Caye Caulker Tourist Traps

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Location
On the Caribbean coast, bordered to the north by Mexico, west and south by Guatemala and east by the Caribbean Sea.

Capital
Belmopan

Population
Approximately 249,000 inhabitants: 44 percent are mestizo, 30 percent are Creole, 11 percent are Maya, and seven percent are Garifonos (besides a large population of immigrants from neighboring countries).

Languages
The official language is English, though many speak Castilian. Besides English speaking Creole, Mayan and Garifonos.
Weather
Subtropical with a rainy season from June to August. The average temperature is 27 ° C.

When to go?
Most tourists visit the country between November and May are the driest months. However, during the summer (the rain) and hotel rates are down and there is less congestion of people. The showers tend to be short and sporadic during these months (do not forget that hurricane season runs from July to November).

Government
Parliamentary democracy

Time zone
GMT -6.00 (As summer is unchanged).

Currency and credit cards
The Belize dollar (BZ $) with a fixed exchange rate of U.S. $ 1 per BZ $ 2.

You can change any currency at all banks, although it may get better exchange rate on the street or across borders. Some ATMs accept foreign cards. Accepted U.S. dollars and major credit cards

Money Transfers
You can transfer money via MoneyGram at any branch of the Belize Bank Limited.

Schedules
Government offices: Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 17:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 16:30 hours.

Banks: Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 13:00, Fridays from 8:00 to 12:00 pm and from 14:00 to 16:30 hours.

All businesses are open on Saturdays.

Electricity
110V, 60 Hz

Visa Requirements
We require a valid passport and a ticket home. European nationalities, including British citizens and American citizens do not need a visa.

Airport Fees
For international commercial flights leaving Belize must pay $ 10 airport departure tax. It also takes a security tax of $ 1.25 plus U.S. $ 3.75 for the Conservation Fund for Protected Areas (PACT).

Customs
It allows U.S. residents to a maximum of $ 400 per person (or $ 1,000 per family) in tax-free items to return to the U.S.. They also allow up to a quart of alcohol and 200 cigarettes.

Tips
Tipping is at your discretion. In the most expensive restaurants a tip of 10 percent of consumption is sufficient.

Unique Suggestions: Belize's reef is one of the longest in the Western Hemisphere with 290 km in length. In this emerging coral reef many keys. The two largest and most visited are the Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. The first is considered the ideal island for economy class travelers, while the latter has more class resorts.

These are certainly a paradise for watersports enthusiasts, with diving and diving to the head. The underwater landscape that gives this area of Belize has made these practices the most popular nautical locals and tourists. But there are also facilities for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.

Ambergris Caye is the largest of all and has most of the tourist infrastructure. It has a population of 2,000 and is 58 kilometers north of Belize City. The population is concentrated in the town of San Pedro, where you should find the restaurants, clubs, bars and hotels, here visitors will find what you are looking for transportation without further their own feet. Life is completely informal, read: sport shirts, shorts, shoes zero and go! The reef is located about half a kilometer from the beach of Ambergris Caye, where facilities are also diving. There will organize day trips to various places to dive, as the Blue Hole (Hole Blue), Half Moon Cay and the Turneffe Islands atoll. One of the most popular places for diving is Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is 10 minutes by water from San Pedro.

Caye Caulker (population 800) is located well north of Belize City, but unlike Ambergris Caye, is mostly covered by mangroves and palms. Its shores are also a paradise for snorkeling and diving. A number of marine species make their home in the Coral Garden (Coral Garden) and Caulker Marine Reserve, where visibility can reach 60 meters

Fun Alternatives: Lamanai
This is one of the largest ceremonial centers of Belize, which is still in full excavation and restoration. Lamanai was occupied from 1500 BC C. until the nineteenth century, besides the Mayan ruins still exist the ruins of two indigenous churches (test conversion attempts by the Spanish) and the remainder of an English-built sugar mill. Today only Lamanai can be reached by road during the dry season and with a suitable vehicle. The most popular route is by boat, sailing about 90 minutes along the New River to River Lagoon new.es The ship passes near Shipyard, a Mennonite village and will have opportunity to observe hundreds of birds fluttering in the bank (perhaps to see a crocodile!) When you come to the mainland continues the adventure through the jungle until you reach the ruins. Take a couple of hours to consider well the ruins, which include a baseball field, a small temple and a very high building Preclassic period. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and there is a small admission charge.

Caracol
Caracol is an impressive archaeological site in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. It was discovered in 1938, but it was not until 1986 that he understood its importance as the supreme Maya city. The highest pyramid, Cane, is considered the tallest structure in the country built by humans, with 140 feet high.
Caracol only be visited during the dry season and need to obtain a permit from the Archaeological Department in Belmopan (most travel agents can arrange excursions, some on horseback). No services at Caracol, so come prepared with food, water and other articles of prime necessity (bring binoculars: the fauna is impressive!)