights of the country are located in Belize City - the Cathedral of St. John and Government House, built in early XIX centuries.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Belize - a state in Central America occupies the southeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean coast, bordering Mexico in the north (cm. Mexico), and in the east and south - with Guatemala (cm. Guatemala (country)). The area is 23 thousand sq. km, the population is 294.3 thousand people (2007). The capital is Belmopan. The official language is English.
After the Spanish conquest, most of present-day Belize was part of New Spain (Mexico). However, the Spaniards practically did not colonize this remote and almost deserted land, and the British began to penetrate here (mostly pirates and colonists from the island of Jamaica (cm. Jamaica)). Since 1840, the British began to call Belize British Honduras, and in 1862 they declared it their colony. Independence was proclaimed in 1981.
Most of the country's territory is occupied by a low, sometimes swampy plain with many lakes and lagoons. The climate is tropical, trade wind. The average monthly temperature is around 26°C. Almost half of the country's territory is covered by tropical rainforests.
The population of Belize is anthropologically and ethnically very diverse. Two-thirds of it consists of blacks and mulattoes, the vast majority of which are seasonal workers working on sugarcane and citrus plantations or engaged in logging. The Maya Indians, who once inhabited the territory of modern Belize, now make up less than 20% and live in isolation in the hinterland. Over half of the population of Belize uses the local dialect of English.
Until 1970, the capital was the largest city and port of the country - Belize. But as a result of repeated impacts of devastating hurricanes, accompanied by floods, the capital had to be moved to Belmopan. Most of the population lives on the coast, where the main cities are located - Belize, Stann Creek, Corozal, Punta Gorda.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

Belize (Belize) is a small state located on the northeast coast of Central America. Before 1973 Belize was known as British Honduras(a former British colony that gained independence in 1981). The country is very popular among tourists from all over the world. Belize- an amazing tropical country with the richest flora and fauna, a friendly climate and warm, clear waters Caribbean Sea.

Belize - British Honduras

1. Capital

Belmopan– young capital of Belize, as well as its administrative center, with modern urban architecture and natural attractions. Its construction began in 1970, after the devastating hurricane Hatti badly battered the former capital of the country - Belize City. Belmopan is one of the smallest capitals in the world. The city is so small that it can be walked around in just a few minutes. The capital is located on the Belize River, in the southeastern part of the peninsula, and in its vicinity there are tropical rainforests.

2. Flag

Flag of Belize- a rectangular blue cloth with an aspect ratio of 2: 3, framed at the top and bottom with narrow red stripes. Blue color - symbolizes the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, washing the shores of the state. Red color - the blood of patriotic fighters shed in the struggle for independence Belize. In the center flag depicts the national emblem of the country.

3. Coat of arms

Emblem of Belize- is a circle framed by twenty-five leaves. Inside the circle are a shield divided into three parts, shield holders-woodcutters, mahogany and a green base with motto of Belize. The mahogany is a symbol of the wealth of the country's forest fund, which plays an important role in the country's economy. Two shield-holders-woodcutters (mestizo and mulatto) holding an ax and an oar in their hands are representatives of the local population. The shield depicts an oar, axes of various configurations and a saw. At the bottom of the shield is a sailing ship - a symbol of maritime trade, with the help of which mahogany from Belize exported by sea to the UK. At the bottom of the coat of arms is the national motto - " We thrive under the shade ».

4. Anthem

listen to the anthem of Belize

5. Currency

The national currency of Belize is the Belize dollar. (Belize dollar) equal to 100 cents. Letter designation (BZ$, BZD). In circulation are coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 50 cents and one dollar, as well as banknotes in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. U.S. dollar in Belize is in free circulation, being legal tender. Belize dollar to ruble exchange rate or any other currency can be viewed on the currency converter below:

The appearance of Belize coins

The appearance of Belize banknotes

Belize- small country in Central America bordered to the north by Mexico and to the west by Guatemala, the east coast of the country is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The total area of ​​Belize is 22,966 km2. The geography of the country is a coastal strip with a fairly large number of lagoons surrounded by reef islands.

In the north and in the central part, it is a low-lying swampy plain with dense tropical forests, occupying over 50% of the territory. Belize, as well as a zone of low mountains in the south. The largest and most important river of the state is navigable Belize river, flowing from the country's border with Guatemala to the Caribbean Sea.

