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Belize City Attractions
There really isn't much reason to take a guided tour of Belize City. The downtown center is extremely compact and lends itself very easily to self-directed exploration. There are only a handful of interesting attractions, and all are within easy walking distance of the central Swing Bridge. Below you'll find reviews of the most interesting attractions, as well as a walking tour of the city.
If you really feel the need for a guided tour of the city, ask at your hotel desk for a recommendation, or call Discovery Expeditions (tel. 223-0748; www.discoverybelize.com) or S & L Travel and Tours (tel. 227-7593; www.sltravelbelize.com). A half-day city tour should cost around BZ$80 to BZ$100 (US$40-US$50/£21-£27) per person, but can easily be combined with a visit to one of the several popular nearby attractions. All the above companies offer a whole range of day trips and combinations to the attractions close to the city and even further afield.
The Top Attractions
Belize City is very light on true attractions. The museums mentioned here are quite quaint and provincial by most international standards, although they are worth a visit if you are spending a day getting to know the city, residents, and local history. For attractions just outside the city, see the Side Trips section.
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- Preforming Arts Venue
Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts
A busy little complex that is the cultural heart of Belize City, the Bliss Centre houses a performing arts space, rehearsal halls, a cafeteria, the National Institute of the Arts, and a couple of gallery spaces. If there are live theater, dance, and music performances while you’re in… - Museum
Museum of Belize
Housed in what was once "Her Majesty's Prison," this museum features a collection of historical documents, photographs, currency, stamps, and other artifacts, as well as exhibits of Mayan pottery and archaeological finds. Although somewhat small, the collection of Mayan ceramic,… - Landmark
Old Belize
This attraction aims at providing a comprehensive experience of the natural, cultural, and political history of Belize, with exhibits recreating everything from a rainforest, to a Mayan ceremonial cave, to a logging camp, to a Garífuna home. Admission includes a 45-minute guided… - Religious Site
St. John's Cathedral
This old brick church is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America, and the oldest standing structure in Belize. Built in 1812 by slaves using bricks brought over as ballast, it is also the only Anglican church outside of England where kings have been crowned -- during the… The Image Factory
This is Belize City's top art gallery. With a large stable of local and regional artists to choose from, this non-profit gallery and arts organization has regularly rotating exhibitions, as well as a semi-permanent collection of art, photography, sculpture, and craft works.- Factory Tour
Traveller’s Liquor Heritage Center
Belize’s world famous spirit producer offers the opportunity to learn a bit about the history, lore, and production process of the country’s ubiquitous One Barrel Rum at this small museum-like exhibit. You can also get a glimpse into the contemporary production operation at the…
Belize City Shopping
You won't be bowled over by shopping options here in Belize City, and very few people come to Belize specifically to shop. You will find a modest handicraft industry, with different specialties produced by the country's various ethnic communities. The Creole populations of the coastal area and outer cayes specialize in coral and shell jewelry, as well as woodcarvings with maritime (dolphins, turtles, and ships) themes. The Belizean Mayan population produces replicas of ancient petroglyphs and different modern designs on varying sized pieces of slate. Finally, the Garífuna peoples of the southern coastal villages are known for their small dolls.
My favorite gift item in Belize continues to be Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce, which comes in several heat gradations, as well as some new flavors. The original blend of habanero peppers, carrots, and vinegar is one of my all-time favorite hot sauces. The company also produces mango chutney and an assortment of pepper jams. You can pick up Marie Sharp products at any supermarket and most gift shops; I recommend you stick to the supermarkets, though, to avoid price gouging. In addition to Marie Sharp's, Lizette's brand of hot sauces is also a good bet.
Please do not buy any kind of sea-turtle products (including jewelry); wild birds; lizard, snake, or cat skins; corals; or orchids (except those grown commercially). No matter how unique, beautiful, insignificant, or inexpensive it may seem, your purchase will directly contribute to the further hunting of endangered species.
The Shopping Scene
Most shops in the downtown district are open Monday through Saturday from about 8am to 6pm. Some shops close for lunch, while others remain open (it's just the luck of the draw for shoppers). Since the cruise ships are such a big market for local merchants, many adjust their hours to specifically coincide with cruise-ship traffic and their particular shore times.
Handicrafts & Souvenirs
By far the largest selection of gift shops and souvenir stands can be found at the Belize Tourism Village (8 Fort St.; tel. 223-2767).
In addition to housing the best collections of fine art for sale in the city, Fine Arts and The Image Factory Shop also feature some of the best handicrafts and handmade jewelry. The quality and selection are a definite step above what you'll find at most other gift shops and tourist traps in town, and around the country.
