Belize City is a small but vibrant and culture-rich location. Its approximate population is about 60,000. It is the very first place that all visitors visit. This is due to the fact that all roads, flights and cruises lead to this main business center. The city is a bit more busy than its neighboring Districts.

Belize City has grown tremendously over the years and is not the main tourist hub of the country where over 1 million tourist pass through every year.

How to get around:

Private Vehicle

Vehicle rentals are available in most Districts.

Taxi

The going rate is around US$4 to any place in Belize City. 

From the International airport a taxi to Belize City costs $25.00 USD.

Photos of Belize City

Belize City Airport	Belize City Airport Entrance
Airport Arrival Gate	Buy Belize Pickup Parked at the Airport

Belize City - Small Planes	Belize Municipal Airport - Maya Island Air
Anglican Cathedral Belize	Belize Supreme Court
Belize Swing Bridge - Manually Turned	Belize Tourism Village Entrance
Belize Central Bank	Baron Bliss Institute of Arts
Baron Bliss Grave Site	St. Johns Cathedral Belize
Governor General House Belize	Belize Water Taxi - Triple J Boats
Fishing Boats near the Belize Swing Bridge	The View leaving Belize City to Caye Caulker
Save U Supermarket in Belize	Pedestrian Over Pass at the Entrance of Northern Highway
Belize Water Authority	Belize City Centre

Attractions and amenities of Belize City include:

1- Baron Bliss Lighthouse is the resting place of Belize's most well known benefactor.

2 - Memorial Park is used for Official Activities.

3 - The Belize Museum (Former Belize City Prison) - Recently restored and declared a national museum. At the museum you will find information on the Maya Culture as well as unique artifacts that were excavated from the ancient tombs found in Belize.

4 - Maritime Museum - Located on the North Front Street side of the Swing bridge alongside the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association docking area. Features displays about the history and evolution of Belize's boat building and fishing industry.

5- Swing Bridge - Has connected the cities downtown area since colonial days and is one of the few manually operated bridges still in use in the world.

6- Supreme Court Building - Built in 1926, it still functions as the highest court in Belize.

7- Regent Street and Albert Street - Lots of stores, street vendors, fruit vendors, and main banking institutions.

8 - Marine Parade

11 - House of Culture - Once the residence of colonial governors, its now a historical museum. Exhibits include historical photos and a glassware collection.

12 - Southern Foreshore - Take a stroll along the waterfront and enjoy a Belizean waterfront view of the Western Caribbean.

13 - Bliss Institute - Theater, Museum, and National Arts Council - It the cultural center of Belize City and sometimes features performances by visiting dance or theatre companies. Check the notice board for scheduled events.

14 - National Handicraft Center - An outlet for crafts people to sell their goods; Including carved hardwood figures, slate carvings, black coral jewelry, pottery, original oil paintings on canvas and woven baskets.

15 - Image Factory with its unique gallery style shops and interesting exhibitions, introduces you to contemporary local artists.

16 - Belize Tourism Village - Especially designed for day cruise-ship passengers, the Belize Tourism Village has courtyards and terminals offering restaurants, snack bars, entertainment (on cruise ship days), access to land and marine tours as well as a variety of local souvenir, jewelry and clothing outlets.

17 - St. John's Cathedral - Regent Street Belize. Built in 1812; It is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America.

18 - Old Belize - Old Belize Restaurant and Museum (Click Here)

19 - The Belize Zoo - The Belize Zoo (Click Here)

To see more photos of the Belize Zoo Animals Click Here

20 - The Belize International Airport

21 - Cave Tubing Adventures - Cave Tubing Adventures near Jaguar Paw Resort (Click Here)

22 - The Belize Anglican Cathedral

23 - Belize City Canals - The are all interconnected and lead to the Caribbean Sea.

24 - 2.5 Miles Western Highway Carwash - The first and only coin operated car wash in the country.

