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GETTING AROUND:
By Air: The easiest and
quickest way to travel around the country is by air.
There are two major air carriers in Belize;
Tropic Air and
Maya Island Air.
Contact them directly to schedule your flights
between Belize City and Placencia. The Belize
City <-> Placencia flight is ~25 minutes. The
ocean views and Mayan Mountain range are
spectacular.
Auto Rentals: There are several
auto rental companies which have offices and
vehicles at the international airport in Belize
City. Here are some useful links:
Jabiru Auto Rental,
Crystal Auto
Rental,
Budget Rent a Car. The drive between
Belize City and Maya Beach is ~3 hrs. Bring
your camera....there are many beautiful views as you
drive through the Mayan Mountains.
By Bus:
It's
cheap and the people watching is great. Travel time from Belize City to
Dangriga is about 2 hours (depending on the number of stops). Travel time from
Dangriga to Placencia also varies from 1.5 - 2.5 hours
(for a 40 mile trip), depending on road conditions, number of stops and whether
the bus goes through the banana plantations. The bus will stop at
AH-KINCHIL. Currently, the last bus leaves Dangriga for Placencia at around 5:30 pm, so you must get to Dangriga by about
5:15 pm. Also, the bus schedules change frequently, so check on schedules as
soon as you arrive in Belize. Finally, if you arrive at Belize International
Airport, you'll need to take a cab into Belize City to catch the bus (they don't
stop at the International Airport).
CLIMATE:
Belize is sub tropical with a mean annual
temperature of 80 degrees F. Winter in Belize the
temperature can get as low as the 60's the summer
months can be in the 90’s. Trade winds blow along
the coast and Cayes most of the year keeping
temperatures pleasant even in the hottest months.
The dry season is from January thru May and the
rainy season is from June thru December. Sand flies
may be a problem during certain times of the day. If
you tend to be one of those people who react to
insect bites, you might want to bring
anti-histamines and an anti-itch cream to help
reduce any reaction.
ATTIRE:
Bring light cotton clothing - shorts, t-shirts,
bathing suits, comfortable walking shoes and sandals.
Leave your formal clothes at home. For jungle trips,
long cotton pants, long sleeved shirt, and sneakers or
tivas are recommended. If you come in the fall or winter
you may want to bring a rain poncho and a jacket or
sweatshirt. You should bring sunscreen, aloe vera gel or
some kind of after burn, insect repellent, and a hat.
LANGUAGE:
English is the official language of Belize. Spanish is
widely spoken also as is Creole, Mayan, Garifuna and
German.
CURRENCY:
The currency exchange in Belize is $2.00 Belize to $1.00
U.S. dollar. All businesses accept U.S. currency. Some
smaller places don't accept credit cards so bring
travelers' checks or cash. Bring as much cash as you are
comfortable carrying. You can also get a cash advance on
your credit card at the Atlantic Bank in Placencia with
your passport. Tours and accommodations are quoted in US
dollars, where as meals, groceries and gift shops quote
in Belize dollars.
CREDIT CARDS:
(Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at most places.
Leave your American Express card at home. Please be
aware that when using your credit card your amounts are
charged in Belize dollars. The exchange rate into US
dollars will not be 2 to 1 . Check with your credit card
company to see what exchange rate they will give you.
You should plan to call your credit card company before
arriving in Belize to allow any charges over $500 US to
go through. Also bring your credit card company phone
number to call in case your charge is declined while
here in Belize.
TIME ZONE:
Belize operates on Central Standard Time all year. No
Daylight Savings Time is observed.
CUSTOMS:
A passport is required to enter Belize along with
proof of return. No visas are required for U.S. or
Canadian citizens, nationals of Caricom countries and of
the European Community member nations. Visitors are
allowed a one-month visit without requesting an
extension. A $35 US departure tax per person required
when leaving the Belize Int'l Airport. This tax is most
likely included in the cost of your ticket.
MEDICAL ATTENTION:
There
is a part time doctor available in Placencia and a
hospital in Dangriga. Should there be a serious
medical problem, Belize Emergency Response Team is
available for air evacuation. Please remember to bring
your medications. There is a pharmacy in Placencia where
you may be able to buy needed items.
LOCATION:
Bordered by Mexico to the North, Guatemala on the west
and South, and the Caribbean Sea on the East. Belize is
approximately the same size as New Hampshire. SIZE: 180
miles long and up to 68 miles wide, Belize is
approximately 8,866 square miles. Belize also has over
200 Cayes (Islands) most of which are located inside the
200 mile barrier reef.
POPULATION:
The population of Belize is approximately 270,000.
Belize is a multicultural society consisting of Creoles,
Mestizos, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, Anglo-European,
Middle Eastern and Asian.
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