Canada Travel Guide

Capital: Ottawa
Government: Federation with Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Area: 9,976,140 km2
Population: 33,647,989 (May 2009 est.)
Language: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 43.6%, Protestant 29.2%, No religious affiliation 16.5%, Other 10.7%
Calling Code: 1
Internet TLD: .ca

Canada is the second largest country in the world and the largest in North America. Renowned worldwide for its vast, untouched landscape and its unique culture, Canada is a major tourist destination and one of the world's wealthiest countries.
Understand

Canada is a land of vast distances and rich natural beauty. Economically and technologically, it resembles its neighbour to the south, the United States, although there are significant differences between the two countries. Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 by an act of the British parliament, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Though a medium sized country by its population, Canada has earned respect on the international stage for its strong diplomatic skills. Domestically, the country has displayed success in negotiating compromises amongst a culturally and linguistically varied population, a difficult task considering that language, culture, and even history can vary significantly over the country. In contrast to the United States' image as a melting pot, Canada prefers to consider itself a mosaic of cultures and people. Canadians are used to living and interacting with people of different ethnic backgrounds on a daily basis and will usually be quite friendly and understanding if approached in public. You will never look out of place or feel like an unusual sight while traveling Canada. The information below will get you started, but be sure to check the specifics for given regions and cities.
Time zones

The Canadian Sir Sandford Fleming first proposed time zones for the entire world in 1876, and Canada is covered coast to coast with multiple zones.

* GMT-8 Pacific Time (Yukon, British Columbia)

* GMT-7 Mountain Time (Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)

* GMT-6 Central Time (Saskatchewan, Manitoba)

* GMT-5 Eastern Time (Ontario, Quebec)

* GMT-4 Atlantic Time (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island)

* GMT-3.5 Newfoundland Time (Newfoundland and Labrador)

British Virgin Islands Travel Guide

Capital: Road Town
Government: British overseas territory with internal self-government
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Area: 153 sq km
Population: 21,272 (July 2002 est.)
Language: English (official)
Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Calling Code: 1-284
Internet TLD: .vg
Time Zone: UTC -4

The British Virgin Islands are a self-governing British overseas territory, situated in the Caribbean just to the east of the US Virgin Islands.

The BVIs, as they are called, are a popular travel destination for sailors, fishermen (and women), sun worshippers, and other independent travellers, albeit not for the cost conscious. Boating among the dozens of tiny, mostly uninhabited, islands is a great stop on any tour of the Caribbean islands.
[edit] Regions

* Jost Van Dyke
* Tortola - The largest of the islands and home of the capital city, Road Town
* Virgin Gorda
* Anegada

Bermuda Travel Guide

Capital Hamilton
Government British overseas territory with internal self-government
Currency Bermudian dollar (BMD); par with US dollar
Area 53.3 sq km
Population 65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Language English (official), Portuguese
Religion non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Electricity 120V/60Hz
Calling Code +1-441
Internet TLD .bm
Time Zone UTC -4


Bermuda is a self-governing British overseas territory in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean, off the coast of North America east of North Carolina. It is one of the last remains of the once vast British colonial empire in North America.
Parishes
Residential scene in Bermuda
Residential scene in Bermuda

Bermuda is divided into nine parishes (from east to west):

* St. George's Parish - Encompassing the area around the historic Town of St. George as well as the island of St. David's across its harbor.
* Hamilton Parish - Location of Crystal Caves and Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo.
* Smith's Parish - Home to Flatts Village, Spittle Pond Nature Preserve and Devil's Hole Aquarium.
* Devonshire Parish - The quiet parish.
* Pembroke Parish - Where the city of Hamilton is located.
* Paget Parish - Numerous resorts, Elbow Beach, Bermuda Botanical Gardens and Paget Marsh for birdwatching.
* Warwick Parish - Golf, horseback riding and the island's best cliffs.
* Southampton Parish - The best beaches and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.
* Sandys Parish - The Royal Naval Dockyard fortress and shops, but also Somerset Village, Fort Scaur, Gilbert Nature Reserve and some fine beaches.

Belize Travel guide

Capital: Belmopan
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Belizean dollar (BZD)
Area: 22,966 km2
Population: 287,730 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Black Carib), Creole
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7%, Anglican 5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Mennonite 4%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14%
Electricity: 110/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +501
Internet TLD: .bz
Time Zone: UTC-6

Belize, formerly the colony of British Honduras, is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean (only the Caribbean Sea to its east), and the only one in the region with English as its official language. The country is located between Guatemala to the west and south and Mexico to the north.

Along the Caribbean it is culturally similar to many of Britain's former island colonies. Inland are native Maya people, and especially in the north and northwest of the country Spanish is often spoken. Many refugees from the Caste War of Yucatan settled here. In the south east along the Caribbean coast live the Garifuna (Black Caribs) an Afro-Amerindian culture.

World class attractions include exploring the lush jungles with exotic plants and animals, deep sea fishing, swimming, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean sea with its attractive reefs, and visiting the Mayan ruins.

Bahamas Travel Guide

Capital: Nassau
Government: constitutional parliamentary democracy
Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Area: 13,940 sq km
Population: 303,770 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Religion: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +1-242
Internet TLD: .bs
Time Zone: UTC -5

The Bahamas is a tropical island chain in the Caribbean Sea, popular as a tourist destination.

Islands

* Grand Bahama
* New Providence Island — dominated by the capital Nassau
* Paradise Island — home to the gigantic Atlantis casino resort

Out Islands

* The Abacos
* Acklins/Crooked Island
* Andros
* Berry Islands
* Bimini
* Cat Island
* Eleuthera
* The Exumas
* Harbour Island
* Inagua
* Long Island
* Mayaguana
* San Salvador - may have been the landfall of Columbus
* The Bahamas is a great place to visit. With many choices of foods, and wonderful beaches.

Aruba Travel guide

Capital: Oranjestad
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Area: 193 sq km
Population: 71,891 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a creole of
Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch origin), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +297
Internet TLD: .aw
Time Zone: UTC -4

Aruba is a Caribbean island 15 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. The island is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). This flat, riverless island is renowned for its white sand beaches. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature is almost constant at about 27°C (81°F).