Southern Belize

South from Belmopan, the narrow, winding Hummingbird Highway skirts the Maya Mountains before reaching the town of Dangriga. On the way to Dangriga viewing the thousands of acres of citrus cultivation, one can visit the beautiful inland Blue Hole and St. Herman's Cave. The people of Dangriga are Garifuna, descendants of escaped African slaves who intermarried with Arawak and Carib Indians on the island of St. Vincent.

Comfortable accommodations are available in the town of Dangriga at both Pelican Beach Resort and Bone Fish Hotel. More modest, beach-front, accommodation is available in the fishing village of Hopkins, located a short distance south of Dangriga.

From Dangriga, choose day trips to Gales Point on the Southern Lagoon, South Water Caye on the Barrier Reef, or to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The Cockscomb Basin contains Victoria Peak, at 3,675ft., the country's highest point. Its lush jungle is home to jaguar, peccary, anteaters/tamandula, armadillo, and tapirs, as well as, a multitude of birds: very basic accommodation is available for those who wish to spend the night.

Placencia is a quiet fishing village boasting 15 miles of white sandy beaches. An 18" wide sidewalk through the centre of the village is "Main Street". Accommodation ranges from very basic to first-class: fishing, diving, and jungle trips are available.

Punta Gorda is a small fishing community, off the beaten track even for Belize. It boasts several modest hotels and a couple of "adventure" operators that cater especially to backpackers and campers. The town is a good base for day trips to nearby villages of San Antonio and Santa Cruz, traditional Mopan and Kekchi Maya villages. Punta Gorda is also home to several Mayan Ruins, such as Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit. Also, boat transfer to Puerto Barrios, Rio Dulce or Livingston in Guatemala could be arranged daily.