8. What to see in Belize

- these are green islands, nature reserves, beautiful coral reefs, ancient Mayan cities, unique terrestrial and underwater caves.

And here is a small list of attractions which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to Belize:

• Ambergris Cay
• Architectural and historical complex Lamanai
• Architectural and historical complex Altun-Kha
• Architectural and historical complexes of Kahal Pech
• Belize barrier reef
• belize zoo
• big blue hole
• Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
• Gladden Spit Marine Reserve
• Coxcombe National Park Preserve
• Babun National Park
• Pyramid of El Castillo in Xunantunich
• placentia
• Ruins of the city of Queyo
• Ruins of Xunantunih
• Ruins of Xunantunich
• Cave Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal
• Butterfly Farm "Green Hills"
• Half Moon Cay

9. Largest cities in Belize

• Belize City
• San Ignacio
• Belmopan (capital of Belize)
• San Pedro
• Orange Walk
• Corozal
• Dangriga
• Benque Viejo del Carmen
• Punta Gorda

10. Climate

The climate of Belize is tropical, with high air humidity (85%) and stable annual temperature (around +26°C). The daytime summer air temperature reaches +30 °С ... +31 °С, at night +21 °С ... +23 °С degrees. In winter, the air temperature during the day fluctuates between + 25 °С ... + 27 °С, and at night it drops to +17 °С ... +19 °С degrees. Between June and November is the rainy season. During this time of the year there are torrential rains, often accompanied by exiled tropical hurricanes, and the main amount of precipitation falls. In the north Belize about 1000 mm of precipitation falls annually, in the south - four times more.

11. Population

Belize has a population of 372,095(as of February 2017). In terms of ethnic composition, Belize is diverse: 48.4% are mestizos, 24.7% are Creoles, 10.8% are the legendary Maya Indians, 7.5% are Garifs (descendants of African and Caribbean Indians.), 8.6% - immigrants from Europe, the USA and the Middle East (mainly Lebanese and Syrians). The average life expectancy in the country is 71-72 years.

12. Language

The official language of Belize is English, however, it is not the most common. Due to the fact that it is multi-ethnic, the number of languages ​​​​is slightly more than one. The most widely spoken language is Creole, which is spoken by 70% of the total population of the country, followed by Spanish - 42% of the local population use it in conversation. In some areas, they speak the dialects of Maya-mopan, Maya-Kekchi and Garifuna. 2/3 total population of Belize speak two or even three languages.

13. Religion

Religion in Belize as diverse as the ethnic composition and language: 49.3% - Catholics, 31% - Protestants, 9% - atheists, 3.5% - Baptists, 3.5% - Methodists, 3.7% - other religions.

14. Holidays

Belize National Holidays

• January 1 - New Year
• March 9 - Baron Bliss Day (British nobleman and philanthropist)
• March-April - Easter
• May 1 - Labor Day
• May 24 - Commonwealth Day
• September 10 - Public holiday (Battles of St. George's Cay)
• September 21 - Independence Day
• October 12 - Columbus Day
• November 19 - Garifuna Day
• December 25-26 - Christmas

15. Souvenirs

Here is a small list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from Belize:

• Belizean rum One Barrel and Prestige
• mahogany products
• bamboo products
• hot sauces from Marie Sharp
• carpets and lace
• jade masks
• musical instruments
• straw souvenirs and wooden figurines
• ritual masks
• silver and gold jewelry

16. "No nail, no wand" or customs regulations

Allowed to import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities, local is not more than 100 Belize dollars.

Import rules

Tourists who have reached the age of 18 are allowed to import into Belize without duty 0.5 liters of alcoholic beverage (above 22%) and 2 liters - less than 22%; 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; perfumery and toilet water - in the volume of one bottle. It is forbidden to import drugs, weapons, antiquities, antiques (without the permission of the relevant local authorities).

Export rules

It is forbidden to export drugs, weapons, antiquities and antiques from Belize without special documents from the competent local authorities, corals and objects made from raw coral, sea shells, and turtle shells.

What about sockets?

Mains voltage Belize 110 AT less often 220 V, at a frequency of 60 Hz. Sockets are of three types: A, B and G.

