Where to Go in Belize

Mainland Belize
Belmopan is the country’s new capital city, carved out of the tropical jungle in the geographic center of Belize, near the foothills of the Maya Mountains. It has a population of nearly 7000, most of whom are civil servants, and is in the first phase of a 20-year development period. The most imposing building is the National Assembly on Independence Hill, patterned in an ancient Mayan motif. Corozal was settled around 1850 by Mestizo refugees from Mexico; now it is a well-planned community and the center of Belize’s thriving sugar industry. Just outside Corozal are two interesting Mayan ruins: Santa Rita, just 1 mile north of Corozal with a view of the town and its waterfront; and Cerros, once a coastal trading center which can be reached by a 20-minute boat ride across Corozal Bay.
South of Corozal is the agricultural center of Orange Walk, where fresh fruit and vegetables can be bought at the markets. Also to the south is the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary where the jabiru stork (the largest bird in the western hemisphere) can be seen, along with howler monkeys, crocodiles and many indigenous birds. Day cruises of the New River, south of Orange Walk, are available with stops at the spectacular Mayan citadel ruin of Lamanai and the Temple of the Masks, where visitors can see the tremendous head of the sun god, Kinich Ahau, carved into the limestone. One of the most famous Mayan ruins in Belize is Altun Ha, located 50km (31 miles) north of Belize City on the Northern Highway. The site was a major ceremonial center and trading center in the Classic period (AD 250-900) and an extraordinary head of the sun god, ornately carved in jade, was found here and is now a national symbol of Belize. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is located south of the Western Highway about 115km (70 miles) from Belize City. It is an area of fine views and secluded streams, and contains the Hidden Valley Falls, which plunge 500m (1600ft) into the valley. Inland from Belize City on the Belize River is the Community Baboon Sanctuary with one of the few robust black howler monkey populations in Central America.
San Ignacio, surrounded by hills, is the administrative center for the Cayo district. Not far from San Ignacio are several Mayan sites including El Pilar and the magnificent Xunantunich with its 1500-year-old El Castillo, the second-tallest building in Belize. The canaa of the Caracol Mayan site in Cayo is the tallest Mayan building in Belize. This site has been claimed to rival such other famous sites as Tikal in neighboring Guatemala. Also in Cayo are the waters of Rio on Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Near the town of San Antonio, located in the Toledo District inland from Punta Gorda, is the Mayan site of Lubaantum, where the famous perfectly carved crystal skull was found in a temple vault.

Coastal Belize
Belize City is over 300 years old and serves as the main commercial area and seaport. It is the country’s biggest city, and is a mixture of colonial architecture, functional wooden buildings and historic cathedrals. Sights include the oldest Anglican cathedral in Latin America, St John’s, and Government House, the Belize City residence of the British Governor, built in 1814. Around 32km (20 miles) south of the city is Belize Zoo on the Western Highway, with more than 100 species of indigenous animals, including monkeys, jaguars and tapirs.
Cerros is located on the fringe of a beautiful expanse of blue-green water which is ideal for watersports. Across the bay is an archaeological site. Dangriga (Stann Creek) provides a good base for excursions to the offshore islands and nearby forests. Natural waterfalls can be seen at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary situated at the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Close by lies the diving and snorkeling haven, Southwater Caye.
Placencia is a village situated at the tip of the 20km- (12 mile-) long Placencia peninsula. Its protected lagoon and sandy beaches make it an ideal place for fishing, swimming and sunbathing.
The fishing village of Punta Gorda is the southernmost outpost of Belize. 40km (25 miles) north of here off the Southern Highway is the Mayan ruin of Nim Li Punit, with the tallest carved stele in Belize.

