Finding The Perfect (Street) Food In Belize

When you visit a foreign country it’s important to try the local dishes. In Belize this rings true, as they have a huge variety of traditional dishes. Amazingly, it also has no fast food chains – all “fast food” can be bought from street vendors.

There are a number of cultures co-existing in Belize and each one has contributed to the wide variety of dishes specific to the country. Below are some examples of the most delicious local dishes on offer.

Fry Jacks

Fry Jacks are a breakfast food: small, deep-fried bread cakes that can be stuffed with a variety of fillings. Although they are a traditional Belizean food, they also exist elsewhere in some form or another – one example is New Orleans’ beignets. Fry Jacks can be round or triangular in shape and enjoyed with a side of cheese and refried beans, or topped with jam and cheese. These can be bought both in restaurants and from street vendors.

Salbutes

Salbutes are a staple food in Belize and, like Fry Jacks, are deep fried. The name comes from the Yucatec Maya language – a combination of zaal, meaning light, and but, meaning stuffed. It is a small deep fried corn tortilla with a topping: lettuce, pickled onion, beans, cheese, jalapenos, avocado and tomato are a few examples. Like Fry Jacks, this local specialty can be found in eateries and on street corners.

Hudut

This dish belongs to the Garifuna culture; a community of people descended from the Afro-indigenous community who initially lived on St Vincent. Hudut is quite a simple meal but definitely nothing like stereotypical “fast food”. It consists of mashed green and ripe plantains (Fu-fu) and a stew made with fish and coconut milk – the Fu-fu is served on the side.

Classic rice and beans

Many countries have some variant on rice and beans as one of their staple foods and Belize is no exception. Beans and rice are cooked together with a mixture of spices and sometimes hot sauce, and the dish can also be served with meat or potato salad.

Johnny Cakes

Also called Journey Cakes, Johnny Cakes are another breakfast food that can serve as a vessel for butter, cheese, beans or meat. They are made of flour and coconut milk – a common ingredient in many Belizean dishes – and traditionally cooked in a fire hearth. These bread-like buns actually originated in North America but are now enjoyed in Belize as a popular local snack or meal.

Ceviche

Like some other foods, Ceviche may have originated elsewhere in South America but are considered a local specialty. It contains fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juice (lime, for example), as well as tomatoes, onion, pepper, chillies and coriander. Usually served as an appetiser, it is important to eat it straight after preparation to avoid food poisoning.

A taste of everything

These are only a few examples of delicacies found in Belize, and they’re all as good as online signup bonuses. If you don’t sample the local fare then you end up missing out on one of the best parts of travelling – experiencing the culture as more than just an onlooker.

Belize’s Best Beaches And Beauty Spots Along The Coast

Belize’s location in the Caribbean makes it the perfect spot for visitors hoping to enjoy time on the beach. Whether you like swimming or sunbathing this small nation has something to offer to everyone – pristine stretches of sand and crystal clear water as a start. Other than swimming there are ample opportunities for windsurfing and kayaking. We’ve put together a short list of Belize’s best beaches and cayes that are not to be missed.

Placencia Peninsula

Placencia’s biggest drawcard is its sheer expansiveness – the peninsula stretches for an impressive 16 miles (about 25 km). This includes a number of smaller beaches and villages such as Maya Beach, Placencia Village, and Seine Bight.

Luckily all the swimming spots along this peninsula are public and if you’re planning on a leisurely expedition there are many restaurants, hotels, and amazing bars to fill in the hours away from the beach. This stretch of coastline is covered with a fine white carpet of sand and is secluded enough for a peaceful swim.

Ambergris Caye

This small island-type peninsula is roughly 50 km to the northeast of Belize’s most populous city – Belize City. Users of TripAdvisor have rated this as the most popular caye which also provides visitors with a view of the Mesoamerican Reef; the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately this site can be negatively impacted by over-tourism, but when visitors behave appropriately and leave things as they found them, the sights can be enjoyed responsibly. There is an abundance of marine life to be seen if you’re able to dive or snorkel, as well as the relatively close C58 shipwreck – deliberately sunk in the 80s to serve as an artificial reef.

Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is the perfect spot to lay back and absorb the natural beauty of the area, in between dips into the clear water. Located south of Ambergris Caye, this small island is a place where you can escape the everyday stresses of work: there are no cars or roads on Caye Caulker and it can only be accessed by water taxi or ferry from Belize City, about 33 km to the south.

Silk Caye (Queen Caye)

If you’re looking for an even more private destination, Silk Caye (also known as Queen Caye) is the spot for you. This tiny island is uninhabited and only accessible via a charter boat – unfortunately there is no option to stay overnight. This is a magnificent diving and snorkelling spot, with a great variety of marine life hidden beneath the crystal clear waters.

Hopkins Village Beach

This beach is a combination of swimming, chilling in hammocks, fishing, and lapping up the local culture from restaurants and other attractions. A specialty is hudut, a coconut fish stew with mashed plantains – traditional Garifuna fare.

Perfect getaway

These are only a handful of Belize’s most breath-taking beaches, each one offering a unique experience not to be missed. They’re all as good as mega bonus games and have something special to offer. If ever you plan to see the Caribbean, a visit to Belize’s beaches is a must.

The Wonder of Belize’s Barrier Reef

The small nation of Belize is home to a wide range of cultures, customs, plants, and wildlife. On top of this, it is the location of the second-largest barrier reef system in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS or just Belize Barrier Reef) is off Belize’s east coast and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Below the waves, there is a fascinating world filled with a huge variety of species – and better still, it is thought that only 10% of that flora and fauna have been discovered.

At a glance

A barrier reef is an underwater structure made of coral and lying roughly parallel to a coastline, separated from land by a body of water. The Belize Barrier Reef lies just off the coast of Belize, with the distance between land and reef ranging from 300 m to 40 km. It is a section of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – the largest reef system in the western hemisphere and second only to the Australian Great Barrier Reef in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef itself is about 300 km in length while the entire Mesoamerican Reef System is 900 km.

Marine life

So far there have been 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral, hundreds of invertebrates and 500 fish species discovered in the reef, but it is thought that this only accounts for 10% of the flora and fauna varieties living there. A few animals that can be found in the reef and surrounding areas include different types of shark, West Indian manatee, American marine crocodile, loggerhead turtle and hawksbill turtle. There are also lobster and conch around the reef which have often been caught and exported.

Endangered status

The Belize Barrier Reef falls within a number of protected areas, including Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, South Water Caye Marine Reserve and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. In 1996 the reef was designated a World Heritage site due to its unique biodiversity and the fact that it was home to many endangered species – the hawksbill turtle, several shark species and manatees are some examples. In 2009 it was declared endangered, one of the reasons being urban development’s encroachment into mangrove groves. There was also concern about potential offshore oil drilling and how devastating an impact that would have on all marine life in the area.

Conservation

Unlike some countries with endangered natural sites, Belize has managed to steer their barrier reef back into a state of health. Through petitions where you could register online and under global pressure, Belize’s government took steps to repair the damage to the reef and surrounds: all potential oil drilling was halted and eventually banned outright, while there have been efforts to protect growing mangroves and cut down on commercial fishing. The result: in 2018 the Belize Barrier Reef was removed from UNESCO’s list of endangered world heritage sites.

More to discover

As we know, researchers believe that 90% of the marine inhabitants of the barrier reef still remain undiscovered. In 2017 a new species of shark was discovered in Belize waters and scientists expect more to come.

Every country has its fair share of idiosyncrasies – strange, out-of-date laws; local legends; unique traditions, a rich history, and more. Belize is no exception and there are quite a few interesting (and surprising) factoids lying beneath the country’s crystal clear ocean waters.

Home to the Great Blue Hole

This fact isn’t exactly obscure, but it is fascinating. The Great Blue Hole is what its name suggests – a huge sinkhole in the ocean off the coast of Belize. It measures 318 m across and 124 m deep and has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. It was formed in a period when that part of the landscape was above water and has been endorsed by Discovery Channel as number one on the list of “10 Most Amazing Places on Earth”.

