Belize Geography

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Belize lies just to the south of Mexico and to the north and east of Guatemala on the Caribbean Sea. Belize is the only Central American country without a pacific coastline. Belize features one of the highest concentrations of ecological diversity in the world, particularly for such a small area. The waters of the Caribbean Sea that border the east of Belize is home to a rich marine and underwater environment with many reefs, cayes, islands and bays.

Belize has the distinction of being bordered by the second longest barrier reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The reef off the coast of Belize is the home of the famous “Blue Hole”, three of the four pristine atolls in the Atlantic and over 200 white sand islands.

Belize is divided into three parts based on geography and climate. In the north are mainly lowlands with elevations of not more than 300 feet. Close to the coast one will find marshes and lagoons. In the interior there are flat plains, savannahs and small hills. The forest in the northern plains are mainly broadleaf deciduous.

The tropical lowlands of Belize in the south – in the eastern corner of the Yucatan Peninsula is an crossroads for many species whose natural ranges cross over the temperate north and sub-tropical south. The western part of southern Belize has mountain ranges that rise to 3000 ft. The Maya Mountains run from Belize into Guatemala, and are a prime destination for the eco-traveler. This regions many rivers that flow to the coast support a rare network of many pristine, tropical estuaries, mangrove cayes and biologically important watersheds.

The third geographical area of Belize is the part that contains all the offshore cayes (keys), or small islands. These small islands are covered in mangroves and palms and most don't have any human development on them. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the largest of the cayes, and support towns and roads and human development, as well as thriving tourist community on Ambergris Caye.