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Belize's spectacular Barrier Reef , with its dazzling variety
of underwater life and string of exquisite islands - known as
cayes - is the main attraction for most first-time visitors to
the country. Forming part of the longest barrier reef in the western
hemisphere, it runs the entire length of the coastline at a distance
of 15 to 40km from the mainland.
Most of the cayes (pronounced "keys") lie in shallow water
behind the shelter of the reef. A limestone ridge forms larger,
low-lying islands to the north, while smaller, less frequently
visited outcrops are clustered toward the southern end of the chain
- often these are no more than a stand of palms and a strip of sand.
Though the 450 cayes themselves form only a tiny proportion of the
country's total land area, and only around three dozen have any kind
of tourism development, Belize has more territorial water than it
does land, and the islands' tourism and lobster fishing accounts for
a substantial amount of foreign currency earnings.
The town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye has been
transformed from a predominantly fishing community to one geared to
commercial tourism. There are still some beautiful spots here,
however, notably the protected sections of reef at either end of the
Caye: the Bacalar Chico National Park to the north and Hol
Chan Marine Reserve to the south. South of Ambergris Caye,
Caye Caulker is less - but increasingly - developed, and remains
popular with budget travelers.
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 Belize
travel guide
Caribbean
guide
Beyond the chain of islands and the coral reef are two of Belize's
three atolls , the Turneffe Islands and Lighthouse
Reef , regularly visited on day-trips from San Pedro and Caye
Caulker. Here the coral reaches the surface, enclosing a shallow
lagoon, with some cayes lying right on top of the encircling reef.
Lighthouse Reef encompasses two of the most spectacular diving and
snorkeling sites in the country - Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
and the Great Blue Hole, an enormous collapsed cave.
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Belize
Belize City
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Explore Belize City
North side
South side
Cayo and the west
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Belize city
to San
Ignacio
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Belize zoo
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Belmopan
Practicalities
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Guanacaste
Park
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Caracol Ruins
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
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San Antonio
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San Ignacio
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Arrival
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Xunantunich, San Jose
Corozal, Orange Walk
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Travel details |
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