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About Belize

Belize is a hidden gem in the heart of Central America and the only country in Central America where the official language is English. Nestled just south of Mexico on the Caribbean Sea, Belize is only a short flight from the United States.

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize gained its independence in 1981 so it is still a developing nation. It is a small country and has a population of less than 400,000 people.

Belize has a yearly average temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius). The sea always remains warm, with an average between 75 degrees and 82 degrees. Nestled on the Caribbean Sea, Belize benefits from cooling sea breezes making the climate pretty much perfect!

The official language is English and the majority of the citizens read and speak English fluently, making it a perfect holiday/vacation destination. Other languages include Spanish, Creole, Mayan, Chinese, Mennonite German, and Hindi, making it a true melting pot of not only languages but also cultures.

The Belizean people are very friendly and polite. Travelers feel welcomed and comfortable and locals, especially in Placencia where ReefCI is based, love to talk to tourists and hear all about other countries.  Belizeans are very friendly towards tourists and harassment/crime is not an issue. We have had countless solo travelers through the years (many as young as 16) and have never had an issue!   In addition, we always have one support staff member on call that live in Placencia if there is ever an issue with one of our volunteers. Placencia and the country as a whole relies on tourists. Tourism is the lifeblood of their economy; therefore, they have created an extremely safe environment for tourism to thrive!

The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the second largest reef system in the world and boasts an incredible spectacle of marine life.  Come take a ReefCI trip and experience beautiful Belize for yourself.

About Placencia

Placencia is a quaint beach-holiday village on the mainland of Belize. Perched at the southern tip of a long, narrow, sandy peninsula, the village has long enjoyed a reputation for the best beaches in Belize. Placencia is known for its laid-back ambiance, varied accommodations and some of the best restaurants in southern Belize.  It has the reef on one side and the Mayan mountains on the other!  The busy part of Placencia lies in the south where travelers will find the greater concentration of hotels, coffee shops, bistros, the harbor, taxi and bus station, banks and local restaurants.