Must See

The Belize Cayes

Several cayes and small islands are found in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize. These islands and mangroves are found between the mainland and the barrier reef perimeters of the offshore atolls. The mangroves are uninhabitable by humans, but ideal for bird and marine life. The island cayes enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and attractive Caribbean scenery, and offer an excellent base for watersports.

The two cayes most often visited are Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, situated off the northern Belizean coast. Of the some 200 cayes that dot the coast, Ambergris Caye is the largest, stretching 40 km (25 mi) long and a little over 4.6 km (1 mi) wide. It is best known for its many beaches, and is a paradise for divers, giving access to unspoilt coral reefs. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded on Ambergris Caye, with other wildlife including peccaries, raccoons and white-tailed deer.

Belmopan

The nation's new capital since 1971, Belmopan is cut out of the tropical jungle, right in the geographic centre of the country, at the foothills of the Maya Mountains. The city has a small-town atmosphere characterised by modest homes with manicured yards, but offers a few attractions such as government buildings and historical records.

Blue Hole

The Blue Hole Natural monument is found in the centre of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll and is said to be one of the natural wonders of the world. This startlingly vivid blue sinkhole measures 305 m (1,000 ft) across and is 126 m (412 ft) deep. It is considered to be one of the best dive sites in the world, offering views of bizarre limestone formations and stalactites that become more intricate as the depth increases. Schools of reef sharks may also be spotted.

Corozal

Settled in 1849 by Mestizo refugees from Mexico, the town is now the centre of a thriving sugar industry. Although the 1955 Hurricane Janet destroyed most of Corozal's original thatched and adobe buildings, the town has since been rebuilt in the classic Mestizo style; a grid pattern around a central plaza. Corozal offers is a popular stop with travellers en route to Mexico, and its location on the Bay of Corozal means that it is perfectly situated for water sports such as sailing and windsurfing.

Just outside the town are the Mayan ruins of Santa Rita and Cerros, a coastal trading centre reachable by a boat trip over Corozal Bay.

Five Blues National Park

This National Park is at the foot of the Mayan Mountains, among 4,000 acres of tropical forest. The Five Blues Lake is a collapsed cave system (a blue hole or cenote), that reflects an array of aqua hues, and reaches an estimated depth of 61 m (200 ft). It is surrounded by a wealth of wildlife and fauna including five species of wildcats and over 217 species of birds. In the centre of the lake is Orchid Island, named for the profusion of wild orchids growing on it. Popular activities at the park include swimming, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking.

Mayan Archaelogical Sites

There are many unspoilt Mayan sites in Belize.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha, Mayan for 'Water of the Rock' or 'Rockstone Pond', is northern Belize's most famous Mayan ruin. The town was an important trading post as well as an agricultural and ceremonial centre and was thought to be home to around 3,000 people.

Altun Ha contains over 13 temples, has two main plazas and is looked over by a large jade head of the Sun God (Kinich Ahau), one of the world's largest carved jade objects.

Caracol

The ruins of the Mayan city Caracol lie deep in the jungles of the Chiquibul National Park, and form the largest archaeological site in Belize. Located on the Vaca Plateau 152 m (500 ft) above sea level, the vast site was once home to an estimated 150,000 people and has 60 km (37 mi) of internal roadways and transportation routes. At the height of it power, Caracol was larger than Belize City and supported twice its population.

Approximately 36,000 structures comprise the entire city, including acropolises and several plazas and temples. Visitors can climb to the top of the Canaa Pyramid (Sky Palace), the tallest man-made structure in Belize at 43 metres (141 ft), where magnificent views of the surrounding forest and ruins can be enjoyed. The ruins are surrounded by a rich variety of flora and fauna, including howler monkeys, felines and several bird species.

Lamanai

Lamanai (Mayan for 'Submerged Crocodile') is one of Belize's largest ceremonial centres and the most impressive archaeological site in northern Belize. Located on the banks of the New River and set in tropical forest, Lamanai was inhabited from 1500 BC to the 19th C, giving it the longest occupation span of any Mayan site.

The archaeological site features a museum and is situated in an attractive natural setting; the dense jungle surroundings are comprised of giant guanacaste and breadnut trees, strangler figs, allspice, and Belize's national flower - the black orchid.