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Two amazing destinations to consider for a Caribbean vacation are the Bahamas and Belize.
In this article, we dive deeper into these two destinations to help you decide which is more ideal for your Caribbean vacation.
As a general rule, the Bahamas is ideal for visitors who are interested in a bustling nightlife environment as well as swimming with pigs on Exuma Island. Alternatively, Belize is more suitable for visitors who prefer a mountainous destination with exceptional shore diving opportunities.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean Islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean national familiar with both destinations.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Which Destination Is Bigger
Belize is the larger of the two destinations having a landmass of 8,867 square miles. On the other hand, the Bahamas is slightly smaller.
It is 5,359 square miles consisting of about 700 islands, cays and islets.
Bahamas Vs Belize- How Does The Landscape Compare
Belize is more mountainous in appearance with the highest point of elevation being Doyle’s Delight which stands at an elevation of 3, 670 feet.
Mount Alvernia is the tallest peak in the Bahamas at 206 feet. This mountain is also locally known as Como Hill.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Is It Easy To Visit Other Countries
Both destinations provide the opportunity to visit other countries.
Belize is bordered by Mexico to its North and Guatemala to the West and South. This allows a visitor to access these countries via taxi or bus.
From Guatemala, a visitor can continue overland to El Salvador and Honduras.
Along the same lines, travelers can access Florida from the Bahamas via ferry services.
Individuals can travel to and from Fort Lauderdale, Florida via the fast ferry service Balearia Caribbean to the Bahamas.
The ferry docks in Grand Bahama Island and Bimini.
Bahamas Vs Belize- What Are The Official Currencies
Both territories have their own unique currencies for their countries.
The official currency used in Belize is the Belizean dollar.
Bank notes are available in $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. Alternatively, coins are available in 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and $1.
From 1978, the Belizean dollar has been pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of BZ$2 to $1 USD.
Contrastingly, the official currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar since the year 1966.
The currency is issued and managed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas and is divided into 100 cents.
Bank notes are available 50, 20,10,5 and $1 denominations. Coins are available in 25, 10 and 5 cent pieces. The symbol is B$.
Nevertheless, US dollars and coins are widely accepted by businesses both small and large on the island.
Casinos on the island only accept US dollars and the ATM machines at these locations dispense US dollars.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Which Destination Receives More Visitors
The Bahamas is the more popular tourism destination when compared to Belize based on visitor arrival statistics.
As stated by tourism analytics, in 2019 the Bahamas welcomed 5,429,474 cruise ship visitors and 1,804,184 stop over visitors.
Alternatively, according to the same source, Belize received 503,166 stop over visitors and 1,171,098 cruise passengers in 2019.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Which Destination Has Better Beaches
The destination you choose in this category truly depends on the goal of your vacation.
If you want to relax and rest on white sand beaches with clear waters, then Bahamas is the perfect island to consider.
Gold Rock Beach, Cable Beach and Tropic of Cancer Beach are three of the amazing spots to visit for beautiful white and powdery sand in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is also known for having pink sand beaches with one of the most famous one being Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island.
This island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles and is popular stop for affluent visitors.
The sand on pink sand beach has its distinct pink color due to the presence of foraminifera.
For a unique experience, Pig Beach on the island of Exuma is the perfect for those who want to swim with pigs.
Contrastingly, for extraordinary diving and snorkeling experiences Belize is the better destination.
Some of the top spots in the country to consider include Turneffe Atoll, Belize Barrier Reef, Hopkins and Placencia.
Furthermore, Belize has 300km of barrier reef system which is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef which is the second largest system in the world.
This country of Belize is truly a diver’s paradise.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Which Destination Has Better Nightlife
The Bahamas is the more vibrant of the two destinations in terms of entertainment with the largest concentrated in the Nassau and Freeport region.
Entertainment in both islands consists mainly of nightclubs, casinos, beach bars and restaurants.
The Bahamas is the larger of the two islands and hence there is a greater number of entertainment spots concentrated mainly in the Freeport and Nassau regions.
Bones Bar, Aura and the Atlantis are three spots to explore for nightlife while in the Bahamas.
For entertainment both day and night, Arawak Cay in Nassau is a must visit stop if you want to delve deeper into local traditional food and drink.
On the other hand, nightlife in Belize is quieter than the Bahamas with activities concentrated in the San Pedro region on the island of Ambergris Caye.
Sunset Lounge and Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar are two locations to check out for entertainment in San Pedro.
Bahamas Vs Belize- Unique Things To Do In Both Destinations
Clifton Heritage National Park, Bahamas- located in Nasssau, a historic landmark where there are artifacts that demonstrate three groups in the country being the Lucayans, the Loyalists and Africans.
This park is a tranquil site and is home to various species of wildlife.
Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins, Belize– located in San Ignacio this site has about seven plazas and over thirty buildings including temples, courts and altar.
The property is about two acres and gives you an opportunity to dive into the Mayan history and culture.
Cahal Pech translates to mean “place of ticks”. There is an an entrance fee to visit these ruins.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, the Bahamas is an excellent choice for travelers who love a vibrant nightlife atmosphere as well as white and pink sand beaches. On the other hand, Belize is suitable for visitors seeking a quieter island with Mayan ruins and exceptional shore diving opportunities.
Need More Information?
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