In Belize nearly all journeys begin and end in Belize City, the country's biggest urban enclave and port of entry, though in truth it's not a very enticing tourist destination in itself. Belize City sits in a swamp that stretches across Haulover Creek at the mouth of the Belize River, criss-crossed with narrow streets and rather smelly canals which are lined with a jolly jumble of buildings, some little more than dilapidated shacks and others attempts at rather pretentious modern stores. In between are some pretty wooden houses and colonial landmark buildings.

The city has clung tenaciously to its muddy roots since it was abandoned as a Mayan fishing camp in the 1600s and taken over by pirates and buccaneers as a logging camp. Late in the 17th century, the Spanish cut down the mahogany upriver, floated the logs downstream and exported them from the motley little encampment at the river mouth. Later the British established Belize Town, which began the city's formal, rather tragic, passage into modern times. Three times devastated by fires, scourged by disease epidemics, flattened by hurricanes and tidal waves, the city somehow survived. Today, in the new millennium, it subsists on tourism and fishing, remaining the cultural, commercial, and social centre of Belize despite the capital having been moved to Belmopan in 1969.

Most visitors to Belize City come ashore on tenders from dozens of luxury cruise liners that include the city in their itineraries, mainly to allow passengers to take adventure excursions to see and experience the wonderful natural attractions of the interior and coastline of Belize. Cruise passengers are welcomed at the showpiece Belize Tourism Village, where courtyards and attractive buildings contain a variety of restaurants, souvenir shops, craft stalls, and other facilities to cater for their needs. It is the departure point for numerous land and marine tours.

Independent visitors to Belize also generally start their exploration of the country in Belize City, and can find some sights of interest to fill a few days layover in the town, including the world's only manually operated swing bridge, some colonial architectural treasures such as the Paslow Building, the novel St John's Cathedral built by slaves from bricks brought as ballast in ships from Europe, and the art gallery at the Bliss Institute, bequeathed to the city by British Baron, Henry Bliss, who died on his yacht in the harbour. Also well worth a visit are the Maritime Museum and Museum of Belize.

Mayflower Bocawina is a small, beautiful park near the village of Hopkins, a great base from which to explore. The jungle and mountains reveal walking trails, swimming holes and some interesting Mayan sites such as the pyramids of Mayflower Maya, and the unexcavated Maintzunun temple mound. There are some spectacular hiking trails, far less busy than the more popular Cockscomb National Park. Visitors can see plenty of bird life, troops of black howler monkeys, and enjoy stunning views from the top of Antelope Falls.

Travellers to the central lowlands of Belize can visit the fascinating ruins of ancient Mayan cities, which date back more than 2,000 years. The region's lush, steamy tropical jungle is an other-worldly setting in which to view the Ruins, which themselves offer astonishing insights into one of the most revered of all ancient cultures. Modern-day Belize contains (among others) the sites of Caracol, Cerros, and Cahal Pech. The ruins at Altun Ha are popular due to their easy distance from Belize City. Lamanai, located in Northern Belize, is the site of some especially picturesque and interesting pyramids, as well as an ancient ball court and other structures. Other popular sites include Tikal, El Pilar, and Xunantunich.

Glover's Reef Atoll is one of only four atolls (ring-shaped reefs made of coral) in the western hemisphere, and a truly mesmerising place to visit. The partially submerged coral island, which is also a marine reserve, is 20 miles (about 32km) long, and is home to the richest variety of sea life in the Caribbean. The atoll is ringed with white sand beaches, dotted with coconut trees, and its interior lagoon boasts more than 800 coral patches, with pinnacles rising above the water's surface. While Middle Caye and North Caye are uninhabited, there are luxury resorts along Southwest, Northwest, and Long Cayes. Active types can spend all day diving, swimming, snorkelling, and fishing in the turquoise-blue water.

Website www.glovers.com.bz

One of Belize's largest protected areas, Cockscomb is home to the world's first jaguar sanctuary, dating back to 1984. The park also has a large diversity of fauna and flora, and hosts around 50 jaguars. These are famously shy cats, but the visitors' book at the entrance to the park suggests they are occasionally seen. The park is also has pumas, tapirs, anteaters, and armadillos, the jaguar's favourite food. Visitors may see, but will certainly hear, the family of black howler monkeys that live near the visitors centre.

Belize Zoo has an interesting history. It was the scene of a wildlife documentary that was filmed in the 1980s. On finishing the filming it was discovered that the animals were party tame, so the zoo was started on site. The bizarre occupants include tapirs, gibnuts, coatimundi, scarlet macaws, white-lipped peccaries, pumas and many more. Nighttime visits are advised, as many of the animals are nocturnal. Most of the animals are rescue cases and attempts are made to return them to the wild if possible. The zoo is unique in that animals from the surrounding forest can and do visit their friends on the inside.

