Belize City On Your Own

Getting Around

Orientation

Cruise ships will drop anchor a few miles outside of Belize City's harbor (it's too shallow for the draft of the cruise ships) and be taken ashore by speedy ship's tenders run by the Belize port authority. It'll take about 20 minutes to go from your ship to the Fort Street Tourist Village docks in Belize City. Almost all excursions to the interior will begin at the Tourism Village.

The Tourism Village is a gated compound, and is comprised of three terminals and three courtyards with over fifty stores and businesses. Part of the complex is air conditioned. Here you'll find restaurants, snack shops, an internet cafe and ATM machines. The stores here sell the typical array of arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, liquor and duty-free goods.

If you've signed up for an pre-arranged excursion on your ship, you'll meet your guide and board your vehicle at Tourism Village. You can also sign up for a tour upon your arrival offered by licensed tour operators and tour guides. Additional tour options can be found just outside the gates of Tourism Village. Belizean law requires that all tour guides and operators carry a valid license with photo ID.

The Belize Tourism Board operates an information desk in the main concourse of the Tourism Village.

Taxis

Taxis are reasonably priced and distinguishable by their green license plates. There are no meters in the taxis, instead charging a flat rate--usually around $6-$8 BZD per stop. Confirm the fare before entering the taxi.

Belize City Square

Shopping

Bargaining is essential and expected when buying most items in Belize. In more established shops, credit cards are usually welcome.

What's Special in Belize City

There are many unique items to shop for in Belize City. Look for hand-made and folk art goods, including hand-carved mahogany items, leather goods, woven items, black coral jewelry, slate carvings, bottled Belizean herbs and vinegars, hot pepper sauces, one-of-a-kind T-shirts and even stamps. You can buy these objects from the shops listed below.

See our Map of Recommended Belize City Shops for the locations of the shops listed below.

Image Factory Art Foundation
91 Front Street
Belize City
Located on Front Street near the water taxi terminal. This shop features artwork, jewelry, and music by contemporary Belizean artists.

National Handicraft Center
2 South Park Street, near Memorial Park
Belize City
This government-sponsored venue supports local artisans from around the country who sell their arts and crafts in the complex. Here you'll find hand-carved mahogany bowls, beautiful black coral jewelry, slate carvings and bottled Belizean herbs and vinegars on display in this comfortable, air-conditioned building.

Fort Street Flea Market
Fort Street
Expect to find just about anything in the Flea Market in the line of souvenirs: T-shirts, postcards, native crafts, jewelry, woven goods, leatherwork and more. Since there are fewer shoppers here than in the Tourism Village, the vendors are eager to bargain.

Go Tees
6238 Park Avenue, South Side
Belize City
Go Tees has been selling hand-painted shirts for more than 15 years. The designs are wearable works of art, many of them depicting the Belizean countryside. Go Tees also sells a carefully chosen selection of handcrafted wooden items, hammocks and Guatemalan textiles.

Mennonite Furniture Market
47 North Front Street
Belize City
Here you'll find hand-made, solid wood rocking chairs and other items from Belize's hardworking Mennonite community. They won't arrange shipping, but you can get nice, basic, wooden furniture for reasonable prices.

Philatelic Society
Queen Street
Belize City
Belizean stamps are famous throughout the world for their colorful depictions of nature and wildlife. Howler monkeys, papaya trees and mango trees grace the stamps, which form a beautiful artwork when framed.

Caesar's Gift Shop & Gallery
San Ignacio
Coyo District
If you're on a tour to the inland, and are going through San Ignacio, you will probably stop at Caesar's Gift Shop & Gallery. You will appreciate your bus driver that you did. It's got one of the best selection of authentic Belizean arts and crafts, and the prices can't be beat.

Belizean Cuisine

Traditional Belizean cuisine consists of simple but nutritious dishes featuring beans, rice, chicken, fish, shellfish, yams and a variety of fruit. In Belize, eating breakfast is called "drinking tea."

