• Official Name: Belize
• Capital: Belmopan* (population of about 8,000)
• Government: Parliamentary Democracy
• Population: Approx. 273,000
• Total Area: 22,806 sq km
• Official Language: English, others: Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
• Ethnicity/Race: mestizo 48.7%, Creole
  24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
• Religions: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27%, none 9.4%, other 14%
• Voltage: 110v
• Time difference: For time differences please visit www.timeanddate.com

*Many people think Belize City is the capital however it was changed to Belmopan in 1970.

ALL prices stated in this dossier are given as a guide only and are subject to change.

Brief History
The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and flourished until about 900AD. The first Europeans arrived in the area in the early 16th Century and settlement began with shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. This period also was marked by piracy, indiscriminate logging and sporadic conflict with native tribes and the neighbouring Spanish colonies. Belize grew into a more official colony of the UK during the late 18th and early 19th century under the name of British Honduras, and became a crown colony in 1862. Self-governing since 1964 and renamed Belize in 1973, George Price led the country to full independence in September 1981.

Visas
Most nationals do not need a visa to enter Belize, however it is important to check with your nearest embassy or consulate. As a tourist you are usually entitled to 30 days, however depending on the immigration official you can be allocated less days.
On entering you may be asked to fill out an immigration card. A copy of this card should stay in your passport until you exit the country. There is no official fee to enter Belize, but to exit you must pay an official fee of US$19. Your tour leader will remind you of this on tour.

Money
The local currency is the Belize Dollar. Usually ‘BZ$’ is used to denote the currency.  Belize has a fixed exchange rate of BZ$2 to US$1, and you may use either currency throughout the country, however you will usually get change in Belize dollars.

Important:  In South America you will have problems changing the US$100 CB B2 2001 series notes and it is better not to bring them. The serial number is located in the top left hand corner and bottom right hand corner on the side with the President’s face. This serial number starts with CB and then a few more numbers and then directly under that B2. At the bottom of the note near the signature of the Treasurer it says which series of notes it is and it is there that it says 2001 series.

Local Currency
Remember that once out of Belize you will generally not be able to use or exchange Belize dollars. Therefore you must make sure you spend/exchange/ donate any left-over money before leaving the country.

Debit & Credit Cards
ATM machines are located in Belize City and San Ignacio. Visa, Plus, MasterCard and Cirrus/Maestro are accepted in some Belizean ATMs, as long as you have a 4 digit pin number. Visa cards are the most widely accepted and ATM machines will only give you local currency (not US$). There are no ATMs on Caye Caulker and other machines can often be out of order.

You should also be able to get a cash advance at the bank (usually only possible for Visa and sometimes Mastercard) although some banks will require a copy of your passport.

Credit cards are accepted in most shops/restaurants/agencies. The most accepted credit card is Visa and sometimes Mastercard (American Express is not widely accepted), although authorisation can sometimes be denied due to poor computer connections or other problems! Note there may sometimes be commission charged when paying by credit card (up to 8% although 5% is standard).

• Although bank cards are often the easiest way to go, there are times where they will not work for you even if your bank at home tells you it will! Do not rely on your card as your only source of money. Always have a few back-ups with you.
• Belize generally accepts torn or marked US dollars, so if your notes are damaged you may want to off-load them here! You will have serious difficulties changing/using damaged notes in Honduras, Guatemala or Mexico.
• Travellers cheques are very quick and easy to use and exchange in Belize as long as they are in US dollars.

Working Out Your Budget
Our pre-departure information and tour dossiers include a general list of all the things you should take into consideration when budgeting and an estimate of what you should allow per day for spending money. Please note: you may find Belize expensive compared to the other countries we visit.

Optional Excursions
For a detailed list of optional excursions and activities visit tucantravel.com and download our optional excursions guide.

Local Transport
Taxis are recommended for getting around the San Ignacio area (as local buses can be non-existent or unreliable!). You should expect to pay roughly BZ$5 for each taxi you take locally, and up to BZ$10 for a longer journey. The taxis in Belize do not run on meters and you should always confirm the price before getting in the car.

