© Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd
To most visitors, Belize City is simply a jumping-off point for other destinations in the country. But the low-slung coastal town, with a population of just 50,000, has plenty to keep you busy, from colonial-era museums to low-key cafés. Once a hub for 17th-century pirates and the 19th-century mahogany trade, Belize City has a great history as a raffish port. The nation didn’t gain independence from the British until 1981, and its Creole, mestizo, African, and Mayan descendants share a culture that’s part prim-English style and part no-worries island attitude. Wooden gingerbread cottages crowd the city’s narrow streets, and a jumble of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists provide a constant buzz. Though slightly gritty, Belize
City has its own brand of character to spare (there is not a strip mall or a fast-food joint around).
Visit our other American Express Publishing Web sites:
Food & Wine |
T+L GOLF |
T+L Family |
SkyGuide |
Executive Travel
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Manage Your Subscription | International | Billing | Change Your Address or E-mail
Advertise |
Contact Us |
Site Map |
RSS Feeds 
Email a link to this page