Belize

Welcome to the hidden gem of Central America, the only country in the region where English is the official language! Belize is like a secret treasure box filled with incredible coral reefs, ancient Maya cities hidden in the jungle, and some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. This small but amazing country sits between Mexico and Guatemala, offering visitors the chance to explore underwater wonderlands in the morning and climb ancient pyramids in the afternoon!

Belize gained its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981, making it one of the newest countries in the Americas. Originally called British Honduras, the name "Belize" comes from the Belize River, which may have gotten its name from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy water," or from the Spanish pronunciation of "Wallace," after a Scottish pirate who used to hide in the area!

Map of Belize showing its 6 districts and borders with Mexico and Guatemala

Belizean national symbols: blue flag with coat of arms, mahogany tree, keel-billed toucan, and a Belize one dollar coin. Image Credits (from top left to bottom right): Caleb Moore, Wikimedia Commons; Achiri Bitamsimli, Wikimedia Commons; Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons; Oargos, Wikimedia Commons

BELIZE FACTS

INDEPENDENCE: September 21, 1981 (43 years ago)

POPULATION: About 410,000 people

CAPITAL: Belmopan

DISTRICTS: 6 districts

BIGGEST CITY: Belize City (61,000 people)

NATIONAL BIRD: Keel-billed Toucan

NATIONAL FLOWER: Black Orchid

Belize's diverse landscapes: the famous Blue Hole diving site, Maya ruins at Caracol, Mountain Pine Ridge waterfalls, and mangrove forests along the coast. Image Credits (from top left to bottom right): U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Wikimedia Commons; ryanacandee, Wikimedia Commons; BirderDan, Wikimedia Commons; Bernard DUPONT, Wikimedia Commons

Amazing Wildlife

Belize is a wildlife paradise! The colorful keel-billed toucan with its rainbow-colored beak is the national bird. The country is also home to jaguars (Belize has the world's first jaguar preserve!), howler monkeys whose calls can be heard for miles, manatees that swim in coastal waters, and over 500 bird species. The coral reef is home to nurse sharks, stingrays, and countless tropical fish.

Belize's amazing animals: keel-billed toucans in rainforest canopy, jaguars prowling through jungle paths, West Indian manatees in coastal waters, and nurse sharks gliding over coral reefs. Image Credits (from top left to bottomm right): Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Wikimedia Commons; Galen Rathbun, Wikimedia Commons; Dr. Mathew Gilligan, Wikimedia Commons

Natural Resources

Belize's greatest treasures are its natural wonders! The barrier reef and Blue Hole attract divers from around the world, while the rainforests provide sustainable logging of mahogany and other hardwoods. The country also grows citrus fruits, sugar cane, and has recently discovered oil deposits offshore.

Belize's natural wealth: sustainable mahogany logging in managed forests and citrus grove harvesting in the fertile valleys. Image Credits (from left to right): USAID Biodiversity & Forestry, Wikimedia Commons; Blervis, Wikimedia Commons

Belize truly is a small country with big adventures, where you can swim with sharks in the morning, explore ancient Maya temples at lunch, and listen to howler monkeys at sunset!