Surprise! This travel guide focuses on Mainland Belize, and it's the only guide in print that does. Many travelers come to Belize mainly for its islands and atolls, with their great diving, snorkeling, fishing and other marine sports. That's totally understandable. However, many of us also value Belize for what it offers on the Mainland. There is so much to do and see on the Mainland that you can spend weeks or months exploring the 8,867 square miles of rainforest, savannah and coastal areas and still not see it all. This is THE guide for those whose primary interest is Mainland Belize: Its rainforests, wildlife and bird encounters, its caves, rivers and low mountains, its amazing ancient Maya ruins and contemporary Maya villages, its adrenalin-pumping outdoor adventures like jungle trekking, hiking, mountain biking and cave tubing. Of course, you can also enjoy the pleasures of the beaches and the water on the mainland. In Placencia, Hopkins and elsewhere, you're only a few splashes or a short boat ride away from wonderful snorkeling, diving, fishing and other maritime activities. Everywhere in Belize you'll encounter its greatest treasure: the Belizean people. If variety is the spice of life, Belize is red hot, because the people of Belize come in myriad colors, races, backgrounds, religions and cultures: Mestizo, Creole, Maya, Garifuna, East Indian, Chinese, Europeans and others, and often these are mixed together in a creative gumbo of genes, languages and traditions. If they share one common thing it is a welcoming attitude. Sure, there are exceptions, but in general you won't find friendlier folks than in Belize. If you want to visit and enjoy other parts of Belize beyond the Mainland, get one of the other guides to Belize: Lan Sluder's Guide to Belize, Lan Sluder's Guide to the Cayes, Coast and Beaches of Belize and Best Hotels and Restaurants in Belize. Sluder also has authored every edition of Fodor's Belize has written books about retiring and relocating to Belize, such as Easy Belize. Altogether Lan Sluder has done 18 books and ebooks on Belize. If for now your main interest is Mainland Belize, you'll find this guidebook of value. It's based on a quarter century of reporting on Belize. Lan Sluder has traveled to every corner of this beautiful country. He has stayed in more than 250 different hotels, inns, guesthouses, resorts, lodges and hostels, and he has tried nearly every restaurant in the country. So you get first-hand knowledge. The "best of the best" in lodging, dining and attractions are listed in RED and those that are truly special are denoted with from one to five hearts. This makes it even easier for you to use your time wisely and to select the best hotels and restaurants. This book covers every part of the land portion of Belize from Corozal in the north, Punta Gorda in the south, San Ignacio and Cayo District in the west, Belize City and Belmopan in the middle and coastal areas from Sarteneja to Dangriga, Hopkins, Placencia, Monkey River and Punta Negra. A bonus: This guide also has chapters on easy side trips to visit Tikal and Flores in Guatemala and Chetumal in Mexico. Enjoy Belize! Thank you for reading this guide.