DISCOVERING BELIZE’S BARRIER REEF Immerse yourself in a spectacular underwater world of colorful corals, tropical fish, huge rays, barracudas, sharks, and turtles. The Belize Barrier Reef is a colossal epic – and was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in December 1996 – offering some of the finest diving and snorkeling in the world. The…
Fact Ambergris Caye is thought to have gained its name when quantities of ambergris (a substance secreted by sperm whales), appeared on its shores during the 19th century. San Pedro In the early 1980s, fishing was still the major industry at San Pedro – which is why the town and church were named after St…
BELIZE ZOO There is one place in Belize where you can be sure of seeing the country’s most special creatures in a natural setting. What many people fail to realize when they come to Belize is that their chances of seeing the larger land animals are limited. The tangle of vines and thick foliage makes…
BELIZE Belize may be tiny, but it can claim plenty of superlatives, from the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere to what are some of the most important Maya sites in the world. Main Attractions Belize City The cayes Altun Ha Lamanai Corozal San Ignacio Caracol Dangriga Placencia Nature reigns supreme in Belize, from…
WILDLIFE IN THE PETÉN Despite illegal logging and environmental damage, vast areas of the Petén forest remain intact, and this is still one of the best places in Central America to see some spectacular wildlife. A number of national parks and preserves have been established (and combined as the Maya Biosphere Reserve) to protect the…
THE UNITED FRUIT COMPANY One of the most impressive ancient sites in Mesoamerica is Copán (for more information, click here), featuring some of the Mayan world’s greatest treasures. This restored Mayan city sits on the banks of the Río Copán, only 12km (8 miles) into Honduras from the Guatemalan border town of El Florido. An…
Fact Boat cruises around El Golfete (usually departing from Livingston) often stop at the hot springs that empty into the lagoon, so you can take a dip in the warm, sulfurous water. It is an idyllic spot, shaded by overhanging trees and surrounded by lush jungle vegetation. Puerto Barrios Puerto Barrios # [map] , in…
Where Orchid lovers, take note: Orquigonia (www.orquigonia.blogspot.com; Mon–Sat 9am–noon, 2–4.30pm, Sun 9am–noon) is a specialist nursery where thousands of plants, including more than 600 species of orchid, are grown. Orquigonia hosts a variety of activities, including tours and workshops, and they rent out cabins. El Oriente El Oriente unfolds south of the Carretera al Atlántico….
FIESTA DE TODOS SANTOS Guatemala is the land of festivals, but there’s one that tops them all: the Fiesta de Todos Santos. At the end of every October, Todosanteros (men from Todos Santos Cuchumatán) return to the village from all over Guatemala to celebrate the festival of All Saints (Todos Santos), the most famous in…
Fact Momostenango means ‘Citadel of the Altars,’ after the many altars found around the town and surrounding hills and reflecting the longstanding religious devotion of many of the townspeople. Unfortunately, Zaculeu was insensitively rebuilt in 1947, the temples covered in a bland stucco finish, lacking any decorative detail. Despite this, it is still worth a…