Belize or Guatemala?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 49 12
UNESCO listings among them 6 3
Cost level Mid-range Budget
Busiest month in our write-ups March January
Currency Belize dollar (BZD) Quetzal (GTQ)
Plugs and voltage A, B, G - 110 V A, B - 120 V
Everyday languages English Spanish
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Central America Central America
Capital Belmopan Guatemala City
Belize
English-speaking, easygoing and friendly; go slow is advice and identity in one.
What we have written up
- Actun Tunichil Muknal archaeological site
- Altun Ha archaeological site
- Ambergris Caye island
- Barton Creek Cave cave
- Belize City old town
- Belizean Birding forest
Worth knowing before you go
- 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
Guatemala
Soft-spoken and gently formal; courtesy and patience are the currency that matters most.
What we have written up
- Acatenango mountain
- Antigua old town
- Flores old town
- Guatemalan Cuisine dish
- Lake Atitlan lake
- Quetzaltenango old town
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash quetzales rule daily life - keep small notes, as nobody can change a 100
- A 10% propina is sometimes already on the bill - check before adding more
- Chichicastenango market runs Thursdays and Sundays - arrive early
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.