Travel Channel Belize

Belize City and its surroundings are the hub of Belize’s Creole culture and history. Despite the city’s reputation for crime - like most urban hubs in Central America - there is much to be experienced here, from authentic Creole eateries and villages to glimpses of Belize’s former days as a British colony. Start at the waterfront Government House of Culture on Regent Street, with an indoor museum showcasing art, photos and silverware from the colonial period. Directly across the street, marvel at the stained glass and mahogany interior of St. John’s Cathedral - the oldest Anglican Church in Central America - built in the early 1800s by enslaved Africans.

Walk north on Regent Street, all the way to Deep Sea Marlin’s Restaurant, a lively and casual riverside favorite where you can get a heaping plate of rice and beans with stew chicken for under $5. Wash it down with a fresh watermelon juice while gazing at fishing boats cruising Haulover Creek and listening to locals chatting in Creole.

An afternoon drive through the surrounding countryside will reveal charming Creole villages. Off the Northern Highway, a mere 45 minutes from Belize City, is Burrell Boom, where roadside vendors display tempting bottles of homemade fruit wine. Stop for a taste - sample the blackberry flavor - and look up in the trees for any howler monkeys. Stay overnight at a riverside lodge in this village. Black Orchid Resort is a wonderful, locally-owned retreat.