Regional Specialties of Belize Expect to find the following dishes in traditional Belizean cuisine:

• Dukunu: a kind of tamale made with or without meat (chicken).
• Rice & Beans: made with or without coconut milk. Expect white rice, and the beans can be red beans, pinto beans or black beans.
• Stew Chicken: this is considered the Belizean national dish. Made with chicken, onion, sweet pepper and spices prepared in a stew; it's most often served with rice and beans and fried plantains.
• Gibnut: a small rodent that lives in the woods and is quite a delicacy. Tastes like chicken!
• Bile Up (or Boil Up): A Creole dish that is a combination boiled eggs, fish and/or pig's tail with a number of ground vegetables, such as cassava, green plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, covered with tomato sauce.
• Cole Slaw: a Belizean variety that's very popular.
• Hudut: a traditional fried fish dish made with coconut milk or a spicy fish soup made without coconut milk, originated by the sea-faring Garifuna people.
• Panades: fried maize shells with beans or fish.
• Garnaches: fried tortillas with beans, cheese and sauce.
• Fresh fruit: bananas, passion fruit, starfruit, jackfruit, pineapples and Malay apples---one of the most delicious fruits around.

Restaurants

Cuisine in Belize City

Belize City's restaurants are plentiful, with most serving inexpensive, typically Belizean fare. There are several notable restaurants, serving either Belizean, American, Caribbean, Continental or Asian dishes, that cater to the tourist trade that we have listed below.

Recommended Restaurants in Belize City

If you've got time for lunch between your excursions, you'll find many good restaurants in Belize City. The Belizean lunch hour is between noon and 1:00 pm.

See our Recommended Belize City Restaurants Map for the locations of the restaurants listed below.

The Smoky Mermaid
Caribbean Cuisine
Specializing in smoked fish, meats and assorted breads, cooked in a fresh blend of Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner feature Belizean classics and fresh-baked Creole bread, and there's a dining patio under thatched roofs set around a porcelain mermaid. Be sure to try the garlic mashed potatoes. Located right on the water, part of the historic Great House Hotel. Fills up on cruise days.
Located at 13 Cork Street

Harbour View Restaurant
Continental Cuisine
One of the nicest dining rooms in town, featuring beautiful sunsets behind the city, sea breezes, and a delicious and varied menu: Argentine steaks, cinnamon-crusted grouper, snapper and more from the Filipino chef. Their drink list includes Chilean and Californian wines as well as top-shelf imported spirits and liqueurs.
Located on Fort Street, right on the water in the old Customs House building

Riverside Tavern
Sports Bar
Extremely popular upscale sports bar and restaurant with a great location on the bank of Haulover Creek. Their massive "gourmet burger" is one of the best in the country. Other choices include steaks, coconut-encrusted shrimp and American/Caribbean cuisine and bar food. The Belizean beef comes from the owners' Gallon Jug Estate. There's an outdoor patio, proper bar, high-backed booths, and excellent service. The bar is open throughout the day. Owned by the Bowen family that brews Belikin Beer.
Located at 2 Mapp Street, at the corner of North Front Street

Marva's
Belizean food
The food here is quite good. One caution: it's located in a dodgy neighborhood, so go with a group and be careful on your way out.
Located at the corner of Water Lane and East Collet Canal

Big Daddy's Diner
Belizean cafeteria
This cheery eatery serves hearty breakfasts and offers delicious lunch specials. Try the traditional dukanu and enjoy your meal while you gaze down at the marketplace below, where fishermen sort their catch of the day. The massive buffet-style lunches are a good deal.
Located above the marketplace just south of Swing Bridge

Neri's
Belizean food
Good local food with seven kinds of fresh squeezed juice served daily. Neri's serves excellent Belizean standbys, including rice and beans, stew chicken, Oxtail Soup, Gibnut, and Cowfoot Soup.
Neri's has two locations: on the corner of Queen and Handyside Streets, and on Douglas Jones Street

Le Petite Cafe
Pastries
Le Petite Cafe serves baked goods and pastries, natural fruit juices, hot and cold beverages and other light menu items. Enjoy your snack on their outdoor patio. Open 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Located at the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Fort Street, not far from the Tourist Village.

Stonegrill
Continental
Healthy dishes grilled without any fat or oil. The meals are served on super-heated volcanic stones. Diners are presented with the hot stone and chicken, steak, shrimp or fish. You cook your own meal to order by turning the appetizers, fajitas, steak, chicken sate, shrimp, fish, etc. on the stone until it is done to your specifications. Features great view of Belize City harbor.
Located at the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Fort Street, not far from the Tourist Village.

