West Belize

A constantly-updated travel planner and professionally-written guide. Conventional travel guides can be out of date as soon as they are printed. This is a totally different travel guide, built around a community of readers and travelers, including the author.

This app is built around superb professional travel writing, and the sharing of comments with other readers. See updates from other travelers and send in your own. The app has a Journal to keep your notes as you plan your trip, to which you can add photos, update during your trip, and keep forever alongside the outstanding guide content.

The only English-speaking country in Central America, Belize is home to 500 species of birds, innumerable Maya ruins, as well as the world's second largest barrier reef. Over 80% of the land remains covered with primeval forest and 30% has been set aside as national parks/preserves. Encouraging eco-travel, Vivien Lougheed profiles many of the unique archeological sites, wildlife preserves, marine sanctuaries and conservation areas. Explore firsthand Belize's myriad attractions. This guide provides detailed information on travel to Belize as a whole, but it then goes on to cover the fascinating attractions of Western Belize in depth and, just across the border, in Guatemala, Tikal National Park, which occupies 226 square miles of ruins and jungle. Tikal is the most mystical place on the planet -- according to many, more special than the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, the temples of Thailand, the monasteries of Tibet, or Machu Picchu in Peru. Tikal not only has impressive restored pyramid temples in the main plaza, but also some wild jungle that clutches onto parts of the city. Birds and animals hide in these jungles. And the site is huge - it takes hours to walk around the main plazas. If you want to really explore, it takes days. In Belize, we guide explore Belmopan, the caves at Roaring Creek, the amazing and enormous Belize Zoo, the Cahal Pech, Xunantunich & Pacbitun ruins, Caracol, and much more.