Travel Ticket Magazine - Book - Page 8
Belize It!
By Candace Boggan
Located in Central America and nestled between the Caribbean
Sea and Guatemala to the west, this English-speaking nation is a
traveler’s gem. After just one trip, visitors are sure to be drawn
into this beautiful, warm, and fruitful land, 昀椀lled with the friendliest
community of diverse people.
Whether you are visiting the mainland in or around Belize City, or
one of the beloved and more popular islands (with travelers), like
Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, you will be welcomed with open
arms. Belize is a melting pot of ethnicities, so visitors can expect
to experience varied cultural in昀氀uences throughout the nation. From
paying a visit to Hopkins village on the coast for an immersive
Garifuna experience, to noshing out on the Mayan buffet at
Elvi’s Kitchen in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye island, guests are
certain to encounter a rich and diverse fusion of ethnicities, 昀氀avors,
and music. Mayan, Creole, Garifuna, and Mestizo in昀氀uences are
heavily woven throughout the fabric of Belize. And with a
growing number of expats from the U.S and Canada, --alongside
residents from neighboring countries, like Mexico, Honduras, and
Guatemala (as noted above), multiculturism continues to expand
across the land. That said, although English is the nation’s of昀椀cial
language, many locals speak Spanish-- and Creole!
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Things to Experience - by Land and Sea
Belize is home to the world’s second largest barrier
reef, drawing in visitors from across the globe. The reef
boasts of a variety of creatures and can be seen by air
and accessed by sea-- for an underwater adventure of a
lifetime. Guests to the area can snorkel, dive, sail, and
昀椀sh the Great Blue Hole, while capturing some amazing
photos along the way. There are several tours available
for underwater enthusiasts, so get ready to check this
experience off your bucket list.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Alley are two
other fan favorites, where visitors can take in the incredible
Belizean marine life. Swim with sea turtles, manta
rays and nurse sharks for a half or whole day for an
exciting and engaging underwater adventure. And do not be
surprised if you bump into a dolphin or two during
your time in or upon the sea. Visitors can also go cave
tubing, cool off under waterfalls, swim, kayak, island hop
by boat, and jet ski in Belize.