Chon Saan Palace
Chinese & Sushi
The premier ethnic restaurant in Belize. If you're hankering for some good Chinese food, served in an upscale, air-conditioned restaurant, Chon Saan Palace is your ticket. The specials include Steamed Lobster in Black Bean Sauce, Chow Mein Singapore Style, Shrimp with Cashew Nuts or Crab Claws Chinese Style. They also serve sushi and sashimi.
Located at 1 Kelly Street, about a 5-minute taxi ride from the Tourism Village

Sumathi
Indian
Belize City's best Indian restaurant, specializing in Northern Indian cuisine. They've got a tandoor, and also offer vegetarian dishes.
Located at 190 Newton Barrack's Road, near the Princess Hotel

Activities

Tour Operators

Jaguar Paw Resort. Situated at the mouth of the Caves on the Caves Branch River, the Jaguar Paw Resort offers several tours for Cruise Ship passengers, including a Cave Tubing Caves Branch River tour, a Jungle Canopy Zip Line tour, a Rock Climbing and Repelling tour and a Belize Zoo tour. Their prices include round trip transportation in an air-conditioned bus or van, entrance fees (where applicable), all equipment and a set Belizean lunch.

Black Rock Lodge. With almost two decades of experience in organizing private tours for couples, families and groups, Black Rock Lodge offers only the best in quality and service. Their tours are guided by professional Belizean Tour guides licensed by the Belize Tourist Board and trained by both government and private sector experts. The tours offered highlight the best of Belize.

Belize Cruise Excursions. Booking your own Belize excursion through Belize Cruise Excursions will not only save you money but it will provide you with the option of unique and diverse experiences, small groups, individualized itineraries. Belize Cruise Excursions has personally selected the excursions and tour guides for Belize cave tubing, snorkeling, Belize Mayan Ruins and Belize Jungle tours to insure that you will have the best experience possible while in Belize.

Green Dragon Adventure Travel. Get away from the crowds for the day and discover Belize--Mother Nature's best kept secret--in a more intimate manner. Green Dragon works only with well-trained and friendly local guides, hand picked and tutored by their certified Mayan archaeologist. All of their guides are Certified by the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize Department of Archaeology. Green Dragon's first-class vehicles feature 4-wheel-drive and air conditioning. Enjoy private or small group inland adventures, including River Kayaking, Mayan Temples, Jungle trail horseback rides, Caving expeditions, Belize Zoo and Cave Tubing. They also offer day trips to the reefs off the coast for Snorkeling Excursions, Scuba Diving Trips and Manatee Watching Tours. All tours include pick up at the Belize City Tourism Village, travel to the day trip venue, tour guides, tour and entrance fees, equipment rental and transfer back to the Tourism Village in time for your Cruise Ship departure.

Sightseeing in Belize City

If you're eschewing an excursion into the interior, or just want to check the place out, Belize City has a few places of interest, including:

Baron Bliss Lighthouse Monument
The Lighthouse monument at Fort George Point towers over the harbor entrance. It was built from $2 million donated to the country in 1926 by Belize's greatest benefactor, Englishman "Baron" Bliss. At his request, he was entombed in front of the lighthouse, which he designed himself prior to his death.

Museum of Belize
Originally built as a colonial prison in 1857 and restored in 2002, this two-story brick building has a permanent exhibit of ancient Maya pottery as well as displays on the history of Belize City and Belize's rich Maya history.
Located on Gabourel Lane in downtown Belize City, on the grounds of the Central Bank of Belize
Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday
Admission is US$5.00

House of Culture
The House of Culture Museum (originally, the Government House) was the administrative office and living quarters for the early colonial governors of Belize. It was built in 1812-14 in a combination of Caribbean Vernacular and English Urban architecture. It's now a museum and the center for Belize City's social and art scene, with a number of rotating exhibits and events throughout the year.
Located on Regent Street in downtown Belize City
Open weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission is US$5.00

