Belize

= __//**~DISCOVER BELIZE WITH**//__ __//**SHAILEY, HANNAH, & MIKAYLA~**//__ =

__**TRANSPORTATION:**__

 * 3 possible departure cities: Portland, Maine; San Diego, California; Louisville, Kentucky[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/delta-airlines-logo.jpg width="244" height="234" align="right"]]**

**Distance: Kentucky - 1437.9 miles**

 * California - 2109.2 miles****Maine - 2085 miles**
 * Length: Kentucky - 6 hrs. 24 min.**
 * California - 7 hrs. 17 min.**
 * Maine - 7 hrs 2 min.**

**LODGING:**

 * __[|Hamanasi(high class):][[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/hamanasi.jpg width="331" height="223" align="right"]]__**
 * -was rated hotel of the year**


 * -price is around $375-$315 per night**


 * -location: mainland beach south of dangriga and north of placencia (mile south of village of Hopkins)**
 * -all rooms air conditioned (no tvs or phones in rooms) want you to relax and get away! (if need these services are avaible)**
 * -3:00pm check in 11:00am check out**
 * -not allowed to dive without certified card! (unless you take the Discover Scuba or Open Water course) **

-**includes: spa, outdoor pool & hot tub, on beach, shuttle to and from airport, multitude of resturants**
 * __[|Coco Beach Resort(middle class):]__**
 * - location: San Pedro (3 1/2 miles north of town)**
 * - priced around $200 per night**


 * __[|Hotel Mopan(lower class):]__**

- **Average hotel nothing spectacular** __**Currency:**__
 * - $40 - $50 per night**
 * - daily guided expeditions, including Tikal**
 * - air conditioned**
 * - 10 acres of hotel & 80 acres of surounding rain forest[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/Hotel_Mopan-Belize_City.jpg width="266" height="187" align="right"]]**
 * -The Belize Dollars**
 * -One U.S dollar equals two belize dollars**
 * -The Belize dollar is subdivided into 100 cents**

__**Weather/Climate:**__
 * -The overall climate of Belize can be described as sub-tropical**
 * -The humidity while high is seldom oppressive for long and is most noticeable along the coast**
 * -The mean annual humidity is 83%, but many days the humidity is masked by the cooling sea breezes**
 * -Temperatures in Belize range from 50°F to 95°F with an annual mean of 79°F[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/Blue_Hole_Lighthouse_Reef_Belize.jpg width="358" height="249" align="right"]]**

__**Food:**__
 * -the most common breakfast in Belize is fryjacks (usually served with jam on it ((very tortilla like)))**
 * ~Flour, Shortening,Baking Powder, Water, & Salt**
 * -most common traditional supper is Belizean Chicken Stew**
 * ~bay leaves, chicken, carrots, white potatoes, Boiling onions, big slices of celery, slices of green pepper, & racado rojo**

__**Natural Attractions**__

 * [|Blue Hole]:**
 * **famous for its dive site in all of Belize**
 * **lined with coral; great for snorkling**
 * **1000ft in demeter and 412 ft deep**
 * **visible from outer space**
 * **to visit: dive operators can provide day or night dive trips from Ambergris Caye, Belize City, or other offshore Cyes and Atolls**

-**Museum** Open Mon-Friday Mon- Thurs. 8:30 am- 5pm Friday 8:30- 4:30 Cost: $10.00 U.S money **-Historical Site**
 * [|Museum of Belize:]**
 * **historical tour filled with artifacts and documents dating over 350 years of Belize's people[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/museumbelize.jpg width="130" height="218" align="right"]]**
 * **used to be a prison during independence**
 * **you can get a glimpse of Belizean life from the early inhabitatants**
 * **also includes some Mayaartifacts as well; repica of the famous "Jade Head"**
 * [|Maya temples:]**
 * **Many Maya ruins in Belize(thousands)[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/mayan-ruins-caracol-belize.png width="460" height="123"]]**
 * **you can climb ancient temples for spectacular views at surrounding forest**
 * **jade artifacts are in museum and visitors center**
 * **includes pottery, skeletons, stelae(large bourders), tall palaces, temples, and ceremonial centers**

**-Monument**
 * [|Baron Bliss Lighthouse:]**
 * named after Baron EDward Ernest Victor Bliss
 * an English sailor who visited Belize in 1926
 * Baron Bliss died 2 months after arrival without having set foot of Belizean soil
 * he left $2 million legacy buried at Fort George Point and a distinctive lighthouse monument was built in his honor

- ** Activities ** [|**Belize Audubon Society**]
 * [|Guanacaste National Park]:**
 * **filled with different spieces of plants, floweres, and animals**
 * named after **tree which is one of the largest tree species in Central America**
 * **rivers that over look docks for watching birds**
 * **easily traveled trails**

**-Cultural Event/ Festival**
 * [|Garifuna Settlement Day:]**
 * **November 19**
 * **celebrated in Southern Belize**
 * **includes parade, as well as religon and cultural activities**
 * **punta music, games and Jonkunu dancers**
 * **a traditional is waving palm fonds[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/img_RMUFFEST.jpg width="265" height="208" align="right"]]**

[|International Costa Maya Festival]:
 * August 4-7**
 * held in Ambegris Cays**
 * host international music groups**
 * cultural dances**
 * internation food**
 * arts**
 * crafts**

**-Sports that are present in Belize:**
 * **soccer, softball and cycling are most popular**
 * **also basketball, vollyball, criket, and track**

> **__RANDOM FACTS__** **!CAUTION!** Belize water: the tap water is technically safe to drink but we DONT"T recommend it. WE provide water bottles in your hotels, restaurants, and tours. Staying hydrsted is very important. **!CAUTION!** please update your kids shots, incase they have stronger reactions to bug bites and illness. For you safey **Language:** Belize's offical language is english. But in the area many people also speak Garifuna, Creole, Mopan Mayan, and Spanish. **Water Temperature:** 75-86 degrees year round **Transportation in Belize:** generaly it is safe to drive in Belize. However, many roads are UNPAVED and are best with four wheel drive vehicle. During rain seasons some roads are prone to flood. They don't recommend driving ar **NIGHT!**  **Time Zone** : central time zone(like Chicago); they don't have daylight savings. In the summer months we are in mountain standard time(like Denver).
 * [|Other Atractions in Belize include:]**
 * **canoeing down jungle rivers[[image:worldgeographyforeigncountryproject3/The_Belize_Barrier_Reef,_Belize.jpg width="312" height="246" align="right"]]**
 * **scuba diving**
 * **snorkling**
 * **wind or kit surfing**
 * Currency: ** Belize dollar eschange rate is approximately US $1=BZ $2
 * Weather **: similar with Florida with slightly warmer winters and summers. Dry season is April and May.
 * Electricity: ** voltage is 110 like in the US

__***Belize is a beautiful place and a great tourist attraction. There's many adventures to go on and wonderful discoveries to uncover.**__