Get to Know Belize! 10 Interesting Facts About “The Jewel”.

Mar 14, 2026

  1. Belize is most commonly known as “The Jewel”  a nickname highlighting its natural beauty, pristine rainforests, and vibrant coral reefs. Other nicknames for the country include “The 501” (based on its international telephone calling code of +501)
  2. There are about 200 cayes (islands) in Belize, most of them located inside the Belize Barrier Reef.  Reef Conservation International’s island is called Tom Owens Caye 🙂
  3. More than 400 species of fish live in the waters of Belize’s 185-mile long Barrier Reef.
  4. Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language. You will also hear a mixture of Creole, Spanish, Garifuna and Mayan languages on the street.
  5. Belize has the only jaguar reserve in the world –  Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
  6. The tallest building in Belize is a Mayan temple and Belize has around 900 Mayan sites all over the country.
  7. Belize is one of the least populated countries in the world – at approximately 420,000 people
  8. Belize’s wetland habitats provide refuge for 2 of the 23 species of Crocodilians: the freshwater Morelet’s Crocodile and the saltwater American Crocodiles.
  9. It is considered rude to greet people in Belize by their first names (unless you know them, of course!)
  10. A typical Belizean breakfast consists of bread, cheese, beans, and eggs.