It’s bad luck to swim on Good Friday

Many countries have beliefs about what brings good or bad luck, and in Belize, it’s said that swimming on Good Friday will bring you bad luck and transform you into a mermaid. It’s unclear what the origin of this belief is but it does a good job of keeping would-be swimmers on land.

Belize has its own Bigfoot

Just like Bigfoot or Sasquatch, Belize’s El Sisimito is a huge creature similar to a man but with fur. Other features of this being include an ape-like face, absence of thumbs, no knees and backwards-facing feet. In Belize it is believed that looking El Sisimito in the eyes can bring either death or longevity – that is, if you survive (it’s also thought he devours humans).

Home of the world’s only jaguar nature preserve

There are a number of big cat species that are indigenous in Belize and its surrounds. Belize is ahead of the curve in terms of protecting these animals, as they have the only jaguar-specific nature sanctuary in the world. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary covers around 400 square km and was established over 30 years ago to preserve jaguars.

No American fast food

Belize has managed to save itself from the “invasion” of fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King. It hasn’t gone as far as to ban McDonald’s like Bermuda or Iceland, but most people are very happy to preserve local food culture and avoid the “Americanisation” that comes with those franchises. If you feel like fast fun, visit this website instead!

Full of Mayan ruins

There are dozens of archaeological sites in Belize dating back to 2000 BC and showing the path of the Mayan civilization through the centuries. The locations include Caracol, the center of one of Maya’s kingdoms, and Cerros, one of the earliest sites discovered. Incidentally, Belize’s tallest building is actually a Mayan temple.

Belize served Queen Elizabeth II a rat for dinner

To be fair, the rodent eaten by the British Queen when she visited Belize in 1985 was not a rat as such but a gibnut – a larger nocturnal rodent considered as bush meat.

There are many more interesting nuggets of information about this nation and it’s definitely worth taking the time to read up on them all.

A beach holiday is always a good idea, especially when it offers the opportunity to discover an ancient world that has been preserved. Another perk? It’s part of the Caribbean islands. While this may seem unattainable and expensive, there are travel options to suit every need and every budget.

The affordable option: Caye Caulker

This destination is a tourist favourite and is a lot more affordable than Ambergris Caye. It’s a more relaxed environment that caters to budget-conscious tourists. Booking a stay here is a great way to save money while still taking in the beauty of the country. The island is only five miles long, which means that you don’t need to worry about transport costs while enjoying activities such as snorkelling, fishing, swimming or adventure days on the mainland.

The popular option: Ambergris Caye

If your budget isn’t an area of concern, this is the option to look into. San Pedro is the main attraction and offers a wide range of accommodation options. It is one of the most visited islands, but it hasn’t lost that laid back feeling. It’s close to the Belize Barrier Reef which means that you can take a boat to see the natural wonder or even take snorkelling or diving gear to discover it up close. Depending on when you travel, you may be able to experience some of the island’s festivals.

Explore history and traditions: Cayo

Cayo is located on the mainland and is often regarded as the cultural heart of the country. You can discover the rich history of the country and even visited smaller towns in the area. Hiking in the forests or discovering the waterfalls are all adventure activities that you can experience on the mainland. If you head to the more rural areas, you’ll even be able to find some wildlife.

Peace and tranquillity: Placencia

If you’re looking for something low-key, quiet and undisturbed, the sleepy island of Placencia offers coastal views and picturesque landscapes without the hustle and bustle. While the nightlife is not as active as the other islands, it does offer a serene location for pampering and relaxation.

Discover the culture: Hopkins

This seaside area stands out for its dedication to the country’s culture. You can learn all about the Garifuna culture while experiencing the customs and foods first-hand. It’s a true reflection of Belize without being over-commercialised, just like when you win playing online. As with all of the other islands, water sport is also available here.

So, where are you headed?

To help you narrow down your search, try to create a list of what you would like to do and the budget available. This will then help you to choose a destination which will make the planning process a lot easier. There are so many islands to choose from, so what are you waiting for?