The ads look wonderful: coconut palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, blue skies with puffy white clouds, bright sunlight and warmth covering your entire body. Belize has all of those things, but when the plane lands and you disembark the stifling heat and high humidity slap you in the face. Maybe going from zero to 95 degrees wasn’t such a good idea. And where will you store the goose down parka you were wearing when you left the Great White Tundra?

One of the biggest things some people may not be prepared for when visiting Belize is the constant heat. Belize is tropical which means it has a very consistent climate year round. Days are typically around 95 degrees with evenings just slightly cooler. A cold day is when you have to wear long pants and the temperatures might drop to the low 80s. Belize also has a lot of rain; which when combined with heat, creates humidity. I never knew I had so many natural curls in my hair until I visited Belize.

Many people love the warmth and the humidity and it doesn’t take them long to adjust. But for others it can be very oppressive. The humidity is high every day so for people with breathing problems, you need to take this into consideration when making your plans. And if you find humidity oppressive, keep in mind that air conditioning is very rare in Belize.  I’ve visited Belize several times and have yet to ever find a place with air conditioning. (Granted, I am not the resort vacationer.) If you must have air conditioning, make a point of asking the hotel or lodge if they have it when making your reservations.

Adjusting to the heat means you should always have a bottle of filtered water nearby. The heat will make your body sweat and you need to replenish the fluids in your body on a regular basis. If you come from a much cooler, less humid climate, try to drink twice as much water as you usually drink in a day.

Making the adjustment to the heat and humidity by moving a bit slower and drinking more fluids will make your visit to Belize much more enjoyable. And for those of you still wondering, goose down compacts very nicely into a duffle bag.

I have also included some of the wonderful charities in Belize who are working to conserve and preserve the environment for future generations. This also includes educational facilities for children: schools and orphanages.