Corozal Town , a seaside community sitting on the Bay of Chetumal just below the Mexican border, has a population of approximately 9,000 people. Refugees fleeing from the civil war between Mestizos and Indians in Mexico built the town in 1849, naming it after the cohune palm, a symbol of fertility. Long before that however, this area was home to the Mayans, and their ruins can still be visited here.


Ambergris Caye is the largest and most developed of about 200 small islands off the coastline of Belize, and is connected to Mexico on its northern side. Most of the island’s 7,000 inhabitants live in the town of San Pedro, located in the southern part of the caye. San Pedro has the cosy, laid-back atmosphere of a small village with its wooden houses and sand streets.

Caulker Caye is relatively small, at five miles long by one half mile wide. Of this, only the southern end is inhabited by villagers and visitors; the wet northern section is a mangrove and forest reserve, the abode of mangroves, nesting birds, and palm trees, with trails for visitors. Caye Caulker's 1,000 residents are a mix of Belizean and foreigners who have settled to enjoy the unique atmosphere.

Belize City , with a population of 70,000, is a bustling, fascinating place, the country’s biggest city and former capital. Located on the east coast in the heart of the country, it is a gateway to Belize’s historical and cultural points. Places worth a visit while in Belize City include St. Johns Cathedral, the oldest Anglican Cathedral Church in Central America. On the north side of the Swing Bridge, the world’s only manual swing bridge which is still being swung daily, you can find the Marine Terminal. Art enthusiasts can visit the Image Factory, an art gallery featuring work by Belize’s contemporary artists. Belize City is also a good starting point for other destinations, such as the Community Baboon Sanctuary or Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, the incredible Cockscomb Basin and Jaguar Preserve, Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, the cayes and Barrier Reef, and Mayan archaeological sites.

Belmopan has a population of 5,000 residents. It is the government and administrative center for the country: some but not all of the embassies are also present here. The Belmopan area is honeycombed with caves, so caving can be organized.

Dangriga has a population of 10,000 and is the largest town in southern Belize. Within the heart of the country’s citrus industry, it is also considered one of the prettiest and most colorful of Belize’s district towns and is growing as a tourism center, mainly because of its close proximity to many of Belize’s cayes and the Barrier Reef. Dangriga is a major cultural and artistic center as well, being home to some of Belize’s finest painters. It is also where the Caribbean music, Punta Rock, originated and where some of Belize’s best folk bands can be found.

Placencia , situated on the southern tip of the peninsula, is almost as remote as an island. It is a quiet and rustic little town with no streets, just a concrete footpath around which wooden houses on stilts rest underneath palms. A trip to nearby Seine Bight, a traditional Garifuna village a few miles north of Placencia Town, provides a chance to sample Garifuna cooking and music.

Punta Gorda has a population of about 4,500 people. Although the town bears a Spanish name, its inhabitants are mostly English speaking, primarily of Garifnua (Black Carib), East Indian, and African decent. Punta Gorda is a seaport and fishing town on the Caribbean Sea. It was a small fishing village before being settled by a number of Garifuna emigrants from Honduras in 1823.


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