New guidebook finds adventure throughout Belize

Where in the World is Belize? That used to be the catch phrase over two decades ago to promote the location of the Jewel. But Belize’s location is no longer a secret as thousands of cruise ship tourists take part in packaged tours every week. But for those who wish to spend more than a few hours and actually spend nights and days looking for adventure, there is a new guide book that has been published that could promote more overnight tourists to visit.  News Five Spoke via phone to Kate Burgess in the United Kingdom, who wrote the guidebook Belize: A Great Destination.

Via Phone: Kate Joynes-Burgess, Author of Belize: a Great Destination

“My book is called Belize A Great Destination and it is part of the explorers guide series and really what I’ve tried to do with my book is not treat Belize like a one trick pony—where it is just known as a scuba diving destination. What I’ve really done is focus on the country’s great cultural riches so that goes from the Mayan Ruins and rich pre-Hispanic History and then also living culturally—you have so many different communities and cultures that make up the essence of Belize.”

Jose Sanchez

“How long have you been working on it?”

Via Phone: Kate Joynes-Burgess

Kate Joynes-Burgess

“I have been working on the book for a couple years, but I’ve been fascinated with Belize for much longer. I have spent the last decade working on Latin America and Caribbean and why Belize stands out for me and is such an exciting destination is because it brings you the best of both the Caribbean and Latin America.”

Jose Sanchez

“In terms of marketing where do you intend to sell this new guidebook?”

Via Phone: Kate Joynes-Burgess

“Well it’s available on Amazon right now and it’s available across the United States and the U.K. and other online retailers. In Belize, we are working with distributors there, we’re speaking with Angelus Press and Orange Gifts and as well with individual hotels and gift shops will be stocking with it.”

Jose Sanchez

“Are there any particular destinations that stood out to you or anything in the service package that made Belize a strong place for visitors?”

Via Phone: Kate Joynes-Burgess

“Belize is a kaleidoscope, you know, and it really packs a lot into its tiny territory so it is really hard to pick one destination. For me I have amazing memories of bird watching at dawn, while kayaking in Crooked Tree, sipping cocktails in North Beach in San Pedro and some of the bars there. It’s a fun festival like Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga and if you are thinking about Cayo inland adventures with the jungle, the excitements of that, the wildlife. For everyone who has experienced the A.T.M. cave, that is something that is completely unforgettable, very hard to put into words how magical that place is—an eerie but exciting at the same time. And you have this amazing work of natural beauty, relics of human history. So A.T.M. really stands out for me. There is a big selection of exciting destinations in Belize.”

The book will be available in the UK and online at Amazon.com.