Caribbean Sea Borders and Ocean Connection

Belize does NOT border the Caribbean Sea. It borders the Gulf of Honduras, a Caribbean Sea inlet — but its coastline is on the gulf, not the open Caribbean.

Countries Bordering the Caribbean Sea

• Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula)
• Guatemala (tiny coast at Amatique Bay)
• Honduras (north coast + Bay Islands)
• Nicaragua (Mosquito Coast)
• Costa Rica (Limón)
• Panama (Colón, Guna Yala)
• Colombia (Cartagena, Santa Marta)
• Venezuela (entire north coast)
• Island nations: Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico (US), Bahamas, Turks & Caicos (UK), Cayman Islands (UK), Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire (NL)

Belize's Coastline

• 386 km on Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean inlet)
• Barrier reef (2nd largest) shelters coast
• No direct open Caribbean exposure

Caribbean Sea → Atlantic Ocean

The Caribbean Sea connects to the Atlantic via:

• Yucatán Channel (Mexico–Cuba) → Gulf of Mexico → Florida Straits
• Windward Passage (Cuba–Hispaniola)
• Mona Passage (Hispaniola–Puerto Rico)
• Anegada Passage (Virgin Islands–Leeward Islands)
• Straits of Florida (Cuba–Florida) — main Gulf outflow

Net flow: Caribbean → Gulf → Florida Straits → Gulf Stream → North Atlantic.