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Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of former British Honduras. It is located at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, which is a tributary of the Belize River. The Belize River empties into the Caribbean Sea 5 miles from Belize City on the Philip Goldson Highway on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and industrial hub. Several cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tendered by local citizens. The city was almost entirely destroyed in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie swept ashore on October 31. It was the capital of British Honduras (as Belize was then named) until the government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan in 1970.
History
Belize City was founded as "Belize Town" in 1638 by British... Read more
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of former British Honduras. It is located at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, which is a tributary of the Belize River. The Belize River empties into the Caribbean Sea 5 miles from Belize City on the Philip Goldson Highway on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and industrial hub. Several cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tendered by local citizens. The city was almost entirely destroyed in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie swept ashore on October 31. It was the capital of British Honduras (as Belize was then named) until the government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan in 1970.
History
Belize City was founded as "Belize Town" in 1638 by British lumber harvesters. It had been a small Maya city called Holzuz. Belize Town was ideal for the British as a central post because it was on the sea and a natural outlet for local rivers and creeks down which the British shipped logwood and mahogany. Belize Town also became the home of the thousands of African slaves brought in by the British to assist in the forest industry. It was the coordination site for the 1798 Battle of St. George's Caye, won by the British against would-be invaders, and the home of the local courts and government officials up to the 1970s. For this reason, historians often say that "the capital was the Colony" because the center of British control was here.
This sentiment remains true today. Even though people like Antonio Soberanis, George Price, and Evan X Hyde all lobbied to take their movements outside, and other ethnic groups such as the Garifuna and Mestizos sprang up elsewhere in the country, people looked to Belize Town for guidance.
Use a taxi. If you want to get out of Belize City, use the taxi, bus, or even the little airplanes which take you to other destinations in Belize.
If you arrived via cruise ship, walk past the shops in the Tourism Village to reach Fort Street. You can walk downtown by turning left on Fort Street, turning left again on Front Street, and crossing the swing bridge once you reach Queen Street.
Getting to and Around the Cayes Belize is undoubtedly the “it” place in travel and tourism in Central America and the Western Caribbean. Not only is the culture attractive for foreigners as an English speaking nation, navigating to and around the Cayes of Belize has become very easy. For those wanting a truly Belizean experience, take the water taxis from destination to destination. San Pedro Water Taxi departs from the Brown Sugar Terminal in Belize City with 10 scheduled runs per day to San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Departure to Caye Caulker and Belize City from San Pedro Town pier on Black Coral Street next to Wahoo's Bar and Grill and departs 10 times per day, starting from 6:00 am.
There are boats departing from Caye Caulker to both Belize City and San Pedro Town and they leave from the pier in front of the Basket Ball Court. Caye Caulker to Belize City runs 9 times per day, and Caye Caulker to San Pedro runs 9 times per day. The schedules are posted in numerous locations.
Belize City is the cultural center of the country and offers a comparably large number of cultural attractions.
All places accept US dollars. If you are traveling to the cayes, stock up on your cash at the central bank, as the ATMs on the islands often run out of money on weekends.
If you want to shop there is a tourism village in the Fort George area which has jewelry shops like Diamonds International and lots of gift shops. Fort George is located on a boardwalk.
Albert Street is the main street in the Commercial District and features many shops and small shopping centers.
Although Belize City has a bad reputation, both the Commercial District and the Fort George District are safe during the day. Virtually all sights, as well as the water taxi docks, are in this area and tourist should not be worried about exploring these neighborhoods while waiting for a bus or water taxi. Other neighborhoods in Belize City have a very high crime rate and you should take a taxi if you have to leave the city center.
Most locals will warn you that Belize City is only safe in the northern part (approximately the part north of the river). The city has been the subject of several gang-related turf wars with shootings and violent crime, happening mostly at night in the southern part of the city. Don't go around alone and try to always use a taxi if you absolutely must go to the southern parts of the city
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This time we’d like to talk about the best things to do in Belize City ! Although this city has lost its status of the country’s capital, it remains the financial and economic center of Belize. This popular cruise port of call is situated in Central America. The Caribbean Sea, the gentle sun,... |
In the morning, I decided to stroll through the city of Belize - the main city in Belize.
First, I went in the central part of the city.These are the typical local private houses.
Belize is different from other countries in Central America. This is a former British colony, and the first English... |
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The entrances to the site pass military checkpoints, as there's a... |
Belize
, home to beautiful beaches and the Mayan pyramids.
The island is a vision of paradise, with fine, white sands, palm trees and the warm, bright sun.
Half of the people in
Belize are masons therefore many
Masonic lodges can be found everywhere.
The hotel shown... |
Belize - here you will find
one of the first Mayan towns that has been well-preserved to this day. There are also the
Belize pyramids, located further in the jungle
s.The country still suffers from war due to the drug trafficking that is done; transporting cocaine through... |
Belize City
is home to the main port, and is the largest financial and economic center of Belize. Belize is located South-East of the Yucatan Peninsula. For almost two centuries Belize had been the possession of Great Britain, known as British Honduras from 1840 until 1973. The... |
Ancient Mayan towns can be seen in both Mexico and
Belize
. Below are photos from a tour through a Mayan town in Belize:
Belize is home to some of the larger pyramids. While the highest pyramid is El Castillo in Tulum , Mexico at almost 23 feet (7 meters), ... |