When I announced we would be heading to the tiny Central American nation of Belize this summer, I was shocked by the number of people who had never even heard of it.

“Belize? How do you spell that?”

“Oh yeah, Belize … I’ve heard of that. What country is it in?”

Even our bank and credit card company didn’t seem to understand that Belize was its own country, and as result, put a hold on our cards when we tried to access cash once we got there (despite our calling ahead of time to inform them of our travel plans!).

I guess I can’t fault people too much. I mean, Belize is pretty small. It wasn’t even a country until thirty years ago! And, if you’re looking for a beach escape, it’s often overshadowed by its neighbor Mexico. Belize seems to be most well-known by eco-travelers and National Geographic enthusiasts (like ourselves), not the average Joe.

So we were quite pleased to return home absolutely raving to our friends and family about this incredible country they just have to visit that they have never even heard of! We’re pretty sure we’ve succeeded in convincing several of them to bump Belize to the top of their must-visit list, and we hope that over the coming weeks we can convince you to do so as well.

This Caribbean paradise has a little something for every type of traveler, ranging from the beach-goer to the SCUBA diver to the cave explorer to the history buff.

So to begin your indoctrination into all things Belize, we offer the following ten things you might not know about Belize (assuming that you already know it’s a country!)…

Sunrise along Placencia beach.

1.) Belize has a population of just over 330,000 people, although it’s about the same size as the state of Connecticut (which has 3.5 million people!)

2.) Until 1981, Belize was known as British Honduras.

Ahhhh, so that’s why no one our parents’ age seemed to have heard of Belize! When we said “British Honduras” it all came back to them (doesn’t explain why no one our age had heard of it either). In 1840, Great Britain acquired (declared?) the region of Belize to be the colony of British Honduras. By 1973, the colony had changed its name to Belize and in 1981, gained independence from Britain.

3.) The official language of Belize is English.

Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language, rather than Spanish. Locals also speak a dialect of Creole.

4.) Belize is comprised of hundreds of islands, called Cayes (pronounced “keys”)

“The Split” at Caye Caulker, where we spent our fair share of time relaxing.

Two of the most popular Cayes among tourists are Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. Some of the Cayes are inhabited, while others are not. Southwater Caye is a great place if you’re looking for a more luxurious escape on a sparsely populated island. While most of our time was spent on Caye Caulker, we also camped on some of the more remote islands, Redevouz Caye and Tobacco Caye. Any trip to Belize should devote some time to island hopping!

5.) Belize’s Barrier Reef is the second largest in the world.

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At 190 miles long, the Belize Barrier Reef is the world’s second largest reef (second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef). Home to the Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau when the adventurer declared it one of the world’s top diving spots in 1971. Today, the Blue Hole is one of Belize’s top tourist attractions and visitors can explore it by air or by sea.

6.) Belize has limited exports.

Although Belize produces a decent amount of natural resources, like produce, it still imports most of its products, which is why you will find most products in the store to be at least as expensive (if not more) than in the U.S. Unlike it’s neighbor Mexico, to the north, Belize does not manufacture many global products, such s those produced by Coca-Cola or Proctor & Gamble. So buying a coke or a bag of Doritos in Belize can be surprisingly expensive. Belize does export natural resources such as sugar, bananas, citrus, and even crude oil to countries like the U.S. and the U.K. Oh, and it also produces one of the best hot sauces in the world (in our opinion, at least!) — Marie Sharp’s!

7.) The tallest peak in Belize is Victoria Peak.

Rising 3,675 feet above the jungles of the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary is Belize’s Highest point, Victoria Peak. Not only are its stunning jagged peaks beautiful, but they are also hikeable!

8.) Belize played a major role in the Maya Empire.

Carocal is the largest Maya site in Belize.

Before Spanish conquistadors invaded the territory known today as Belize, the land was home to part of the Maya Empire. Although they account for just a small fraction of this great civilization, Belize’s Maya cities were an important part of the Maya civilization. Carocal, thought to be Belize’s largest Maya community, was one of the more powerful and its ruins — though less than 10% excavated — are quite impressive. Other sites worth visiting include Lamanai and Xunantunich. Here’s a thorough, concise history of the Maya in Belize if you want to learn more.

9.) Border disputes with Guatemala persist.

Guatemala still claims to hold the rights to much, if not all, of the territory included in modern-day Belize due to a treaty with Great Britain when Belize was still British Honduras. Guatemala refused to recognize Belize as a country until the early 1990s, and border disputes continue today.

10.) Belikin is Belizian for beer!

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The most popular beer in Belize is Belikin — and it goes well with pretty much anything. Whether you’re enjoying lobster at a sea-front restaurant or enjoying grilled chicken with rice and beans, be sure to wash it down with a Belikin!

Have you visited Belize? Share your favorite fact about Belize below!