Belize
Xunantunich
Close to Guatemala you can stay in the Cayo district and do this Mayan site. For more detail visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xunantunich
Caracol
, again in the Cayo region the largest and still not fully uncovered of Mayan ruins in Belize. The main largest temple or structure is Canna at 143 feet high and that after the site being on a plateu.
Tikal (Guatemala)
One of the more famous Mayan ruins not in Belize but accesible via Belize is Tikal. You can get overnight trips from the jungle lodges in Cayo. It was one of the more important Mayan cities and it takes a full day to appreciate it's excavations.
Lamanai
Located in the north of Belize in Orange Walk is Lamanai meaning submerged Crocodile. It has a spectacular location on a lagoon. You can get access and stay at Lamanai Outpost Lodge.
Lubaantun - Nim Li Punit
Acces via Punta Gorda or Placencia if you may be in the South of Belize - Toledo district. The largest recovered stelae in Belize was found here in this thought to be ceremonial ancient city. Ball courts and Plazas and the ever present howler monkeys too !
Belize is well Known for its scuba diving due to it hosting the worlds second largest barrier reef but also lesser known is that it has three out of the four coral atolls in the western hemisphere ! One of these is most famously known as the Blue Hole. It also has Mayan ruins and jungles and rivers that can be toured from Belize city. The offshore Cays , Ambergris and Caulker allow access to over 100 dive sites in addition to the Atols. You might not find any central american country to really host the best caribbean resorts but you can sure find luxury resorts in Belize.
Diving is usually done from resorts on the Cays or liveaboards. There are walls wrecks, caves, pinnacles coral gardens and faroes. Visibility is generally very good exceeding 100 ft.
The Blue Hole: At over 1000ft across and more than 400 feet deep has a cavern with stalagmites and stlactites - this is an advanced dive.
FYI the fourth Atoll in the western hemisphere is off Mexico's Yucatan peninsular south east called Chinchorro Banks.
When to Go April to June has the most predictable weather, waters are warm year round but can get choppy with swells in winter. The Barrier Reefis calm year round mostly.
Related Belize travel sites you might like.
http://www.naturallybelize.co.uk/
Overheard:
"I didn't think the reef was comparable to that of Roatan" - Bob - USA Cruise Shipper.
Here are a collection of links to help get you down the sandy isle !
http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/marriage.html
http://www.islandbrides.com/destination/Belize/requirements/39/
Best Belize
Size : 23,300 square miles
Population : 288,000
Main City : Belize City
Language : English, Belizian Creole and Spanish
Currency : Belize Dollar 1 USD = 2 BZD at current rates, though wikipedia state its pegged to the us dollar.
Belize Scuba Diving Guide
Mayan Ruins in Belize
Things to do in..
Belize Travel Reviews
Dive Operators on Belize
Resorts on Belize


