Belmopan

Introduction

Belmopan is the capital of Belize and has a population of only about 16,000. The capital was replaced from much bigger Belize City in 1970 when the government was replaced to Belmopan, the main reason being a very destructive hurricane in 1961 which ruined huge parts of Belize City. Belmopan itself is located further inland, centrally in the country but still within 100 kilometres from most places as the country is small. The city may be the administrative capital, but Belize City still is the cultural and financial heart. For travellers there isn't much going on in small Belmopan. That said, it is not really unattractive either and still is a lively Belizean mix of cultures.

Sights and Activities

Belmopan is a good place to walk around the neighbourhoods and market plazas. It is a great place to discover, as it has a low crime rate and is very laid back and relaxing.

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) is a Mayan sacrificial burial site near Belmopan. The site is contained entirely within a cave system, and access to the relics is gained via some 500 metres of climbing over rocks, wading and swimming through water that is at times over 1.5 metres deep. The cave was a sacred site for the Mayans and it contains many examples of pottery, ceramics and stoneware, as well as several sets of human sacrificial remains, one of which (known as the "Crystal Maiden") has been almost entirely covered in limestone crystals by the water in the cave. The site is about 45 minutes drive from San Ignacio, and, due to the caving aspect, it may only be visited when accompanied by an official guide (who will provide appropriate safety equipment). Most tour companies in San Ignacio are able to offer officially guided tours.

Weather

Belmopan is hot and humid, and unlike Belize City hasn't got a cool breeze to make things a bit more bearable. Daytime temperatures average around 28 °C to 30 °C year round and night temperatures are mostly around or above 20 °C. The rainy season lasts from June to November, making December to May a better time for a visit.

Getting There

Getting into Belmopan is easy. Two highways serve as a entrance to Belmopan: the Hummingbird Highway and Western Highway. Travel from Belmopan to Belize City using the novelos or the batty bus lines is less than USD6 (BZD12) per person.

Getting Around

You can get around Belmopan by car or taxi, but Belmopan is a small city. Walking can get you around and really show you the true city.

Eat

There are a lot of clean, Chinese-owned restaurants in Belmopan that make great Belizean food. The Yim Saan restaurant has great food and is a 4-star restaurant/hotel.

Drink

Drink only bottled water.

• Scotchies, 7753 Hummingbird Highway, ☎ +501 832-2203. Authentic and spicy Caribbean food. One of the best places in Belmopan to get jerk chicken.

Sleep

• Banana Bank Lodge, Mile 49 Western Hwy, ☎ +501 820-2020, e-mail: [email protected]. A very nice accommodation a few miles outside of Belmopan next to the Belize River. They own a huge section of the jungle and provide horseback riding. Have awesome cabanas and a great pool.
• Belize Jungle Dome, Banana Bank (4 miles outside of town), ☎ +501 822-2124. Owned by a former UK soccer player and MTV presenter. Facilities include 5 lodge rooms, 3-bedroom garden cottage, 4-bedroom villa, Wi-Fi, swimming pool, on-site travel company, and tour operator.
• Bullfrog Inn. A long standby in Belmopan, a standard hotel and average restaurant.
• Yim Saan. A 12-storey hotel with a restaurant, a bar, and beautiful suites.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafés can be found at most major tourist destinations around Belize. Wi-Fi is also increasingly common, and many hotels are offering it for free. Rates at cybercafes run between BZ$2 and BZ$10 per hour.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

The general emergency number is 911. The country calling code to Belize is 501 and to make an international call from Belize, the code is 00.
Belize has a standardized seven-digit phone numbering system. There are no city or area codes to dial from within Belize.

Payphones are the most common public phones and accept pre-purchased phone cards.

If you bring your own cell phone, avoid roaming charges, as the bill for internet can add up quickly. Instead, use only wifi or buy a local SIM card.
Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) and their cellular division DigiCell have a virtual monopoly on cellular service in Belize. Luckily, DigiCell does have affordable packages for SIM card activation.

Post

Belize's postal service provides services throughout the country. Services are not very reliable though and it might take weeks for a postcard or letter to arrive at your destination. Post offices are generally open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, with a one hour lunch break starting around noon.
Most hotels will post a letter for you, and there are post offices in the major towns. It costs BZ$.80 to send a letter to the United States, and BZ$1 to send a letter to Europe. Postcards to the same destinations cost BZ$.40 and BZ$.50 respectively. If you want to send a package, it's better to use international companies like TNT, DHL, UPS or FedEx, as they are fast, reliable and not too expensive.

External Links