Belize City Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

14-night Panama Canal & Central America Cruise

Price: $5,499 - # of Days: 14 days

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10-night Classic Panama Canal Passage Cruise

Price: $3,499 - # of Days: 10 days

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20-night Eastern & Western Caribbean Cruise

Price: $10,700 - # of Days: 20 days

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10-night Western Caribbean Cruise

Price: $5,600 - # of Days: 10 days

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Overview

Introduction

Because of its high crime rate, Belize City is best avoided, or relegated to a guided one-day tour.

Some old frame houses on stilts are being fixed up, and several Victorian mansions have been converted into small inns with restaurants. Even so, Belize's biggest city has a long way to go before it will be considered charming. Still, good restaurants and a vibrant arts community show growth.

Most visitors who spend the night stay in the north side of the city center in Fort George, considered the nicest neighborhood. The area has a small lighthouse and a park with good views of the water.

To reach the heart of the city, you'll cross the Swing Bridge, one of the few manually operated bridges still in use. On the south side of the bridge is the business district, which is the commercial hub of the city and contains St. John's Cathedral, the Bliss Center and the House of Culture, among other attractions.

Must See or Do

Sights—Exploring Maya ruins at Altun Ha.

Museums—Maya jade exhibits at the Museum of Belize; British colonial and history displays at Government House; the colorful history of rum in Belize at Traveller's Rum Museum; Old Belize Museum.

Memorable Meals—Stew chicken served with rice and beans and fried plantains at Nerie's.

Late Night—Dining, gambling, dancing and bowling at the Princess Hotel and Casino.

Especially for Kids—Spotting native animals while strolling through the Belize Zoo.

Potpourri

Although Belize City is low-lying, locals claim it will never sink into the sea because it was built upon a foundation of rum bottles, mahogany chips and ballast bricks.

You can see crocodiles in many areas of Belize. There are even some in the canals around Belize City. Locally, they are called alligators, although true alligators aren't found in Belize.

Location

As the largest port in Belize, Belize City hosts most of the tourist and commercial traffic for the country. Ships anchor in the harbor and Belizean tenders quickly transport passengers to the docks of Tourism Village, a mini-mall complete with a number of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. Most visitors use the village as a jumping-off point for tours of the city or, the more popular option, the cayes.

Taxis are available at the port and around the city—look for the green license plates of licensed taxis. We do not recommend renting a car, as the road conditions are questionable and traffic accidents are common. Roads become quite congested especially around 5:30 pm, when the Swing Bridge opens and causes traffic to stop for miles/kilometers.