Capital of Belize since 1961, Belmopan does not boast of any interesting sights and is mainly a transit city where the main activity is watching buses go by.  A part of the Cayo District, Belmopan is snuggled between the majestic mountains that conceal many a secret of the Mayas. The scenic Hummingbird Highway that connects Belmopan to Dangriga is an 89 km, beautiful drive. Two of Belize’s stellar attractions are located on this highway- the Blue Hole National Park and the Five Blues National Park.

Besides  the Highway and admiring the architectural style of the few government buildings, there’s not much else  to see here. You can walk through the Independence Plaza, stroll through the market square or the Guancaste Park.

Its easy to get to Belmopan from Belize City as the roads are in good condition. You can cover the 51 miles by bus or a car. There are regular buses that run between the two cities as well as to San Ignacio.  Buses leave form the market place.  Everything within the city is within walking distance. If you want to see the areas near Belmopan, catch a bus or drive down to the attractions. 

A couple of hotels make up the accommodation scene in Belmopan. The options at the top end as well as the bottom end of the scale are limited. There are a number of eating joints around the market place. The entertainment scene is casual and very slow. The favourite pastime is sipping beer at one of bars and enjoying a chat with the locals.

Blue Hole National Park

About 18 km south of Belmopan, is the Blue Hole National Park.  You can spend the day hiking through the lush forest admiring its vegetation and its wildlife, exploring the St. Herman’s Cave or just splashing about in the Blue Hole. A deep limestone sinkhole, where the tributary of the underground Sibun River, flows in, the Blue hole is a beautiful natural phenomenon. There is an observation tower from where you can admire the landscape. There is an admission charge.  There are camping sites equipped with toilets in case you want to stay overnight. You get to the Blue Hole National Park by buses or private car. The road is in good condition. There are also plenty of tour operators who can arrange your visit. 

Five Blues National Park

 40 km down the Hummingbird Highway is the Five Blues National Park. Surrounded by Limestone Mountains, the 200 meter deep lake is the focal attraction of the park. A naturalists’ paradise, if you’re looking for some peace and seclusion, this is the place to find it. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, swimming, canoeing, biking, bird watching and cave exploring. Accommodation including camping facilities is easily available in St. Margaret’s village. You can catch any bus heading towards Dangriga and hop off at St. Margaret’s village. The Park Office here can arrange for transportation to the Park or if you’re feeling energetic, you can leg the distance.

For Detailed Country information, see Belize.