regions of belize
There are four distinct geographic regions in Belize. These include the low-slung Maya Mountains in the south that dominate all except the narrow coastal plain; the lowlands of the north with its many rivers and streams; the swampy and flat coastal plain, and the hundreds of cayes, islands, and lagoons that can be found around its Caribbean coastline and territorial waters.
More than half of the country is a tropical rain forest which is connected by a network of rivers, generally short in length. The Belize is the largest and most significant river and is traversable from the neighboring Guatemala border to the Caribbean Sea.
Belize shares 174 miles of coastline with the Meso-American Reef, the longest such neighbor to the 620-mile long barrier reef. Travel 58 miles to the east of Belize City and you will find the Blue Hole, first explored in detail by Jacques Cousteau in 1972 aboard the research vessel Calypso. The Blue Hole is slightly more than 1,000 feet across and about 400 feet deep. Today, it is one of the world's most popular dive sites.
BELIZE HISTORY
The country of Belize was formerly known as British Honduras. From 1862 to 1964, it was a British colony on the eastern coast of Central America. It then became, in June 1973, a self-governing colony called Belize. It gained its full independence from Britain in 1981. Belize was the last continental possession of the United Kingdom in North, Central, or South America.
According to Wikipedia, “The colony grew out of the Treaty of Versailles (1783) between Britain and Spain, which gave the British rights to cut logwood between the Hondo and Belize rivers. The Convention of London (1786) expanded this concession to include the area between the Belize and Sibun rivers. In 1862, the Settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras was declared a British colony called British Honduras, and the Crown's representative was elevated to a lieutenant governor, subordinate to the governor of Jamaica”.
English is the official language in Belize. While the name ‘Belize’ originates from an old Mayan word, some studies have suggested that Belize may well be a surname of Scottish beginnings. Without regard to the origin, Belizeans warmly refer to their home as ‘The Jewel’ along of the Caribbean coast.
Belizean history dates back to 2600 B.C., when Belize first became home to the ancient Maya civilization. The Maya developed the first colonies here. The great Mayan Empire was all over Mesoamerica – Belize, El Salvador, southern Mexico, and Guatemala. Belize was an important part of the business hub of the Maya Civilization, from the 6th to 8th century AD, which was considered the golden period. By the 14th century, the Mayan dynasty finally ended. This was about the same time that the Europeans started migrating to the west. Spanish settlers first arrived in Belize around the beginning of the 16th century.
The largest ethnic group in Latin America is Mestizo, which was created when Gonzalo Guerrero settled in northern Belize. He was a Spanish soldier who desired to be a conquistador in the New World. Instead, he became a slave when he was captured by the Mayans. Eventually gaining the trust of his captors, he used his military knowledge to help them in war. Guerrero would become an elite warrior, later marrying one of the native women. The children produced by Guerrero and his Mayan wife are widely considered to be the first mestizos. Mestizos are people of mixed (European and Amerindian) descent.
For over a century Spanish ruled Belize. During that time, they were never able to exert full control of the country. However, they used lands in Belize for timber cultivation and production. Eventually this drew attention of other settlers in the region, including the English. Pirate ships, many from England and Scotland, soon arrived. These English pirates eventually began to settle Belize. Cutting log wood and exporting lumber from Belize became their major source of income. The English eventually demanded full control from the Spanish rulers, which produced great conflict. England took full control over this country, in late in 1798, by defeating the Spanish Armada. After the country came under British rule, it was named British Honduras.
During the Second World War, the local economy in Belize declined. About that time, Belizeans began to demand their country’s independence. The British government granted autonomous administration in Belize just a few years later. A parliamentary style of rule was adopted in the 1950’s when Belizeans came forward and formed political parties to establish a government system. After the transition of Belize’s political status from colonial rule to independent country, neighboring Guatemala began a territorial dispute. During the last few decades, Belize has established itself as a stable democratic nation with a parliamentary system.
BELIZE CULTURE
Belize is a melting pot of ethnic groups. The culture of Belize is dominated by the Mestizo and Creole. Mestizos are people of mixed (European and Amerindian) descent. Creoles are mainly the descendants of the slaves brought to Belize in the 18th and early 19th centuries who have some African blood. Belize is bordered by Central American countries, but the culture is much more Caribbean than Central American. The country’s geographical areas and bio-diversity help to make it a popular eco-tourism spot. People here are welcoming and friendly. A significant majority of Belizeans work in the tourism industry.
Belizean food is combination of many different cuisines, with a significant influence from the Caribbean and Central America. Most Belizeans eat rice and beans. However, the cuisine also exhibits distinctive flavors due to the influence of local produce such as coconut milk, plantains, hot peppers, and other regional favorites. This is a religious country. Most Belizeans are Roman Catholic. As a result of the long British influence, Belize enjoys a bigger Protestant population than any other Central America country. The Maya and Garifuna each have their own interesting combination of Christianity and shamanism.
belize weather
The weather in Belize is generally among the most pleasant on earth. Belize has a sub-tropical climate. As such, it can be humid at times. However, the island locations often enjoy a nice breeze from the sea. The best time to visit Belize? As the locals would say, “anytime is a good time to visit Belize”! It’s sunny, breezy, and beautiful most days here. There is really no such thing as winter in Belize. When people ask us about Belize weather in December, or Belize weather in January, or Belize weather in February, we tell them that, virtually without exception, every month looks like almost every other month here.
Daytime temperatures in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize range from 80F to 90F. Nighttime temperatures range from 66to 73 Degrees F (18-23C). Suffice to say, temperatures and weather in a place like San Pedro, Belize should never keep you away.
Our “rainy season” is September and October which have the highest likelihood of rain at 57% and 70%, respectively. However, the rain frequently occurs overnight. We might wake up with wet gardens, but the rest of day looks like most others. Dry season is most typically in February, March, and April.
For those who are planning to dive in Belize, the water temperatures range from 79 to 84F, almost bath water warm where wetsuits are optional virtually all year long.
For the lovers of the Caribbean wind and wave action might matter the most. The current weather forecast here is the most accurate one we’ve found. It’s always good to check the conditions before making plans to dive, snorkel, or deep sea fish.