Life in Colour

Mark your calendars to experience Central America at its most vibrant.

Words: MIRABEL OKPLA

If you’re looking for adventure, Belize beckons. Few countries offer so much diversity in such a small area as this tiny Central American nation, sandwiched between larger neighbours, Mexico and Guatemala, and shaped as much by Caribbean culture as Mayan history.

Belize’s geography alone is astounding. The coastline and lush, jungle-covered interior are true natural playgrounds, strewn with limestone sinkholes and fringed by the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest of its kind – not only a unesco World Heritage Site but home some 450 different marine species. At its centre, amid the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, lies the Great Blue Hole, one of the world’s most spectacular underwater marvels, an otherworldly abyss that draws divers into its inky depths. Inland, Belize’s rainforests teem with wildlife, including five native species of wildcats.

Playtime comes naturally to big and little kids alike here. Days fly by as you leap into cenotes, kayak through underground caves and soar along tree-top ziplines.

Stay longer, planning your trip around the country’s rich cultural calendar, and you’ll find Belize has more to offer than meets the eye.

Despite covering an area barely larger than Massachusetts, Belize is home to twelve distinct ethnic groups, among them Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Mennonite and Maya communities. The country plays host to a unique range of traditions and celebrations, boasts local cuisines that marry indigenous ingredients with African, European and Caribbean influences, and is a leader in both regenerative and community-led tourism.

A year of festivities

There’s no better way to gain a deeper understanding of Belizean culture than by joining the party. The action kicks off in March, when La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, one of the longest canoe races in Central America, sees participants set off on a four-day paddle along 175 miles of the twisting and turning Belize Old River – as much a celebration of Belize’s natural resources as a feat of sporting endurance.

Teams from around the globe converge to navigate challenging currents, the air thick with anticipation as onlookers cheer from the banks each time their paddles slice through the water.

May marks the end of the dry season and heralds the arrival of the Chocolate Festival. Taking place in the small fishing town of Punta Gorda, located in Belize’s southernmost district of Toledo, the festival celebrates Belize’s long chocolate legacy, which stretches back to the profound role a played for the ancient Maya. Today, local cacao producers take centre stage, showcasing their mastery at crafting truffles, bonbons and bars over the three-day event.

In September, as clouds start to bring the promise of rain, Belize undergoes a month-long metamorphosis. Streets burst into life across the country with carnivals taking place from Corozal and Caye Caulker to Belize City in the lead up to independence day on the 21st. Expect a riot of colour and music, with revellers vying to craft the most creative feathered headpieces and sequin-bedazzled costumes.

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 corals. 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.

Make it two

The best of Guatemala and Belize

From the heights of Tikal’s ancient ruins to gentle, white-sand Caribbean beaches, mixing these two beautiful destinations offers a unique combination of natural and ancient wonders.