Belize offers beaches, rainforests, Maya ruins, barrier reef access, rich cultural heritage and all manner of adventure opportunities from zip lining to snorkeling. It is no wonder this country’s nickname is “the Jewel.” Climb to the top of a temple, experience the gateway to an ancient civilization in underground passages littered with skeletal remains, tour a chocolate factory, check out a rum distillery and take a jaunt into nearby Guatemala or Mexico. GetAway Travel can help you craft a trip to experience lots of adventures, and we can even throw in some beach time!

A small country with big options

 A country the size of Massachusetts, Belize has Guatemala, Mexico and the Caribbean Sea as its neighbors and it has a population of 375,000. It is part of Central America, but it recognized as both a Central American nation and a Caribbean entity. A former British Colony, it is the only Central American country where English is the native language.

It is a harmonious melting pot of cultures and diversity which comes through in the art, food and music of the country.  Maya, Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Mennonite, Chinese, East Indian and Lebanese cultures all contribute to the Belize heritage.

More than 400 small islands, called Cayes (pronounced keys) dot Belize’s coastline. Some of the islands have been purchased. Bill Gates owns one and Leonardo DiCaprio also owns one which he plans on keeping in a natural state.

Belize embraces its Garifuna heritage. The Garifuna people are an Afro-indigenous population found in several Central American countries. Recognized by the UNESCO organization, the culture gathers influences from the African, Caribbean and Arawak cultures.

Belmopan City and beyond

 The capital of Belize is Belmopan City. Most of the government buildings and embassies are located here and it is the second-largest city in the country. Belize City was the country’s capital until 1970 when Hurricane Hattie leveled much of the city. Belmopan is on higher ground.

Learn more about the history of Belize at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development.

From here you can get to Blue Hole National Park. The Blue Hole is a giant sink hole made famous by Jacques Cousteau who listed it on the top five diving sites in the world. The rest of the park is 500 acres of tropical rainforest and home to 200 species of birds and other incredible wild life.

The Maya ruins about the country are a fascinating  glimpse into an ancient civilization. The Maya are considered a very sophisticated civilization, if you overlook that whole human sacrifice issue. They had a writing system, developed a calendar and had a complicated agricultural system.

The Xunantunich Mayan Ruins are about 40 miles from Belmopan City. The tallest Maya Temple is located here and climbing to the top offers great views of the area.

Another set of nearby ruins is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (or ATM) Cave. Here there are underground passages with skeletal remains that were, according to legend, used in Maya rituals. Supposedly they were sacrificed in honor of the god Chaae. The Crystal Maiden is in the passages. It is a set of bones of a young girl that have crystalized over time and look like they are glowing.

National Geographic ranks ATM as one of the top 10 caves in the world to visit.

Belmopan City is located in the Cayo District of Belize. Why is that important? For a number of tasty reasons!

Chocolate was an important part of Maya culture. Mayas, and many others, think chocolate is a gift from God. It was used in religious ceremonies as well as for medicinal and culinary purposes. The Cayo District is home to a thriving chocolate industry. Artisan chocolate makers produce high-quality chocolates throughout the district. Fine chocolate emporiums can also be found in other cities throughout the country. Some give tours of their operations and offer classes.

Caracol, the largest pre-Columbian city in Belize is in the Cayo District. It is the site of the largest ancient Mayan City in Belize. The temple of Caana is here and it is the tallest temple in the country. There are a number of pyramids in Belize and there is one here as well as in the Xunantunich ruins.

Belize City and beyond

 Belize City is the cultural and historic capital of the country. Check out the swing bridge which is the only manually operated bridge of this type left in the world. The museum of Belize gives an overview of the country through exhibits and displays of historic photos and documents. There is also a great contemporary art gallery on site.

St. John’s Cathedral is the oldest Anglican Church in South America and the oldest standing structure in the city. It is built of red brick that was shipped to the country on English ships in the 1800s.

Belize City is the closest city to the barrier reef. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the Mesoamerican barrier reef which stretches from Mexico to Honduras. The Belize portion of the reef is considered the most pristine and is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you go snorkeling expect to see manatee, sting rays, sea turtles, spiny lobsters, dozens varied reef fish, tarpon, corals and some non-aggressive reef and nurse sharks.

About two miles outside the city is Traveller’s Liquors Heritage Center, home of the world-famous One Barrel Rum. Learn all about the Ins and outs of making the tasty spirit and speaking of taste — the tour does including tastings and a trip to the gift shop.

For a change of pace, try the Belize Zoo. It is actually home to orphaned and rescued native animals and is set up as sort of free-form zoo. Animals who are not zoo inhabitants sometimes drop by to charm visitors and chat with their relatives at the zoo.

Lamanai (which is Mayan for submerged crocodile) is a city about two hours from Belize City. The ruins here are thought to date back to the 16th century BC.  There are dozens of ruins in the complex to check out including the Mask Temple. In the temple is a perfectly preserved 13 foot limestone mask of a Mayan king.

If you’re interested in more Mayan ruins, Tikal is one of the largest Mayan sites in Central America, it is just over the Belize border into Guatemala. There are magnificent temples and the Pyramid of Kukulkan in the Chichén Itza in Yucatan, Mexico.

 

Ruins, chocolate, rum, history and culture as well as diving, snorkeling, gorgeous beaches — is Belize on your bucket list? GetAway Travel can help you cross it off when our advisors help you with a great travel itinerary.