10 Interesting Fun Facts About Belize

Belize Laru Beya Resort

This increasingly popular vacation hotspot is located just a few hours flying time from the United States. And if you’re looking for the perfect place to stay in Belize, we’ve got you covered. Laru Beya Resort on the picturesque Placencia Peninsula offers an exciting range of package add-ons and à la carte tours. Our All Inclusive Package includes private rooms, scrumptious meals, unlimited local drinks, round-trip transportation from Belize International Airport (BZE), and a beautiful home base from which to experience the best of Belize. Contact us today to book your stay. And here’s a list of facts to introduce you to our unique and welcoming country.

10 interesting fun facts about Belize:

1 – The Only Jaguar Preserve on the Planet

Half a dozen great cats, including jaguars and pumas, are indigenous to Belize and Central America. Belize is the only country in the world with a nature sanctuary dedicated to preserving these magnificent animals, a protected area called the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve.

2 – The Capital of the Ancient Maya Empire

Hundreds of years before the arrival of European colonists, the Maya Empire stretched for over a thousand miles in what is now Central America. Today’s Belize was located in the center of all of the most important Maya trade routes. Visitors to Belize can explore more than 900 different Maya ruins and sacred sites.

3 – Speed Bumps

Most of Belize is unspoiled tracts of jungle, rainforest, and verdant hills. In order to enforce speed limits inside towns and villages and near schools, Belize uses speed bumps instead of traffic lights.

4 – Belizean Money

Also called the dollar, the Belizean currency is conveniently pegged to the American dollar. One U.S. dollar always equals two Belize dollars, making it easy to convert prices.

5 – Home of the Great Blue Hole

In 1971, famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau discovered what had long been the sole province of local fishermen – the Great Blue Hole, a unique diving site in the middle of an offshore coral atoll. The Great Blue Hole is regularly voted as one of the Top 10 best diving sites in the world.

6 – Yes, We Speak English

A British colony for more than 200 years, Belize today is the only nation in Central America where English is the official language. More than 80% of the population speak English as their mother tongue. Other languages spoken in Belize include Mayan, Kriol (Creole), Garifuna, and Spanish.

7 – The Royal Rat

A few decades ago when Queen Elizabeth visited Belize, she was served one of the country’s finest delicacies – gibnut meat. Locally referred to as the “Royal Rat”, this large rodent looks something like a cross between a chipmunk and a tapir and tastes similar to a rabbit.

8 – The Amazing Belize Barrier Reef

As part of the second-largest barrier reef system in the world (only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is bigger), the Belize Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse marine ecosystem stretching for more than 180 miles off the coast of Belize. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reef is an ideal place for fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing.

9 – Black Howler Monkeys

Howler monkeys are known locally as baboons. These tree-dwelling primates are listed as one of the top 10 loudest animals in the world, equipped with a piercing shriek that can be heard up to three miles away through the thick rainforest.

10 – A Small and Friendly Population

With only 400,031 people living in an area the size of Massachusetts, Belize has the lowest population density in Central America, an average of 15 per square kilometer. Belize is also universally known as having a very friendly population renowned for its amiability and hospitality.

Beyond these 10 fun facts about Belize, what did we miss?