BEAUTIFUL BELIZE
The country may be small, but it provides a storied history and vibrant culture,
Baboon sanctuary
The Community Baboon Sanctuary, founded by National Geographic grantee Dr. Robert Horwich, is a conservation project that works to protect the natural habitat of the endangered black howler monkey. It’s one of the six howler monkey species found in Central and South America and one of two monkeys found in Belize (the other being the spider monkey). A guide will take you on a nature walk through the rainforest, pointing out significant flora and fauna, while spotting the black howlers swinging from tree to tree. Details: belizehowlermonkeys.org
Preserving culture
The Cayo Women’s Cooperative started in 2001, when a few women realized aspects of their culture had been slipping away, including the process of making traditional pottery. These women began learning throwing, also known as hand-forming pottery, which had been passed down for centuries through generations of women in the village of San Ignacio. Today, they sell their pottery in a small on-site shop and will teach you how the pots are made, along with how to make traditional corn tortillas before serving up a lunch of traditional Cayo food. Details: gadventures.com/trips/explore-belize
Bike with Purpose
Caye Caulker is a chilled-out island that offers up stellar snorkelling, complete with swimming with massive stingrays and sharks. Tour the small island on a bike from the G Adventures-supported Bike with Purpose project. The tours are led by students from Ocean Academy high school. Started by an American couple, it’s the first high school on the island and provides students with an enriching education. My 18-year-old guide rose from difficult circumstances and now is a multilingual top student.
Lamanai ruins
The Lamanai ruins are one of the oldest continuously occupied Maya sites in Belize, from about 1,500 BC, when inhabitants grew maize at the site, to AD 1,680. It’s one of the largest Maya ceremonial sites in Belize and had once been a major city of the Maya civilization. The site includes the Temple of the Mask, the Temple of the Jaguar Masks and the High Temple. Climb to the top of High Temple for great views of Belize. Details: travelbelize.org/things-to-do
Bang a drum
The breezy seaside village of Hopkins is considered by some to be the cultural centre of the Garifuna population in Belize. Garifuna are descendants of Island Carib, African and Arawak. Try your hands at traditional drumming at the Lebeha Drumming Centre (lebeha.com), where your instructor will also teach you more about the history and culture of the Garifuna. Beating a drum to the beat isn’t as easy as traditional drummers make it look! Your evening will be capped by a musical performance by the centre’s teachers. Details: lebeha.com