On July 23, 2017, Canada’s low-cost airline WestJet announced that it will be adding a second non-stop route to Belize beginning on November 3, 2017. The new weekly route will depart from Calgary (YYC) and take approximately five hours to reach Belize City (BZE).
The new Calgary-Belize flight will open up the country to residents of western Canada. Just a year earlier, WestJet became the first Canadian airline to offer non-stop service to Belize from their hub in Toronto (YYZ). After a successful 2016/17 winter season, arch rival Air Canada announced that it too would begin flying non-stop from Toronto to Belize beginning in December 2017. With three non-stop flights to choose from, it is now easier and more affordable than ever for Canadians to visit Belize.
Belize is a small country in Central America wedged between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the nation of Guatemala. The only former British colony in the region, Belize uses English as its official language.
With more than 100 offshore islands and a long Caribbean coastline, Belize is world-famous for its sailing, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to hundreds of species of fish, dolphins, sharks, rays, turtles, and birds.
Perhaps best known as a tropical getaway during the winter months, Belize enjoys year-round balmy weather and sunny skies. The mainland of Belize is approximately the same size as the U.S. state of Massachusetts but has only approximately 360,000 residents. Mainland Belize is primarily rural and more than one-third of the country is set aside as a protected animal sanctuary, wilderness refuge, or national park.
Canadians can enter Belize visa-free for up to 30 days with a valid passport, and individuals can operate a motor vehicle if they have a valid Canadian driver’s license. Unlike the rest of the world, Belize still continues to use imperial measurements, including miles on road signs and gasoline sold by the gallon. Belize has four modern highways and most destinations can be reached in three hours or less.
Canadians wanting to explore the country at their own pace should rent their vehicles from Barefoot Rentals and Services.