Most travelers appreciate knowing some very basic information about the country they are about to visit. Visitors to the country of Belize in Central America are no exception. The basic travel tips we provide here will help ensure that your trip will be the best it possibly can be.

The first question most people ask when they are visiting a new country is what language is spoken there. The primary and officially recognized language of Belize is English. However, the country is so diversified that you will hear many people speaking Spanish, Maya, Garifuna, and Creole. You will find that the people who live and work in Belize will communicate with you in English, although if a shopkeeper happens to turn around and speak in another language to his or her employees, do not be surprised.

Speaking of shops, most commercial, retail, and industrial businesses in Belize are open Monday through Friday from 8am to noon and then from 1pm to 5pm. Whether or not the business is opened on Saturday depends on the individual business itself, and these three types of businesses are closed on Sunday. If you need to use a bank in Belize, you will find that the standard hours are Monday through Thursday from 8am to 1pm and Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. However, you should verify the hours before visiting the bank. The banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Belize’s national currency is the Belize dollar, which has a fixed exchange rate of $2 to every American dollar. Most places will accept American dollars as well as major credit cards and traveler’s checks. If you use your credit card, expect an additional 5% service charge to be added to the bill.

While most developed areas of Belize have potable drinking water, you should stick to bottled water or boiled water if you are in doubt about drinking the tap water. If you should happen to get sick while visiting the country, there is a hospital in Belize City as well as smaller hospitals and clinics in the outlying areas. Currently, Belize is not under any form of epidemic disease warning, and you do not need to receive any inoculations before entering the country. However, if you are going to be staying for an extended length of time in the country’s jungle areas, you should pack anti-malaria tablets.

Getting around the towns, cities and resorts of Belize is fairly easy, as there is taxi service available if you choose not to walk or take other forms of public transportation. You can identify the taxis by the green license plates that are on the vehicles. Taxis in Belize do not have meters in them, so you need to ask the driver how much the fare will be. Generally, the taxis charge a standard fare.

Finally, there is phone service in Belize, with service primarily being carried for international calls to the United States and Canada. This does not mean you cannot call other countries; service is simply provided by another carrier. Cellular phone service is available on an unlocked GSM phone, or you can rent one for the duration of your stay. There are also prepaid cellular phones available for sale in Belize.