The small Caribbean country of Belize borders Mexico and Guatemala as the northernmost nation in Central America. Like many Central and South American countries, Belize's history dates back several thousand years, but also shows traces of a more recent colonial influence. On a visit to Belize, you're likely to encounter historical, religious and natural monuments.

Mayan Monuments

Altun Ha is only an hour's journey from Belize City.

Several historic sites reveal a history of domination by the Mayan people before European colonists arrived in the 1500s. In northern Belize, Lamanai was settled by the Mayans around 1500 B.C. and was still occupied when the Spanish arrived, although the settlement was burned in 1641 after a rebellion against Spanish rule. Surviving ruins include three large pyramids, evidence of residential buildings and a ball court. Altun Ha is only an hour's journey from Belize City, making it one of the most accessible Mayan sites. You'll see several pyramids and mounds on your visit, but this is only a small part of the site; numerous other constructions stand amid the trees in the surrounding forest.

Natural Monuments

The Belize Barrier Reef is the country's only UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Together, seven reefs make up the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere and provide a vital habitat for numerous animals and birds, including rare species. UNESCO estimates that the reef is home to 178 terrestrial plant species, more than 500 species of fish and 65 types of coral. Between 300 and 700 West Indian manatee live around the reef, making up the largest single population in the world, while around 4,000 red-footed boobies live the area around Half Moon Caye.

Religious Monuments

Catholicism and Anglicanism are the two largest religious denominations in Belize, according to the U.S. Department of State, and you can find both Catholic and Anglican cathedrals in the country's capital city. First erected in 1812, St. John's Cathedral is the older of the two and provides a central point for Belize's Anglicans. The original building was constructed by slaves, and in the mid-1800s was the venue for the coronation of several Mosquito Indian kings. The Catholic Holy Redeemer Cathedral dates from 1858. The original building was constructed using bricks salvaged from trading ships, although much of the brickwork is hidden behind plaster today. The church's interior is entirely made from mahogany.

Colonial Monuments

Belize's colonial past involved the Spanish and the British, and the British gained the upper hand in 1854 when they declared the country to be British Honduras. Belize gained independence in 1981, but the urban landscape of the capital city bears many traces of its colonial past. Frommer's recommends exploring this side of Belize's history with a walking tour of Belize City's historic downtown area. Look for the Baron Bliss memorial near Fort George Lighthouse, a monument commemorating a British-born philanthropist who left much of his fortune to good causes in Belize. The Supreme Court Building is a good example of colonial architecture. The building is a concrete version of the previous wooden building, destroyed in a fire in 1918.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Suggest an Article Correction