Belize City Overview

Blighted by crime, poverty, and drugs for years, Belize City (pop. 70,000) is nobody’s idea of an ideal tourist stop. In fact, it’s nobody’s idea of Belize; travelers and Belizeans alike will agree that the nation’s sole metropolis has little to do with the majestic beauty, natural wonders, and relaxed lifestyle that characterize the rest of the country. Most tourists pass through the city without a look back, taking advantage of its status as the country’s main transit hub, but avoiding the crowded and claustrophobic streets themselves. The view from a taxi window isn’t exactly a coastal getaway: canals filled with trash and sewage, seaside ghettos with dilapidated shacks, beggars sprawled on the hot, dusty streets, and aggressive hustlers looking to sell drugs or women.

Once upon a time, Belize City was a much quieter colonial capital. Settled in the 1700s, the city was reportedly founded on a pile of mahogany chips and rum bottles discarded by British lumberjacks. Soon it developed into the center of colonial rule in British Honduras, with a white ruling class mingling with a growing population of Creoles. In 1961, Hurricane Hattie virtually destroyed the city, killing hundreds. Belize’s capital was forced to move to Belmopan. Since then, development in Belize City has stagnated, and drugs and crime are on the rise.

Caribbean paradise this isn’t, but cautious travelers willing to brave an uncertain environment can escape the crowds in this decidedly untouristed area of the country. The city is the best place to see Belize’s remarkable multiculturalism in action, with Creoles, Mestizos, Garinagu, East and South Asians, and the occasional Mennonite selling their wares. Their languages, foods, and music come together to create a unique city. Despite its problems, Belize City remains the country’s commercial center. With its many teeming shops and tourist agencies, this city is also the best place to find quick supplies and prepare for further inland or aquatic adventures.

Intercity Transportation

Since Belize City is the country’s main transit hub, getting to or (more commonly) away from the city is a cinch. The city is the only international point of entry and departure from the air. Domestic ...more

Orientation

Haulover Creek, emptying into the Caribbean Sea, neatly divides Belize City in two. To the south is the rough Southside district (between Collet and Southside Canals). Also to the south of the creek are ...more

Local Transportation

Since the city does not have a public transportation system (given its size, it doesn’t really need one), taxis are the best resource for traveling safely within the city. You’ll most likely be offered ...more

Practical Information

Tourist Offices: Several throughout Belize City lead tours and distribute information. Belize Tourism Board, 64 Regent St. (☎ 227 2420; www.travelbelize.org.), toward the south end of ...more

Accommodations

There’s no shortage of hotels in Belize City, from backpacker meccas to luxury options for cruise-ship passengers. The city’s status as a transportation hub translates into plenty of sleeping ...more

Food

Belizean food is as varied as its population, and Belize City is the best place to sample the whole shebang. Downtown, near Albert St., is a carnival of cuisines. Taco stands brush shoulders with Creole ...more

Sights

Most travelers see Belize City only as a travel hub. For those interested in the country’s culture and history, several sites are worth a quick look. Museum Of Belize. Built as Queen’s Prison ...more

Nightlife And Entertainment

There’s no shortage of nightlife opportunities in the city, but travelers are warned to take extreme care when traveling around at night. Always take a taxi, even for short distances. Travel in groups ...more

Daytrips From Belize City

Getting to Altun Ha without a car is very difficult, as it’s located along rarely traveled routes. It is difficult to travel back and forth in one day with the bus schedules being fairly unreliable ...more