Belize Destinations

Ambergris Caye / San Pedro

The largest of the 200-plus cayes located off the coast of Belize is Ambergris Caye. San Pedro, located near the Barrier Reef, is on the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, approximately 35 miles from Belize City. About a mile long and only a few blocks wide, San Pedro faces the reef near it's southern tip and is approximately 40 miles northeast of Belize City. This laid-back town has sand streets which are lined with small hotels, shops and plenty of good places to eat and drink. There are a few trucks and a limited amount of taxis on the island - however, the vehicles of choice are golf carts, which are available for rent. San Pedro is the perfect place for swimming, diving and snorkeling, or just relaxing on the white sandy beaches while enjoying the beauty of the blue Caribbean Sea.

Belize City

Belize City is no longer the nation's capital, but it is still the largest city in Belize, with a population of over 60,000. It is located in the heart of the country. Located on the east coast of the country, this is where you will be able to make your connection to everywhere else you want to go ; from taking a bus to catching a boat. Area attractions include the Baboon Sanctuary, a protected habitat where visitors observe Black Howler Monkeys close-up. Crooked Tree Village is located within a migrant bird sanctuary. Altun Ha is Belize's most excavated Maya site. Gales Point is the place to look for manatees and over 100 species of wildlife indigenous to Belize can be seen at the Belize Zoo.

Belmopan

Belmopan is located approximately 48 miles southwest of Belize City, 19 miles east of San Ignacio and 57 miles northwest of Dangriga and the Caribbean Sea. A population of only 7,000 makes Belmopan the smallest capital in the world, which makes everything close at hand. You can walk from your hotel to the government buildings in a matter of minutes. With its colorful vegetation and many flamboyant trees, Belmopan has been referred to as the "Garden City".

Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is situated 21 miles northeast of Belize City and 11 miles south of Ambergris Caye and is the second largest of the 200 small islands located off the coast of Belize. Caye Caulker, one half mile wide and less than five miles long, is also the second most populous of the Belizean cayes with about 1,200 resident whose cultures include Garifuna, Creole, and Mestizo. Caye Caulker offers world class snorkeling, scuba diving, sport fishing and wind surfing. Other attractions include the Caye Caulker and Hol Chan marine reserve.

Cayo

Located in a picturesque valley between the Macal and Mopan Rivers, San Ignacio and its sister city Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area. With a population of 40,000, it s the largest in area of Belize's six districts. Known locally as "Cayo", San Ignacio is located on the Western Highway about seventy miles and 90 minutes drive time from Belize City. Cayo spans more than 2,000 square miles across diverse terrain, changing from lush river valleys and savannahs, to jungle hillsides and rugged mountain ridges. To experience Cayo you can hike, bike, canoe, travel by horseback, or tour in the comfort of an air-conditioned van. Whatever your preference, prepare yourself for the ultimate in an "up close and personal" experience you're not likely to forget.

Corozal

Visitors will find tranquility in this slow pace, easy going town, located nine miles from the Mexican border. Corozal District is the heart of Belize's sugar cane growing and payapya exporting industries. While English is the official language, Spanish is widely spoken. The population today is around 9,000. In Corozal everything is close to the sea, including several seaside parks, the market and Corozal's bright new yellow history museum.

Dangriga/Stann Creek

The Stann Creek District in Southern Belize is becoming an increasingly popular destination for visitors to Belize, since it offers the most diverse tourist experiences: the beautiful white sandy beaches of Placencia, offshore cayes, the Maya Mountains and the jungles of the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, and the Garifuna art, music, cuisine and culture of Dangriga.

Orangewalk

Orange Walk, situated on the New River and Northern Highway, is located 52 miles north of Belize City. With a population of 22,000, this largely Hispanic settlement is the largest town in northern Belize. The town is a mix of Spanish, Maya, East Indians, visiting Mennonites and Chinese. Mexican influences remain strong. Spanish and Creole are the most common languages spoken. Orange Walk has the basics: lodging, restaurants, grocery, clothing and gas. Orange Walk Town is not generally considered a tourist destination, more a stopover to boat up the New River to Lamanai, travel the Blue Creek Road to the Rio Bravo Conservation Area, or to Shipstern Nature Reserve.

Placencia

Placencia is located on a sixteen mile long peninsula at the southern end of Belize. Placencia Village is known to be one of the oldest inhabited communities in Belize. Today it's basically a Creole fishing village with a very laid-back atmosphere. It has claim to the best beaches on the mainland. Driving into Placencia is interesting and scenic. From Placencia you can explore the Monkey River, travel inland to the Cockscomb Basin, visit a Maya ruin, dive or snorkel off nearby Cayes, take in some offshore fishing or just stretch out and relax in a hammock.

Punta Gorda

While the rugged terrain of Toledo provides a challenge for the adventurous, it is the people of Toledo which softens natures rough edges. At least five distinct ethnic groups have settled in Southern Belize. While the town of Punta Gorda consists of many cultures, 64% of the population in the Toledo District is made up of the Mopan and Kekchi Mayas living in over 30 different villages. Come experience a touch of their rich heritage. English is spoken as their second language, and visitors can communicate clearly with the people for a genuine cultural exchange.