17. Telephone code and domain name Belize

Code of the country: +501
First level geographic domain name: .bz

Dear reader! If you have been to this country or you have something interesting to tell about Belize . WRITE! After all, your lines can be useful and informative for visitors to our site. "On the planet step by step" and for all those who love to travel.

If the saying "how New Year if you meet him, that’s how you spend him” is true, then 2018 I will have to sleep somewhere in a cheap hotel without cold water in some third world country like Guatemala. Not the worst option, how to spend a year, if you look. Such a cheerful meeting of the holiday was due to the fact that on January 1 we bought tickets for such an early as 5 in the morning towards Belize.

Belize is the only country in Central America where Russians need a visa. There is information that you can enter here with a Schengen visa, or get a visa on arrival if a US visa is pasted in your passport, but for every successful entry there is a story about how someone was not allowed. Most often, the reason for the refusal is the lack of forms for visas at the border guards. In short, until the very last moment it was not clear whether they would let us in on an American visa or not.

Once upon a time, after about two years from the date of graduation, I decided to finally pick up my honestly earned diploma. As you probably know, for this you need to collect different signatures on a special bypass sheet in order to prove that you do not owe anything to your native university. I don’t remember exactly in which of the beautiful corners of my alma mother she found a scythe on a stone, in my opinion it happened in the accounting department. In general, I go into the office, where three aunts are sitting and swallowing cookies and tea. I explain that I just need to sign a bypass, and they naturally answer me like this: “come back in three days, we have computers for maintenance.” Here I notice that there are physically three computers in the room, but they are all turned off.

I studied at this university for six years in the specialty "Computers, Systems, Complexes and Networks", received the title of a fucking master, but over the years of study they forgot to tell me that computers sometimes need to be turned off for several days for prevention ... Why am I? Yes, just something like that office, I imagined the border of Belize in advance: you can be right a hundred times, but if the computers are on prevention, then it’s useless to argue here - you can’t argue with idiocy.

The situation at the Belize checkpoint was a match: from time to time one of the workers threw a firecracker right in the room on the floor, a very loud bang was heard, everyone jumped at first, and then giggled nervously. In short, this is not at all the behavior that you expect in a place where people with real weapons are on the lookout.

In the end, we are still lucky. True, at first they were sent to some room where an experienced woman dealt with the most difficult cases. There they began to torture us, why did their beautiful Belize so rest against us. We honestly answered that we had a flight home from Cancun, the easiest way to get there through Belize, and they wonderful country would love to see. In general, having confused us a little and for some reason scanned our return tickets from Mexico, we were stamped and allowed to set foot on the territory of the former British Honduras. I want to note that we were not given any visa on arrival, as was supposed in our case. This would require pre-prepared photos and money, but this time the hangover mess even played into our hands - we crossed the border for free with only seals.

Belize has a big plus compared to neighboring countries: here official language- English, which means that in terms of communication, everything is simplified well, just at times. If in Spanish you sometimes have to “dance” to explain what exactly you need, then in Belize everything is outrageously simple. Among themselves, though, many speak Creole - this is such a very distorted version of English, which for me seems even less understandable than Spanish. But everyone knows normal human English anyway.

Belize, compared to Guatemala, seems to be just a stronghold of civilization: neat houses, decently dressed people. Our first stop here was the small town of San Ignacio.

From the very beginning we planned to come here to get to the Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal cave. According to stories, there are the remains of the ancient Maya, and the description of the way to it through the jungle and reservoirs sounds like a tempting adventure.

The only problem is that you can’t get there without a guide, and with a guide this pleasure costs almost a hundred bucks. Well, okay, the place is unique in its own way, and the event takes a whole day, so I was even ready to pay this outrageous price, but on the morning of January 1, we didn’t manage to get on such an excursion. Booking the next day for us meant losing one already paid day on the islands, so we decided that we would live without seeing the skeletons in a dark cave.

Instead, we went looking for more interesting things to find around San Ignacio.

Maya significantly inherited not only in Guatemala and Mexico. Around San Ignacio, and almost throughout the entire territory of present-day Belize, there are also enough of their cities immersed in greenery.

One of the ruins called Cahal Pech is generally located almost within the city. Unlike neighboring countries, in Belize no one forbids climbing the World Heritage Site.

