Belize is truly one of the last unspoiled corners on the globe, one of the many reasons why the country has become a hot destination for travelers, retirees, and ex-pats. With so many natural wonders to explore, including world-class diving and snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef, golden beaches on the Caribbean, jungles, rainforests, mountains, and waterfalls, it’s no wonder that more and more people are falling in love with Belize.
Here are a few interesting facts about Belize:
- Belize was once the heartland of the ancient Maya civilization, and more than 900 Maya sites have been identified in Belize.
- Belize has around 450 islands, called “cayes” (pronounced “keys”) locally.
- Belize has the world’s only jaguar reserve, an enormous tract of land in the southeastern part of the country called the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Locals in Belize avoid swimming on Good Friday before Easter as it is considered bad luck. Kids who want to swim on this day are told they’ll turn into a fish.
- Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language.
- Long the capital of the country and still the biggest urban area, Belize City was nearly wiped off the map in 1961 by Hurricane Hattie. As a result, the brand-new city of Belmopan, located far in the interior, became the capital. With just 12,000 residents, it’s the smallest capital city in the world.
- The tallest building in Belize is an ancient Maya temple built more than 1,000 years ago.
- Belizean folklore has a story about an evil elf named “El Duende” who has just four fingers on each hand. Living in the forest, El Duende punishes children who are cruel to wildlife.
- Despite being a popular destination for Americans, Belize doesn’t have a single KFC, Starbucks, Burger King or McDonald’s in the entire country.
- Another creature from Belizean folklore is El Sisimito, the local version of Sasquatch/Big Foot. El Sisimito has no knees, has feet facing backwards, and hunts humans who get lost in the jungle.
- One of the best places to retire in Belize is Placencia. Located in the Stann Creek District of Belize, Placencia enjoys some of the best weather and pristine beaches in the entire country.
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