Belize City, Belize

St John’s Cathedral

The oldest Anglican church in Central America was built between 1812 and 1820 from bricks that had been used as ballast aboard ships. Originally a simple parish church, in 1891 it became Belize’s cathedral. Next to the church is the oldest cemetery in the country, Yarborough Cemetery, built by British colonists using slave labor.

Supreme Court House

The Supreme Court building in Belize has historical value. It was built in a classic British colonial style. In 1818, the house was destroyed by fire, and the new courthouse was not built until 1926. The building has four clocks on its facade, one in front of each of the cardinal directions; from them, a wrought-iron staircase leads up to the second-floor veranda. The Supreme Court of Belize still holds several annual sessions on the second floor, while the first floor is used by the daily magistrate’s court.

Fort George

Fort George is a small peninsula that is the most pleasant and interesting place in Belize City. Here, old buildings have been preserved, representing architectural value. One of the main attractions of the fort is the Baron Bliss Memorial and the Fort George Lighthouse. Nearby is the Memorial Park in honor of forty Belize residents who died during the First World War. In the Fort George area, there is also an old U.S. Embassy building, which was constructed in New England and brought to Belize as ship ballast. It is interesting to note that originally the fort was an island, but in the early 1920s a narrow strait was filled in.

Drawbridge over the Oulover stream

The drawbridge in Belize is the oldest bridge of this type in Latin America. In addition, it is one of the last bridges in the world whose mechanisms are still operated manually. The bridge connects the southern and northern parts of Belize City. The structure was built in Liverpool in 1923 and presented as a gift to the Belize City authorities. The drawbridge served as the city’s main transport artery: it enabled movement from one part of the city to another, and under it fishing vessels could pass from the Caribbean Sea to the port of Belize. The bridge is opened manually-four people pull the winch, bringing the bridge into motion twice a day.

Belize Zoo

32 km south of the city lies the Belize Zoo, a 29-acre tropical savanna home to more than 125 species of native animals, including monkeys, jaguars, and tapirs. Moreover, most of the local residents were selected by people and literally saved from an imminent death, or ended up in the zoo as "gifts" from other zoological institutions.

Coral reefs

North of the city lie the magnificent reefs of Calker Cay (33 km from Belize City) and Ambergris Caye (1 km east of San Pedro). The waters around the reefs are considered among the most breathtaking places in the world for sailing, snorkeling, and saltwater fishing, and the water clarity is so remarkable (up to 60 m) that you can see the full variety of local underwater life even without diving.

Belize Museum

The Belize Museum is housed in a two-story building built in 1857 and for a long time served as a prison for dangerous criminals. The building carried out its original function properly until 1998; then it underwent major restoration and on February 7, 2002, it was opened to visitors as the Belize Museum. Where prisoners once languished, historical treasures are now kept. Part of the first floor, completely preserving its historic appearance, including the original brickwork and window grilles, creates the atmosphere of a prison cell. Another part is dedicated to photographs and exhibits that tell the story of the country over the past 350 years. On the second floor, the most valuable historical exhibits are displayed-artifacts of Maya culture.

Altun-Kha Ruins

The ruins of the ancient Mayan city are located 55 kilometers from Belize City. This is the largest architectural structure of its kind in the country. Altun-Ha was founded around the 2nd century BC, but the stone blocks of the ancient buildings have remained in good condition to this day. For the most part, they are various variations on the theme of stepped pyramids, with carved stone idols and elaborate ornaments.

Spend the day at the beach

Belize beaches feature the softest white sand and crystal-clear warm water. The peninsula is surrounded by coral reefs, so there are no treacherous underwater currents here. Even for children, swimming is absolutely safe. Belize is a true paradise for divers.

City tour

During the excursion, you will learn the history of tropical Belize City. This historic port city is full of beautiful scenery and interesting photo spots. You will visit the drawbridge over the Haulover Creek, the oldest Anglican church in Central America, the Government House, which houses the Belize Museum, and much more. Excursion cost: from $ 30 for adults, from $ 20 for children.

You can view a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.