Want to learn more about Belize? Visit Destination Belize YouTube page to see great videos of our beautiful country, people and adventures.
#destinationbelize
#belize
#belizeawaits
http://www.destinationbelize.com
Want to learn more about Belize? Visit Destination Belize YouTube page to see great videos of our beautiful country, people and adventures.
#destinationbelize
#belize
#belizeawaits
http://www.destinationbelize.com
Tucked just below the Yucatan Peninsula is the stunning jewel of Belize. With rainforests teaming with birds, striking ancient Mayan ruins and the world’s second-longest barrier reef, Belize boasts a dizzying array of activities and sites that could keep one busy for a year. If you are like most, however, you will only have seven vacation days. Here’s a list of must-do activities for that one week in Belize.
1. Dive or Snorkel the Barrier Reef!
At 185 miles long, the Belize Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the Western Hemisphere. Off Belize’s southern coast is the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, the largest marine reserve in the country where you can spot fevers of eagle rays and schools of Creole wrasse. Just beyond the barrier reef lie 3 of the Caribbean’s 4 atolls.
Glover’s Reef Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of staghorn coral and swim-throughs, as well critical grouper spawning grounds. Made famous by Jaques Cousteau is the Blue Hole on Lighthouse Reef Atoll. This trip typically involves a commitment of a 2-3 hour boat ride to see the collapsed cave that is 1000 feet across and 400 feet deep surrounded by a ring of coral. Regardless of where you go, be sure that you choose a reputable dive and snorkel facility.
2. Explore a Cave!
With its limestone substructure, Belize is ideal for spelunking. Here it’s the real deal. The only lights in these subterranean mazes are the ones on your helmets. Guides lead you past massive stalactites, stalagmites and crystalized flow formations. Caves were sacred ceremonial sites for the ancient Maya, who believed they were the entrance to “Xibalba” the Mayan underworld. To this day pottery chards and skeletal remains are found in many of Belize’s cave systems. Check out St. Herman’s Cave along the Hummingbird Highway or the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, a.k.a. Crystal Maiden Cave, in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. For the more adventurous, try cave tubing! Imagine floating down an underground river in the comfort of your own inner tube – with only your headlamp lighting the way.
3. Try Birding!
Never been a birder? After a trip to Belize, you will be! Belize is home to 600+ species of birdsranging from the colorful national bird, the keel-billed toucan, to statuesque jabiru storks to raucous parrots. Along the coasts and cayes you’ll find sand pipers darting in the tides, pelicans scooping up fish and boobie and frigate colonies clinging to mangroves. In the coastal savannahs are a variety of wading birds including roseate spoonbills, wood storks and tiger herons. In the dense mountainous rainforests are red-capped manakins, jacamars, blue-gray tanagers and more. Belize is the type of place where you become a birder, and if you already are one, it’s the place where you’ll add many new birds to your life list!
4. Go back in time with spectacular Mayan Ruins!
For two millennia Belize was at the heart of the ancient Maya world. Throughout the country are hundreds of Mayan sites, some well excavated, some swallowed by the jungle. Every visit to Belize should include visiting at least one ancient Mayan ruin!
Near the western border is Xunantunich, whose main pyramid has impressive hieroglyph friezes and views for miles over the Maya lowland. Deep in the Maya mountains is Caracol, the sprawling city-state that once defeated Tikal.
In the south are several important sites, including Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun. Walk amongst ancient Mayan temples and feel yourself transported to a long lost civilization.
5. Swim in a Jungle Waterfall!
No trip to paradise can be complete without a refreshing plunge in a rainforest waterfall pool! When that paradise is Belize, the only question is which waterfall you’ll choose! At the world’s only jaguar preserve, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, there are several waterfalls you can hike to.
In Mayflower National Park a steep climb to Antelope Falls is rewarded with a well-deserved swim in a pool above the main falls AND a fabulous lookout to the Caribbean Sea on the way down. Elsewhere in Belize, there is no shortage of secluded waterfalls to discover – don’t leave without taking a dip!
