Belize Travel Guide

Language

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

Currency

The unit of currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is fixed against the US$ as BZ$2 = US$1. Most tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept US currency and travelers checks. Credit cards are also accepted, and most banks in Belize City and Belmopan will advance cash against Visa or MasterCard. When using credit cards most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bill. First Caribbean International Bank has several ATMs in Belize City. Always make sure you understand which dollar rate is being quoted, either Belize Dollars or US Dollars.

2.0191

Time

Local time is GMT -6.

Electricity

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.

Communications

The international dialing code for Belize is +501. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Belize City is (0)2. International Direct Dialling is available. Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telemedia Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available. There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centers and tourist areas. Postal services are reliable.

Duty-Free

Travelers over 18 years do no have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; wines or spirits not exceeding one liter and personal goods or souvenirs to the value of BZ$200. Restricted items include plants, meat and meat products, live animals and processed food items.

Tourist Office

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

Embassies in Belize

• United States Embassy, Belmopan: +501 822 4011.
• British High Commission, Belmopan: +501 822 2981
• Canadian Honorary Consulate, Belize City: +501 223 1060.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Belize): +52 (0)55 1101 2200.
• South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for Belize): +1 876 978 3160/4457.
• Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York City, United States (also responsible for Belize): +1 212 421 6934.

Belize Embassies Abroad

• Belize Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 9636.
• Belize High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7723 3603.
• Belize High Commission, Ontario, Canada: +1 613 232 2826.
• Consulate of Belize, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9880 7160.

Emergency

Emergencies: 911.

Language

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

Currency

The unit of currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is fixed against the US$ as BZ$2 = US$1. Most tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept US currency and travelers checks. Credit cards are also accepted, and most banks in Belize City and Belmopan will advance cash against Visa or MasterCard. When using credit cards most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bill. First Caribbean International Bank has several ATMs in Belize City. Always make sure you understand which dollar rate is being quoted, either Belize Dollars or US Dollars.

2.0191

Time

Local time is GMT -6.

Electricity

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.

Communications

The international dialing code for Belize is +501. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Belize City is (0)2. International Direct Dialling is available. Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telemedia Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available. There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centers and tourist areas. Postal services are reliable.

Duty-Free

Travelers over 18 years do no have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; wines or spirits not exceeding one liter and personal goods or souvenirs to the value of BZ$200. Restricted items include plants, meat and meat products, live animals and processed food items.

Tourist Office

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

Embassies in Belize

• United States Embassy, Belmopan: +501 822 4011.
• British High Commission, Belmopan: +501 822 2981
• Canadian Honorary Consulate, Belize City: +501 223 1060.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Belize): +52 (0)55 1101 2200.
• South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for Belize): +1 876 978 3160/4457.
• Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York City, United States (also responsible for Belize): +1 212 421 6934.

Belize Embassies Abroad

• Belize Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 9636.
• Belize High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7723 3603.
• Belize High Commission, Ontario, Canada: +1 613 232 2826.
• Consulate of Belize, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9880 7160.

Emergency

Emergencies: 911.

Language

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

Currency

The unit of currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is fixed against the US$ as BZ$2 = US$1. Most tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept US currency and travelers checks. Credit cards are also accepted, and most banks in Belize City and Belmopan will advance cash against Visa or MasterCard. When using credit cards most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bill. First Caribbean International Bank has several ATMs in Belize City. Always make sure you understand which dollar rate is being quoted, either Belize Dollars or US Dollars.

2.0191

Time

Local time is GMT -6.

Electricity

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.

Communications

The international dialing code for Belize is +501. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Belize City is (0)2. International Direct Dialling is available. Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telemedia Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available. There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centers and tourist areas. Postal services are reliable.

Duty-Free

Travelers over 18 years do no have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; wines or spirits not exceeding one liter and personal goods or souvenirs to the value of BZ$200. Restricted items include plants, meat and meat products, live animals and processed food items.

Tourist Office

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

Embassies in Belize

• United States Embassy, Belmopan: +501 822 4011.
• British High Commission, Belmopan: +501 822 2981
• Canadian Honorary Consulate, Belize City: +501 223 1060.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Belize): +52 (0)55 1101 2200.
• South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for Belize): +1 876 978 3160/4457.
• Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York City, United States (also responsible for Belize): +1 212 421 6934.

Belize Embassies Abroad

• Belize Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 9636.
• Belize High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7723 3603.
• Belize High Commission, Ontario, Canada: +1 613 232 2826.
• Consulate of Belize, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9880 7160.

Emergency

Emergencies: 911.

Language

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

Currency

The unit of currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is fixed against the US$ as BZ$2 = US$1. Most tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept US currency and travelers checks. Credit cards are also accepted, and most banks in Belize City and Belmopan will advance cash against Visa or MasterCard. When using credit cards most establishments will add a 5% service charge to the bill. First Caribbean International Bank has several ATMs in Belize City. Always make sure you understand which dollar rate is being quoted, either Belize Dollars or US Dollars.

2.0191

Time

Local time is GMT -6.

Electricity

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.

Communications

The international dialing code for Belize is +501. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Belize City is (0)2. International Direct Dialling is available. Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout most of the country with the Belize Telemedia Ltd GSM 1900 network, and cellphone rental is available. There are two Internet service providers in Belize, with Internet cafes in urban centers and tourist areas. Postal services are reliable.

Duty-Free

Travelers over 18 years do no have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; wines or spirits not exceeding one liter and personal goods or souvenirs to the value of BZ$200. Restricted items include plants, meat and meat products, live animals and processed food items.

Tourist Office

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

Embassies in Belize

• United States Embassy, Belmopan: +501 822 4011.
• British High Commission, Belmopan: +501 822 2981
• Canadian Honorary Consulate, Belize City: +501 223 1060.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Belize): +52 (0)55 1101 2200.
• South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for Belize): +1 876 978 3160/4457.
• Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York City, United States (also responsible for Belize): +1 212 421 6934.

Belize Embassies Abroad

• Belize Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 9636.
• Belize High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7723 3603.
• Belize High Commission, Ontario, Canada: +1 613 232 2826.
• Consulate of Belize, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9880 7160.

Emergency

Emergencies: 911.