Belize - a tropical paradise of the Caribbean Sea. First, let's find out
where is Belize located.
The country of Belize is a small country in Central America with a Belize population of no more than 400 thousand people. At one time, the ancient tribes of the
Maya civilization lived here, but Europeans settled on their territories after colonization. The capital of Belize is Belize City. Bordering countries such as Guatemala and Mexico, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations. And so let's move on to our list.
1. The Great Blue Hole of Belize
The Great Blue Hole Belize remains one of the main
attractions of Belize. This is not only a diving opportunity but also a rich habitat for a variety of marine life, such as reef sharks, blackfin sharks, and even giant bass.
More than 10,000 years ago, the rise of water at the end of the last great Ice Age caused the Caribbean Sea to engulf a series of huge caves. Subsequently, a Blue hole Belize was formed — an almost perfectly circular space of sapphire waters measuring 300 meters and 120 meters deep. It is located in the center of the coastal atoll
Lighthouse Reef, at a distance of 90 kilometers from Belize.
Inside, you can find stalactites and sheets of dripping stone, which, according to scientists, were formed during the ice ages. In the shallow parts of the "
hole", many different types of coral thrive, including brain corals.
2. Belize Barrier Reef
Belize on the map is rich in interesting geological formations, one of which is the Barrier Reef of Belize. It is located 800 meters from the coast, is the longest in the Western Hemisphere and the second-longest in the world. Today, it is a popular tourist area in the country, visited by thousands of visitors a year. On the nearby islands, you can find quite a few sea resorts with diving centers. It was named as "
the most remarkable Barrier Reef in the West Indies" by Charles Darwin in 1842. It is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, home to more than 100 species of soft and hard corals, 500 species of fish, and more than 100 species of invertebrates from plants and animals. In fact,
Belize's Barrier Reef is so dense that only 10% of all existing species have been found here — partly why the country's nature reserve system heavily protects it.
3. Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal is a huge underground system that is popular for its large number of Mayan artifacts. Among them are objects of ancient Mayan culture, including tools, weapons, pottery and vessels. It is also believed that they used the cave as a religious place to perform blood sacrifices. The name of the cave translates as "
Cave of the Stone Coffin" because of this unique altar. This
Instagrammable place is often called the "
Cave of the Crystal Maiden" because of the skeleton found in its depths. It was originally thought to be a young woman whose bones had calcified over the years, giving the skeleton a radiant crystalline appearance. To see the "
Crystal Maiden", visitors must climb the stairs leading to the recessed ledge. Due to this important historical site's fragility, only licensed tour guides can invite tourists to the cave to view these untouched relics of the
ancient Maya. The Belize vacation country, which will be very informative, will also give you many such unforgettable moments.
4. Victoria Peak
Another
most liked Instagram photo in your collection will get thanks to the hill — Victoria Peak, it is located among the green Mayan mountains in Belize and is the second-highest mountain in the country. The entire mountain range is home to a huge number of representatives of flora and fauna. The height of the mountain is 1122 meters, and it received its name "Victoria" in honor of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. In February 1999, an agreement was signed between the Belizean Audubon Society and the Government of Belize. The Victoria Peak Natural Monument was added to the list of protected areas managed by the Audubon Society. There are several local communities that provide guides for excursions to the hills. Only it takes a few days, along the route there are organized areas for camping.
5. El Caracol
Belize on the map is the starting point of the history of the mysterious Mayan
tribes. El Caracol is the largest Mayan city ever excavated in Belize. The city's original name is unknown, but today the ruins are known as Caracol from the Spanish term meaning "snail shell" due to the huge number of snail shells left by the indigenous inhabitants. Although Caracol is worth a visit, it is not located close to any of the modern settlements of Belize. Thanks to the Government of Belize's investment, the roads leading to Karakol are in good condition, and access to this place allows visitors to admire the breathtaking beauty of the flora and fauna of the rainforest. El Karakol is a huge place with majestic temples that modern visitors can climb to enjoy
Instagrammable views of the surrounding Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Still an active archaeological site, it has revealed many artifacts to the world, but more work needs to be done to unravel all its secrets.
6. Xunantunich
Another legacy of the Maya, which may be in your photo album are the Ruins of "Xunantunich". They are located about 120 kilometers west of the
capital of Belize, near the city of San Ignacio and the border with Guatemala. Xunantunich is famous for its great temple, with a height of 30 metres, making it the second tallest building in Belize. During the classical Maya era, this ancient city was home to 200,000 people, two-thirds of the current
Belize population.
