Honeymoon to...Belize

Belize is a peaceful, adventurer's paradise located between Mexico and Guatemala. The people of this beautiful country have protected more than 40% of the land as parks and natural reserves, therefore, Belize is filled with tropical forests rich with wildlife, majestic mountains, mysterious Maya temples, and diving and fishing experiences beyond comparison. Belize is a wonderful place to visit, and is an ideal destination for the traveler looking to stretch a dollar without compromising fun and adventure. By reader request from Inna, here are some wonderful things to do and see in Belize

Sights to see:
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
This beautiful wildlife sanctuary is known as the "Jaguar Preserve", and was established in 1984 as a way to protect a large jaguar population. Although you may not see a jaguar, or other member of the cat family, you will always see beautiful birds and other herbivorous animals. Beautiful flowers and plants are also present in this jungle like setting.
If you are an animal lover, you won't want to miss out on the other wonderful animal sanctuaries: Community Baboon Sanctuary, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and of course, the Belize Zoo!


Mountain Pine Ridge
Mountain Pine Ridge is 300 square miles of forest reserve that offers a river, pool, caves, nature trails, as well as numerous small streams and waterfalls. Besides magnificent views and cooler temperatures, you can also take a dip in one of the many refreshing pools or streams.


Maya Ruins
Belize is blessed with an outstanding archaeological heritage of Maya temples and palaces. There are 6 different sites within the country to view these mysterious ruins.


The Blue Hole
This "hole" in the ocean is the most popular dive site in all of Belize. Originally a cave, the roof fell in some 10,000 years ago as the land receded into the sea. The Blue Hole is nearly a perfectly circular hole 1,000 feet in diameter and 412 feet deep and can be seen from outer space!


Belize is broken down into 6 districts, with 9 different tourist regions. They all contain different sights to see and wonderful things to do. Please see a list of them, as well as things to do in each region here.

Food
Throughout Belize, travelers will encounter all kinds of dining options. From the creole cuisine to international fare, there is sure to be something for everyone. Here is a great article on different types of food in Belize.


Where to stay
Ka'ana Botique Resort
This luxury resort features sumptuous dining, spa services and many different tour and activity options. Centrally located in the Maya Mountains of Belize's Cayo District.

Hidden Valley Inn
This luxury hotel is situated within a private nature reserve and is also one of the only resorts whose facilities, trails and jungle waterfalls are reserved for exclusive use by resident guests. They even have a honeymoon package which includes lunch set up at your choice of private waterfall for the day, complete with white linen, fresh flowers, sparkling wine and any transfers required to and from the waterfall. Read more about the honeymoon package here.

Blackbird Resort
This 166 acre resort features diving, snorkeling, kayaking and anything else you can dream up on this beautiful piece of land. Fresh island cuisine is prepared with native foods and is served in the main dining area.

There are so many choices of places to stay in Belize. Trip Advisor is a great place to get started when deciding where to stay.

Quick facts
Language: English is the official language of Belize, although Spanish, Creole, Garifuna and Mayan are widely spoken throughout the country.
Money: The Belize Dollar (BZ$) has a fixed rate of exchange of BZ $2 to US $1. Most hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tour operators will accept U.S. currency, traveler's checks, or credit cards.
Weather: The average temperature during the summer is about 87 degrees with a low of around 80 degrees. Here is some great weather information for Belize from weather.com. It pretty much encompasses all you would want to know about the weather there.
Get there: Flying is the best option, although you can drive there from the United States but it can be quite a challenge. International flights to Belize are via Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Miami or Los Angeles. Check online or with a travel agent for more information regarding flights.

Photo Credits:
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary left and right
Mountain Pine Ridge left, middle and right
Maya Ruins left, middle and right
Blue Hole left and right