Primary Language:

Belize's primary language is English but some speak variations of English such as the Creole who speak rapid English, with Spanish vowels and its own grammar. Some also speak Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna, Gerole, and German.

Religion:

The majority of Belizeans are Roman Catholic followed by Angelicans, Methodists, and Mennonites, a type of Protestant who are fundamentalists and have evangelical churches. Other religions growing fast are: Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and the Ba'hai faith. Belize's religions are a liberal mix of traditions and people's cultures.

Colonial History:

Britain colonized Belize and held it from the Spanish and other countries who tried to take over. Guatemala thought of and wanted Belize to be part of it but Britain had troops stationed in Belize to stop any invaders from attacking and taking Belize away them.

Current Political Situation:

Belize's prime minister is Said Musa, its governor general is Dr. Colville Young, and its department prime minister is Vildo Morin. The next election in Belize will take place in 2008. Belize and Guatemala are disputing over land and sea borders and over a substantial US-UK financial package. Belize is an independent, democratic country but is part of the British Commonwealth Nations.

Major Exports:

The major exports in Belize are expensive rainforest wood. The main wood export is logwood which can be made into expensive dyes. Other major exports include: mahogany, chicle (a tree whose fruit can be used in making gum and ice cream), sugar cane, citrus fruits, bananas, seafood, and apparel.

Economic Situation:

Belize is a capitalist society with a parliamentary democracy. Belize has two major political parties: the United Democratic Party (UPD), and the People's United Party (PUP). Belize's GDP/PPP 2006 est. per capita was $8, 400.

Native Cultures:

The main ethnic groups in Belize are mestizo (mix of white and Indian), Creole (mix of white and black), the Maya (culmination of Yucatec, Mopan, and Kekchi Amerindians), and the Garifuna (mix of black and Caribbean Islander). Modern political parties and media, television, newspaper, and radio in Belize tend to be dominated mostly by the Creole. Fishing and agriculture in Belize come from the Garifuna. The Kekchi are self- reliant and farm as well. Much tourism in Belize today is to see the well known Mayan ruins.

The first place I stopped on my quest was a little town called San Ignacio which rests close to the Guatemalan border and along the gringo trail, as travelers call the route that crosses through the center of Belize, and into the Petan jungles of Guatemala.

It's a town that will forever remind me of the Wild West as I walked its dusty streets in search of a place to rest my head. Old colonial buildings lined its cracked concrete streets and backpackers from all corners of the globe sat on hotel balconies smoking cigarettes and resting from their adventures. The towns had one of those anything can happen here vibes that you only find in third world countries! As I walked the streets I was greeted by several hustlers all trying to get me to stay at their hotel and most of them I tried to ignore, but one of them caught my attention because he had a strange feeling about him for a Hustler. When I met him, he gave me his pitch about the Hotel Jaguar and how great it was, I felt like I could trust him. He introduced himself to me as David, and he convinced me to stay at the cheapest place in town. He called it the Hotel Jaguar and a cheap place it was I can tell you! It had about ten rooms but only one bathroom for all the guests and was one of the scariest I had seen on my journeys into Central America, Well, with the exception to the bathrooms at the Belize City bus station of course.

Once I was settled into my room which had a hole in the wall, which allowed me to view all the activities of my neighbours both intimate and mundane, I made my way across the street to a place called Eva's restraunt. I was once again greeted by David who asked me what my purpose was in Belize. Was I just anther gringo on his way through San Ignacio to Guatemala? I told him about my interest in caves and he lit right up and explained to me that he knew of a secret cave, one where very view people go and that he would take me there for a small price the following day. I agreed!

After a light dinner I turned in and was awakened at around seven in the morning with David knocking on my door. I got dressed and made my way out onto the street where David had a beat up old truck with two canoes strapped on top and was accompanied by two other gringos, a young man and his girlfriend, who also wanted to see the cave. They where sitting on a couch in the back of the truck and they looked kind of scared. I think they were the Cancun resort type, not the backpacker adventurer sort! It was not first class travel but it was sure adventure travel which is what Belize is really all about. I introduced myself to the two travelers, who were named Darren and Debra, and sat down on the ratty old couch in the back of the truck next to them. I learned they were wealthy Americans from New Orleans, who were used to traveling in a more luxurious way, as they complained the whole time about the discomfort of the couch and the springs poking them. David flew down the streets of San Ignacio and across the suspension bridge and onto the highway.

