EXTENSIONS:  22.965 square kilometers

POPULATION:  256.000 inhabitants.

Capital: Belmopán

LANGUAGE:

      • Official language: English..

      • Other languages: Castilian, Creole, Garifuna and Maya.

CURRENCY:

      - The Belizean dollar (Bz)

      - 1 Euro= $ 2.618Bz;  1$ = $ 2 Bz.

      - In most places and tourist sites U.S. dollars are accepted.

TIME DIFFERENCE: 6 hours less than the meridian of Greenwich.

ELECTRICITY: 110 volt sockets of type B or type G

Telephone code: + 501

Religión:

      • Catholic (49.6%)

      • Protestant (27 %)

      • Other: Maintains religions from indigenous and African origins.

GOVERNMENT:

      - A parliamentary monarchy.

      - The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

      - Xunantuncih: It was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period. The site is composed of six major plazas surrounded by more than twenty temples and palaces. The most prominent structure is located south of the site - it is the pyramid called El Castillo, which was the highest man made structure built in all of Belize until the discovery of "Canaa" at Caracol.

      - Stann Creek: The journey by road via the Hummingbird Highway (Highway Hummingbird) and its stunning views of the jungle and the Maya Mountains will take you to the town of Dangriga, rich in culture, and home to the Garifuna.

      - Placencia: white sand beaches, bright blue waters and hundreds of ways to enjoy the coast of Belize treasures.

      - The Keys and reefs of Cayo Ambergris: The biggest of all keys. Known for its beaches and its proximity to the coral reef. From here you can dive into any kind of underwater adventure you have dreamed of - the most popular are sport fishing, diving, snorkeling and manatee watching.

      - Cayo Caulker: Just south of Ambergris, this is a quiet and relaxed place, where the pace is slow and you can live your dream of relaxing on an island of quiet beaches and discover the mestizo and Creole cultures, traditions and customs.

      - Blue Hole: Located in the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll (Atolón del Arrecife Faro). Originally it was a cave, which roof collapsed about 10,000 years ago. Visible from outer space, the Blue Hole is a cenote almost perfectly circular 1,000-meters in diameter and 412 feet deep.

FESTIVALS:

      - On 9 March we celebrate Baron Bliss Day

      - On May 24 Commonwealth Day