Fun Facts
ABOUT BELIZE
Belize Facts
Can knowing more about a nation make a trip abroad especially meaningful?
Yes, it can
WHY YOU SHOULD PERFORM RESEARCH ABOUT BELIZE BEFORE YOU VISIT
According to Alex Duchar’s StunningPlaces.net article, doing research before traveling abroad can mean the difference between a so-so experience and one that’s filled with meaning and revelations. Duchar says that doing homework helps travelers understand more about the cultures they explore, assists in locating “hidden gems” not usually found in tour guides and these types of searches can even identify places to avoid.
BELIZE FUN FACTS
Beyond these benefits, knowing facts about a nation that often go under the radar can add enjoyment, surprise and fun to a journey. So if you’ve already learned that Belize is one of the best, shortest, most affordable places to visit on the Caribbean rim, add these fun facts to your cultural knowledge base and you’ll earn the admiration of other travelers.
- Belize is the only country in the world with a nature sanctuary dedicated to preserving the indigenous wild cats, such as jaguars and pumas. The protected area called the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve is located off the Southern Highway.
- Belizeans are more language savvy than most. Spanish, English and Creole are read, written and spoken by 90% of the nation’s citizens.
- Glover’s Reef, located 28 miles (45 kilometers) off Belize’s coast, is a remote and pristine atoll in the Caribbean. Designated a marine reserve in 1993, it’s now part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, earning UNESCO World Heritage status. It’s unique among atolls due to its elliptical shape, measuring roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) long and 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) wide.
- The Capital of the Ancient Maya Empire. Hundreds of years before the arrival of European colonists, the Maya Empire stretched over 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.
- 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.
- Eat a rat? Why not? Queen Elizabeth dined on one that appears on Belize menus as a gibnut. Go ahead and try the re-named “royal rat” to have the full Belize culinary experience!
- Belize has zero fast food chains, so don’t expect to see a McDonald’s here! This means that everything you eat will be fresh, homemade and delicious.
- It’s considered bad luck to swim on Good Friday. Some people believe that if you go swimming on Good Friday you would turn into a fish.
- The Black Howler monkeys known locally as baboons 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.
- With only 355,000 people living in an area the size of Massachusetts, Belize has the lowest population density in Central America. Belize is universally known as having a very friendly population renowned for their amiability and hospitality.
WHERE TO STAY IN BELIZE
Get to know Belizeans and learn more fun facts by taking an affordable holiday to this friendly nation. Stay at Laru Beya Beach Resort in Placencia where your choice of Belize all inclusive packages promise an idyllic, worry-free sojourn.
Not only will your stay be memorable, but you can tell friends that you met some of the friendliest folks in the world and that you dined on delicious local cuisine that tasted fabulous when served with Belikin beer, the nation’s favorite home brew.
“Wow. Placencia is so much more than a getaway. Ruins. Monkeys. Snorkeling. All can be booked through the helpful staff.”