Belize Sailing
US Department Of State Post Report
California also affords opportunities for touring, including tours of the California wine country, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Outdoor activities include camping, hunting, fishing, sailing, swimming, and surfing. ... Baja California provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities, including camping, fishing, hunting, sailing, swimming, and surfing. From November to March, whales return to the warmer water offshore, which provides a wonderful opportunity to observe them in nature. The Guadalupe Valley in northern Baja is home to a number of vineyards, whose wineries provide tours. Approximately one day from Tijuana are the caves of Cataviña, which provides excellent examples of cave paintings thought to be between 600 and 1,000 years old. Outside of Ensenada is the famous "bufadora", a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by tidal currents and an underground cave system, which erupts daily, spewing ocean water high into the air. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Bay Islands have an interesting history, including evidence of Mayan habitation. The descendants of English settlers now populate what was once the haven of buccaneers and pirates. The islands, in many ways, still identify more with the English-speaking Caribbean than the Honduran mainland. Their laguages are English, Creole and Spanish. The Bay Islands offer lovely scenery, excellent snorkeling and diving, a relaxed atmosphere, and good seafood. Sailing yachts and fishing boats can be chartered and small cays can be rented for overnight stays. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The emerald and turquoise waters of the Bahamas set the backdrop for sports at post. Swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and water skiing are excellent year round. Instruction is available for all sports, but may entail club memberships. ... Spectator sports include boxing, baseball, cricket, softball, soccer, rugby, basketball, American football, and volleyball. Some events are free; others charge a small admission fee. Touring and Outdoor ActivitiesLast Updated: 11/26/2003 1:03 PM Literally all of New Providence can be explored in less than a week’s time. The Family Islands, including Eleuthera, the Exumas, Bimini, and Abaco, are most popular with Americans. Most of the terrain is flat as in New Providence. The islands can be reached by air, charter boat, or mail boat. In 1999, Bahamas Fast Ferries began offering round‑trip service aboard a high‑speed catamaran to Eleuthera. Tours can be taken by taxi, bicycle, and surrey, or by glass‑bottomed boat trips, sailing cruises or even in an air‑cond ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Surf and deep-sea fishing may be enjoyed on either coast where tarpon, barracuda, shark, sailfish, red snapper, bonito, blue marlin, and tuna are common. Puerto Ixtapa, on the Guatemala's south coast, has one of the most famous catch-and-release sailfish fisheries in the world. Lakes and rivers provide freshwater fishing. Sailing and windsurfing are available on lakes and at the Atlantic coast. Whitewater river rafting expeditions from Class I to IV, day trips, and extended weekend trips, are possible from Guatemala City through a local tour agency. Open-water scuba diving courses and excursions are offered through PADI certified instructors. ... [Read More]
Canada, Mexico, and Central America
Canada I. Summary The Government of Canada had an active and productive year in counternarcotics in 2004. The national "Canadian Addiction Survey" that was made public in November indicated that substance abuse among Canadians has significantly increased over the past decade, especially among youth. While alcohol and cannabis remained the most commonly abused substances, there were worrisome trends in abuse of other illicit substances. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) estimates that the overall drug trade in Canada generates criminal proceeds in excess of $3 billion at the wholesale level and $13.5 billion at the street level. Marijuana production is a thriving industry in Canada with production estimated by the RCMP at somewhere between 960 and 2400 metric tons. This is a particular concern of the USG because of in ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Adequate exercise and outdoor recreation are essential to morale and physical well-being in Belize. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are limitless, while those who don’t like the outdoors are likely to find life here frustrating. Jogging and bicycling are popular. Close proximity to some of the world’s most beautiful boating and swimming makes this an ideal post for water sports. Sailing, canoeing (on rivers), sea kayaking, motorboating, SCUBA, snorkeling, fishing, and exploring the barrier reef and the cayes are popular activities. From Belize City, water taxis take you out to the cayes. There are plenty of boats for hire, or bring your own. Some U.S. personnel have even purchased excellent locally built craft. Outboard motors are in ample supply and cheaper than in the U.S. Races for various classes of local and imported sailboats are held two or three times a year. Fishing tournaments, too, are held several times a year. Manatee can be seen upriver; and it is possibl ... [Read More]
Visitor Information
The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attraction to Belize. The barrier reef, which is 185 miles long, is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The cayes are islands and/or mangroves, that are located between the mainland and the barrier reef, on the barrier reef, and on or within the barrier reef perimeters of the offshore atolls. Although the mangrove cayes are normally uninhabitable by humans, they do provide a superior habitat for birds and marine life. Many birds, fish, shellfish, and marine organisms begin their lives within the protection of the mangrove. On the other hand, the island cayes, which are distinguishable by their palm trees, have provided the foundation for the development of many fine resorts to serve water sports enthusiasts and marine naturalists. The cayes and atolls are excellent for SCUBA diving, sn ... [Read More]
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