St. John's Cathedral
Surrounded by well-kept green lawns, St. John's Cathedral is one of the few typically British structures in the city. In 1812, the slaves in Belize helped to erect this graceful piece of architecture using bricks brought as ballast on sailing ships from Europe. Several Mosquito Coast kings from the Waiki tribe in Nicaragua and Honduras were crowned in this cathedral with ultimate pomp and grandeur; the last was crowned in 1815.
Located on the south end of Albert Street in downtown Belize City
Open from from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
Admission is free

Maritime and Coastal Zone Museums
These museums share space inside the building that was formerly Belize City's fire station. The Coastal Zone Museum's mission is to educate visitors about Belize's unique coral reef ecology. The Maritime Museum highlights Belize's seafaring history through a series of old documents, model boats, paintings and other displays. One ticket buys admission to both small, wood-creaking museums.
Located on Haulover Creek, on the north end of the Swing Bridge
Open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Admission is US$2.00

Swing Bridge
The old Swing Bridge spans Haulover Creek, connecting "Northside" to "Southside," and is the most iconic landmark in Belize City. Built in 1923, it still swings every morning and evening, hand-cranked to the side to allow tall boats to pass up and down the river.

Old Belize Cultural and Historical Center
The Old Belize Cultural and Historical Center is home to several attractions, including an interactive historical tour, a restaurant and Cucumber Beach.
Located on Mile 5 of the Western Highway
Open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm daily
Admission is US$5.00

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was started in 1983 as a last-ditch effort to provide a home for a collection of wild animals that had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests. Today, the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center occupies 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 150 animals, all native to Belize. The zoo keeps animals that were either orphaned, born at the zoo, rehabilitated animals or sent to the Belize Zoo as gifts from other zoological institutions.
Located on Mile 29 of the Western Highway
Open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Admission is US$8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children

Supreme Court Building and Battlefield Park
Sitting in front of Battlefield Park (which is also referred to as Central Park), the Supreme Court building is decorated with a graceful white-metal filigree stairway that leads to the long veranda overlooking the square. An antiquated town clock is perched atop the white clapboard building. This building is on the site where the original courthouse was built in 1818.

Birding Site

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
Established for the protection of resident and migrant birds, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is located 33 miles northwest of Belize City and just 2 miles off the Northern Highway. Consisting of a large network of inland lagoons, swamps, and waterways, the sanctuary provides both the abundant food sources and the safe resting area that is necessary to support a large and diverse population of birds.

The most notable migratory resident is the Jabiru Stork. With a wingspan of 10-12 feet, it is the largest flying bird in North America. Besides birds, Black Creek on the eastern boundary of the sanctuary provides a home for Black Howler Monkeys, Morelet's Crocodiles, Coatimundis and several species of turtles and iguanas.

Mayan Archeological Sites

There are a couple of Mayan archeological sites that are reasonably close to Belize City. These include:

Altun Ha The Mayan ruin of Altun Ha is located about 30 miles north of Belize City and about 6 miles west of the Caribbean. The site covers an area of about 5 square miles, with the center area containing the remains of more than 500 structures.

Archeologists believe that Altun Ha was occupied beginning around 200 BC, but the bulk of the construction took place during the Maya Classic era, lasting from 300 to 900 AD. During its height, the site was populated by up to 10,000 people.

The largest temple-pyramid on the site is the Temple of the Masonry Altars, which stands 54 feet high. (A drawing of the temple is used as the logo for Belikin Beer.) The ruins of the ancient structures were used in more modern times for residential construction of the village of Rockstone Pond.

The site lay in anonymity for most of the past 1,000 years, only to be rediscovered in 1963. Archeologists who began excavating the site shortly thereafter discovered a large (10 pound) piece of jade, on which had been carved the head of the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau. This object is considered one of the national treasures of Belize.

Cahal Pech The Mayan archeological site of Cahal Pech is located near the town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District. It was a palacio home for an elite Maya family. Evidence of continuous habitation has been dated back to as far as 900 BC, making Cahal Pech one of the oldest recognizably Maya sites in Western Belize.

The site comprises a collection of 34 structures, with the tallest being about 75 feet in height. It was abandoned in the 9th century AD for unknown reasons.

The name Cahal Pech, meaning "place of ticks," was given when this site was a pasture during the first archaeological studies in the 1950s. On the present site you will find a small museum with artifacts from various excavations.