6. Zipline Through the Rainforest Canopy!
A rush like no other! Try ziplining through the rainforest canopy past towering trees and curious birds, often with the roar of howler monkeys in the background. With extremely safe equipment and experienced guides, almost all ages are able to experience this thrill.
7. Hang with the Locals!
One of the great things about Belize is it is a cultural mixing bowl. Here you can make chocolate with Mayas and in Garifuna communities like Hopkins, catch the beat at a local drumming center. The cuisine combines elements of these cultures, along with Creole, Mestizo, East Indian and even Chinese. And if you see a horse and buggy on the road, you’ve likely encountered a Mennonite. The best part is that English is the official language of Belize and the locals are very friendly. So, grab a Belikin beer and make some new friends.
With only one week, you’ll be busy with the activities above. If you have some extra time, there are a few more adventures you might squeeze in:
Whatever you do on your trip to Belize, be sure to spend some time swaying in a hammock on the beach. And then come back for more!
A contemporary Full-Service Luxury boutique beach resort. The Guest Exclusive Resort on the Placencia Peninsula, exceptionally located on the beach, the closest full-service Resort to Placencia Village. An All-Villa resort, infused with local art, Belizean hardwoods and décor, graced by an exquisite landscape of flora and fauna, inspired by the natural beauty of Belize.
We pride ourselves on 12 years of award-winning service, our passion for Belize cuisine, brought to you at Café Mar, “Restaurant at the Sea”, by Chef Daniel, and our enthusiasm for creating tailor-made authentic Belize vacations.
http://www.destinationbelize.com
Bileez! It’s a name that remained shrouded in mystery for centuries, its etymology only recently confirmed to be of Maya origin. And as you begin exploring and making your way around “The Jewel”—as Belizeans call their home–you will quickly realize that this small country in the heart of Central America is, indeed, one big, colorful collage of origins.
It’s a small place overflowing with ancient customs, indigenous tongues, and traditions passed on from generation to generation. It’s a nation whose people are intent on preserving their ancestry, and fiery in protecting their pristine environment against the vices of the modern world. It’s a haven for diversity—a land that has welcomed settlers and migrant populations across the centuries, with seven major cultural groups enriching every corner of the country.
The two thousand year old Maya temples you’ll climb
The incomparable living Barrier Reef, where hundreds of critters await
The caves and crevices where sacrificial relics lie
The idyllic cayes, where fishing and flip-flops are a way of life
The medicinal plants, and the furry kinkajous on your rainforest walks
The riverside Kriol communities, and the mangrove cathedrals hugging your boat
The vast reserves and jungle hikes, where you’ll conquer your fears
The sizzling tacos, and steamy johnnycakes that fill your belly on the road
The Mestizo fiestas, and the thatched-roof villages where time seems to have stopped
That sweet Belizean rum, and the spicy micheladas curing your hangovers.
As you discover more roots on your journey across the Jewel, you’ll fall into a world of vibrant sounds.
The drumbeats of the Garifuna, and the swing of their punta
The beat of the steel pan, and the thump of the sambai
The song of scarlet macaws, and the croaks of the keel billed toucan
The melodic sounds of Kriol, Qeq’chi, and Chinese
The ring of the Maya marimba, and the nostalgic blues of paranda
The chilling roar of howler monkeys, and the gush of 1,000-feet waterfalls
The stealth prowl of jaguars in the night, and the squeal of manatees underwater
The mystical deer dances, and the shamans of yesteryear
The cheer of marching bands, and the joyful spirit of September carnivals
The stories shared over Sunday dinner, and that sweet, slow Caribbean pace.
Wherever you end up in the Jewel, find di roots, and you’ll feel di rhythms—ours, and yours.
That’s the real meaning of Bileez!
Por Froyla Tzalam
El Yucatek, el Mopan y el Q’eqchi’ son los tres idiomas y grupos mayas que encontrarás en Belize. Sus comunidades más grandes están ubicadas en los distritos de Cayo, Toledo y Orange Walk. El Mopan y el Yucatek emigraron desde la península de Yucatán en México alrededor de 1200 A.D. hasta la actual región de Petén en Guatemala, y su migración en el siglo XIX llevó a la población actual en Belize. Los Q’eqchi ‘vinieron de Alta Verapaz, en Guatemala. Se estima que durante el Período Clásico (250 a 900 dC), la altura de esta antigua civilización, Belize fue el hogar de al menos dos millones de mayas, dado los nuevos datos descubiertos en Petén a principios de 2018.
