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Attracting well over one million tourists annually, Belize and Turks & Caicos are two of the more sought after vacation destinations in the Caribbean.
Our goal of this article is to provide you our valued reader with an in depth comparison of these two amazing countries to help you make an informed decision for your upcoming vacation.
As a general rule, Belize is an exceptional choice for a visitors interested in a world class diving and snorkeling experience. Alternatively, Turks & Caicos is suitable for a solo female traveler seeking to relax and sun bathe on Grace Bay Beach known for its soft white sand and clear waters.
Read on for more attributes of Belize and Turks & Caicos Islands. This article was written by a Caribbean national.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Which Destination Is Bigger
Belize is significantly larger than Turks and Caicos being 8,867 square miles. Alternatively, Turks & Caicos is only 366 square miles.
Both islands have a mainland and smaller cays. In the case of Turks & Caicos, there are 40 different islands and cays of which only 8 are inhabited. Contrastingly, Belize has approximately 450 cays.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Does The Landscape Differ?
The landscape of Belize and Turks & Caicos could not be more unlike. Belize is mountainous, green with tropical rainforests.
The highest point of elevation is Doyle’s Delight which stands at an elevation of 3, 670 feet.
On the other hand, Turks and Caicos have a flat topography. The islands are arid and coral based.
To paint an even clearer picture of flatness of Turks & Caicos, the highest point of elevation is Blue Mountain which stands at 163 feet.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Does The Currency Differ?
The formal currency used in both islands differs. The US dollar is the official currency used in the Turks & Caicos despite the islands being an overseas territory of the United Kingdom (UK).
On the other hand, 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.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Which Country Is Safer
Turks & Caicos is the safer of the two destinations and is the better of the two options for solo female travelers.
Generally the crime rate in Turks & Caicos is moderate when compared to other Caribbean islands such as Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.
According to US Department State, Overseas Advisory Council, the number of murders increased from 4 to 10 in 3 years. One US citizen was among the victims in 2018 while two US citizens sustained serious injuries from shooting.
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 leaving valuables in vehicles unattended. Laptops and electronic equipment should be secured.
Additionally, travelers where possible should avoid going to the Southern region of Belize City is this is a crime hotspot.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Is It Easy To Visit Other Countries
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 other Central American countries as overland travel is possible via bus or taxi to the various land border crossings.
Alternatively, the only way to visit nearby another territory from Turks & Caicos is via aircraft.
If you are in Providenciales you can easily find ferries to North, South and Middle Caicos islands.
However, there are no passenger ferries to other islands such as the Bahamas from Turks and Caicos.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Number of Tourism Arrivals
Though Turks & Caicos is significantly smaller than Belize, the tourism arrivals are comparable.
In both destinations, cruise passengers form the lion share of visitors.
According to Tourism Analytics, Belize received a total of 1,674,265 visitors with 503,167 being stop over visitors and 1,171,098 being cruise passengers in 2019.
On the other hand, according to the same source, Turks & Caicos welcomed 1,111,818 cruise passengers and 486,739 stop visitors, a total of 1,598,557 visitors for 2019.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Which Country Has Better Nightlife
Belize has the better nightlife experience of the two destinations.
Ambergris Caye which is the largest of all the cays and the San Pedro is the ideal place for entertainment as its where most of the inhabitants live.
There are numerous bars, casino, bowling alley and other forms of entertainment in San Pedro.
On the contrary, Turks and Caicos is a quiet and laid back destination.
One of the major weekly entertainment experiences is Fish Fry which is held every Thursday nights.
At this event several seafood based dishes are available for purchase. There is usually a live band as well as vendors selling various forms of souvenirs and craft items.
Similar Fish Fry events are hosted weekly on the Caribbean islands of St Lucia and Grenada.
Belize Vs Turks & Caicos- Which Country Has Better Beaches
The award winning Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos is a paradise for those seeking to relax and sun bathe on a white sand beach with clear waters.
There is a barrier reef than extends approximately one mile off shore which ensures that the beach remains calm and swimmable.
Nevertheless for individuals seeking a premium world class diving and snorkeling vacation, Belize is the better destination to choose.
Placencia is one of the areas for excellent diving and snorkeling in Belize.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, Belize is an excellent choice for visitors who love lush green destinations, tropical rainforest environments, snorkeling, diving and entertainment. Alternatively, Turks and Caicos Islands are suitable for visitors looking to relax on white sand beaches on a laid back island.
Need More Information?
We trust you enjoyed the above read and you are one step closer to deciding whether Belize or Turks & Caicos is your next Caribbean vacation destination choice.
We know that these decisions are not seamless, so we have linked the following additional articles below for further reading.
Peradventure these are not suitable, feel free to continue exploring the site for more content on the Caribbean islands using the search bar located above the page.
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