10 Reasons Why You Will Love Retiring in Belize

1. Sub-tropical climate - Belize has a sub-tropical year round climate where frosts and freezes are unknown.
2. Hol Chan Marine Reserve - Hol Chan is a national park that includes part of the barrier reef.
3. Shark Ray Alley - Belize is one of the best places to get up close and personal with sharks and stingrays.
4. The Barrier Reef - The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the western hemisphere and is 190 miles long.
5. The Howler Monkey – Belize has a rare breed of howler monkey that is known as one of the top ten loudest animals in the world.
6. Mayan Ruins - Belize has a rich Mayan history with over 900 historic locations.
7. The People – Belize is home to some of the most interesting and friendliest people who are very accepting of other cultures.
8. The Jungles – 60% of Belize is forested, hiking through the jungles is an amazing experience.
9. The Caribbean Sea – The waters off of Belize are known to inhabit more than 400 species of sub tropical fish.
10.  BELIKIN BEER – “The Only Beer Worth Drinking”

Photo:  AJ Baxter, Picture Belize

HIKING THE MAYAN RUINS

Belize is considered the heartland of the Maya civilization and has a number or Maya archaeological sites.  The Maya civilization flourished from 2000 B.C. to about 900 A.D.  On our Belize trip in 1998, we hiked the Mayan ruins of Althun Ha, which means "Water of the Rock".  The ruins are surrounded by the lush jungle and you can hear the howler monkeys in the back ground. 

Althun Ha (Water of the Rock) is famous for many reasons.  It is here that they found a Jade Head, the largest carved jade object in the whole Maya area, representing the Sun God, Kinich Ahau. It is the national symbol of Belize and can be found on the corner of every Belizean banknote in circulation. Althun Ha is located approximately 31 miles north of Belize City. 

20 FUN FACTS ABOUT BELIZE

1. Belize is one of the best places for shark viewing and some of the best times to go are during the raining season of April – July.

2. Belize has a rare breed of howler monkey that is known as one of the top ten loudest animals in the world

3. The locals in Belize have created some very unique names for its natural wonders including Owl eye butterfly, the Swallow Tail Cattle Heart Butterfly, and the Red Footed Booby Bird, and the False Vampire Bat.

4. Belize’s main source of revenue with almost 2 million visitors to this tiny Central American nation annually from around the world.

5. The average temperature for the coastal areas of Belize is between 79 to 89 degrees F

6. Belize has the only known jaguar preserve in the world it is located in the cockscomb Wildlife sanctuary

7. Belize is one of the richest Mayan history locations with over 900 historic locations.

8. Belize is roughly only 180 miles long and 68 miles wide at its main land

9. Belie has such a dense population it is one of the most populous in the world for its size

10. Outside the Belize mainland is one of the world’s natural reefs known as the Belize natural reefs with 200 separate islands. 

11. The waters off Belize are known to inhabit more than 400 species of sub tropical fish

12. Gibnut is a famous cuisine in Belize it is actually a very popular rodent in Belize

13. One of the most popular places for home stays while traveling in Belize is in the Mayan village of Toledo

14. Belize has the most differentiated species of bird in Latin America over 500 locally

15. 2/3 of the Belizean natural forest is safe from exploitation due to strict government regulation

16. It is culturally rude to greet someone by their first name when meeting them for the first time in Belize.

17. Superstition on Good Friday prevents Belizean natives from swimming in lakes or the ocean during this time for if they do it will not provide good fortune

18. The national motto of Belize is “Under the Shade I flourish”

19. Local superstition folklore includes a 3 foot evil dwarf with no thumbs. It is referred to locally as el duende, it is known to hang out in the local forest and looks for kids who try to kill the local wildlife and punishes the,.

20. Typical Belizean lunch include tamales, meat pies, seafood, cassava or beans and fish.