Belize Facts
Belize Facts
You’ll often hear Belize referred to as “The Jewel”, “The Best of Both Worlds”, “A Cultural Melting Pot”, or “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret”. While the references are certainly cliché, they are nothing short of true. Belize is ethnically, culturally, and ecologically diverse. Our population is small but our natural bounty is great!
Belize not only possesses white sand beaches and island breezes, but also boasts the only Jaguar Reserve in the world, The Second Largest Barrier Reef in the world, is the only English speaking country in Central America, and is home to many Ancient Maya archeological sites – just to name a few treasures.
Read more: Do’s and Don’ts for a Stay in Belize, Activities for Cruise Ship Visitors in Belize, About Belize.
The Geography
Due to the multicultural heritage of the Mestizo; Spanish, Mexican, and Maya influences dominate their palette. Corn is a staple and plays a significant role in all meals throughout the day, whether it takes the form of a tortilla, or in tamales, bollos or tamalitos. Spicy and colorful peppers are an essential ingredient in virtually every dish, while black beans, squash, plantains, and fresh fruit accent most menus. Owing to the far reach of the Mestizo across Belize, and the savory appeal of the cuisine, traditional Mestizo foods like Relleno negro, escabeche, tamales, tacos, panades, and garnaches have become favorites of all the diverse cultural groups in Belize.
The People
Often described as a cultural melting pot, most Belizean’s are of multiracial descent. The main ethnic groups are the Maya, Mestizo, Kriol, Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite, Asian, and Middle Eastern.
The Culture
The Food
Currency
Tipping