Jewelry
Coral is a very delicate, rapidly disappearing living organism that grows very slowly; please avoid buying coral jewelry, as it just feeds demand and inevitably leads to the destruction of the spectacular Belizean reefs.
Liquor
Your best bet for liquor shopping is at local supermarkets, or the duty-free shop at the airport. There are several brands of Belizean rum available; the most popular is One Barrel, which has a hint of coconut and vanilla. Other brands produce some more heavily flavored coconut rums. The Prestige brand aged rum is pretty good, if you're looking for a straight, dry rum. Belize doesn't produce any wines or other spirits of note, although you may want to pick up a bottle of locally produced wine, or cashew wine, for the sake of novelty.
Markets
The only real market of note is the Commercial Center located just over the Swing Bridge, on the southern side of the city. This two-story modern concrete structure houses a mix of stalls and enclosed storefronts. The first floor is predominantly devoted to fresh produce, fish stalls, and butcher shops, but you'll also find stands selling flowers, fresh herbs, and some souvenir shops. There are more souvenir shops and some restaurants, including Big Daddy's, on the second floor. The Commercial Center is open daily from 7:30am to 5pm.
Music
Punta Rock is the most Belizean of music styles. A close cousin to soca and calypso, Punta is upbeat dance music. Popular proponents include Andy Palacios, Chico Ramos, Pen Cayetano, the Garífuna Kids, Travesia Band, and Peter Flores (aka Titiman). For a taste of traditional Creole folk music, try to track down a copy of Mr. Peters' Boom & Chime. You also might be able to find some traditional Garífuna music, which tends to be ceremonial dance music, very similar to traditional West African music.
The best place to find Belizean music is a gift shop. Still, these are very hit or miss. Check at the Belize Tourism Village. You might also try online music stores; one good source is www.facebook.com/stonetreerecords. I'd avoid the various vendors selling bootleg cassettes and CDs on the side of the road, since the quality can be sketchy, and the artists don't receive a dime.
- Art
Fine Arts
This is the best gallery and gift shop I've found in Belize. They have a large selection of original art works in a variety of styles, formats, and sizes. Browse primitivist works by Walter Castillo and Pen Cayetano, alongside more modern abstract pieces, traditional still lifes, and… - Arts & Crafts
Go-Graphics
This longstanding design and production company has a shop and factory in the city, where you’ll find an extensive collection of T-shirts, visored hats, and local textiles. They also sell a range of handmade jewelry, Guatemalan textiles, Mexican hammocks, and Belizean crafts. - Jewelry
Maya Jade
This place bills itself as a museum and gallery, and while there is a whole room of museum-style displays explaining the history of Mesoamerican Mayan jade use and artistry, this is nonetheless predominantly a retail operation. That said, the small selection here includes some very… - Arts & Crafts
National Handicraft Center
This place still houses a wide selection of local and regional crafts and souvenirs all under one roof, but it's no longer the main game in town. In fact, it's lost a lot of its luster and traffic to the Belize Tourism Village. Still, you'll find a decent selection of Mayan stone… - Art
The Image Factory Shop
Attached to the excellent gallery and exhibition space of the same name, this shop offers up prints, paintings, photographs, and craft pieces by prominent Belizean and regional artists, as well as books, music CDs, and more traditional souvenir items.
Belize City Nightlife
Again, Belize City is a small, provincial city in an underdeveloped country, so don't expect to find a raging nightlife scene. The most popular nightspots -- for both locals and visitors alike -- are the bars at the few high-end hotels in town.
The Performing Arts
It's really the luck of the draw as to whether or not you can catch a concert, theater piece, or dance performance -- they are the exception, not the norm. To find out if anything is happening, ask at your hotel, read the local papers, or check in with the Bliss Institute (tel. 227-2110).
The Bar Scene
The bar and club scene in Belize City is rather lackluster. The most happening bar in town is the Riverside Tavern. This is especially true on weekends, and whenever there's an important soccer, basketball, or cricket match on.
Travelers and locals alike also tend to frequent the bars at the major hotels and tourist traps. The liveliest of these are the bars at the Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina, the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, and the Princess Hotel & Casino, all of which often have a live band on weekend nights. Of these, I prefer the Club Calypso (tel. 223-2670), an open-air affair built over the water at the Princess Hotel & Casino, although it's sort of a crapshoot as to which bar will be hopping on any given night.
Casinos
For gaming, the Princess Hotel & Casino is the only game in town, and the casino here is large, modern, and well equipped. While it's not on the scale of Vegas or Atlantic City, the casino is certainly respectable, with enough gaming tables, slots, and other attractions to make most casual gamblers quite happy to drop a few dollars.
