Adventure-seekers looking for new exotic getaways often think "exotic" means far away. That’s not always the case. In actuality, some of the most unique destinations are right under their noses...
On the Caribbean coast of Central America, tucked away between Mexico and Guatemala, is Mother Nature’s best-kept secret, a wondrous place called Belize. Every year more and more visitors discover this not so far-away paradise that’s the ultimate in exotic get-away. It’s a place where smog, pollution and toxins don’t exist. The air is fresh, scented with the fragrance of topical flowers. Peaceful rivers thriving with wildlife crisscross the fertile countryside. Along the coast are sandy beaches and pristine seas where mountains of coral rise to the surface. Belize is earth, as earth should be.
Only about two hours south of Miami, New Orleans or Houston, this tiny, (8,876 square miles) English speaking country is a shining example of non-stop adventure and environmental excellence. It is the essence of nature, above and below the waterline. In a world where rainforests and reefs are disappearing daily, it’s refreshing to visit a country where more than 8,000 square miles of natural beauty is divine. More than one-fifth of Belize’s total land mass is dedicated as nature reserves. Like a land-based Noah’s Ark, these reserves are a refuge for an exotic variety of wildlife.
Much of Belize is land where man hasn’t been, at least not for a thousand years or so. The same holds true for the offshore reefs and pristine cayes (pronounced "keys"). As the interior unfolds a giant outdoor zoo. Belize’s underwater world emerges as a techni-color aquarium. The proximity of reef and rainforest, surf and turf, is what makes Belize unique.
Sands of Time
Belize’s history dates back thousand of years. You can see and feel it as you travel the country. The strong sense of history emanates from the Maya, once a massive population of people inhabiting the region almost 4,000 ago. Most of the Maya mysteriously vanished long ago. However, there are direct-blood ancestors still living here today.
The remaining Maya share the country with an unlikely mix of newcomers. A population of about 265,000 people is a blend of Maya, Creole, Mestizo (a mix of Spanish and Indian), Garinagu (sometimes referred to as Garifuna) and Menononites. Add to this mix of international wayfarers who wandered in and never left. Resulting is a people of storybook character with an uncommon tolerance for one another. Perhaps this tolerance comes from their checkered past. It’s a colorful tale of wars, slavery and the struggle for survival.
For centuries Belize was the object of a tug-of-war between the English, Spanish, Mexicans, Indians and even the Maya. It seems everyone wanted control of this lush country for its rich supply of logwood and mahogany. Eventually the English prevailed, naming the possession British Honduras. It carried that name until 1973 when the country was renamed Belize.