To be honest, Cajal Pech is somehow not very impressive after the huge Tikal in Guatemala. It's like trying to admire Omsk after Dubai.

But just a dozen kilometers from San Ignacio, there is another ruin with the unpronounceable name of Xunantunich, which is very easy to reach from the city by ordinary public transport And here they are looking really good.

It is especially interesting to climb the highest pyramid there. The view from there is simply amazing.

Here we saw why a significant part of the economy of Belize is tourism.

The fact is that cruise liners constantly sail to this country, tourists from which are then taken on bus excursions throughout the country.

Shunantunich is one of the popular destinations. Despite the fact that it takes more than two hours to drive from the coast, the place is quite interesting, so the ruins, which are quiet and deserted the rest of the time, are simply flooded with tourists, mostly American retirees.

It's funny that they are always accompanied by a couple of policemen with weapons, so that nothing happens. And then they apparently believe that Belize is an insanely dangerous country, because they have to be protected like that.

In addition to cruise passengers in Shunantunich, you can get acquainted with the local diverse wildlife: here you have monkeys in the crowns of trees, and iguanas, and some unknown species, either dogs or foxes. I am generally silent about the diversity of birds - the nature here is beautiful and many-sided.

The next day we planned to leave San Ignacio, but since we were not in a hurry, I let myself be persuaded to sign up for a tour to Barton Creek Cave, which would have been unrealistic to get into without a car and my own canoe. Unlike the originally planned cave with skeletons, this option was only for the first half of the day, so it was quite suitable for us in terms of time.

The tour was interesting: we arrived in the jungle, sat in a canoe, turned on the lantern and swam into the dark mouth of the cave towards adventure.

On the way, we were told several stories from the world of speleology, and also shared a couple of fascinating theories about how the Mayan priests once swam here to get stoned and contact the spirit world. In support of the theory, a piece of a pot was presented and this incomprehensible something, which is supposedly the skull of a child. All this is quite deep, somewhere in a couple of kilometers from the entrance, or rather "floated" into the cave, so it was difficult to see the evidence properly.

It was so dark in the dungeon that if you turned off the lantern, it was completely impossible to tell the difference between whether your eyes were open or closed. In general, the cave is cool. I even liked the stories we heard, but, let's be honest, for $75 per person you expect something much more, especially in this poor country. Let it be empty for the moneybags from the giant ships that have so corrupted the tourism sector of Belize.

Even more than the cave, it was interesting to look at the Mennonite village that we passed on our way here. In Belize, by the way, there are a lot of them, something about 3% of the population of the whole country. Mennonites are such funny guys who reject technical progress: they ride horses, plow with a plow, sew their own clothes, look out the window, and not at the laptop screen, and stuff like that. They do not like to be photographed, so, unfortunately, there will be no pictures of people. In general, they look quite organic in their villages, but, at the same time, they look like an eyesore, in big city. The Mennonites were not the goal of the tour, so our acquaintance was limited only to buying delicious pies from them. I'm sure that without GMOs and other gluten.

Since then, the question has been troubling me: how do they draw the line between permissible convenience (cart) and ungodly progress (radio)? After all, it's not always obvious. I've seen that they use plastic barrels. Is this a bug or is it still acceptable? Who decides?

Oh well, let's leave God's people alone. Let's go further, to the capital of the country - Belize City.

The reputation of this city is so-so. They say that the place is quite criminal.

We walked along its streets quite a bit. From such a short walk, of course, it is impossible to draw any conclusions, but I can say that I did not want to shine the camera here.

Some kind of shabby city, but not in such a way that it’s straight horror-horror. People live and walk. But what you can do here for a long time is also not entirely clear.

The best thing to do in Belize City is to take a ferry to the fabulous island of Caye Caulker. Just keep in mind two things if you're going to...

Firstly, there are two ferry companies that can take you to the islands. Nominally, the price of them looks the same, but in one of them it is written in American dollars, and in the other - in Belize. Given that the Belize dollar is half the price of the US dollar, you yourself understand which company is more profitable to sail. The calculation here is most likely for inattentive tourists, whom international buses naturally bring to the terminal of a more expensive company. They have a pier behind the fence, there is a guard inside, so outwardly the premium version looks more solid. In fact, the same eggs, only in profile.

