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DIVE RIGHT INTO BELIZE

Tourism officials in Belize use the slogan “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret,” but the secret’s out on Belize. This Central America country is pleasing more and more visitors with a wide variety of natural attractions.

Nestled on Central America’s coastline, Belize was the cradle of the ancient Mayan civilization. Today, it is a land of verdant jungles, flowing rivers, majestic mountains, pure sandy beaches, and crystal-clear and thriving waters. With the lowest population density in the region, Belize is on the leading edge of the conservation and preservation movement on land and at sea.

Belize is a relaxed, English-speaking country of around 280,000 friendly inhabitants, just awaiting discovery above and below the surface. A wide variety of accommodations, dining, and activities make it ideal for all budgets and inclinations.

Officials are ensuring that Belize, Mother Nature, and tourists all remain on good terms. “Much of Belize is untouched by man, as it has been for the last thousand years,” Tracy Panton, director of tourism, said. “Myriad public programs, including the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), are forming a national infrastructure that fosters preservation and management of Belize’s unique natural and cultural resources.”

The destination certainly isn’t a secret with airlines flying into Belize City (with connecting service to all main towns and three offshore islands). Bordered by Mexico in the north and west and Guatemala to the west and south, Belize is just two hours or so from the United States by daily flights departing from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, and Miami (with many easy connections from northeast cities).

Once there, the range of possibilities is phenomenal. Visitors can enjoy crystal-clear Caribbean waters above and below the surface, including world-class snorkeling and diving on the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. On land, it’s easy to uncover the secrets of ancient Mayan civilizations, explore majestic mountains, or enter the lushness of rainforests alive with life.

Dive Right In

Belize pleases in so many ways, but the reef is the reason lots of scuba divers and snorkelers love this country. The scuba diving (and snorkeling) around Ambergris Caye and elsewhere make Belize one of the world’s top underwater destinations. It doesn’t hurt that this country features a huge reef, clear and calm water, an abundance of colorful fish accustomed to divers and snorkelers, and a wide variety of sites.

Generally running about 30 miles off the coast of Belize, the 185-mile barrier reef system is part of the second largest system in the world (second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef). It features a stunning array of diving and snorkeling spots to suit any need or experience level. From beginner to veteran, Belize will please even the most discerning diver or snorkeler.

Tucked away on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Belize is home to 70 types of hard corals, more than 400 species of fish, three magnificent atolls, seven aquatic World Heritage sites, nearly 200 offshore cayes, and an endless array of diving and snorkeling sites.

Like a gigantic living wall, the extraordinary barrier reef is a complicated system of individual reefs that parallel the nation's coastline, stretching from the Yucatan to Central America. Between the reef and the mainland are shallow, sandy waters dotted with picture-perfect cayes.

The reef’s sheer walls are lined with large, colorful sponges that play host to teeming schools of fish, while large patches of colorful corals form garden-like settings. Home of significant marine life that include threatened species, a showcase of extraordinary natural phenomena, and a place of heart-stopping beauty, the barrier reef is one of Belize's most prized assets.

There are many possible Belize underwater destinations, with Ambergris Caye and the Turneffe Islands among the many great opportunities. Quite simply, it’s hard to go wrong in this underwater world.

Taking Atoll

Belize has three of the Caribbean's four major atolls--ancient underwater volcanoes, rimmed in coral. Each atoll forms a circular coral island with a central lagoon, and houses distinctive ecosystems both within the lagoon and surrounding the atoll. With dramatic underwater walls, channels, and canyons, the atolls offer some of Belize's most spectacular dives.

Lighthouse Reef is the most eastern atoll, 50 miles southeast of Belize City. Amidst the reef’s many and varied wonders is the awesome Blue Hole, with incredible stalactites hanging from the ceilings of underwater caves. Once an aboveground cave, it has been submerged since the Ice Age. A portion of its ceiling collapsed over time, forming a sinkhole more than 400 feet deep and nearly 1,000 feet in diameter, rich with mammoth stalactites. The Blue Hole has been a beacon for the divers since Jacques Cousteau pioneered its exploration in the early 1970s.

Land Ho!

From soft adventure to more hard core options, Belize doesn’t disappoint on land either. The options include: taking a hike; hopping on a bike or horse; heading down a river or into a cave; rock climbing; and exploring the Mundo Maya (World of the Maya).

Belize boasts an intricate network of trails--most with abundant wildlife--presenting a range of easy to rigorous options. Trails can be found in national parks, resorts, archaeological sites, and even underground. Many organized tours are available (and recommended for more remote outings). Some of the many options might include hiking to ancient ruins, through the rainforest, or to sparkling river pools and waterfalls. In addition to going on foot, mountain biking and horseback riding are easily arranged.

Belize’s waterways were once the primary means of transportation. Today, they’re still a stunning way of experiencing this lush country. The Belize River is the main waterway, entering the nation from Guatemala and winding 175 miles east through Belize City to the Caribbean. Smaller, but equally alluring and teeming with marine life, are the Manatee, Sibun, Monkey, Sittee, South Stann Creek, Macal, and Mopan. Canoeing, kayaking, and rafting trips (complete with overland transfers) provide a perfect opportunity to navigate Belize as it earliest inhabitants once did. From November to April, some rivers run at high levels--presenting whitewater rafting for willing adventurers.

Belize even welcomes visitors underground. Many of Belize’s caves boast huge caverns with splendid crystal formations, while others house Mayan artifacts. Some even have underground rivers flowing through them. Whether entering by foot, kayak, canoe, inner tube, or with scuba or snorkeling gear, Belize’s caves beckon.

Rock climbing is a more recent offering. Both novice and expert climbers can scale the outside of certain Mayan caves and then repel back to the ground. Instruction and gear make it easy to conquer some hard rocks.

Finally, Mundo Maya means lots of exploration options. Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America (there were more than one million Maya in Belize during the “classic” period (about 250 A.D. to 900 A.D.).

Maya ruins are a fascinating excursion to another time and most sites are easily accessible. Some top possibilities include: Altun Ha (the most extensively excavated site in Belize); Caracol (reached by a spectacular drive through the Chiquibul Rainforest); Cerros (once a coastal trading center); Lamanai (one of the largest Maya ceremonial sites); Lubaantun (completely built without mortar of any type); and Xunantunich (overlooking the Mopal River).

For more information about Belize, visit www.travelbelize.org or your local travel agent.