Belize: Central America

There are time in life when you need to get away. And then there are times when you need to get really, really far away.
Belize is not a lazy holiday. The concept of ‘island time’ doesn’t exist here. For some this is a dream; for others, a nightmare. This is not somewhere you can sleep in past noon, drink all day and lie for hours working on your tan. The possibility of adventure is imply too great for you to spend the whole time lying down.

Beach bums, fret not. Pristine stretches of sand lie only a short plane ride away from the dense jungle of the Cayo District. Perhaps one of the reasons why the country has remained largely undiscovered by mainstream tourists is that a significant portion of its beauty is hidden underwater.

Few people are aware that the Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the world after Australia’s and its Great Blue Hole, a giant submarine sinkhole, attracts the world’s more die-hard scuba divers. Home to turtles, stingrays, dolphins, manatees and more colourful fish, the Belizean waters play host to a dazzling ecosystem.

On the surface, Belize might seem like so many other sun-sand-and-sea destinations. But look closer and you’ll find a somewhat eccentric country; an exotic melange of history, culture and wildlife. Tucked away in a quiet corner of Central America, its managed to remain just a little bit inaccessible and a little bit rough around the edges. Because, much like the travellers who make the trek to Belize, its people have no interest in glamorous resorts, chi chi boutiques or over the top restaurants.

They remain devoted to conserving what makes their native country so special – physically, culturally and spiritually. Life in Belize is very, very good, and the locals intend to keep it that way.