Secondly, what you should know about Key Caulker - this paradise is probably the most popular place in all of Belize, especially during the Christmas holidays, so it's better to book something there in advance, and not like us. And then a couple of days before arrival, only a couple of hostels and a non-budget option with separate housing in a two-story cottage of four apartments remained from adequate options.

We wanted some personal space towards the end of the trip, so we were not at all eager to spend three days in a hostel. I had to fork out for one of the apartments in the cottage. In short, Belize after Guatemala seemed terribly expensive, at least come back to Guatemala.

In general, for beach lovers, Key Caulker is just a dream come true.

This island can be walked from one end to the other in one hour in its longest dimension.

And if you ride a bike, which are handed out here in almost every hostel or hotel, then the bill generally goes for minutes.

Along the perimeter there is only white sand and a turquoise sea, well, or mangroves and the same turquoise sea. Absolute Chunga-Changa.

Mangrove trees somehow manage to live and thrive in salt water, but that's all botany. I remember them for the fact that I almost stepped on a healthy iguana in their thickets.

If a huge lizard has never run out from under your bare feet, you are unlikely to understand why this is so etched in your memory.

In general, I have already written many times that I don’t really understand a quiet beach holiday. It seems like a waste of time to me. Well, judge for yourself, most people just lie on the beach, periodically rinsing their mortal body sea ​​water and filling the stomach.

I have a lot of questions about this approach: if you want to lie down somewhere, then why in the sand, which then has to be shaken out from everywhere for another week? Why in the sun, if you burn out very quickly on it and then you only suffer for the remaining days? What is the advantage of the sea over the usual pool? The only thing that attracts me to the sea is snorkeling or diving, but most people do not come to such places for the sake of the underwater world.

Having thrown out all my arrogant contempt for a beach holiday, I must admit that during these three days I still rethought my attitude to doing nothing a little.

A very relaxed atmosphere on the island.

Walking, smiling, looking at the sunset. Everything is somehow unhurried, without unnecessary race and fuss of the previous days in Central America.

Do you know what I remember most from Key Caulker, and from all of Belize? The brightest memory was how we swam and dived with stingrays and sharks here.

Next to the islands is the second largest barrier reef after the Australian one, and there, among the corals at a shallow depth, real sharks and rays frolic. As it turned out, not all of them are as scary and aggressive as they are trying to make them look like. These were of some comparatively harmless kind, and scarcely exceeded one meter in length. But when even a half-meter friendly shark crashes into you, something involuntarily yokes inside.

If you ever find yourself in the Caribbean part of Belize and have to choose where to soak up the sun: in Key Caulker or in San Pedro, do not even hesitate, choose the first one.

By and large, there are snow-white beaches and blue seas, but for some reason, San Pedro completely lacks that serene island atmosphere that even I could feel on Key Caulker.

Somehow, coastal hotels look too pathetic and artificial here, not at all fitting into big picture the rest of the country.

And the last fly in the ointment. Warm countries are good for everyone, but what a bureaucratic mess reigns here. I already wrote about entering Belize, now a little about leaving.

We took ferry tickets from San Pedro to Chetumal Mexico for 8:30, but since the ferry sails overseas, we were advised to be at the pier at 7:00 to go through the formalities. At seven in the morning our passports were checked and we were let into the pier. An hour later, everyone was kicked out so that we could enter back, but this time by paying the exit tax (that's still nonsense); half an hour later, they suddenly remembered that they needed to stamp everyone's passports - they kicked me out again. In the meantime, the ferry came, and the captain began to change money for those who wished at a completely extortionate rate. But since you have to pay to enter Mexico in pesos, many simply had no choice. Then it turned out that everyone who bought tickets would not fit into one ferry, and they had to wait for the second one (the first one, however, for some reason could not sail either). In short, we set sail only closer to eleven.

Only one border guard worked at the Mexican border, and I had to stand in line for more than two hours. That is, we got up at six, and we were released in Mexico only around three. During this time it was possible to fly back to Vancouver. God bless them all...

In general, although I periodically complained about unreasonably high prices and sloppiness, in general, I liked Belize. I expected to see the same poor country as Guatemala, but instead ended up in a well-groomed state.

Not everywhere is clean here, I won’t lie, but in general the impression of Belize is quite pleasant.

Someday in retirement, I wouldn't mind sailing here on a cruise ship.