Just the thought of holding a boa constrictor in my hands is enough to make me shiver. Seeing others do it is nerve rackingly exciting if that makes sense. At Belize Zoo just outside of Belize City you can play with a boa constrictor if you want, watch others do it or simply avoid the snake section.
The Zoo is totally dedicated to conservation of natural wildlife native to Belize. All of the animals are native to Belize and have either been rescued from captivity or donated to the zoo. These animals include jaguars, red macaws, coatis, monkeys, storks, and even a tapir, the zoo’s biggest star. Every year in April kids are invited to sing happy birthday to April Read more
After a short hike through the Belize rain forest you come to the entrance to a cave. You descend down into the dry cave and walk through it and then another one. Then you come to another cave, but this one isn’t dry, there’s a river flowing through it. It’s dark and and you can’t see the other side. You get on an inner tube and float down river until you come to the other side and then through yet another cave until you’ve circled back to where you started. Then you’re starving and it’s time for lunch.
That’s the experience of may who come to Belize and embark on the great adventure that is cave tubing. The cave Read more
If you are coming to Belize, or thinking of relocating here, I hope you really like white rice and red kidney beans as these are two of the staples in the Belizean diet.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a variety. I mean, you can order “rice and beans” and you will be served a dish of rice and beans that have been cooked together in coconut milk. Or, you can order “beans and rice” and you will be served a dish of rice and a dish of beans that have been cooked separately, for you to mix to your liking. The contrast is startling.
Normally whether you eat rice and beans or beans and rice it will be accompanied Read more
September is an exciting month in Belize. Two of the most important national holidays, the Battle of St. George’s Caye Day and Independence Day fall in the month of September, on the 10th and 21st respectively.
Belizeans celebrate these days in different ways throughout the country, but in every city you will find people gathering at public venues to be entertained and educated about the history of these celebrations. In reality, the whole month of September is celebrated; Belize tradition dictates that celebrations begin at the start of the month with the Carnival Parade (which was last Saturday, September 6th) and extend until Independence Day.
Every year there are tons of live concerts as well as other Read more
The Belize government together with the National Tourism board are working together to protect Belize’s natural beauty and regulate how it is enjoyed by visitors, thus preserving the natural ecosystem in Belize. To that end many areas of the country are being set aside as National Parks, one of which is Laughing Bird Caye.
Located thirteen miles southeast of Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District, Laughing Bird Caye gets its name from the large number of laughing gulls that once lived there. Sadly, because of increases in human presence, a great majority of the birds have left the island. Now the government has put restrictions on the area.
The handmade island complex of Thatch Caye is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the very best of Belize. This 12 acre marine park in south-central Belize is just 9 miles from the city of Dangriga and the Stann Creek district. The half hour boat ride from the city makes Thatch Caye one of the most accessible offshore Cayes in Belize.
Set two miles inside the Great Western Barrier Reef, the resort is a launch pad for some of the most fantastic marine exploration in the world. Premier snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving and saltwater fly fishing are some of the Caye’s biggest attractions. Capable guides are on hand to lead you deep into the sea.
I’m not sure if “zoo” is the right word to describe the Belize Zoo. This haven has been created for animals that need a place to live; animals that have been injured, animals that cannot fend for themselves in the wild, and animals that have been seized by the government for being owned illegally, something which is taken quite seriously in Belize. Due to this, the whole Zoo has a bit of a personal feel. The animals are all native to Central America; none are shipped in from other countries. Workers know the animals individually and are therefore better able to care for them.
My guess is going to jail isn’t on your list of things to do while in Belize, but if a trip to this converted 19th century brick prison isn’t, then maybe it should be. In 1993, the government decided to convert the prison into the Museum of Belize. Despite the fact that it is a national museum, it is quite small, although its permanent collection packs a punch.
The first floor has a number of different exhibits that showcase the history of the City of Belize. On the second floor there are a generous amount of artifacts from the Mayan civilization, including pottery and masks made from ceramic and jade. The bug room contains an amazing collection Read more
Deep within the Tapir Mountain Reserve, an hour from San Ignacio, is the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, an ancient site of ceremonial worship for the Mayan civilization. Inside the limestone cave visitors can see thousands of artifacts left behind, as well as 14 skeletons, most of which were sacrifice victims.
Upon entering the mouth of the cave, you have to swim about 10 meters before reaching the rock shelf. Climbing up there a half hour long hike/swim leads you to a hidden dry chamber where the majority of the artifacts are found. It is considered to be sacred ground, and visitors are asked to remove their shoes.
The trip is challenging, but it’s also quite rewarding. Read more
If you have a long list of people to bring souvenirs home for, then do your shopping at the National Handicraft Center on South Park Street in the Fort George District of Belize City. Over 500 Belizean artisans sell their works here, which range from hand-made jewelry to ironwood and black slate carvings.
While you may tend to head straight to the Mayan textiles, rosewood bowls and coconut shell necklaces, there are other shops offering less than a-typical trinkets. The real treasures found here are the homemade condiments and spirits. If you’ve never tried guava jam, Belikin beer or pineapple habanero jelly, this may be your chance.
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