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Sights by Districts
On the eastern
coastline of
Central America with a mainland and over 200 islands, Belize is a
popular tourist destination. It offers many natural attractions with
rainforests, sandy beaches, Mayan ruins and tropical climate.
Link:
Large Detail Map of Belize
Belize is divided into 6 districts. Most of the
Belize District is in the east central mainland of Belize;
the Belize District also includes various offshore islands, including
Ambergris Caye,Caye Caulker, St. George's Caye, Caye Chapel, English
Caye and Goff's Caye.
Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are considered two of the country's
primary tourism areas.
Link:
Overview
of the Cayes and Atolls
The longest river in the country, the Belize
River, passes through the district and joins the Caribbean Sea along
its coast. The Northern River, Sibun River, and Manatee River are also
in this District.
Corazol
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Corozal District is the northern most district. District capital:
Corozal Town. Corozal has long been the home of the sugar indu
stry in Belize and the
fortunes of its people have risen and fallen with the cane stalks.
While sugar production and agriculture are central to the way of life
of many rural Corozalenos, occupations in the tourism industry are
slowly becoming more prominent.
Link: Map of Corozal
Town
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Belize District
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The Belize District was the area first settled by Europeans. They
developed estates along the rivers and creeks; because these waterways
were their transportation highways. The district is dominated by Belize
City and offers a
host of
attractions including several sanctuaries, the world class Belize Zoo,
a new museum, historic government buildings, churches and the
incredible Maya site at Altun Ha. The city is a great place to spend a
day or two learning about Belize's history and its multi-cultural
heritage while mingling with the amiable, laid back Belizeans who greet
you with a smile. It's also the perfect place to plan and begin your
discovery of Belize and offers all kinds of access to any destination
in the country.
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Ambergris Caye
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The largest of all the cayes, Ambergris Caye is renowned
for its
beaches and proximity to the coral reef. From here you can indulge any
wet adventure you can dream up; Sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling
and manatee watching are among the most popular. San Pedro, the caye's
hub, offers any variety of accommodations, restaurants, bars and
nightlife. For a change of pace and scenery, the bay side of the caye
is a great place to get acquainted with Belizean bird life.
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Caye Caulker |
Just south of
Ambergris is the relaxed and slow paced
Caye Caulker
where you can indulge your island fantasies on a quiet beach and get to
know the Mestizo and Creole culture, customs and traditions. Offering
budget accommodations and excursions with a full range of services,
Caulker is also well known for its friendly, easygoing people who make
it difficult for you to leave this sunny, sleepy little island.
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Great Blue Hole |
The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of
Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef
system during the last ,
a small atoll 60 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The hole
circular in shape, over 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. It was
formed as a limestone caveice age when sea levels were much lower. As
the ocean began to rise again the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed.
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Orange
Walk
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Orange Walk district is the second-largest district in the country. The
capital of the district is Orange Walk Town. Several settlements in the
district are also home to German speaking Amish
Mennonites ruin of ,
creole, and maya ketchi. The district is also the home of two rivers,
the Rio Hondo, which also forms part of the border with Mexico, and the
New River. In this district you can also find Belize's largest body of
water, the New River Lagoon. Orange Walk District also includes the
ancient Maya Lamanai.
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Cayo
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Located in the western interior of Belize, Cayo is a
1500 square
mile district that encompasses a good portion of the Maya Mountains and
has more than its fair share of ancient Maya sites Xunantunich, Cahal
Pech, and Caracol
to visit and explore. To the east is the capital city of Belmopan and
to the far west, visitor friendly San Ignacio, the main city of the
district. Between the two lie a world of forests teeming with wildlife
and immaculately beautiful tropical watersheds catered to by a variety
of jungle and river lodges to suit any style, budget and adventure.
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Stann Creek
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The journey in by
road on the Hummingbird Highway, with
breath- taking
vistas of the rainforests and the Maya Mountains, takes you all the way
into culture rich Dangriga, historic home of the
Garifuna people.
Opportunity for marine adventure abounds with the nearby coral reef,
cayes and coastal villages, while the Cockscomb Basin
bears witness to Belize's lush broadleaf tropical forests that are home
to countless species of plants and animals. Placencia is a long narrow
peninsula on the Caribbean Sea coast of the Stann Creek District in
Belize. Within the preserve is Victoria Peak, the highest point in
Belize, at 1120 meters . Stann Creek is ideal for
its accessibility to a huge variety of Belizean discovery destinations
both inland and out in the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean.
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Placencia
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White sand beaches, brilliant blue waters
and a hundred
ways to
enjoy the coastal treasures of Belize await you at Placencia. Spend
your days in the water diving, fishing, snorkeling
or just relaxing on the beach, and your nights at the many interesting
restaurants and watering holes that feature local food, culture and
live music
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Toledo
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Nearly 1700 square miles of prime
opportunity for the
adventure
minded and the adrenaline addicted is the Toledo district of Belize. A
cultural lean towards the Mopan and Kekchi Maya is evident and
homestays will give you an inside look at how the Maya have
balanced
tradition with the demands of a modern world. The ancient Maya cities
of Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun, and Uxbenka;
intricate cave systems
and pristine rainforests headline a long list of attractions accessible
from the coastal city of Punta Gorda, including lagoons, rivers, creeks
and cayes. Wildlife, birds, trees and plants in astounding variety make
Toledo a nature lover's paradise.
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Guide to Belize brought to you from
At Ease in Bellize Ltd.
© 2009 Guide to Belize / Switzerland / Germany / Austria
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