Belize is still a rural country that hasn’t yet been overrun by tourists, but if you want a truly authentic Belize travel experience, you should check out some of the more remote and undiscovered places.
Fodors, one of the most popular and widely-respected travel publications in the world, recently published an article about Belize adventures that are truly off the beaten path. Written by Kristine Hansen, one of Fodors’ most experienced authors, the article regaled readers with exciting things to do during Belize vacations, including learning how to make chocolate according to millennia Maya recipes, visiting the legendary Marie Sharp’s hot sauce factory, and dancing with the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna people in Placencia Village, Dangriga, and Hopkins.
There are no shopping malls, high-rise office buildings, or fast food outlets in Belize, so pretty much the entire country offers something interesting and eclectic to explore. And despite having a small population of just around 400,000 people, Belize is a true melting pot society composed of very different cultures, including Spanish-speaking Mestizos, three tribes of Mayans, festive Creole people, conservative German-speaking Mennonite farmers, and the Garifuna people who have been recognized by the United Nations for their intangible contributions to the heritage of humanity.
One of the best places to experience Garifuna culture is Dangriga on the southeastern coast. A vibrant port town where karaoke bars blast Belizean musical genres like punta all night long, Dangriga is also where you’ll find the Marie Sharp’s hot sauce factory. Using locally-grown hot peppers mixed according to her family’s traditional recipes, Marie Sharp’s hot sauces grace every table in Belize and are imported around the world, yet the factory only employs a dozen people.
Other off the beaten path recommendations from Fodors include visiting the open-air fish market in the southern town of Punta Gorda where you’ll find crab, octopus, lobster, shrimp, and dozens of different kinds of fish, all of which are caught by local fishermen, usually on the same day that they’re sold. Fodors also recommended visiting a Mennonite farm to try the handmade cheeses or visiting a Maya village for weaving lessons.
If you want to explore parts of Belize that are well off the beaten path, be sure to book your vacation with Chabil Mar, one of the finest luxury Belize resorts in the country. An upscale resort located on the Placencia Peninsula, Chabil Mar offers Belize vacation packages that include authentic Belizean experiences.
