Belize: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Belize feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 82 written places.
English-speaking, easygoing and friendly; go slow is advice and identity in one.
✓ Considered polite
- Greet people when entering shops and offices - it is expected
- Slow your pace on the cayes - Caye Caulker's motto is literally Go Slow
- Ask before photographing people, particularly in Mennonite communities
- Tip guides on snorkel and dive trips - 10-15% is customary
✗ Better avoided
- Rush service or check your watch loudly - impatience gets nothing done faster
- Wear swimwear on town streets, even on the islands
- Haggle hard in shops - prices are mostly fixed outside markets
- Expect much to happen on Sunday - many businesses close and towns go quiet
Worth knowing
- The Belize dollar is pegged 2 to 1 to the US dollar and both are accepted - check which currency a price means
- English is the official language, with Kriol and Spanish everywhere alongside
- Some restaurants add a 10% service charge - check the bill before tipping again
- Cash is needed on smaller cayes and in villages; ATMs thin out beyond the towns
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.