Geography & Weather
The highest point of Belize is 1160m. The majority of the country is tropical lowland. The country’s coastline is largely covered in mangrove swamp. Offshore the limestone extends eastward forming part of the second longest reef system in the world.

There is a basic rainy season May - November. Generally the hottest time will be the months of March - May, when it can get extremely hot and humid. Water visibility is best from March to September, but is still considered good most times of year (for divers).

The hurricane season on the Caribbean side of Central America runs from September to November. Usually this only means high winds and occasional storms (although sunny days do tend to prevail throughout the year). It is highly unlikely that the full force of a hurricane would hit any of the areas we pass through on our tours, however our tour leaders are fully prepared to take any necessary action and would make itinerary changes if required to ensure the safety of clients.

Check the weather chart on our website or visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea of what the weather will be like on your trip.

Security
Crime in Latin America is not as bad as its reputation as long as you are sensible and alert. Like anywhere in the world, you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Care should be taken, especially whilst walking around the larger cities. Try to keep away from dark quiet areas if on your own, particularly late at night and try to always take a taxi.
We suggest that whenever possible you leave all of your important documents in the safe (“caja fuertes”). However you should always carry some form of ID or a photocopy of your passport.

Local burritos – Belizean burritos are some of the best in the world! You can get vegetarian, chicken, shrimp or lobster fillings. (US$1.50 to $4 each) There is a fantastic chilli sauce to be found on every Belizean restaurant table called ‘Marie Sharp’ – it comes in mild, hot, extra hot and BEWARE HOT!!

If you have any allergies to foods, please come prepared with a list to give to your tour leader who can then translate it into Spanish for you to show every waiter who takes your order. If you are vegetarian you must always specify “no carne, puerco, pollo, pescado” etc.

Drinks
Central American fruit is really fresh and cheap. There are some fantastic selections of fruit smoothie and juices on offer. Papaya, melon, watermelon, mango, and pineapple are all very popular. Smoothies can be made with either water or milk. Always specify if you don’t want sugar. Latin Americans have a very sweet tooth and will usually automatically add the sugar!

Generally speaking it’s best not to expect good coffee/tea in this part of the world. Be warned that Americano (weak black coffee) is the most common, followed by “café con leche” (more like milk with a bit of coffee), and cappuccino (sometimes good). If you ask for tea (“té negro”) you will get teabags. Always ask for “leche fria a parte” (cold milk on the side) as the alternative is likely to be a hot cup of milk with a tea bag inside!

Central America is known for its good beer. Belize beer is a little stronger in flavour than the other countries. ‘Belikan Beer’ is the National beer. It should cost you between US$1.50 and $2. Ever since the pirates settled in Belize, rum has been the spirit of choice. White rum and coconut rum are most common. Belize is not known for its wine and it is best to order Chilean wine (although this may be expensive).

The tap water is safe to drink in mainland Belize. Bottled water is available on Caye Caulker, and water re-fills available at most stores.

Tipping
A 10% service charge is added on to the restaurant bill throughout most of Belize. If it is not added on, it is still expected (especially in the more expensive restaurants). There may also be ‘taxes’ added to your bill, on top of the service charge. Sometimes this is included in the menu price, other times it is added at the end. You are not expected to tip taxi drivers unless they go out of their way for you although you should tip anyone who helps with your luggage, approx 50-80cents. Tipping guides at the end of tours/excursions is always appreciated and your tour leader will advise you on this.

Shopping
Bargaining is not common in Belize, as shops usually have set prices on goods.
Belize is not known for its handicrafts and textiles as the neighbouring counties are, but you can find some nice hand-made jewellery in Caye Caulker. In San Ignacio you can buy some interesting ‘rainforest remedies’ (health products), and throughout Belize you can buy world-renowned reggae and punta music CDs.

National Holidays
Jan 1 - New Year's Day
March 1 -  Baron Bliss Day
Holy Week - Semana Santa (the holy week that ends the 40-day Lent period and includes Good Friday - Easter Sunday and Easter Monday)
May 1 - Labour Day
May 24 - Commonwealth Day
Sept 10 - St Georges Caye Day
Sept 21 -  Independence Day
Nov 19 - Garifuna Day 
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Dec 26 - Boxing Day