Caribbean Central America at the edge of the world — a maritime colonial city where swing bridges over lagoons lead to Maya ruins, barrier reef, and the most biodiverse forest in the region
Belize City is the largest city in Belize with a population of 70,000, perched on a narrow peninsula where Haulover Creek meets the Caribbean Sea. It was the country's capital until 1970 (when the government moved to purpose-built Belmopan after Hurricane Hattie), and remains the commercial, cultural, and transport hub — the gateway to the Belize Barrier Reef (UNESCO World Heritage), the Maya archaeological sites of Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and the inland jungle reserves of the Mountain Pine Ridge. The city's wooden colonial architecture, swing bridge, and street-food culture of garnaches and…
Belize City grew around a settlement established by English logwood cutters (the 'Baymen') in the 17th century, who used it as a base for extracting timber from the Maya forests — logwood was essential for European textile dyes and later mahogany for furniture. The British formally controlled British Honduras (as it was called) from 1862 until independence in 1981, making Belize the last British colony on the mainland of the Americas. The colonial-era architecture that survived successive hurricanes is concentrated around the swing bridge and the Fort George area; the Museum of Belize, housed…