Wedged nicely between the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea, Belize is the only country in Central America to have English as its official language. It is unique with its British heritage and culture as compared to the rest of Central America. Formerly known as British Honduras; Belize has been an independent state since 1981.

Belize is home to some of nature’s most beautiful sites with its crystal clear waters full of marine life, coral reefs, and prestine beaches of white sand. Her countryside is an archaeologist’s dream come true; full of ancient ruins and artifacts from the Maya civilization. And her jungles are full of an array of wild and exotic animals. It is also in the country of Belize that you can find some amazing natural wonders like Big Rock Falls, the Maya Mountains, The Great Blue Hole, and The Belize Barrier Reef, second only to the Great Barrier Reef as the world’s longest natural reef. Belize is also a popular tourist destination for those who love adventure sports like kayaking, snorkeling, bicycling, and scuba diving to name a few.

The tiny country of Belize may seem like an inhospitable place to live with its many varied terrains, but it actually has one of the world’s highest population growths. A recent rise in tourism and agriculture has helped the country become a more intriguing place to live and work. The country’s chief exports today are sugar and bananas. But in 2006 the discovery of crude oil in the town of Spanish Lookout had given the citizens of Belize a chance to possibly develop even further as a nation. Construction and tourism have also become two of the countries leading industries among its residents.

The people of Belize have a mostly European background, Great Britain to be exact. Their government is set-up similar to Great Britain’s with a parliamentary democracy modeled after the common law of England. They have a prime minister as their head of government and a Governor-General instead of a Queen along with a similar House of Representatives and Senate. The country is also a full participating member of CARICOM or the Caribbean Community. Along with their European influence, Belize also includes three indigenous Maya tribes located within its country’s borders. In fact the geographical area of Belize is believed by some archaeologists to have some of the oldest Maya settlements in Central America.