Belize gets many visitors on a daily basis. Overnight tourists as well as those coming by cruise ship and most come with a slightly skewed perception of Belize City. Mostly that view is, get out of the city. My view is… why would you?
There are general rules for traveling and one of them is to do your research and be aware of your surroundings. Certainly there are areas in the city, like any other city, where one shouldn’t venture alone or late at night. Overall though, the city is a great place to explore and experience food, culture, architecture and fun. Here are my top 3 things to see and do in this bustling Belize City.
1: The Image Factory
If you are looking for local art in all forms while meeting interesting individuals or even the artists themselves while also getting a unique view of the river, then Image Factory is the place for you to stop into. It is located on 91 North Front Street in the city and there is usually a table outside with lots of Belizean art to buy, from small sculptures to old Belize license plates for vehicles and bicycles. It is a great spot to pick up something small for friends and family back home or even yourself but perhaps you are looking for something bigger. If so, then go inside the “factory” and ask for Givlano to show you around. There is almost always local art hanging on the wall, either from a recent show or an upcoming one. Get a short history about the artists from Gilvano and if you are inspired to purchase, then just ask him to package it for you.
While there, take a walk towards the back of the factory for an uninterrupted view of the Belize River mouth and the city’s iconic swing bridge. Depending on the time of day or year, you will see many sand-lighter boats tied up in the river which offer the perfect backdrop for a selfie.
2: Lerisi Garifunaduau
The Garinagu are one of the many cultures in Belize and while they live throughout the length and breadth of the country, the southern communities is where you find the communities. The Garifuna culture is a colorful, vibrant and rich culture and if you are not able to make it to Southern Belize, then you can experience a snippet of that at Lerisi Garifunaduau.
Lerisi is may seem like mainly a restaurant, but it offers much more than that. Everyday during the week you can experience the Garifuna culture, either in music, dance or food. Their location by the sea (#4 Marine Parade, Belize City), offers cultural Garifuna food and depending on the time of day you go, live Garifuna music. Your hosts are almost always dressed in traditional Garifuna clothing and they have on display, many items that the Garinagu still use today.
Hudut is always on the menu and is a dish you must try. Hudut consists of fish cooked in a coconut broth (called sere) and served with mashed plantains. Enjoy this savory dish with the view of the Caribbean Sea while listening to Garifuna drums.
3: St. John’s Anglican Cathedral
When it comes to colonial style architecture and historic buildings, no destination in Belize has a better experience than that of Belize City. One of these buildings is actually a church, the St. John’s Anlican Cathedral. Located at the end of Albert Street in downtown Belize City, and built from 1812 to 1820 with bricks that had been used as ballast aboard ships, it was the first church to be built in the colony of British Honduras. It was once the Church of England’s headquarters in Central America and was used to crown four native Kings of the Miskito Tribe.
It now stands as one of the oldest structure built in Belize by the Europeans. As old as it is, the church is still in use today for mass. Visitors can come in for their usual ceremonies or just to walk around and look. For more on this beautiful structure, look at the video above.
You would be missing out if you decided to skip pass Belize City and not take advantage of the history that is right within downtown. The next time someone suggest getting out of the city because there isn’t much to experience, bid them goodbye and go exploring for some tasty and visual treats.
Notable Mentions
- Government House for its history and architecture.
- Supreme Court for its history and architecture
- Old Belize for family fun, drinks and getting a beach experience in the city.
Interested in an area or activity of Belize? Drop us a line and we’ll show you what it’s like. Hopefully you make Belize your next destination.
