From the moment you arrive in Belize – whether you are an adventure traveler, part of a family trip or in the country for a relaxing beach vacation – Belizean people and culture make you feel as welcome and comfortable, like nowhere you’ve ever visited.
Jaguars roam Belize’s tropical Cockscomb forest, the heart of a pioneering plan to carve a green corridor linking the big cat species across the region.
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Placencia Belize is not a lot different from other destinations in the country and a great place to enjoy some authentic Belize nightlife. You can find Garifuna drummers and locals dancing to a style called “Punta.” Crack back, relax and enjoy the cool sea breeze with a couple ice-cold Belikin beers, or join the locals for a fun night of Belizean-style dancing.
With sixteen miles of sandy beaches, the impossibly blue Caribbean on one side, a mangrove-fringed lagoon teeming with life on the other, Placencia is indeed very special. And just offshore are myriad cayes, or small islands, dotting Belize’s barrier reef, the second largest reef in the world. Uncrowded diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and island exploration trips are less than an hour away.
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“I think we passed that point where we had to show people where on the map we were,” Duran says. “We [are now] developing the music and showing the world it is a very interesting living culture. It may not be your regular pop or reggae music, but for Belize, it’s … not something that you go into the village to hear.”
Belize has some of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. Spanning the length of Belize is the 2nd biggest barrier reef in the world. In many other parts of the Caribbean the diving is around volcanic rock! The Belizean barrier reef boasts an incredible array of marine life making it one of the premier Caribbean destinations for diving and snorkelling.
Belize’s culinary practices reflects the country’s multiethnic society and rich history. When you combine the numerous elements in Belizean cooking – from early Maya civilizations through to the British colonists, the vivacious African influences, the attempted Spanish conquest, the Mennonite farming communities and the more recent arrival of many other cultures and you have a recipe for something very extraordinary indeed.
Danny Michel brings a taste of Belize to folk fest with Garifuna Collective Having criss-crossed Canada and beyond for more than 20 years as a singer-songwriter, it’s not as if Danny Michel is a newbie when it comes to dealing with the headaches of touring. But the 42-year-old does sound legitimately frazzled on the phone from Vancouver, where he is taking a break from unravelling…
In Belize (formerly British Honduras), English remains the official language, but the most diverse language in Belize is Kriol (Belizean Creole). Other languages spoken include Garifuna, Mandarin, Spanish and Maya.
The Garifuna are a proud people who keep their heritage alive today by continuing their traditions and sharing with visitors. They’re known for their vibrant colors and wonderful drum music, known as “punta.” Travelers can take part in many Garifuna dances and ceremonies when visiting Placencia or the southern region. Source: Travelbelize.org