Belize and St Lucia are English Speaking islands which are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Additionally, the islands are members of the body CARICOM which promotes the integration of fifteen Caribbean countries.
The main goal of this article is to provide a thorough comparison of Belize and St Lucia to help visitors choose a Caribbean vacation destination.
As a general rule, Belize is suitable for individuals seeking to enjoy a vibrant nightlife atmosphere as well as history enthusiasts who want to explore Mayan ruins. Alternatively, St Lucia is ideal for solo female travelers seeking entertainment and nature lovers who cherish tranquility.
Read on for greater insight into how these beautiful Caribbean islands compare. This article was written by a Caribbean national.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Which Destination Is Bigger
Known globally as the birth place of legendary cricket sensation Darren Sammy, St Lucia is the smaller of the two destinations being 238 square miles.
Belize is larger by leaps and bounds with a landmass of 8,867 square miles.
In terms of population, Belize has the larger number of inhabitants with 411,938 persons as per worldometer.
The same source revealed that St Lucia has a population 185,248 at the time of publication.
Both islands are lush with mountainous terrain with Belize having the taller mountain peak.
Doyle’s Delight stands at an elevation of 3, 670 feet in Belize while Mount Gimie stands at 3,120 feet in St Lucia.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Is It Easy To Visit Other Countries
Both countries offer exceptional opportunities to visit other destinations.
In the case of St Lucia, the vessel L’Express Des IIes provides ferry services from St Lucia to the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Moreover, this ferry services also provides transportation to the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica.
The Central American country of Belize is bordered by Mexico to its North and Guatemala to the West and South.
This provides excellent opportunities for individuals keen on visiting numerous countries as overland travel is possible via bus or taxi to the various land border crossings.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Does The Currency Differ?
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar ( XCD) is the official currency of St Lucia which was pegged to the US (United States) dollar since July 7th, 1976 at a rate of USD $1 to XCD $2.70.
This currency is also shared by seven other Eastern Caribbean islands and is managed through a regional central bank which is based in St Kitts.
Alternatively, the currency used for day to day transactions 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.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Comparison of The Number of Tourists Arrivals
When analyzing statistics for the year 2019, Belize received the greater volume of visitors.
The data revealed that Belize welcomed approximately 38% more visitors than St Lucia to its shores.
According to Tourism Analytics, Belize received 503,167 stop over visitors and 1,171,098 cruise passengers in 2019. A grand total of 1,674,265 for the year 2019.
On the other hand, St Lucia received 786,743 cruise passengers and 423,736 stop over visitors in 2019 a total of 1,210,479.
Hence, visitors to Belize may find more crowds at tourism sites and attractions when compared to St Lucia.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Which Country Is Safer
St Lucia is the safer of the two countries and hence is the better destination especially for solo female travelers.
According to the US Department State, Overseas Advisory Council based on a 2018 crime report per 100,000 citizens, Lucia had 21 murders and 4 kidnappings over the period.
Contrastingly, crime rate is much higher in Belize. According to the website Belize.com, most of the crime is concentrated in certain areas of Belize City.
Nonetheless, as with travel to every country due care and attention must be exercised to maintain safety. Visitors should avoid walking alone especially at nights.
Travelers to Belize should exercise extreme diligence especially in the Southern region of Belize City as it is a hotspot for crime.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Which Country Has Better Nightlife
Both islands have a measure of nightlife environment with San Pedro in Ambergris Caye region being an entertainment hot spot in Belize.
As per the first line of Madonna’s famous song named La Isla Bonita” I fell in love with San Pedro”, this is a favorite of a large number of visitors to the island.
There are bowling alleys, bars and casinos which makes entertainment enjoyable.
Rodney Bay in Gros Islet, St Lucia is the region with the largest concentration of nightlife in St Lucia.
There are a variety of restaurants and bars in Gros Islet.
On Friday evenings, the community comes alive with Fish Friday which is a street food festival where fish is the star ingredient in numerous dishes.
Additionally, there is usually a live band as well as local persons selling crafts and souvenirs. Fish Friday is an awesome event to meet and interact with locals in St Lucia.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Which Country Has Better Beaches
St Lucia is the better of the two islands when it comes to sun bathing and relaxing. The island has a number of black sand beaches due to its volcanic composition.
One of the popular white sand beaches in St Lucia is Reduit Beach which is a one mile stretch of white sand. Its calm and serene waters make it ideal for both children and adults.
For snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, Belize is the better of the two countries. The coral reef system is the second largest in the world which truly makes these experiences unique.
One of the unique natural wonders that should be a must visit for divers to Belize is the Great Blue Hole which measures 300 meters wide and 125 meters deep.
Belize Vs St Lucia- Key Attractions & Activities To Visit
Cahal Pech Maya Ruins, Belize– located in San Ignacio this site contains seven plazas. Cahal Pech means “place of ticks”.
This tour is often combined with other activities such as horse-back riding. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen.
Diamonds Falls Botanical Gardens, St Lucia– this attraction is perfect for nature lovers. This six acre property is home to several varieties of wildlife, flora and fauna.
There is a waterfall and hot mineral bath springs as natural features in this garden.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, Belize is suitable for individuals seeking entertainment and unique diving and snorkeling experiences. On the other hand, St Lucia is perfect for individuals seeking to relax and sun bathe on beaches as well as enjoy natural features such as waterfalls, gardens and mineral bath springs.
Need More Information?
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