As we journeyed down the road our guide David lit up a big fat spliff and offered to the his guests.I took a toke, actually I took several, but the other two travelers looked like they where in shock as their guide smoked weed and drove. I noticed a sign on the side of the road that read, "IF YOU DRINK DON'T SPEED. USE YOUR ROADSENSE". It made me start to laugh like a madman or was that something else going to my head.

After about a half hour of driving David took a really fast sharp turn off the highway and we found ourselves bouncing along on a gravel road which passed through an Amish settlement. It was like seeing people from a different age. We found ourselves swerving around several horses and buggies that blocked our path. The Amish people who we passed by on the sides of the road looked at us like we were aliens from another planet invading their peaceful way of life, and we probably were! As David roared past, we left them behind in a cloud of dust. After we passed through the Amish settlement we went down a steep hill and became surrounded by lush thick jungle and the road became really rough! We all struggled to hang on in the back of the truck as we all bounced up and down, I enjoyed it! David didn't even slow down as we traveled down the hill. It was thrilling but our fellow travelers looked like they where going to puke! I guess they just were not the gravel road types. We bounced along down the hill for about fifteen minutes and when we got to the bottom there was a large river crossing the road" "Des where we stop man." David said as he slammed on the squeaky brakes of his truck. With that we all piled out of the truck and onto the road and helped David take the canoes off the top of the truck.

David explained that we would be journeying down the river to the cave site and that the river flowed inside and we would be paddling into it. I couldn't wait, caves are a journey into a different world and the pictures that where forming in my mind of this place where making my blood sing. I could not wait to get inside. I got into one the canoes with David and Darren and Debra followed behind us as we paddled down the river deep into the jungle towards the location of the cave.

The journey along the river was beautiful we were truly in untouched jungles. David was a great guide and pointed out all kinds of different birds and wildlife to us. We saw spider monkeys swinging from the trees and iguanas resting on tree branches. He then told us that there were Mayan burial sites inside the cave. The Mayans believed that caves were sacred places and buried their dead deep inside them. There are hundreds of undiscovered Mayan burials still waiting to be found by archaeologists in the many cave systems scattered through out the Mayan mountains of Belize.

After about 15 minutes of canoe traveling bliss we floated into a large lagoon and there it was the grand entrance to the cave cut into the side of the limestone mountain. Two large jungle veins hung over its entrance it looked like something from an Indiana Jones film and just looking at brought back my childhood sense of wonder which was the real purpose of all my adventures. David then hooked up a large car battery to a spotlight in our canoe and did it for Darren and Debra as well. It was an amazing make shift lighting system, something you would only find in Central America where they make do with whatever they have.

Within moments we paddled inside the cave and when we got inside you felt like you where entering a cathedral! The feeling of the sacred was overwhelming and it was beautiful. Large limestone stalactites hung from the roof way up above and as we got deeper and deeper inside the beams of our lights made out bats clustered together in the cracks of the cave above. Sometimes they would swoop down on us much to the fright of Debra who did not like the idea of one of them getting into her hair.

As we paddled a natural stone bridge could be seen crossing the river up ahead. David shined the light towards the bride, onto the cavern wall, and there was a skull sitting on a ledge looking down on us. David explained that there were Mayan burials on the other side of the river I asked him if we could stop and take a look and we pulled the canoes up next to a small ledge.

Only David and I got out of the canoes and climbed up to where you could see the burials resting on the other side of the river. You could see bones sticking out of the dirt and other skulls upside down and there was even some complete pottery resting down there as well. As we gazed upon the artifacts of a ancient age I felt like I was transported back into a different time and it felt like magic. I felt closer to the Maya in that moment than I ever did standing on ancient temples surrounded by tacky tourists in Mexico. It was a feeling I would never be able to forget,but as quick as it came, it started to fade, along with David's light. Reality is always an intruder in moments like that. We had to return to the canoe if we wanted to see the rest of the cave before his light gave out. It would not last that much longer, So we left the burials behind and journeyed deeper into the earth.

As we traveled the cave started closing in on us as the ceilings became lower. It got so low at one point we had to duck under the stalactites and you got to see the roof of the cave up close along with all the bats and spiders that lived among its cracks. Slowly the cave opened out again and we came to a large lagoon where the river stopped. I looked off in the distance where there were several huge boulders scattered on the ground and you could see the cave behind them continuing off down even deeper into the earth. David said we would have to leave because we could not continue by foot as the lights we had would not last, so we turned around and went back.

