If you are looking to your next place to spend your vacation, check out 8 facts about Ambergris Caye. Learn about Ambergris Caye history and the many things you can expect during your stay.
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During the past couple of months, I seem to have acquired a new trend on my travels. I go to a
new country that I’ve seen pretty photos of and have head good things about, but don’t actually know much about. I go there without expectations, and because I’ve only done so little research, I just open myself up to whatever happens along the way. And, so far, I’ve found this to be a great approach to traveling. I recently approached a trip to Belize this way. I’ve head rave reviews of this country, but I didn’t really know much about this Central American nation at all. As it turns out, despite its size, Belize is very interesting. Below are 8 interesting facts I’ve learned about this country.
Ties to Britain
Belize isn’t the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage. According to Ambergris Caye history, Spanish conquistadors originally explored Belize and claimed it for Spain, but they decided not to settle it because of a lack of resources. They eventually handed the colony over to the British, who declared it a British colony. Today, it’s still a Commonwealth country.
Prevalence of English
Maybe because of its ties to the British Empire, the official language of the country is English, not Spanish. Almost everyone in the country speaks it, which is quite odd as it’s completely the opposite of you cross the border into neighboring Mexico and Guatemala. But many Belizeans speak English as a second language, with Kriol and Spanish being more prevalent.
Caribbean Vibe
Even if Belize is firmly located in Central America, this country comes with a distinct Caribbean vibe to it. Maybe it’s because of the English influence, or that Belize is on the Caribbean Sea, or that it neither of those reasons. Regardless, Belize feels less like a Latin country, and more like a Caribbean one, particularly in Caye Caulker where Rasta culture is well and alive.
Mayan History
Before the British came in, the main popular of Belize was Maya. Even when most people associate the Maya with Mexico, the civilization actually extended to Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. The biggest Mayan city in Belize was Caracol and, at one point, it was estimated to have up to 400,000 Mayans living in the area that is now Belize.
Small Population
It’s hard to believe, but there are actually less people in Belize today than there were during the Pre-Columbian Maya days. There are only around 300,000 inhabitants in Belize these days, so it has one of the lowest Ambergris Caye population densities in Central America. Belize in itself is small, not bigger than the United States state of Massachusetts.
Belize Barrier Reef
Off the coast of Belize is a part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that stretches from the upper Yucatan peninsula down to Honduras, making it the second biggest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Because of how close the reef is to the coast of Belize, it’s easily the top tourist attraction in the country, popular among divers and snorkelers.
Exchange Rate
The exchange rate in Belize is $2 Belizean Dollar to every $1 United States Dollar, making for an easy calculation if you are looking to change currencies. It has been this way for so many years, and will probably remain this way for many years more. Many stores, restaurants and hotels in the country accept either American or Belizean money.
The Dark Side
Just like any country, Belize has its issues like bad road, poverty and violence that cannot be glossed over. Currently, the country has a high unemployment, heavy foreign debt burden and a big income disparity between the poor and rich. The country also has a high rate of HIV/AIDS, gang violence and an involvement in the South American and Mexican drug trade.
Despite these negative things, the positive things about the country, like its uncrowded destinations, interesting history, beautiful landscapes and friendly people, more than make up for them. Overall, my overall experience in Cayo Ambergris and Belize is a very positive one. I learned so many things about Belize. This is certainly one place I’d want to go back to.