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Belize City

Location: Belize District  Map

Founded: 1638

Belize City is the largest city in Belize and all of Central America. At the time of British rule it was also the capital of the British Honduras, former name of Belize. In 1970 the capital was moved to Belmopan shortly after Belize gained its independence. However Belize City is still one of the most important hubs for tourists to enter the country either by planes or by taking Cruise ships.

History of Belize City

Belize City was founded as "Belize Town" in 1638 by English lumber harvesters. It had been a small Maya city called Holzuz. Belize Town was ideal for the English as a central post because it was on the sea and a natural outlet for local rivers and creeks down which the British shipped logwood and mahogany. Belize Town also became the home of the thousands of African slaves brought in by the English (later the British, beginning in 1707) to toil in the forest industry. It was the coordination site for the 1798 Battle of St. George's Caye, won by the British against would-be invaders, and the home of the local courts and government officials up to the 1970s. For this reason, historians often say that "the capital was the colony", because the center of British control was here.

This sentiment remains true today. Even though people like Antonio Soberanis, George Price and Evan X Hyde all lobbied to take their movements outside, and other ethnic groups such as the Garifuna and Mestizos sprang up elsewhere in the country, people looked to Belize Town for guidance.

Natural disasters
Belize City has been directly struck by two hurricanes since 1900, the 1931 hurricane and 1961's Hurricane Hattie, and at various times areas of the city have burnt down, the most recent being the 1999 Albert Street fire that burnt out Mikado's, and a 2004 fire that destroyed the Paslow Building. The city was also hit hard by Hurricane Richard in 2010 and by the 2016 Hurricane Earl. Fires on Northside and Southside have burnt out great stretches of housing, but the fire department was able to quench most of these. Belize city is also susceptible to flooding in the rainy season.

Transport to Belize City

By plane
1 Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, Belize City, ☎ +501 225-2045, e-mail: bacc@pgiabelize.com.  (BZE IATA) It is about 30 minutes drive (15 Km) northwest of Belize City centre in the village of Ladyville. BZE is connected from the U.S. (American, Delta, United, and Southwest); from Central America (Avianca El Salvador, Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos and Copa) and from the surrounding regions of Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula and from Flores by Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. There are seasonal flights offered from Canada with Air Canada Rouge and Westjet. The best way to get to and from the city centre is by taxi. If going to San Ignacio see "By shuttle" in the below as there are shuttle companies based in San Ignacio that does airport transfers to San Ignacio and to the surrounding areas in the Cayo District. Some may connect the airport to other places such as the water taxi terminals in Belize City or Placencia from the airport without going to San Ignacio. Ask. An airport bus service does exist, but it is very infrequent and unreliable.

2 Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport (TZA IATA). Flights to/from regional airports Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport.

By water taxis
3 Ocean Ferry Belize, 50 N Front St (Along Front Street at the northeast end of the Swing Bridge), ☎ +501 223-0033, +501 233-0033, +501 223-2033. Connects Belize City to Caye Chapel, Caye Caulker and San Pedro.
4 San Pedro Express (http://www.belizewatertaxi.com), 111 N Front St (behind a marketplace located 250 m east along Front St from the Swing Bridge & the Ocean Ferry Belize Terminal.), ☎ +501 223-2225. Connects Belize City to Caye Caulker and San Pedro Town. They have a once daily connection from Caye Caulker and from San Pedro to Chetumal.