The journey back out of the cave was a silent one. No one talked everyone was still lost in the wonderment of the place.You could see the entrance and the light of day shining into the cave off in the distance it was a surreal feeling as we paddled our canoes slowly towards it. No one talked except David who quietly sang to himself.

"Don't worry about a thing, Cause every little ting,Gonna be alright."

His voice echoed softly through the silence of the cave and we all started to slowly sing along with him as we drifted through the entrance and back out into the modern world, leaving the wonder of the cave and the magic of the Maya behind us forever.

Two more landings and twenty minutes later you're landing in the small village of Punta Gorda, surrounded by spectacular vistas of private and protected rainforest. A secluded resort is nestled among the lightly treaded nature trails, wild bush, hidden caves, tropical waterways and centuries old archeological sites. Your professional guide will pick you up and whisk you to the resort for a fruity, refreshing beverage. At your leisure wander up the stone walkway, amid hummingbirds and tropical flora to your two-story, hand carved and built cabins, replete with verandas and mosquito netted beds.

Enjoy a morning bike ride along the nature trail with your guide and picnic lunches. Visit the Wildlife rehab center, Ballum Na, at Indian Creek where you can see a bright, beautiful toucan, a pair of jaguars and a black howler monkey, who will hold your hand with her soft, petite hands as she hangs by her tail.

Two archeological sites are nearby documented as far back as 790 B.C. Nim Li Punit (Big Hat) was discovered in the 198o's where 26 Stelas were unearthed. It is believed that these Stelas were monuments depicting their life. A religious quarter is at the top of rock formations. This pyramid style build-up was made without any mortar. A grassy area in the middle appeared to be a popular sport game with two men and a ball.

Later, step into a canoe or kayak then relish a quiet paddle on the Golden Stream river, through one of the world's few natural rainforests. Your guide will point out various, birds, flora, fauna and any animals you might encounter; the gold and white anteater, sea otters or a few bats sleeping on a tree trunk. Vines hang leisurely, draped over trees and across the narrow waterway, while nocturnal bats sleep on a ceiber tree on the bank. The riverbed is littered with debris of leaves and branches, recycling life. A sea otter suns himself on a rock up ahead as a snake bird dives for fish.

Welcome to Jungle Camp, the Belizean jungle. Tall, arthritic-looking redwood trees reach for the sky offering an ecosystem for some jungle habitants. A clear, unspoiled stream brings visitors from the uncivilized world into remote areas of the bush by canoe and kayak. Beautiful and unusual flowers and plants, as well as a few spiders and snakes quietly make this their home. An easy and rewarding paddle welcomes you into a private sanctuary where tropically colored toucans, dancing butterflies and black howler monkeys peacefully co-habitat.

A canopied labyrinth with about a dozen thatched-roofed cabanas sit 20 feet above ground, quietly tucked away in the jungle.

A damp, green, woodsy aroma wafts under your nostrils. A narrow ribbon of light is barely visible over the canopy of trees; ceiber, palm, and redwoods. Off in the distance morning songs from the kingfisher and hummingbirds are chirped across the river. The beam from your flashlight catches something on the ground. In the soft dirt are tracks. Fresh, after the rain, one after another heading down the trail. Upon closer inspection you can make out the definition of these heavy, but clear paw prints. A jaguar has been prowling near the camp. Other, smaller tracks are that of the Tapir, the national animal.

The jungle, or bush as locals refer to it, is home to almost 600 species of exotic birds, mammals and plants.

Paddle or ride a power boat out of the jungle to Moho Caye. Your private oasis awaits you. Watch the dolphins play nearby as you dock on the sandy beach. A few mangrove and pine trees offer shade to well camouflaged iguanas and visiting humans. Beautiful conch shells line the path to your thatched-roof, tent/cabana. Relax on your private veranda in an adirondack chair or at the handcrafted redwood dining facility. Respite for man and nature. Miles of teal-blue ocean east towards the sunrise and slumbering mountains to the west.

From cave exploring and jungle hiking to snorkeling with porpoises, stingrays and near the largest natural reef, come see the world through emerald colored glasses.