25 - Altun Ha (Maya Ruin)

26 - Crooked Tree Wild Life Sanctuary

27 - Baboon Sanctuary

28 - World Famous Maruba Resort and Jungle Spa (Click Here)

29) Municipal Air Strip

30) Helicopter Tours (Click Here)

31) Excellent Location for Wedding Ceremonies

General Information

Geography: Belize lies on the eastern coastline of Central America, bordered on the north by Mexico, on the west and south by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. It is separated by sea from its neighbor to the southwest, Honduras. Belize covers approximately 8,866 square miles. Belize's mainland is roughly 180 miles long and up to 68 miles wide. Belize also consists of over 200 cayes (islands), ranging in size from a few hundred feet to 25 miles long and four miles wide. Most of the cayes are located inside the 200-mile Belize Reef.

Political Status: Belize has been an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations since 1981. Belize is governed by a parliamentary democracy with two major political parties, the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People's United Party (PUP). The Belizean constitution is similar to documents adopted by other former British colonies and includes a bill of rights.

Population: The population of Belize is approximately 275,000. The country enjoys a wide range of ethnic diversity. Major groups include Africans, Creoles (African-European), Mestizos (Spanish-Indian), Garifunas (African-Indian), Mayans, Anglo-Europeans, Arabs, and Asians.

Language: English is the official language. Spanish is also widely spoken, especially in the west. Other languages include Creole, Mayan and Garifuna.

Getting to Belize: Belize is about 2 hours and 15 minutes by air from Miami, Florida and Houston, Texas. U.S. gateway cities to Belize include Miami, Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana. Direct flights are also available from Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C; and from Toronto. International travelers fly into Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City.

Entry Requirements: A passport and return ticket is required to enter Belize. No visas are required for citizens of the United States, British Commonwealth nations, or European Union countries. In general, cruise ship passengers are exempt from entry requirements.

Ports of Entry By Sea: Boats may clear customs and entry at Belize City, Dangriga, Big Creek, Punta Gorda and San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye. There is no customs officer in San Pedro; boats wishing to enter must pay the cost of transport for the customs officer to and from San Pedro from Belize City.

Firearms: It is illegal to take firearms and ammunition in or out of Belize.

Pets: Pets must be certified as free from infection or contagious disease by a veterinarian following examination not more than 48 hours prior to shipment; animals must also be certified as having been vaccinated against rabies not less than one month nor more than six months prior to departure; and must be free of open wounds. Dogs must have a valid certification of vaccination against distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis. Animals may be required to be re-vaccinated against rabies on arrival if certifications are deemed unsatisfactory.

Currency: The Belize dollar is the national currency. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Belize, although change will often be given in Belizean currency.

Credit Cards/Travelers' Checks: Most hotels, restaurants and shops in the major towns and tourist areas accept major credit cards. Smaller establishments, however, are likely to accept only cash. Travelers' checks should be kept in a waterproof pouch, as they are considered void if they get wet.

Electrical System: 110 volts AC (the same as elsewhere in North America) is the standard.

Water: Most Belizean homes and hotels use cisterns to collect rainwater for drinking and home use. Thus, tap water is potable with no ill effects. During severe droughts, the cisterns may run low, making bottled water advisable. Visitors should be aware of the need to conserve water during the dry season, especially on the Cayes.

Time Zone: Belize is in the Central Standard Time zone, and does not observe daylight savings time.

Sales Taxes: Belize's sales tax is set at 8 percent and is applied to all goods and services except hotel accommodations. There is a 7 percent hotel tax. Some hotels also add a 10-15 percent "service charge" to the bill. (Fortunately, our tours are not subject to sales tax.)

Tipping: Tips of 10 percent are considered acceptable. Since Belize's economy depends heavily on the tourism industry, tips are an important source of income for many.

Climate: Belize is subtropical, with a mean annual temperature of 80 degrees F. Winter storms may bring the temperature down to the low 60s. In the summer, temperatures may reach the mid-90s on the mainland. Trade winds blow along the coast and on the cayes most of the year, typically keeping temperatures pleasant even in the hottest months. The dry season generally lasts from November through May; while the rainy season runs from June to November. Hurricanes occasionally occur, most often in August and September. Rainfall is heaviest in the south and in the inland jungle areas. It is lightest in the north and on the cayes. Water temperature averages between 79 and 83 degrees F.