Belize is a small country blessed with an incredibly diverse landscape. In a single day, it is possible to explore an ancient Maya city, trek through a pristine rainforest, and lounge on the beach on one of Belize’s hundreds of offshore islands that form the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere.
The landscape of Belize and Guatemala is dotted with temples, palaces, and pyramids that rival the grandeur of ancient Egypt. Built by the mighty Maya civilization, these incredible cities were abandoned more than 1,000 years ago, only rediscovered and open to the public in the last few decades.
Indeed, many of the Maya’s lost cities are yet to be discovered. National Geographic recently revealed that laser-mapping of the Guatemalan jungle revealed more than 60,000 ancient Maya structures that were previously unknown. In Belize, in 2016, archeologists discovered the largest ancient Maya tomb ever discovered at Xunantunich.
Trips to sites like Xunantunich and Tikal (in Guatemala) allow visitors to learn more about this incredible civilization that devised the most accurate calendar ever invented.
The rainforests of Belize are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Visiting this untouched landscape allows visitors to see an astonishing array of exotic birds, plants, and animals.
The bio-diversity of the rainforests in Belize are still being cataloged by scientists. Indeed, a conservation team working in western Belize discovered a previously unknown species of tree. Named p. lundelli, this tree stands up to 39 feet (12 meters) tall and is related to the rosewood tree. This is just a small sampling of the incredible diversity of flora in Belize, including hundreds of orchid species, epiphytes, and bromeliads.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world. Home to numerous species of fish, sharks, dolphins, manatees, seabirds, coral, sea turtles, and rays, the Belize Barrier Reef is a must-see destination. In December 2017, the government of Belize formally banned all oil drilling and exploration on the reef, an important step towards preserving the reef for generations to come.
Some of the top activities to enjoy on the reef include diving with whale sharks (the largest fish in the world’s oceans), snorkeling with nurse sharks, fishing (including the coveted Grand Slam gamefish species), stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking, and windsurfing.
If you’d like to experience the best that the ruins, rainforest, and reef have to offer, book your Belize tours and vacation packages with Caves Branch Jungle Lodge.