Belize

Welcome to a country full of diversity; from its people to its natural environments.

Welcome to a country full of diversity; from its people to its natural environments. Belize may be small and may not be well known to the outside world, but don’t underestimate the country. You could say this small-fry rookie packs a big punch. The combination of Central America and the Caribbean unique to Belize is unlike anywhere else. Once you experience the laid back lifestyle, cost of living, and welcoming people, you could find it optimal to make your home. The un-meddlesome government and financial jurisdictions may also provide the opportunity for investment. Although not for everyone, Belize is all about finding the right fit for each individual. Yet is it possible that Belize is the perfect recipe for you?

 

A few Belize Factoids:

  • English is the official language and in actuality is widely spoken.

  • Fixed exchange rate BZ$2 = US$1

  • Time observed year round is GMT-6 (meaning it is the same as US Central for half the year and US Mountain for the other, due to daylight savings). 

  • GOB = Government of Belize

Geography

Belize is a small country. A land mass of 8,867 sq. miles makes it roughly the same size as Massachusetts. The country is approximately 180 miles from North to South and 70 miles from East to West. Although small in size, it is rather diverse in environment. The Northern half of the country is more flatlands were as the southern half is a low mountain range. The Maya Mountains, as they are known, reaches a little over 3,500 ft above sea level at their highest. T. Belize is a narrow country with a mountain range along its western border and the Caribbean Sea as an eastern border. These conditions combine to create weather variations. As you go further south in Belize,annual precipitation increases drastically. It is this rain which gives southern Belize its lush tropical rain forests. 

Just off shore from the mainland, Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, including the famous underwater atoll, known as the Great Blue Hole. 

Climate

The year round tropical weather in Belize is an attraction on its own.  Belize averages daily highs in the eighties (thirties Celsius) accompanied by plenty of tropical sunshine. The coastline feels cooler due to the sea breezes. While some regions inland also cool from the raising elevation. The only noticeable seasons are associated with the predictable changes in precipitation: the rainy season also known as the “green” season, and the dry season.  Rainy season is from May to November with a tendency for a respite in August.  Belize is in the dry season from December to April. Average annual rainfall in Northern Belize is approximately 60 inches compared to 200 inches in southern Belize. 

Flora and Fauna 

Belize is home to all the flora y fauna Central America has to offer. An almost incomprehensible number of plant species are found in the rainforests, and are still being discovered and researched today. The flourishing tropical foliage throughout Belize year round provides a beautiful backdrop for your daily life.

You can have a garden filled with tropical fruit trees and exotic flowering plants with fairly little maintenance (of course certain specific locations are better than others). Vegetation just grows in Belize. It’s may be contrary to what you are used to,  but if you don’t maintain what you have carved out of the natural surrounding, the jungle has a way of taking it back. 

“Jaguars, Snakes, and Crocodiles…Oh my!”, all three call Belize home. However, most try to keep to themselves away from people or civilization. On the up side, Belize has numerous creatures you may find exotic and intriguing. Just to mention a few: monkeys, river otters, tapirs, coatimundies, jaguarmundies, gibnuts, margays, ocelots, kinkanjous, frogs, iganas, and over 500 species of birds. The 500 include the famous toucan, scarlet macaw, and harpy eagle (a wing span of 7ft makes is a rather intimidating bird of prey).  Belize is a birdwatcher’s haven, as a part of many of their migratory paths.

Have we mentioned the marine wildlife? The waters are teaming with life; everything from the giant whalesharks that travel into the area annually to feed and spawn, down to the micro-organisms form the coral reef itself.