What Is Belize Known For? 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Belize

Bordering Mexico and Guatemala is the second smallest country in Central America, Belize. Maybe you’ve never heard of it, maybe you’re asking yourself, what is Belize known for?

Well this tiny country packs a serious punch. It’s diverse with lush inland jungles to the west and sun-drenched Caribbean islands to the east.

Here are a few things you may not know about the unique and underrated country of Belize. 

What Is Belize Known For?

The Belize Barrier Reef

Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef, part of the Mesoamerican Reef. It’s the second largest only behind Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is 185 miles long with over 500 known species of fish and many yet undiscovered. And best of all, the reef was removed from UNESCO’s endangered list in 2018.

This diverse underwater ecosystem draws around 100,000 scuba divers and snorkelers each year. During a day spent at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve you may spot sea turtles, sting rays, nurse sharks, even manatees among countless other fish and coral reefs!  

The reef is most commonly explored from Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, two of the country’s most popular islands.

The Official Language Of Belize Is English

Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its official language. This is because it was colonized by the British for over 100 years — you may remember their former name? British Honduras.

While they’ve been independent since 1981, today Queen Elizabeth is still on the Belizean dollar and English is still the primarily language in school.

However English isn’t the only language spoken here, not by a long shot. In fact, many Belizeans are trilingual.

The most commonly used languages are English and Spanish. You’ll also hear dialects of the Mayan language, especially inland, and Belizean Creole commonly used on the islands.

Belize Has An Abundance Of Islands

Belize is home to approximately 450 islands in the Caribbean Sea — pretty incredible for a country the size of Massachusetts.

These small islands are home to diverse marine life and boast some of the best beaches! Is there anything better than sandy beaches surrounded by clear waters of the Caribbean Sea?

The islands are called cayes (pronounced “keys”). Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the most popular among tourists, as well as private islands.

Belize Has An Abundance Of Caves

In addition to ample islands, inland Belize is filled with more caves than can be counted. It even houses one of the largest cave systems in Central America.

This is due to the area’s large limestone bedrock engulfed in holes. The holes were created millions of years ago by rainwater and underground rivers. Together these eventually formed vast and seemingly endless cave systems. 

With so many different caverns, you can find a cave suitable for about any skill level. Quickly explore a small cave, spend an afternoon tubing an underground river, or seek out something more adventurous, like the famous ATM Cave (more on this cave next!).

Belize Is Home To A Sacred Cave – Actun Tunichil Muknal

According to National Geographic, Belize holds one of the top sacred caves in the world, Actun Tunichil Muknal, or simply ATM Cave.

This cave was an important Mayan burial site where human sacrifices took place. In here you’ll find artifacts dating back to 700 CE and crystalized skeletal remains. Witnessing this site is no easy task and therefore requires a tour guide but seeing it would be a once in a lifetime experience.

Ancient Mayan Ruins

Belize has the most Mayan sites of any country. Yes, tiny Belize even beats out huge countries like Mexico for the title of most Mayan sites, with over 900 discovered.

The ancient ruins here are 2,000 – 3,000 years old and have only been recently discovered in the last 100 years. They were covered by time and dense jungles. 

During my 7 Day Belize Vacation I had the pleasure of touring Caracol, one of the largest known Mayan sites in Central America. Caracol houses 24 alters, two ball courts, reservoirs, causeways, 5 plazas, an astronomic observatory, and over 35,000 buildings.

To provide scale, Caracol covers approximately 77 square miles, an area much larger than country’s largest city today, Belize City. It also supported more than twice the modern city’s population.

And this is just one of the many Mayan archeological sites in Belize!

Sky Palace

The tallest building in all of modern-day Belize is an ancient Mayan ruin.

Sky Palace stands at 136 feet tall and is so large it holds four palaces and three temples, to name a few things. It’s located in Caracol, the massive Mayan site previously mentioned.

Below is a photo of Sky Palace, but know it’s even taller than what it appears in photos. The top portion is not visible to those standing at its base. Many Mayan pyramids were intentionally built this way.

Can you see me and my friends in the photo? We were able to climb all the way to the top — yes, you are allowed to climb some ruins here! Just be warned, they’re very steep.

The Great Blue Hole

Belize has one of the largest underwater sinkholes in the world: The Great Blue Hole.

Located in the Belize Barrier Reef, is one of the largest underwater sinkholes in the world, The Great Blue Hole.

It’s approximately 1,000 ft (300 m) wide and 400 ft (125 m) deep. Roughly speaking, that’s about equivalent to a 40 story building taking up a couple city blocks.

The sinkhole is distinctive thanks to its seemingly perfect circle shape and its dark blue hue framed by the Lighthouse Reef Atoll and turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Thanks to its size and distinctive features, it can easily be seen from space!

The sinkhole is rich in biodiversity, even hosting a variety of sharks, and interestingly features giant stalactites formed when the sinkhole was a dry cavern above sea level.

Thanks to its impressive accolades, the Great Blue Hole is a top destination for experienced scuba divers around the world. 

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Jaguar Preserve

Belize hosts the only jaguar preserve in the world.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary established its jaguar preserve in 1986, a first at the time and still the only today. It’s one of the largest protected areas in Belize and is believed to be home to about 200 jaguars.

You can visit the 150 square mile preserve but I wouldn’t bank on seeing a jaguar. They’re masters of stealth, despite being the 3rd largest cat in the world. They may see you, but it’s rare to see them.

Don’t let this stop you from visiting the nature reserve though. It’s filled with an assortment of unique plants and wild animals, including popular howler monkeys, parrots, and toucans.

Best Places To Visit In Belize

If visiting Belize for a vacation, some of the most popular destinations are:

• San Pedro, Ambergris Caye – This is the country’s most popular vacation destination. It’s much-loved for water activities, snorkeling, beach bars, golf carts (yep, that’s the preferred method of transportation on this island) and a good time.
• Caye Caulker – This is Ambergris Caye’s tiny neighboring island frequented by the backpacker crowd and carefree travelers. Its attractions are very similar to those listed above but on a smaller scale. You can’t miss the island vibe on Caye Caulker, there’s no cars, the roads aren’t paved, and the motto is “go slow.”
• Placencia – At the tip of the Placencia Peninsula this beachy paradise and laid-back fishing village is popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. Like the cayes above, it boasts pristine turquoise waters that will absolutely dazzle you.
• San Ignacio – Located inland Belize is San Ignacio. If you seek adventures, such as cave tours and Mayan ruins off the beaten path, this is the spot for you. The tropical vibes here are unmissable —think dense forest, rare wildlife, and hidden waterfalls.
• Belize City – While this isn’t the top spot for tourists to stay, it is the country’s largest city and therefore offers some great amenities and attractions. These include the Belize Zoo, Museum of Belize, plus access to popular tours and wildlife sanctuaries. A day trip or quick stopover is most common in Belize City.

As you can see, Belize is a beautiful and diverse country, one that should be on every bucket list. I hope this article has inspired you to consider a visit!

If you’d like to follow along with my travels in real time, check out @seen.by.amy on Instagram or @seenbyamy on TikTok!

Looking for more ideas? Below are additional Belize guides!

More Information For Your Belize Vacation:

• Belize: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary
• Belize: What To Wear + Packing List
• Where To Stay In Belize?
• Ambergris Caye Guides
• Caye Caulker Guides
• San Ignacio Guides