BELIZE

This tiny country on the Caribbean Ocean nestled between Mexico and Guatemala is home to the world’s second largest barrier reef, verdant jungles and unexplored Mayan Ruins waiting to be discovered by curious travelers who are willing to get off the beaten path and into the heart of the country.  

Once known as British Honduras under British colonial rule, the territory was granted self-government in 1964 and later renamed Belize in 1973 with full independence following in 1981.  It wasn’t until 1992 that Guatemala officially recognized Belize as an independent nation although border tensions and disputes remain a sensitive issue between the neighboring countries.

The population of Belize is made up of a mixture of Maya, Kriol, Garifuna and Mestizo descendants.  English is the official national language although Spanish is spoken by 50% of the population and most people also speak Belizean Creole.  Drift away to the sounds of this bubbly language as you lay on the beach in Caye Caulker listening to the sounds of the ocean waves and metal drums playing in the background.  

The famous Belize Barrier Reef, for which travellers flock to this tiny country, measures 300 kilometers long forming part of the 900-km long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that stretches from Cancun to Honduras.  A day of snorkeling here will let you peek into the magical underwater world of the Caribbean to see over 500 species of fish, 100 soft and hard coral varieties and an awe-inspiring variety of marine life.  Swim with sea turtles, sharks, manta rays and manatees if you are lucky.