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WestJet, one of Canada's largest airlines, has announced a new direct route to Belize starting October 29. First Direct Flight Established Between Canada and Belize .

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Belize! Yes, we're thrilled to announce Belize as our latest new destination. In fact, "new destination" doesn't quite convey our enthusiasm - "exciting and new" destination (shout-out to you Love Boat fans) does the trick a bit better. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get down to the business of answering a few questions about Belize, our exciting and new destination.

First: where is Belize? Belize is tucked into the Caribbean coast of Central America, just south of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and bordered to the west by Guatemala. It's a largely unspoiled little gem of a country, with an average year-round temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. Which brings us to the next question: when is the best time to visit Belize? Answer: any time the spirit moves you. If it's the quintessential Caribbean experience you're after, with great beaches, amazing clear blue skies and hot, sunny days, then plan your Belize getaway for the high season �- December to April. From May to November, you'll experience the rainy season; the good news there is that rainy season in Belize is in Belize.

Idyllic Caribbean location and a perfect climate - two great reasons to put Belize on the "next vacation list" Want to know why else you should visit Belize? We'll give you five reasons. First: the people here are delightful. Friendly. Passionate. And English is the official language of Belize, making it a bit easier for first-time English-speaking visitors to navigate their way.

Reason five why you should visit Belize: whale sharks and jaguars. Yes, we know that's technically two reasons, but "whale sharks and jaguars" sounds; a) cooler and more Belize-specific than "wildlife", and b) kind of like a Tom Waits album title. Though shy and reclusive in nature, the jaguar has a strong presence in Belizean culture. In fact, Belize is the only country in the world with a dedicated jaguar reserve, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Over 44% of the land in Belize is protected as either national park or nature preserve, making it a place where you can enjoy the very essence of eco-tourism. From March to June each year, the whale sharks arrive at Gladden Split and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, about 40 km offshore from the Belize town of Placencia. Locals say that April and May are the best months for spotting whale sharks, with optimal sightings in the days after the full moon.

So, maybe in our excitement, we've veered all over the map a bit, from Great Blue Holes escabeche to jaguars. We're sure you'll discover unique sights, sounds and experiences in Belize that will make you glad you visited - and make you want to return. Mark your calendar: WestJet flights to Belize start October 29, 2016.

Westjet.com

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The Belize Tourism Board reports that Canada is a major source market for overnight visitors to Belize. With the addition of WestJet, this will no doubt result in an increase of Canadian visitors.

Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans, commented, "This is very exciting news. We have been in ongoing discussions with WestJet regarding a direct flight between Canada and Belize, and it's now happening. A direct flight has been highly requested by visitors and Industry stakeholders, and with the news that this flight will become a reality just as we prepare for the start of our upcoming high season, we are indeed very optimistic and pleased. It will make traveling to Belize so much easier and more convenient as this will eliminate connection or layover time. This direct flight is absolutely going to boost our arrival numbers further, especially where the Canadian market is concerned."

WestJet will depart Canada from the Toronto Pearson International Airport at 9:15 am and arrive at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport at 11:59am. It will depart Belize around 1:00pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.