5 ways to get under the skin of Belize’s culture

From palm-laced islands and flour-fine beaches to lush jade rainforest and mystical caves, Belize isn’t short on extraordinary natural phenomena – but dig a little deeper and you’ll find an intriguing fusion of cultures too, from Garifuna music, food and dance to Maya settlements whose influence is still heavily felt today.

You’ll find a big emphasis on sustainable tourism and local community projects here, gaining Belize a string of accolades in last year’s World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards; from Leading Sustainable Community Engagement Programme, awarded to the Belize Tourism Industry Association, to Leading Sustainable Marine Conservation Initiative, given to the Turneffe Atoll (a marine protected area off the coast of the mainland) and not forgetting that Belize was named World’s Leading Sustainable Destination too.

A new direct flight route from Montreal to Belize City is meanwhile launching in December 2025, providing connections to North America and more than 20 European cities, and making it easier to get here than ever before. The Montreal to Belize City flight route means a same-day connection between the UK and Belize, which hasn’t previously been available.

Feeling inspired? We’ve pulled out five of the best ways to explore beyond the classic sites and delve a little deeper into Belize’s diverse cultural heritage.

The first Garifuna settlers – Afro-Caribbean descendants who were forced to flee Saint Vincent in the 18th century – arrived in what is now southern Belize in 1802. Today Garifuna language, dance and music is recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage and a key part of the country’s cultural fabric.

The Garifuna Trail launched in 2022 to help celebrate and preserve this Indigenous heritage, offering visitors a chance to learn more about Garifuna culture with immersive experiences around the Caribbean coastal towns of Dangriga – considered the Garifuna spiritual capital – and Hopkins, a small fishing village close by.

Activities range from drum-making workshops to cooking classes, with a focus on Garifuna-run restaurants, shops and art studios – enabling you to properly immerse yourself while supporting the communities that call the coast home. Coincide your trip with Garifuna Settlement Day on 19 November to see the region truly come alive, with food, processions and music and dance performances taking to the streets in a vibrant celebration of all things Garifuna.

Located in Belize’s Stann Creek District, Che’il Mayan Chocolate – named Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project 2024 – was founded by Julio Saqui and Heliodora Saqui, a Mopan Maya couple, to support local farmers and the community while preserving Maya heritage.

Using organic cacao beans grown on a farm owned by Julio’s father, the family produces artisanal chocolate the traditional Maya way, and provides tours of the farm, alongside insightful bean-to-bar workshops.

Visit to learn how to make Maya chocolate from scratch – from bean roasting to stone grinding – and hear more about the sacred role cacao has played in Maya culture for more than 2,000 years (this was one of the first civilisations to cultivate and consume cacao). Afterwards, browse the shop’s produce to pick up the likes of cacao tea, chocolate wine, truffles and other artisanal, hand-made treats.

Delve further into Indigenous culture with a visit to Eco-Museum Belize, which opened in 2024. Set in the coastal town of San Pedro on the idyllic isle of Ambergis Caye, this fascinating outdoor experience is dedicated to preserving Belize’s heritage in an interactive way.

You’ll learn all about the history of Ambergis Caye and the wider country – from early Maya settlements to the arrival of the Europeans – and try your hand at various hands-on activities, from preparing Maya cuisine and making coconut milk to crafting art from coconut shells.

Take part in medicinal plant works, get a glimpse into local farming techniques and gain a new-found appreciation for the sheer diversity of this idyllic, palm-fringed island as you explore in the company of passionate historian and owner, Mito Paz.

Deepen your cultural experience further with a visit to Jardin Pachamama Eco Park in Belize’s northerly Orange Walk District. This botanical garden is an oasis of calm for nature-lovers, with walking paths weaving through lush, colourful flora, and medicinal trails offering an insight into ancestral healing and ancient herbal remedies.

The park also hosts various cultural experiences, from traditional Maya dance performances to storytelling sessions, palm-weaving workshops to forest bathing. Witness a game of Pok-ta-Pok – an ancient Maya ball game dating back more than 3,500 years – take part in a spiritual Temazcal ceremony or come for a tranquil escape; this is an ode to Mother Earth and a shining beacon for environmental stewardship.

Formed by a group of nine Maya women with the goal of preserving their heritage, the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative is designed to provide skills, knowledge and employment to local women.

Based in the village of San Antonio – the largest Maya settlement in the country – members of the co-operative get involved with everything from pottery-making to cooking. Today you can visit the co-operative (backed by global non-profit Planeterra) to try your hand at local crafts and cuisine, from natural dyeing workshops and ancient pottery techniques to tortilla-making and corn-grinding, meeting the artisans to learn more about their work first-hand.

You’ll enjoy a traditional Maya lunch, tucking into tamales, tortillas, corn soup and other dishes using locally grown produce, and have the opportunity to buy hand-made jewellery, pottery, wood carvings and other wares made by local craftspeople.

All profits go into supporting the community, including a fund to sponsor young girls’ education in a region where many aren’t able to attend secondary school. This is about more than just being a passer-by; it’s about having a positive impact on the people that make up Belize’s landscape, all while gaining a deeper understanding of the many cultural threads that make up this diverse, vibrant country.