Belize

Bordering Guatemala's northern region is Belize, a small English speaking country on the Caribbean coast. With miles of beautiful Caribbean beaches, lush jungles, Mayan ruins, and abundant natural resources, Belize has much to offer tourists. Although strong English and Spanish influences dominate the country, it has a very laid back Caribbean feel to it, and you may forget you are even in central America.

One of the most popular tourist activities in Belize is diving. The Caribbean coast of Belize contains a barrier reef that is the longest and largest mass of continuous living coral in this hemisphere, second in the world. The reef is almost 200 miles long, and is largely unexplored. There are many dive shops to choose from, offering packages for beginners up to advanced divers.

Unfortunately I did not get to spend too much time in Belize, I just used it as a border crossing to renew my stamp in Guatemala. One thing I did notice, coming from Guatemala, which is one of the cheapest countries to travel in, is the much higher prices in Belize. If you are looking for quality diving in a tropical paradise, and are on a tight budget, check out the Bay Islands in Honduras.