The Belize Cayes
The cayes (pronounced ‘keys’) are islands and/or mangroves located between the mainland and the barrier reef, on the barrier reef, and on or within the barrier reef perimeters of the offshore atolls. Although the mangrove cayes are normally uninhabitable for humans, they do provide an ideal habitat for birds and marine life. The island cayes, which are distinguishable by their palm trees, have provided the foundation for the development of many fine resorts to serve watersports enthusiasts and marine naturalists.
Ambergris Caye, with its many beaches and the fishing village of San Pedro, is the most popular tourist destination. Along with the other Cayes, it is a paradise for divers with access to one of the most unspoilt coral reefs in the world; Hoi Chan Marine Reserve is a popular dive site where southern stingray and nurse sharks can be observed in shark ray alley. Situated 58km (36 miles) north of Belize City, it is accessible by daily scheduled air flights and boat transfers. Caye Caulker has an extensive underwater cave system which has made it popular with divers, whilst those who wish to explore the reef without getting wet can see photographs of reef fish at the museum. On Half Moon Caye at Lighthouse Reef is the Red-Footed Booby Bird Sanctuary, founded in 1982 to protect the booby and other birds and animals. There are many other Cayes with facilities for those interested in fishing, diving and seeing wildlife.

National Parks
Belize has a rich natural geography, from jungle forests, karst terrain and swampy mangroves to tropical beaches. Consequently, the country is eager to promote ecotourism and there exists a number of protected areas, including marine reserves and national parks. 12 miles southeast of Belmopan, the Blue Hole National Park pays tribute to the curious Blue Hole, a collapsed water sinkhole, 7.6m (25 feet) deep, of intense color. The park is a natural forest reserve that is home to an abundance of birds, animals, flora and St Herman’s Cave, an ancient Mayan cave.
Five Blues Lake National Park is situated at the foot of the spectacular Mayan Mountains and covers over 1619 hectares (4000 acres) of tropical forest. The eponymous lake is a collapsed cave system, known as a cenote or blue hole, and appears in an array of aqua hues. There is an amazing wealth of wildlife and fauna to be seen here. At the junction to the Cayo District from the Hummingbird and Western highways, lies Guanacaste National Park, taking its name from the giant Guanacaste trees at the edge of the reserve. With over a hundred species of bird and highlighted trails with information on the trees and plants within the forest, the park is popular as an introduction to the diverse environment of Belize.
Laughing Bird Caye National Park is a shelf atoll, ideal for diving, but is also a habitat for the unusual laughing gulls. The Caye is situated 21km (13 miles) southeast of Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District.
The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area contains 81,745 hectares (202,000 acres) of preserved forests and marshlands, which provides a home for a rich array of birds and endangered species, including Jaguars, Pumas, Black Howler Monkeys, Margays, Ocellated Turkeys and Brocket Deer. Over 40 Mayan ruins have also been discovered here. The conservation park is located near the Orange Walk district of Belize.

Mayan Archaeological Sites
Travelers wishing to follow ‘La Ruta Maya’ ('the pathways into Mayan culture') will find some unspoilt and rarely visited Mayan ruins in and around Belize. Lamanai (Submerged Crocodile) is one of the largest Mayan centers and, as an archaeological reserve, also contains a museum, the remains of two 16th-century Spanish churches and a 19th-century sugar mill. The site is situated on the banks of the New River Lagoon in the North of Belize and accommodation is available in local guest houses and jungle lodges.
Altun Ha (Water of the Rock) has two main plazas, over 13 temples and a large jade head of the Sun God Ahau (one of the largest carved Mayan jade objects). Several tour operators run trips to the site, which is located near the Belize district and is inaccessible by public transport. Situated in the Chiquibul Rain Forest of the Cayo District, Caracol (Snail) is home to the tallest human-made structure in Belize; Canaa (Sky Place) Pyramid rises 43m (140ft) high. Although hard to get to during the rainy season, trips and the necessary entry permits can be organized with travel agents in Belize.
Cerros (Maya Hills) lies on a peninsula overlooking Corozal Bay and consists of three large acropolises dominated by pyramid structures. The impressive ruins of Xunantunich (Stone Woman) include six plazas, 25 temples and palaces, and the 43m- (130 ft-) high ‘El Castillo’ (The Castle). To access the site requires taking a bus 8 miles west of San Ignacio town and a ferry over the Mopan River, before walking a further 1.6km (1 mile) to the grounds. It is advisable to book the trip through a travel operator or company. For further details, contact the Belize Tourist Board (see General Info section).


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