Belize City Waterfront

Belize City, Belize Information
Tom Ogg

Language and Currency
What is Belize Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Belize Port Reviews
Belize Shore Excursions

Language and Currency

The official language of Belize is English and the currency is the Belize Dollar. However, U.S. dollars are accepted in the tourist areas of Belize and some knowledge of Spanish will be helpful as well.

What is Belize like?

Belize River, Belize

Belize City is a bustling metropolis with heavy traffic and a busy population. Many folks find Belize City unrewarding and tend to head out to the nearby islands to enjoy excellent diving and snorkeling. Belize City has a wild feel about it that is hard to describe, I personally like it, but many folks do not.

What is the weather like?

Belize is hot and tropical. With average daytime temperature in the 80s and slightly cooler in the evening, be sure to wear sun screen with a high spf rating.

Where does the ship dock?

The ships anchor quite a ways off of Belize City because of the shallow depth of the water that lie off the coast. High speed (and I mean HIGH SPEED) tenders are used to move visitors from the ship to the dock in Belize City. The tenders usually have three large outboard engines to move their passengers with great speed over the miles to the port.  It is actually quite exciting when the captain of the tender takes off and is reason enough to go ashore.

Where is the shopping?

Right at the tender terminal there is a crafts marketplace that has sprung up and this is about the best shopping in Belize City for tourists. Downtown, there are some shops that cater to the local population, but the shopping is sparse other than the terminal.

What is there to buy?

Local crafts, jewelry, tee shirts, hats, some imported crafts from Guatemala and Honduras, dolls with local dress and other items. Do not buy items that are made from sea turtle shells, black coral, Triton's Trumpet shells. The pharmacies downtown are well worth a look as they feature many local remedies that will make you laugh.

What is there to do?

Governor House, Belize City

There is not a lot to do right in Belize City, but exploring the city itself is kind of fun. Be aware that there are lots of unique characters walking the streets, so if you are not comfortable with a diverse population you may want to simply stay behind the gates at the terminal, shop and then return to the ship.

Belize's Famous Swing Bridge

Belize has numerous off shore islands that reside near, or on the barrier reef that runs along Belize's entire east coast. Diving Ambergris Cay just off Belize City is legendary. The municipal airport offers numerous flights over to Ambergris Cay (currently about $US26 each way) so that one can get over and back while the ship is in port to enjoy the unique setting. You can walk to town right from the San Pedro airport or take a taxi to one of the resorts. There is also reasonable snorkeling there as well as more shopping opportunities.

One of Belize's Many Rivers

Diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, fishing, visiting Belize's national parks and sanctuaries, white water rafting and tubing in Belize's underground rivers all all activities offered by cruise lines and that are also available on shore. While I have not done it, I understand that the under water river tubing is an excellent adventure. If you have not prearranged your activities in Belize, this is one port I would suggest booking the ship's shore excursions if there is one interesting to you.

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

Not that I can think of. Do you know of any?

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

Special Reports

Nancy Norris, February, 2005; Cave Tubing in Belize

Belize Port Reviews
(Click on the Review you are Interested in Reading)

Larry; Snorkeling and Enjoying Ambergris Caye 
Nancy Zupancic; A Scuba Diving Excursion
Jerry Stoudt; Belize Exclusive Tours
Ritchie Koontz; Cave Tubing
Larry Dawson; Cave Tubing
Bill Parkinson; Belize Exclusive Tours
Balann; Private Snorkel Tour
Carol; Shark Ray Alley
Jan Kench; Zip Line Lost World Canopy Tour
Gburau; Shark Ray Alley 
Nancy Weldon; Shark Ray Alley 
Heather Shenkman; Cave Tubing
Maggie Barnard; Canopy Tour
Gary Bailey; Cave Tubing with Xtreme 
Nancy; Cave Diving
Gena Steward; River Tour and Lamanai 
Carol; River Safari Tour to Lamanai 
Mark; Avoid the Belize Reef Snorkeling Excursion
Annemarie Young; Baboon Sanctuary Tour
Teri; Cave Tubing with Xtreme
Mike Quinlan; Independent Tours With Coral Breeze 
Pauline; Cave Tubing with an Independent Company
Lynne Davies; Cave Tubing 
Gretchen Winters; Excursion to Shark Ray Alley and San Pedro
Natalie Evans; X-treme Cave Tubing
Debbie Monds; Tour of the Whole Island
Bob McGorkic; Independent Tour of a Private Reserve
Diane; Lamanai Mayan Ruins and River Adventure
Bruce Fritzges; X-Stream Cave Tubing Adventure
Ken J; Cave Tubing  
Joe Yancho; Caye Caulker Snorkeling Tour
Sturgeon; Shark and Ray Alley Snorkel Tour
John Gawne; Private Beach in Bad Weather
Julie Bootsma; Cave Tubing vs. On Your Own
Cyndee; Goff's Cay (Extreme Tours Ship Shore Excursion Becky; Jungle Walk / Cave Tubing Tour 
Pam Hoffman; Shark and Ray Alley Snorkel Tour
Lorne Torres; Shark and Ray Alley Tour
Katy Chavez; Independent Bus Tour to Belmopan
Wayne Sahsltrom; Shopping and Sightseeing in Belize City 
Ruth Hunter; Wildlife Adventure 
C Moore; SCUBA Diving in Belize 
John; A Day of Golf
Charlotte Calicchio; Shark-Ray Alley Snorkel Tour
Lee Krimmel; Awesome Cave Tubing Tour in Rain Forest
Joann Roberts; Cave Tubing/Jungle Hike
Gary Samek; Really See Belize with Lamanai River/Mayan Ruins
Karen Forsythe; Private Trip to See Dolphins & Manatees
Tamara Cowan; Cave Tubing With Private Guide
Mitchell H; Ship Excursion: River Wallace/Altun-Ha Mayan Ruins
Kristina Trowbridge; Overview with Numerous Suggestions
Becky King; Riverboat Trip with Belize Zoo Ship Excursion
Janet Moran; Caye Caulker Snorkeling Tour
Deb; Rain Forest/Cave Tubing Expedition
Tom; Ship's Belize Zoo/River Tour
Beth; Ship's Cave Tubing Tour
Jason Javitz; Warnings About Cave Tubing Expedition
Lexie; Ship's Excursion to Altun Ha Ruins
Angela; Snorkeling at Caye Caulker was Highlight of Trip
Steve Herma; Description of Group Cave Tubing Adventure
Kevin; Visit to Ambergris Caye by Air is Excellent Excursion

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