A new analysis of ancient DNA has revealed important information about the lifestyles of the people who lived in Central and South America, including Belize. A team from Harvard University were successfully able to analyze DNA from archeological sites across the region, including some that is 11,000 years old, to better understand how the Americas were first populated. Previously, DNA analysis was only able to successfully identify genomic information from samples that...
Where the jungle meets the seashore: In Belize, do it all without breaking the bank
Belize Jungle and Sea Vacations Belize is a largely rural country with vast landscapes of pristine nature, including rainforests, jungles, savannahs, wetlands, mountains, and beautiful beaches. Belize also has hundreds of offshore islands in the Caribbean along the world's second-largest coral reef system. And because Belize measures just 70 miles wide by 120 miles long, it's incredibly easy to...
Senior Guide & Guiding Department Manager: Carlos Hernandez
Originally from Western Belize, Carlos arrived at Caves Branch as a very young man- interested in improving himself both mentally and educationally. He joined the team in 2000 and quickly became a favorite with his easy smile and hilarious jokes. He became a tour guide by accident. At the age of 17 he enrolled in the Center for Employment Training in...
United States and Belize Sign Open Skies Agreement
In a move heartily welcomed by travelers, Keith Gilges, the American chargé d'affaires in Belize, and Manuel Heredia, Junior, the Belizean Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, have signed the first-ever Open Skies Agreement between the two countries during a ceremony attended by a large group of government officials and prominent businesses in the tourism and aviation sectors. The...
Flock to Belize for the First Annual Birding Festival
Calling all bird lovers! On October 27, 2018, Belize will hold its very first Birding Festival. Birdwatching clubs, birding enthusiasts, nature societies, and others interested in learning more about the incredible diversity and beauty of avian species in Belize are warmly encouraged to attend this year's Birding Festival in Belmopan. The Birding Festival is jointly organized by the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Belize Audobon Society, Belize Hotel Association, and Belize Tourism...
Ancient Maya produced, stored and traded salt, according to study
On October 8, 2018, a paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that sheds new light on how the ancient Maya society of Belize fed its estimated one million people. By carefully examining an ancient salt works at the Paynes Creek region of southeastern Belize, researchers discovered that the ancient Maya were not just...
Celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize
Every November 19, the entire nation of Belize celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day. This holiday commemorates the arrival of the Garifuna - an Afro-Caribbean people - to the shores of Belize more than 200 years ago. A blend of African and indigenous Caribbean cultures, the Garifuna were honored by the United Nations in 2001 for their unique contributions to the...
Belize Is Hosting The First-Ever Nationwide Game Of Hide & Seek
Belize has always been a country where the locals like to have fun and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life, so it's no surprise that Belize will be the first in the world to hold a nationwidegame of hide and seek. Starting on November 12, 2018, and running until November 18, 2018, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) will be organizing and sponsoring this first-ever nationwide hide and seek game. The way the game will be played is that the...
Looking for a Classic Caribbean Vacation? Arthur Frommer Suggests Belize
When many North Americans think about a Caribbean vacation, they may think about staying at a beachfront resort or booking a cruise reservation. However, there may be a more unique and better way to experience all that the Caribbean offers. Belize is visited annually by approximately one million travelers each year, but most are cruise ship passengers who only step foot on land at each...
Why You Will Love Birding in Belize
With one of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in the world, it's no surprise that Belize is a popular destination for bird watchers. More than 600 species have been recorded in the country, including more than 500 indigenous bird species that include the roseate spoonbill, orange-breasted falcon, endangered Jabiru stork, the scarlet macaw, sungrebe, enormous harpy eagle, solitary eagle,...