Sightseeing in Belize City - what to see. Complete travel guide
Central America invites tourists to visit a charming local town – Belize City. Its northern part neighbors with Mexico and its western part – with Guatemala. This is a port city with direct access to the Caribbean Sea on the east. This coastal area is famous for its incredibly beautiful lagoons and fabulous reef islands at the perimeter. Many tourists intentionally visit Belize City in order to relax at its beaches when they travel to the Caribbean. Besides fantastic areas for sunbathing, the city has some interesting attractions.
British settlers founded this city at the end of the 18th century. Initially, they liked the area at the mouth of the Haulover Creek. This land was a perfect location for a settlement because it had direct access to the sea. Local soils were swampy at that time, so settlers had to work hard to make them suitable for living. Thanks to their efforts, Belize City has turned into one of the largest cities in Central America. In the past, this was a part of British Honduras.
Why should tourists visit Belize City? Many vacationers from all over the world come here to relax at local beaches and enjoy trouble-free recreation. Local beaches have soft white sand, and coastal water is so clear that it is easy to see the bottom. Thanks to coral reefs, there are no strong currents near the city, and this fact makes swimming here pleasant and safe. That is why the area is suitable for families with small children. Local beaches definitely deserve closer attention.
The Lighthouse Reef atoll, which is located approximately 80 kilometers from Belize City, is a fantastic place for beach recreation and sightseeing. This is also the location of the Great Blue Hole. The latter is a giant marine sinkhole, the diameter of which is roughly 305 meters. Courageous tourists can dive in the hole and see what this natural attraction hides deep underwater. Besides this, everyone seeking a burst of adrenaline can try a really extreme activity – swimming with sharks. There are many sharks in this area. The period from late January until June is the best time to visit the Lighthouse Reef.
Placencia Peninsula to the south of Belize City is a paradise destination. Tourists will be excited to see palm trees with bananas and mangoes. Local coastal waters amaze guests with fabulous coral reefs, colorful and exotic fish, and rich marine flora. If you like scuba diving, you will have a unique opportunity to see the whale shark. Don’t forget that this animal is protected by the government and it is prohibited to hunt it.
Besides relaxing on the warm white sand, this beach has an interesting attraction – Indian ruins. To make a vacation here even more pleasant and stop making long rides from Belize City and back, vacationers can always rent a room in a comfortable local hotel. There are luxurious rooms for upscale tourists and less expensive ones for budget-conscious guests.
Caye Caulker is one more gorgeous natural area famous for its beautiful nature. It is hard to find a better destination for divers. In Caye Caulker, they can swim, explore underwater caves, and see an incredible coral world that looks truly spectacular is crystal clear water. It is hard to find more picturesque reefs in any other part of the world. Guests of the city can try canoeing and admire local nature. Strong breeze makes this area suitable for windsurfing.
The area near Belize City is famous as one of the centers of the Mayan civilization. There are many Mayan ruins scattered across the country. One of them, Altun Ha, is located only 31 miles from Belize City. Many tourists also enjoy visiting Caracol. There are always tourist groups here who come to see the remaining ruins of the ancient city. Local woodcutters, who were searching for new tree species in local jungles, discovered Caracol in 1937. Visitors can still see ruins of the ancient bath, dam, and even water reservoir. Besides this, archaeologists found ancient female jewelry and nephrite figurines here.
It is comfortable to reach Belize City from Cancun. This city has flights to every airport in Belize. It is also possible to reach Belize City by bus. However, tourists will need to take a taxi to get to the bus. There is also an alternative way that starts in Guatemala. The distance to the city is only two and a half kilometers.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Belize City and surroundings
Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Belize City
♥ National Park 'Monkey Bay' , 43.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ National Park 'Melinda' , 53.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ National Park 'Five Blues Lake' , 57.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ National Park 'Billy Barquedier' , 61 km from the center. On the map
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♥ National Park 'St. Herman’s Blue Hole' , 64.5 km from the center. On the map
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Sights around Belize City from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'
Ambergris Caye
From the series “The Most Beautiful Islands on the Planet”
Check on the map: Distance from Belize City center - 62 km.
Another unique feature of the island is the limestone cave, whose research has revealed many archaeological artefacts. According to one of the versions, the Mayan Indians used these caves for sacred rituals. Hundreds of excellent hiking trails are available to hikers. The friends of nature can graze each day on the exotic plants and the picturesque scrubs can find hidden waterfalls. The most popular health resort on the island is the small town of San Pedro, on the territory of which are the incredibly beautiful beaches and a lot of cozy restaurants, where you can taste the delicious sea food dishes. …
Read further Distance from Belize City center - 62 km.
Sightseeing in Belize: things to see
Belize, which was formerly known under the name British Honduras, is the only country in Central America that doesn’t have access to the Pacific Ocean and only has coastline on the Caribbean Sea on the east. English speaking travelers will feel very confident and convenient there as English is the official language of Belize.
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Search touristic sites on the map of Belize City
All about Belize City, Belize - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Belize City, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Belize City in few days.
