Belize is a beautiful country along the Caribbean coast and is considered a biodiversity hotspot because of the wealth of distinctive ecosystems that are found here. The largest of its islands is the Ambergris Caye, located in the northeast region in the Caribbean Sea. The island is 40 kilometers long from north to south and 1.6 kilometers in width and gets its name from the large amount of ambergris (produced in a whale’s digestive system) that is washed ashore on the island. Caye means island and therefore the name Ambergris Caye.
Before the Columbian era, a Mayan community occupied the island. The culture and traditions of the island are mainly Mexican while Spanish is the main language spoken here though English is the official language of Belize. Tourism developed from the 1970’s and expanded largely in the latter half of the century. The only town and also the largest settlement in Ambergris Caye is the San Pedro Town. Apart from this one can find a number of villages and seaside resorts. The main attraction in Ambergris Caye is the Belize Barrier Reef, second largest after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The other attractions here include the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve is located in the northern region of the island and is home to an exotic mangrove forest and reef. It is also the only place on the earth where land meets reef at the Rocky Point. This area is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One can see various species of turtles, birds, manatees and crocodiles here. From here long ago, the Mayan people had divided the Yucatan Peninsula and Ambergris Caye.
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve offers great diving and snorkeling opportunities in a 9.5 meters cut in the reef. 8 square kilometers of mangroves, coral formations and sea grass can be seen here. Also another great attraction here is the Cat’s Eye, which is a crescent-shaped sinkhole where one can see crustaceans, corals and other marine life. The tropics keep the island of Ambergris Caye warm while the trade winds coming in from the Caribbean Sea cool the island. A tiny airstrip in the Island receives domestic flights from Belize City while the island can also be reached by ferries.
Photo by Jlemay provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by tyffany provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by tyffany provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by tyffany provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by jjk22493 provided courtesy of Panoramio.com