Belize Area Guide
Location
Belize is situated at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and borders Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Geography
Belize comprises an area of 8,867 square miles, including numerous small islands (cayes) off the coast. More than 65 percent of the country is forested. To the south and west is the heavily forested Maya Mountains, featuring the Cockscomb Range and the Mountain Pine Ridge. The land to the west is open and relatively scenic and the shallow offshore cayes to the east straddle a coral reef second only in size to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Population & Language
Total population is 287,730, with 12,300 people residing in the capital, Belmopan City, and 59,400 residing in the former capital, Belize City.
English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken to some extent by over half the population. Garifuna (Carib), Maya and Creole are also spoken as well as a German dialect (by the Mennonites).
Time Zone
Time observed year round is GMT-6, which is the same as United States Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Belize.
Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.
Entry Requirements
At the point of entry U.S., Canadian and Nationals of the European Community do not require visas however do require a valid passport. Evidence of sufficient funds (minimum $75 per day) and proof of return or onward ticket must be shown as well.
As of January 23, 2007, all travelers entering or re-entering the United States from any destination are required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality. More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov.
For all other questions please contact:
The Belize Embassy
2535 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Washington, D.C 20008 USA
Telephone: (202) 332-9636
Fax: (202) 332-6741
Departure Tax
There is a US$35 departure tax that must be paid at the airport prior to leaving the country. This is paid after check-in and prior to going through security.
Air Service
Belize is accessible from North America via Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Los Angeles. The major airlines servicing Belize are: American Airlines, Continental, Delta Airlines, Grupo TACA and US Airways. All international flights arrive at Philip S W Goldson International Airport (BZE).
Government
Belize is formally a constitutional monarchy in which the British Monarch is Head of State, represented in Belize by a Governor General. The bicameral National Assembly is the legislature and consists of a nine-member Senate (appointed by the Governor General for a five-year term) and a 29-member House of Representatives (directly elected for a maximum five-year term).
History
The region was at the heart of the Mayan empire and archaeologists estimate that at its peak, 1 to 2 million Mayans lived within the borders of present day Belize. Mighty Mayan cities dotted the landscape, with small agricultural communities farming the land between. The Maya civilization fell apart and disappeared between AD 1000 and 1500 and no one knows for certain what caused their disappearance.
The country’s modern history really begins when Belize, formerly British Honduras, was occupied by the British in 1638 and formally recognized as a British colony in 1862. The country achieved internal self-government in 1964 and a bicameral legislature was then introduced.