Electrical current is 110/220 volts, 60Hz. Flat blades with round grounding pin or rectangular blade plugs are used. Most of the electricity is provided by Diesel/Generator Sets. 

English is the official language and the one most commonly spoken, but visitors will hear Creole, Spanish, Garifuna and Mayan as well. 

The unit of currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is fixed against the US$ as BZD2 to US$1. Most tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept US currency, so visitors should make sure they understand which dollar rate (Belize or US Dollars) is being quoted. Credit cards are only accepted in large tourist facilities; ATMs are widely available in larger towns.

Tipping in Belize is voluntary but as in any country, good services should be rewarded with a 10 percent tip. Upscale hotels and resorts may add a 10 percent service charge to guests' bills, and this usually goes to the porter and maid who assisted them. Tour guides should be tipped a few extra dollars for their effort and taxi drivers should be tipped only if they help carry bags or take travellers on a guided tour.

No vaccinations are required for entry to Belize. Travellers arriving from a yellow-fever infected area require a vaccination certificate. Cases of dengue fever have occurred, and seem to be increasing, so insect repellent is strongly advised. Malaria prevention is recommended for those travelling outside Belize City. Potable water is available in most areas of Belize but it is advisable, if in doubt, to drink bottled or boiled water. Medical facilities are poor in the city, and almost non-existent elsewhere. Cases of severe illness or injury usually require expensive medical evacuation. Adequate medical insurance is therefore vital. For divers there is a hyperbaric chamber at Ambergris Caye.

There have been incidents of tourists falling victim to violent crime. Muggings have been reported in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia, and in parts of Belize City. Visitors should take sensible precautions to minimise the risks. These would include not wearing expensive jewellery, keeping valuables out of sight, staying in groups, avoiding dark alleys, and not walking alone on the beach at night. It is also advisable to use qualified guides for exploratory trips off the beaten track.

A laidback attitude permeates Belize and usually carries over into conversation, so visitors who approach locals should try to be friendly, relaxed and patient. Locals aren't especially accepting of homosexuality, but are unlikely to show their disapproval. Still, there are no gay venues and, as a precaution, it's best to avoid public displays of affection.

Belize has a fairly informal business style, although punctuality and politeness are appreciated. Handshaking, the exchanging of business cards and some small talk is expected before getting down to business. Dress is usually casual, but neat, with men in short-sleeved, collared shirts without a tie; however government-related business is more formal. Business hours are usually 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Travellers over 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, wines or spirits not exceeding one litre and personal goods or souvenirs to the value of 200 BZD. Restricted items include plants, meat and meat products, live animals and processed food items.

The international dialling code for Belize is +501. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Roaming costs can be expensive. For visitors staying longer than a week or two, the cheapest option is usually to buy a cheap local phone with a prepaid SIM card. WiFi is widely available Belize City.

All visitors to Belize must produce a passport valid for at least the period of their intended stay. It's recommended, however, that passports be valid for six months after departure from holiday destinations. All visitors should also have return tickets and documents for onward travel, and funds amounting to US$50 per person, per day. Visas are usually granted on arrival for 30 days but extensions are usually possible for a fee.

United States passports must be valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of 30 days or less.

British passports should be valid for six months from the date travellers arrive, but visas are not required.

Canadian passports must be valid at least six months beyond the date travellers expect to leave Belize. Visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.

Australian passports must be valid at least six months beyond the date travellers expect to leave Belize. Visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.

South African passports must be valid at least six months beyond the date travellers expect to leave Belize. Visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.

Irish passports must be valid at least six months beyond the date travellers expect to leave Belize. Visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.

New Zealander passports must be valid at least six months beyond the date travellers expect to leave Belize. Visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.

Belize Tourism Board, Belize City: +501 223 1913 or www.travelbelize.org

Emergencies: 911.

Belize Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 9636.

Belize High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 20 7723 3603.

Belize High Commission, Ontario, Canada: +1 416 865 7000.

United States Embassy, Belmopan: +501 822 4011.

British High Commission, Belmopan: +501 822 2147

Canadian Honorary Consulate, Belize City: +501 223 1060.

Australian Embassy, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (also responsible for Belize): +1 868 822 5450

South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for Belize): +1 876 620 4840.

Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York City, United States (also responsible for Belize): +1 212 421 6934.

Information from https://www.tripreport.com