Belize is…Un-Belize-Able

Whether it’s visiting a howler monkey sanctuary, enjoying a long river boat ride to out of the way Mayan ruins at Lamanai, learning how to make corn tortilla from scratch, or jet boating over to Caye Caulker for snorkeling, bike rides, and beach time, Belize has something for everybody.

Called British Honduras until it officially became independent in 1981, Belize remains a part of the British Commonwealth, and is the only English speaking country in Central America. That feature, along with easy air access, reasonable prices, and a great year round climate, makes Belize, a country with only four hundred thousand residents (neighboring Guatemala has over seventeen million) a place that more and more people are gravitating to.

I recently took a group of 15 listeners on a trip organized by National Geographic’s representative company, G Adventures. This company works with locals, and wants you to see, and experience, a country in its natural form. Meet the people, learn their ways, learn their history and customs, see the scenery, and experience the cuisine. From the Burrell Book area of Belize City to San Ignacio to Caye Caulker, we were immersed in what the country has to offer.

At the howler monkey sanctuary, we “adopted” a monkey and a baboon. The Mayan ruins at Lamanai offered a chance to drive some of the country, boat part, and then walk and hike the ruins. In San Ignacio, we went to a women’s cooperative where the ladies learn skills passed down through the generations, cooking and sculpting, that help them survive and sustain.

A couple of us took a side trip to Tikal, Guatemala to tour the “Grand Daddy of all Mayan ruins.” Over an estimate ten thousand structures, of which about three thousand have been excavated. Even got to enjoy the two Guatemalan beers – Dorado and Gallo.

The jet boat from Belize City to Caulker offered a great glimpse of the shoreline and outer islands before we arrived. It really is a place where people want to be off the beaten track, off the grid. Beaches, boats, and beer dominate as well as all types of seafood, friendly people, and fabulous weather.

If you ever decide to go to Belize, feel free to contact me. I loved the place. Everybody in the group loved the place. And to share it with you before you go would be my pleasure.