The festivities don't wind down as the year comes to a close. November 19th is marked by Garifuna Settlement Day. Descendants of West African, Carib and Arawak people, the Garifuna community are an Afro-indigenous ethnic group with a distinct cultural heritage stretching back to the 1600s. Celebrations take place throughout the entire week and across most of Belize, but especially in Dangriga, where the day itself brings drumming performances, dance, music and the opportunity to sample Garifuna specialities such as conch soup and cassava pudding. From coral reefs to caves A trip to Belize isn’t complete without soaking up the country’s natural beauty and visiting at least one of its ancient sites. It takes approximately four hours by boat from Placencia to reach the Great Blue Hole, some 70 kilometres (44 miles) offshore. A submerged marine sinkhole, it spans 300 metres and plunges to depths of 125 metres. PADI-certified divers can descend into its mysterious underwater caverns. Beneath the surface, intricate cave formations guard a labyrinth of secrets, as reef sharks and exotic fish dart between elkhorn cor-
"Beneath the surface, intricate cave formations guard a labyrinth of secrets, as reef sharks and exotic fish dart between elkhorn corals."
als. Soaring above by helicopter, an all-encompassing and breathtaking view unfolds, a perfect midnight-blue sphere fringed by coral and lapis-hued shallows. Back on the mainland, the Caracol archaeological site stands testament to the wonders of Central America’s ancient Mayan civilisations. Hidden in the Belizean rainforest, this ruined city is the largest Mayan archaeological site in the country. Stelae adorned with intricate carvings tell tales of dynasties, celestial alignments, and the eternal dance between gods and mortals. Exploring the expansive plazas and ball courts, you can sense the pulse of a civilisation that thrived in harmony with the natural world. Elsewhere in Cayo District, other clues to ancient Mayan life come to light. In Barton Creek Cave, reached by canoe, remnants of pottery and jewellery provide evidence of ceremonial activities. As you glide through the cave guided only by a head torch, stalactites hang like delicate chandeliers from the ceiling, emitting an ethereal glow.
Left: a drumming lesson in the Garifuna village of Hopkins Right: snorkelling off South Water Caye
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LIFE IN COLOUR
