You’ll love the best thing about Belize

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It took me a while to figure out what exactly sets Belize apart from many other travel destinations.

Some of you may think it’s the beautiful Cayes, where the Caribbean Sea washes ashore to sun-filled beaches that are cooled by the shade of palm trees. That suggestion sounds likely, after all, Ambergris Caye, Belize’s most popular destination, has consecutively been named the best island in the world by thousands of TripAdvisor users.

Related: 10 reasons why Belize is awesome

Or how about the super interesting ancient Mayan culture, with their amazing food, bizarre religious practices, and fascinating archaeological sites?

Others may say that the beauty of Belize actually lies in the great adventures it offers, such as diving top scuba sites such as the Blue Hole, swimming with whale sharks, exploring caves that hold sacred Mayan relics and sacrificial remains, or discovering unique wildlife creatures such as exotic birds. Again, those suggestions are all serious contenders, but the answer is never quite that simple.

The best thing about Belize…

The best thing about Belize is its people and the quality of life. It’s how everyone looks for ways to connect with each other. A day doesn’t go by without someone telling you “Gud Ma’ning: good morning” or “Tek Care: take care”. You may think this is not a big deal but it is proven that something as little as a smile from a stranger can set off a chain reaction of positive feelings for the rest of your day. As humans, we crave kindness, and when it is received, we are more likely to reciprocate it and in the end, feel better about ourselves.

Certainly, not every Belizean will treat you with the utmost courtesy you desire but the majority will. I can confidently say that no one visits Belize and returns home without making friends. And by friends, I mean, genuine friendship. You will have photos of this person and keep in touch, even if it’s only via Facebook. But why would you add a stranger to your Facebook you may ask? Let me tell you something, your societal rules don’t apply in Belize… So relax.

Here’s an example of how simple interactions are different: When a Belizean asks you how was your day, they aren’t asking because of conversational politeness. They are genuinely interested in hearing about your day. And if you’re out having a drink and you want to talk about work, they’ll say to you: “Stap yu rass”, let’s enjoy the music, dance all night and be merry.

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  1. Bill says

    Been thinking about retiring to Belize but after reading a number of warnings about high crime rates I am concerned. I would also be concerned about the health of my dogs from poisenous snakes and frogs.

    What are your thoughts.

    Thanks for any thoughts that you may have.

    Bill

  2. A.K.K.S. says

    The best thing about Belize is that there is nothing quite like it. It’s weird and unique. A complete contractive oxymoron that somehow makes perfect sense:

    – The official language is English, but if you speak Kriol, Spanish or Spanglish Kriol, nobody bats an eye.
    – Multiethnic nation in a region that is predominantly Mestizo and Native. Yes our neighbours are diverse, but not in such an evenly distributed way
    – The most Mayan Ruins per square mile, the most caves per square mile, the most elaborate cave system in Central America, the highest waterfall in Central America and the second largest barrier reef in the world, all in the second smallest, flattest country in Central America
    – The only flag with a depiction of a human beings on it
    – The flag with the most colours on it, but is done so subtly that it doesn’t look tacky or suggestive of any sexual preference movement

    This is Belize.

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