Belize is a small Central American country with coastlines along the Caribbean Sea. It was part of the Mayan civilization and later became a British colony. It gained independence in 1981 and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful landscapes and affordable tourism infrastructure. Flights arrive daily from North America and Europe, and overland travel is possible from Guatemala and Mexico.
Belize is a small country in Central America. It covers 8,900 square miles (23,000 sq km), making it slightly larger than the state of New Jersey. It borders Guatemala and Mexico and has coastlines along the Caribbean Sea.
Belize has been inhabited for thousands of years and was part of the Mayan civilization, which originated in the north on the Yucatan peninsula. The Maya practiced advanced forms of agriculture and architecture, allowing them to expand at a relatively high population density for the region. Civilization reached its zenith in the 12th or 13th century, and then began to decline, with many major cities being abandoned.
Europeans first sighted Belize in 1502, during one of Columbus’ voyages. A decade later a group of Spanish sailors whose ship was wrecked stranded in Belize, where they were captured by the Mayans. However, no permanent settlements were formed until the mid-17th century, and contact with Belize remained intermittent until then.
Although Spain had claimed Belize and wished to maintain control over the entire region, the Empire granted logging concessions to the British. The British began establishing camps throughout Belize to harvest mahogany and lumber, fortifying their camps to protect against attacks by indigenous peoples. The British continued to expand their control over the region, occasionally clashing with Spanish colonists.
In the late 18th century Spain and Great Britain went to war and the Spanish attempted to capture the British camps. After a week of hard fighting, the Spanish were defeated and the British reclaimed the land on 18 September. In 10 the region was declared a colony of British Honduras and in 1840 it was officially established a crown colony.
Belize remained under British control for more than a century, and as a result, English remained the primary language. Once Guatemala was declared independent, it began asserting its claim to the territory that is now Belize, causing concern among citizens and the British alike. The region gained autonomy in 1964 and was officially named Belize in 1973, but continued to remain a British dependency. Independence was finally achieved in 1981, after an agreement with Great Britain for defense against Guatemala in case of invasion. Guatemala refused to recognize Belize until 1991, but did not pursue military means to acquire the land.
Belize has a vibrant tourist economy, due in large part to the status of English as an official language, making it a desirable Central American destination for non-Spanish speakers. The country is most famous for its beautiful landscapes and affordable tourism infrastructure. Lush tropical forests, majestic mountains, ancient Mayan ruins and a stunning Caribbean coastline make it ideal for those seeking the quintessential Central American vacation. The prevalence of English and low costs throughout the country are simply the icing on the cake.
Flights arrive daily from several North American hubs and some airports in Europe. Smaller local flights also arrive from neighboring Guatemala. Cruise ships occasionally call at Belize City and other coastal cities, and personal overland travel is possible, albeit difficult, from Guatemala and Mexico. Traveling by packaged bus direct from the US via Guatemala is much easier and quite affordable.
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