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Almost every visitor will have to spend at least some time in
Belize City, even if only passing through, as it's the hub of
the country's transport system. First-time visitors may be shocked
by the decaying buildings and the pollution of the Belize River, but
it's possible to spend many pleasant hours in this former outpost of
the British Empire. In contrast, Belize's capital, Belmopan,
is primarily an administrative centre with little to offer visitors.
Northern Belize is relatively flat and often swampy, with a large
proportion of agricultural land, though as everywhere in Belize
there are Maya ruins and nature reserves. Lamanai, near
Orange Walk, is one of the most impressive Maya sites in the
country, and the lagoons here and at Sarteneja and Crooked
Tree offer a superb protected habitat for wildlife. Adjacent to
the Guatemalan border is the vast Rio Bravo Conservation Area.
The
largest of the cayes, Ambergris Caye, draws more than half of
all tourists to Belize, their main destination being the resort town
of San Pedro. To the south, Caye Caulker is the most
popular of the islands amongst independent travelers. Many of the
less developed cayes are becoming easier to reach, and organized
trips are available to the atolls of Lighthouse Reef and
Glover's Reef.
In
the west, the Cayo District has everything for the
eco-tourist: Maya ruins and rainforest, rivers and caves, with
excellent accommodation in every price range in the main town of
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 Belize
travel guide
Caribbean
guide
San Ignacio. Caracol, the largest Maya site in Belize, is
now a routine day-trip from San Ignacio, while the magnificent ruin
of Xunantunich is also within easy reach.
Dangriga,
the main town of the south-central region, serves as a jumping-off
point for the little-visited central cayes and Glover's Reef
atoll, as well as for trips to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife
Sanctuary. On the coast, the quiet Garífuna village of
Hopkins sees more visitors every year, while further south the
delightful and laid-back Placencia Peninsula has some of the
country's best beaches. Most visitors to Punta Gorda,
the main town in the far south of Belize, are on their way to or
from Puerto Barrios in Guatemala. If you venture inland, however,
you'll come across the villages of the Mopan and Kekchí Maya,
set in some of the most stunning countryside in Belize and
surrounded by the only true rainforest in the country, dotted
with caves, rivers and ruins.
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Belize
Belize City
Where to go
When to go
Getting around
Costs, money, banks
Currency, exchange
 Eating
and drinking
Mail &
communications
Safety and the police
Work and study
Information
The media
Holidays
and festivals
Shopping,
souvenirs
Belize city
Arrival and information
Restaurants
Nightlife,
entertainment
Tours,
buses
Listings
Travel details
Explore Belize City
North side
South side
Cayo and the west
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Belize city
to San
Ignacio
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Belize zoo
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Belmopan
Practicalities
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Guanacaste
Park
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Caracol Ruins
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
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San Antonio
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San Ignacio
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Arrival
Restaurants
Kayaking,canoeing
Xunantunich, San Jose
Corozal, Orange Walk
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Travel details |
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