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INSIGHT: ECOTOURISM IN BELIZE For centuries, Belize’s small population and lack of industry caused it to be left behind in the development race. When it comes to ecotourism, however, this has worked to its great advantage. Belize has long been the region’s ecotourism titan, with some of the world’s most accessible tropical wilderness and the…
Tobacco Reef Some 20km (12 miles) offshore from Dangriga lie a row of tiny coral cayes, including Carrie Bow Caye, South Water Caye, and Tobacco Caye, all perched on top of Tobacco Reef like gems on a necklace. All are lined by perfect sands and dotted with coconut palms and can be easily reached in…
SETTLEMENT DAY A carnival atmosphere consumes Dangriga during the celebration of Garífuna Settlement Day on November 19, which commemorates the landing of Garífuna leader Elijio Beni and his followers at the mouth of the North Stann Creek River. The town swells with Garífuna from all over Central America and the United States. Singing and dancing…
BELIZE: THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE It took Belize many years to win its independence. After the decline of the Maya settlements in Belize, it was British settlers – known as ‘Baymen’ – and their slaves from the Caribbean who began to occupy the territory in the 17th century. These new inhabitants were interested above all…
Belmopan Founded in 1971, Belmopan ‚ [map] is the Brazilia of Belize: an artificial capital that has never quite caught on. Government departments are based here, but most politicians would rather commute from Belize City than take up permanent residence. Belmopan has few historical monuments, and most of the buildings are administrative offices − in…
THE MENNONITES IN BELIZE Belize’s Mennonite community is a resilient, religious sect that traces its roots to the 16th century Netherlands. They stand out in any Belizean crowd: blond, blue-eyed men in denim overalls and cowboy hats; modestly dressed women whose home-made outfits – ankle-length, long-sleeved frocks and wide-brimmed hats tied down with black scarves…
Lamanai The trip to Lamanai @ [map] (daily 8am−5pm) is often as memorable as the impressive ruins themselves, thanks to the adventurous journey required to get there, via a rugged dirt road or a dreamy river trip through the sinuous waterways of a remote jungle river. Located on the banks of the New River Lagoon,…
Northern Belize While the rest of Belize, from Cayo to the Cayes, is solidly on the tourist trail, Northern Belize remains largely undiscovered. And that’s a big part of its appeal. This rural, quiet region nudges up against Mexico and is the territory of Latinos or mestizos − Spanish is as common as Creole and…
DISCOVERING BELIZE’S BARRIER REEF Immerse yourself in a spectacular underwater world of colorful corals, tropical fish, huge rays, barracudas, sharks, and turtles. The Belize Barrier Reef is a colossal epic – and was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in December 1996 – offering some of the finest diving and snorkeling in the world. The…
Fact Ambergris Caye is thought to have gained its name when quantities of ambergris (a substance secreted by sperm whales), appeared on its shores during the 19th century. San Pedro In the early 1980s, fishing was still the major industry at San Pedro – which is why the town and church were named after St…