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BELIZE |
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Just below the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, you'll find Belize City is bustling with astonishing energy. Its inhabitants, descendants of largely Creole and Baymen cultures, lend an easygoing Caribbean atmosphere to this historic city. Boasting the second largest barrier reef in the world, Belize has long been an attraction for divers and sailors from around the world. Take in the sights, such as the wooden colonial buildings that have been preserved as heritage showpieces, or one of the many museums and galleries, and you may well be pleasantly surprised. See the Ancient Maya Ruins. |
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Ancient Maya Ruins of Belize Discover Mayan Culture thru it's many Temples and Ancient Ruins |
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about Belize Originally published CARIBBEAN.COM 2004 - COURTESY DUPUCH PUBLICATIONS © Etienne Dupuch Jr Publications Ltd Parts of Belize are so surreal they evoke Hollywood film sets. That explains why Hollywood movie producer-director Francis Ford Coppola bought the country's oldest jungle lodge and redecorated in a seductive Mayan style. You can easily envision Tarzan and Jane vacationing in Coppola's 30-acre Mountain Pine Ridge spread with a roaring mountain stream that fuels a hydroelectric plant. This means you don't have to make do with kerosene lamps that provide light in much of the outlying areas. Not far away are five waterfalls that cascade through in an orchid-clad rain forest. The orchids evoke images of comic-strip character Brenda Starr looking for the endangered and protected black orchid (Encyclia cochleatum) which is the country's national flower. Black orchids were the ingredients for the bush medicine that kept Starr's fictional one-eyed boyfriend otherwise healthy. The jungle has a wide range of non-fictional magical cures, some used by the ancient Mayas, and now bearing such names as: Belly Be Good, Flu Away and Jackass Bitters Tea. Belize sports the world's only jaguar preserve as well as a home for other cats, including ocelots, margays, jaguarundis and pumas. The latter is also known as a cougar or mountain lion. Ancient Maya aborigines worshipped jaguars and today still revere and fear the creatures. During your jungle wanderings, you might come across the rather scary tapir, or the mountain cow, Belize's national animal, resembling a cross between a pig and cow weighing up to 650 pounds. If you visit the Community Baboon Sanctuary, don't expect to see baboons. That's what the locals call their black howler monkeys. The country's largest city, Belize City, is also referred to as Belize. While the nightlife is unremarkable in Belize, there are some fun names for places to hang out - like the Pickled Parrot. The No 1 tourist draw in Belize is the hundreds of offshore islands, islets and atolls. Of the five atolls in the New World, Belize has four. An atoll is a group of coconut tree-fringed islets that sprout from the rim of a long-dead underwater volcano. Atolls are commonly associated with the South Seas, the perfect example being Marlon Brando's French Polynesian atoll called Tetiaroa. The largest of the Belize diving and fishing islands is Ambergris Caye - pronounced Key. Ambergris is the name for whale vomit, once used as an expensive preservative of perfume scents. Today there is a much cheaper chemical substitute. The largest town in the Bay Islands is San Pedro, appropriately named for the patron saint of fishermen. San Pedro is the gathering point for exploring the Belize Barrier Reef, largest and longest in the Western Hemisphere. Jacques Cousteau was one of the first men of fame to put the Belize Bay Islands at the top of the list for those seeking romance and underwater adventure. The islands' history is straight out of the film: Pirates of the Caribbean. Some historians believe Pirate Captain Peter Wallace (pronounced WaLEEZE) provided the roots for the nation's name and that of a river where the pirate based his ship and Brethren of theCoast crew. And then there are the ruins of ancient Mayan cities. More and more, scientists are learning that the Maya High Culture could produce structures that would put the ancient Greeks to shame. Belize claims to have more Mayan ruins than any other Central American country. |
| Although the ancient Maya made many notable achievements, a few being a more accurate calendar, rubberized rain clothing, barkless dogs, stingless honey bees, a unique counting system, and an excellent set of astronomical observations, it is the buildings that remain for all to see and to amaze. |
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Belize Scuba Diving No vacation destination is better for diving than Belize |
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Belize
is a relatively small country (only 8,866 square miles, about the size of
The
Belizean people are a unique cultural combination. Mayas, Creoles,
British, Spanish, Garifuna, and Mennonites, all share the rich lands that
make up
Caves,
Jungles and Maya Ruins of Belize
Belize is also a Mecca for those interested in fishing. All kinds of fishing spin, fly, trolling - can be experienced all year long, and the abundance of game fish guarantees excellent sport. The estuaries, inlets and mouths to the many rivers are known for their tarpon, snook and jacks. The lagoons and grass flats are known for the bonefish, permit and barracuda. The coral reefs support grouper, snapper, jacks and barracuda while the deeper waters off the drop off are home to sailfish, marlin, bonito and pompano. |
Our
Caving, River Cave Tubing and Rappelling adventures will leave you spell
bound, while some of our jungle excursions will satisfy the even the
hardiest adventurer.
Belize
has the second largest barrier reef in the world, comprised of more than
170 cayes and atolls as well as numerous mangrove systems both offshore
and along the coast. A tremendous wetlands environment exists here
offering homes and refuge to many birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and other
marine life. While diving in Belize you will discover the amazing
diversity of the pristine reefs and marine life recently declared a World
Heritage site. Huge brain corals, soft barrel sponges and purple sea fans
are everywhere. You'll encounter spotted eagle rays, giant
grouper and nurse sharks. Sea turtles, dolphins and Manta Rays are
regularly sighted and with over 250 varieties of tropical fish you can be
sure that each dive will be memorable.
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