The friendly neighbor of Mexico and Guatemala, Belize shares an ancient Mayan past and common ethnic backgrounds with Central America. But it is the salty air drifting over from the Caribbean Sea that has infected the country with a colorful Caribbean flamboyance that can be seen through its distinct Colonial/Caribbean-style architecture, coconut-based dishes, white sandy beaches, laid-back ambience and its English and Creole dialects. Belize is in fact the only Central American country with English as a first language. With approximately 360,000 people living peacefully in a secure political environment, enriched in diverse cultures, Belize is a premier ecotourism destination.