In Belize, visitors can choose to be whatever tickles their ecotourist fancy.

It is getting harder and harder to find unspoiled spots on earth, and that is precisely why ecotourists should look toward Belize.

Snugly tucked up against Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west, there is a comfort level found in Belize that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere.

Its history is bound in the story of powerful ancient Mayans, and its environment is filled with the contrasts of a barrier reef and mountains, jungles and rain forest. It is a bit like the yin and yang of nature and for the ecotourist Belize represents an opportunity to truly enjoy nature while leaving a very small carbon footprint.

Belize is a remarkable country. It is quite small with a population of 300,000, but its reputation for environmental sustainability is large and with good reason. Belizeans love their country and want to share it with the world but are not willing to let development destroy its treasures.

Each year the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Belize issues a report, in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs and the United Nations Development Program, to assess the challenges of protecting the country’s gorgeous natural landscapes while developing the infrastructure and facilities needed to accommodate visitors.

This well-thought-out approach and transparency to sustainable development is a model that many other countries should emulate.

Discover Potpourri of Natural Environments

Situated on the Central American peninsula along the Caribbean coast, there is much to protect. Belize’s territory is 95 percent mainland, and the balance consists of over 1,060 island coastal cays.

The coast is 168 miles long, and looking out to the blue Caribbean waters is where ecotourists will find the first natural wonder – the Belize Barrier Reef Complex. This particular barrier reef is the largest in the northern hemisphere and is filled with underwater adventures for scuba divers and snorkelers. For those who want to stay on top of the water, there is sailing and boating and carefully controlled fishing.

The waters off Belize give people a chance to see a well-protected underwater environment that is getting more difficult to find in other areas of the world as human contamination destroys delicate water ecosystems. In Belize, the coral and sponges are still colorful, and the dolphins and manatees are able to safely roam without threat of propeller damage.

Emerging from the warm waters after touring the barrier reef, look toward the mainland and adventure of a very different kind waits. Belize’s mainland is a potpourri of rainforest and jungles, caves, and streams and rivers buried deep in the Maya Mountains.

Each adventure group must be guided by a licensed Belize tour guide, which is one way the country protects its environment. Keeping a watchful eye over visitor behavior makes sense in this day and age. One reason ecotourism developed was simply because people can do so much damage to delicate ecosystems, even if unintentionally.

The real problem that Belize visitors have is deciding how to spend their time in the country because there is so much to do that appeal to ecotourists. Visitors can take a steep hike through a rainforest to Antelope Falls and be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the ocean.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the only jaguar preserve in the world, but the jaguar has plenty of company since the forest is also filled with monkeys, pumas, tapirs, ocelots, brilliantly colored birds and much more. If seeing a real jungle is on the agenda, then head for the Blue Hole National Park which also contains the mile-long St. Herman’s Cave.

Archeological Bent?

There are also adventures waiting ecotourists with an archeological bent. Belize was once home to as many as two million ancient Mayans, and remnants of the remarkable civilization still exist.

Ecotourists can tour ancient Mayan ruins like Lamanai, Altun Ha, Caracol, Xunantunich and many others. Lamanai has a bit of everything, including a residential area, three pyramids and one of the few remaining ball courts. Reflecting a long history consisting of European settlers and colonization, there are also 16th century ruins of Spanish churches near Lamanai.

Belize gained its independence in 1981 and is ethnically diverse. Called a melting pot, the country serves as an example of how diverse groups can work together for the common causes of economic success and environmental sustainability. The largest portion of the population is made up of ethnic groups that include Mestizo, Ketchi, Creole, Mopan Mayas, Yucatec, East Indians and Garifunas. However, there are also Africans, Germans, Arabs, Chinese and Dutch Mennonites. The embassy of Belize proudly points out that ethnic groups are heavily intermixed.

Protecting National ‘Green’ Treasures

There are large resorts in Belize offering ecotravelers low-carbon footprint stays and assistance with planning eco-adventures under water or on land. For example, the Orchid Garden Eco-Village Hotel is located in a jungle savannah and serves dishes using locally grown vegetables.

The Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort developed an environmental management policy and employs recycling, reducing and reusing strategies to minimize its carbon footprint. For example, vegetable and fruit scraps are composted and linens are changed every three days. Hamanasi is certified by the Green Globes rating system and actively maintains nature preserves.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is another example of a resort that practices sustainability and offers customers a variety of customized ecotours. This is a “green” hotel located in the jungle along the banks of the Macal River, maintains a private nature reserve, and has earned numerous awards for its efforts to maintain the local environment from beaches to mountains. There are other resorts, and most of them are focused on protecting their country’s natural resources.

Ecotravelers looking for a beautiful, well-preserved spot on earth will find what they want and more in Belize. This is a country where a visitor can choose an adventure and become a mountain explorer, an archeologist, a reef diver or a simple hiker. Do whatever tickles the fancy while following one rule of thumb: Only environmentally sustainable tickling allowed.