Los Mayas actualmente representan aproximadamente 20,000 de la población de Belize de aproximadamente 365,000, y continúan preservando sus raíces frente a la globalización.
Una cultura compartida
La tierra sigue siendo de suma importancia para los mayas rurales, su generosidad nutre el cuerpo y la espiritualidad. El bosque, sus ríos, cuevas y animales se entrelazan en sus dietas, medicinas e historias. El distrito de Toledo tiene el porcentaje más alto de hogares mayas en aproximadamente 38 aldeas.
Todos los mayas de Belize disfrutan de una dieta a base de maíz, que cultivan principalmente en sus aldeas. Los hombres son agricultores de subsistencia, mientras que sus esposas venden el excedente de la agricultura en los mercados de todo el país, junto con sus canastas de jippi jappa, tejidas a mano con una planta de palmeras que crecen en la selva tropical, y chocolate.
La cocina maya del norte tiene influencias hispánicas; Los favoritos incluyen escabeche, cerdo pibil, chimole y relleno. En el sur, la sopa conocida como kaldo ‘(o caldo) es el plato dominante. Todo, desde gibnut, armadillo, cerdo ahumado y pollo puede convertirse en un kaldo ’. Otras delicias culinarias incluyen lancha (pescado de río) y / o entrañas de mole molidas envueltas en una hoja de waha, cocidas sobre brasas (tomates y huevo), el corazón del jippi jappa y el repollo de palma cohune. Tortillas de maíz hechas a mano acompañan todos los platos. Las cocinas todavía usan un hogar de fuego, pero también estufas de gas, mientras que ollas brillantes cuelgan de las paredes, un sello de orgullo doméstico.
Los murales de los antiguos mayas representan su destreza musical, actuando en caracoles, tambores y flautas. Melodías como la canción de la zarigüeya, acerca de un zorro cazando pollo en el gallinero, todavía se tocan en el arpa y la marimba, instrumentos que vinieron de Europa y África. El renombrado Florencio Mes continúa regalando multitudes locales e internacionales con su arpa; Cumplió 80 años este año.
Un mundo cambiante
Pero incluso el Sr. Mes estaría de acuerdo en que el cambio está ocurriendo rápidamente en las comunidades mayas de Belize. Si bien una vez trabajaron principalmente como trabajadores ocasionales en el sector agrícola, en las plantaciones de cítricos, caña y banano, el turismo se ha convertido en un importante cambio de juego. Esta prosperidad económica ha llevado a un mayor acceso a la educación y la atención médica, pero también ha aumentado el consumo de bienes materiales y la desigualdad entre quienes trabajan en la industria de servicios y quienes trabajan en la tierra.
La fahina, una forma de trabajo y gobierno comunal, ya no es una actividad central debido a las grandes poblaciones de migrantes, o debido a diferencias religiosas. La asimilación en la sociedad dominante sigue siendo una de las mayores amenazas para la cultura maya, con consecuencias como la disminución de hablantes nativos y la pérdida de tierras comunitarias.
Un despertar Maya
La buena noticia es que la tecnología ha llevado a una proliferación de la comunicación, el intercambio de información y la conciencia indígena. Una revolución cultural maya está ocurriendo. Las organizaciones culturales de base están promoviendo el “Ser Maya”, ya que trabajan para preservar la música y el idioma. Existe la sensación de que los primeros habitantes de Belize tienen la oportunidad de hacer las cosas de manera diferente y trazar un futuro basado en su visión del mundo y sus valores. Han demostrado una considerable capacidad de recuperación a lo largo de los milenios, y es este mismo espíritu maya innovador el que ayudará a preservar sus raíces y a determinar quiénes son para las generaciones venideras.