So September is here … and so are you! Your Belize travel guide tells you there are activities all over the country and majority of them are located in Belize City. With limited time for your Belize vacation, you find yourself on a mission to conquer Belize City in one weekend.
If you find yourself in this dilemma, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Your Belize travel guide was right, there’s lots to conquer when you choose to visit Belize in September. In fact, the “old capital” is brimming with quirks and culinary feats. It would be difficult to see it all, but since you’re here and you’re trying, follow along as I guide you through the city highlights, as well as some of my personal favorites.
For the purpose of this post, let’s pretend you’ll arrive in Belize City on Carnival weekend on a Friday and leave on Monday evening. Here’s what my ideal trip would look like.
FRIDAY:
You’ve finally gotten a chance to drop off your luggage at your hotel and you’re starving! Change your clothes and get ready for a night out on the town. Whether you’re in Belize in September or any other month, your first stop should be one of Belize’s weekend favorites.
Digi Park. This is the perfect stop for your first night in Belize City. At this point, you probably have no idea what type of food you want to try and Digi Park (also referred to as BTL Park) offers a variety of options. Feel free to explore the different tastes from the food vendors, there’s Mexican, Asian, Mestizo, Jamaican, Vegan and of course a variety of Belizean dishes to try. I like to walk around the entire park before deciding on which place to eat. We’ve tried them all and our favorite is the fried chicken from Chicken King.
Bar Crawl. Now that you’re fed, time for some drinks. Just next door and along the same strip are a few popular options. We prefer Hour Bar, if you are looking for a quiet night and Sit & Sip if you’re looking to get the party started. Either way, you’re guaranteed to get your fix of the local brew and all options are within walking distance of each other. Try not to overdo it on your first night out but definitely aim to soak in Belize City.
Now that you’ve had a taste of the local nightlife, I think you’re ready for a quick night’s rest because, when you’re in Belize in September for the Carnival weekend it’s quite likely you won’t sleep again for another 24 hours.
SATURDAY:
Rise and shine without the sunshine! It’s 4:00 AM on Carnival day and it’s time to get the bacchanaal started with Jouvert.
Jouvert. Yes, Belize is a part of the Caribbean and that means soca music runs through our veins. Grab a bottle of water, grab some clothes you don’t mind ruining and get out the door. The Jouvert bands meet at the north side of the Belcan Bridge next to San Cas Supermarket. Find out which ones allow the public to join and get ready to dance through the streets of Belize City for the next 2 hours. You’ll get wet; you’ll get dirty but you’ll learn a little Creole by the time you’re done and you’ll have gotten a rather unique tour of the city for free.
Breakfast. After the Jouvert, you’ll be a bit too dirty to go into the restaurants so take a cab to Andrew Craig and order a few Stuffed Fried Jacks to go. They’re so good! Since you’re already out, head over to the Michael Finnegan Market to pick up a few fresh produce and experience Market Day in the “old capital”. Make sure you meander through the vendors to get the full experience of what all produce Belize has to offer. After breakfast, you have about 2 hours to get cleaned up and prepare yourself for the next set of activities.
Lerisi Garifunaduau Restaurant. For lunch, enjoy the open air seaside dining at the only Garifuna Restaurant in Belize City. It might be wishful thinking, but it’s important to keep this meal light. Garifuna food, because it is made up of a lot of starchy ground food, tends to leave you a bit sluggish. But, it’s delicious and it will keep you full for most of the carnival march. Now that you’re fueled with some Sere and Sahou, make your way over to Central American Boulevard to watch the carnival road march.
Princess Casino & Calypso. Now that you’ve experienced the carnival, it’s time to head over to the Princess Casino for a little gambling before supper. If you’re lucky, you’ll leave a little happier than you entered. If not, a seafood plate at the Calypso should surely cheer you up. Not in the mood for seafood, make your way down the street to Midtown for a wider choice of options.
SUNDAY:
Go ahead and sleep in. Today should be nice and peaceful for you. Or get up and out to explore more of what Belize has to offer. There’s a break in the festivities today, so this is a perfect time to step out of the city limits to experience a little more of the Belize District.
Rural Tour. While you don’t have to be in Belize in September to do this, there are several options to choose from when it comes to out of city limits tours. However, you won’t have time for everything if you aim to get back in time for the evening festivities. We do suggest getting some sort of wildlife or village tour. Those nearest to you would most likely include the Community Baboon Sanctuary Tour, the Belize Zoo Tour or the Crocodile Eco Sanctuary Tour. On average any one of these tours should take you about 2-3 hours and may come with lunch.
Fire Engine Parade. Ok, so the annual Fire Engine Parade is held on 9th of September. This extremely short parade is carried out by the officials at the Fire Department. It serves as an inspiration to kids who often line the streets of Belize City to experience the flashing lights, loud sirens and decorated bicycles. It’s considered a family event, and though short, it’s a night parade that Belizeans look forward to during the September celebrations.
After the parade, be sure to purchase supper from one of the street side vendors before seeking your next activity for the night.
Musical Concerts. There’s always a concert happening in Belize in September. In some cases, multiple concerts. Ask persons at your hotel what options you have and head out to grab a piece of the fun. Concerts may be held at different locations in the city depending on which weekend you choose. But, since you’re here over the Carnival weekend, there’s a 3 day concert that you just can’t miss. If you don’t have a ticket, get one and prepare yourself to hit the dance floor.
MONDAY:
Parade. You absolutely cannot be in Belize in September and not attend at least one of the parades throughout the country. Since you’re here on the weekend of the 10th of September, find a spot in downtown Belize City and enjoy the St. George’s Caye Day parade. If you can read a little about the Battle of St. George’s Caye to be able appreciate the celebration better.
Today is pretty much a day to catch up on anything you may have missed on Saturday. While you do that, please make this final destination a priority. In our opinion, it should be illegal to be in Belize in September and not visit one of the oldest restaurants in Belize City, located on a tiny island at the southern tip of town…
Bird’s Isle. Bird’s Isle has been around since the late 1960s. As a landmark, it has been the choice for a number of patriotic festivities over the years. The restaurant and bar serves a variety of Belizean cuisine. Eat and drink under the palapa. Enjoy the brush of sea breeze as you take in the last of your Belize City experience.
And there you have it! You have now experienced a weekend in the city. You’ve watched and participated in the festivities. You’ve tasted our brews, eaten our delicacies, walked beautiful trails and even partied with the locals. I hope you had a great time.
Now remember, this agenda is merely our insider’s perspective. Belize has a lot to offer, so feel free to plan your stay to make your Belize experience unforgettable. Stay safe and remain vigilant of your surroundings. We don’t want anything to ruin your Belize vacation.
If you’ve had a weekend in the city, tell me about it in the comments below.
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