Belize

The wonderful thing about Belize is that few travellers know much about it and even fewer have many expectations – so prepare for a feast of sensory surprises! As well as being packed with natural wonders, Belize boasts an array of cultures and mouthwatering cuisines, crammed into an area not much larger than Wales. On your travels through this easily accessible English-speaking country, you'll also hear Kriol, Spanish, Garifuna and Maya spoken by welcoming communities – each of them passionately unique, but proudly Belizean.

From learning about chocolate and traditional life with a Mayan family, to trying your hand at Garifuna drumming, local experts will help you get under the skin of the country  – so you can get immersed in a world of food, music and history. And that’s before you adventure into the highlands, home to horse riding trails, mysterious cave systems, Mayan ruins, tropical birds, and even watchful jaguars. At the end of it all, the idyllic Caribbean coastline beckons with laidback towns, uninhabited islands and incredible snorkelling on the second largest barrier reef in the world.