After the Maya left the area for unknown reasons, Shunantunich was taken over by the jungle until archaeologists in the colonial period began to excavate the area
where is Belize located, in mid-1890. Today, visitors can explore the local museum with interactive displays and exhibits before entering the city itself, which is home to six squares and more than two dozen temples, palaces, and other buildings. In addition to its impressive size and Instagrammable view of the surrounding area, the temple is notable for a series of stucco friezes on its exterior that depict events from Mayan mythology.
7. Big Rock Falls
This waterfall is certainly one of the most impressive that the country of Belize can boast of. Big Rock is a 40-meter waterfall on the
Privassion River, which can be reached after a scenic drive on the road to the waterfall "Five Sisters". The hike to the majestic waterfall is an easy climb over granite boulders along the riverbank in just about 15 minutes. Thanks to the local atmosphere and aesthetics, a visit to this
Instagrammable place will undoubtedly be remembered by you.
The huge waterfall takes your breath away as you catch a glimpse of the beauty of the rushing water above the huge rock formation. At the bottom there is quite a decent round "
pool" in which you can swim. At first, the wild roar of rushing water will frighten you, but it will turn into a rhythm that makes you more and more want to curb these waters over time.
8. The Island Of Ambergris Caye
Belize is primarily an aesthetic holiday, and what could be more beautiful than the magical islands, of which there are several hundred.
Ambergris Cay is the largest of them, with a length of 40 kilometers and a width of 2 kilometers. This is a fabulous tropical place where shorts and T-shirts are the dress code, a golf cart is the means of transportation, and relaxing on the sandy white
Belize beaches is the main activity. The local views will amaze you with their immense beauty, just the perfect Instagrammable place for a photoshoot. To get to this wonderful island, you will need a short flight by plane or take a ferry to the capital of Belize. The island is truly one of the best
Instagrammable places to visit in Belize because it combines a
Caribbean vacation with classic Belize beaches, world-class accommodations, stunning restaurants, and ultra-relaxation.
9. Tobacco Caye
Another corner of the tropical paradise that the country of Belize is proud of is the island of
Tobacco Cay off the coast of the town of Dangriga in Belize. A tiny island only 60 meters wide and 120 meters long, you can get around it in less than fifteen minutes, but in that time you can immerse yourself in the social and spiritual atmosphere of the Belizeans living here. Travelers on this island can choose from 6 different small and modest cabins where they can relax and unwind. There are no vehicles or roads on the island, making it an ideal place to relax and get away from the outside world. Located within the
South Water Cay Marine Reserve, it remains a popular adventure destination for diving and fishing.
10. Cockscomb Basin Forest Reserve
The area
where is Belize located has long been rich in varieties of flora and fauna. The number of natural reserves is also impressive. Cockscomb Basin Forest Reserve made up most of the eastern part of the Maya Mountain Range and was founded to protect the forests and animals of central Belize. Covering a vast area of more than 400 km2, it is also one of the largest and most famous jaguar sanctuaries in the world — today, there are about eight hundred cats.
The park is also home to more than 290 species of wild birds, including the endangered scarlet macaw and king vulture. The reserve is located at the end of a 10-kilometer rough road that separates from the main road. However, once you get here, the information point will direct you to the right places, which will open up a stunning nature reserve with rugged peaks, rainforests, and breathtaking waterfalls. It is essential to see and of course, save in
most liked Instagram photos.
11. The Belize zoo
Tourists can get acquainted with wildlife representatives in another place in other conditions. There is a
Belizean Zoo for this. It is located in a forest area, 45 km from which the
capital of Belize flaunts and is considered one of the best zoological reserves on the continent. The Belize zoo inhabitants are "rescued" animals that were kept as pets by individual collectors. Today, the zoo makes every effort to promote such representatives of the fauna's return to their usual conditions. So all these conditions are at the zoo, as the individuals are placed in wide enclosures, very similar to their natural habitat. Tourists are encouraged to see all this beauty with their own eyes, and photos of the animal world and their background will look great on your Instagram.
12. City of San Ignacio
The cultural center of the country — San Ignacio-will complete our list today. Here you will once again make sure that the country of Belize will never spoil your vacation. It is a city in the jungle, located on the East Bank of the
Macal river. Today, it remains one of the most diverse cities that make Belize stand out on the map on the world map. It serves as a stopover for many travelers and archaeologists from all over the world. You may think for a moment that you are in another universe, as the atmosphere of this city is very noticeable. Stroll through the narrow streets and taste delicious
Belize cuisine, or head to the stunning sights outside the city to experience the region's real rhythm. It's worth noting that the Mountain Pine Ridge Nature Reserve is right on the doorstep of San Ignacio, offering
Instagrammable views.