Belize is a country in Central America. It is the only officially English speaking country in the region. Belize was a British colony for more than a century and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation within The Commonwealth in 1981. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Sistema de Integración Centroamericana (SICA) and considers itself to be culturally both Caribbean and Central American.
With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km˛) of territory and only 297,651 people (Belize CSO, 2007 mid year est.), the population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world. However, the country's growth rate is 3.5% (2006 est.).
Belize is home to an interesting mix of over ten different cultures including Garifuna, Maya, Creole, Mestizo, East Indian, and German Mennonites. Belize also lays claim to hundreds of ancient Maya temples, large tracts of intact tropical rainforest, and this hemisphere's longest barrier reef.
Belize offers a myriad of exciting adventure possibilities:
A network of picturesque rivers and cascading waterfalls winding from the Maya Mountains to the Caribbean Sea. Spectacular limestone caves strewn with Maya pottery beckon you to canoe, cave tube, and bird watch.
With 40 per cent of the country's landmass under some type of protection and dotted with restored and unexcavated Mayan sites, you are enticed to hike rainforest trails and climb ancient ruins and temples.
Offshore, hundreds of coral sand islands (or cayes) with swaying coconut palm trees and sun-kissed beaches invite you to snorkel patch reefs, dive the Blue Hole and drop offs, kayak, fly-fish, or just relax.
A country alive with hundreds of bird species, colorful fish, exotic tropical plants and animals combined with friendly Belizeans throughout colorful towns and villages makes Belize an adventurer's paradise.
