Volunteering in Belize offers an experience unlike any other. This unique Central American country boasts a culture all of its own. This means it has sights and sounds that you’ll not be able to find anywhere else.
Volunteering in Belize offers an experience unlike any other. This unique Central American country boasts a culture all of its own. This means it has sights and sounds that you’ll not be able to find anywhere else.
This melting pot of a nation has one of the most interesting national landscapes in Central America. This means that you’ll never get bored during your stay in this incredible country.
It may surprise you to learn that during your time with A Broader View, you’ll have a number of opportunities to spend time exploring Belize. With this free time, you’ll want to make the most of your Central American volunteering experience.
Don’t know where to start? No problem! We’ve put together a list of the top ten things that you just don’t want to miss out on while you’re volunteering in Belize. By keeping this guide in mind, you can take your experience to the next level!
Snorkeling
Your trip to Volunteering in Belize won’t be complete if you don’t take advantage of the many snorkeling opportunities. Belize is home to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Here, you’ll find some of the best snorkeling spots in the world—making it a great place to experience the beach like never before.
What’s more, you’ll be surrounded by crystal clear water that will make the viewing experience all the more unique. With many different snorkeling spots available, you’ll be able to enjoy a number of different experiences.
One of the most popular options allows tourists to snorkel with manatees—giving you an up-close-and-personal look at some of the area’s valuable marine life.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve proves to be one of the most popular snorkeling sites in all of Belize. Here, you’ll be able to see the nation’s underwater ecosystem in breathtaking clarity. You’ll find a number of jaw-dropping coral reefs, as well as a diverse collection of different marine animals—all making for an experience that you won’t soon forget.
By taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity, you can be sure that your time in Belize will be one that you’ll never forget. In addition to helping others, you’ll be able to create lifelong memories at some of the world’s best beaches.
The Scenery
But you don’t have to go to the ocean to find great scenery in this amazing country. Belize enjoys a rich natural wildlife and some of the best landscape in Central America.
Here, you’ll find a number of forests and other outdoor areas that have yet to be touched by man. What’s more, you can find other manmade landscapes that are equally jaw-dropping.
For instance, you may choose to take a tour of the Belize Botanical Gardens. Here, you’ll find a number of different captivating flora that are sure to catch your eye. This wonderful scenery is just right for getting the perfect selfie—and for spending time just reconnecting with yourself.
By being in the all-natural landscape of Belize, you’ll have time to experience the world as it was meant to be seen. With several areas away from industrialized society, Belize offers rare opportunities to “escape” into an environment that has yet to be touched by time.
While in Belize, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to experience nature in its purest form. From beautiful wildlife to untouched scenery, Belize has something to offer the nature lover in everyone.
The People
Of course, we can’t continue without mentioning the best part about Belize.
Its people.
This incredible country enjoys a diverse culture made up of several different ethnic groups. But they al have one thing in common: their friendly and outgoing attitude.
In Belize, you can be sure that you’ll be well-received by some of the friendliest people in Central America. And though the nation has a whole has a distinct culture, you’ll also be able to experience several different local varieties.
That’s because Belize enjoys a diverse population, with many groups branching off from the Mayans, and still others living in the nation as a result of immigration. The result has been to turn Belize into an exciting melting pot of different cultures—making it one of the most interesting places in all of Central America.
The generosity and hospitality of the nation’s people cannot be understated. With this friendly atmosphere, you’ll be able to feel right at home in no time.
And, of course, you’ll also have the joy of helping the people you’re working with. That’s right—you’ll be volunteering with a wide variety of different individuals, putting you in close contact with people of all backgrounds and cultures. This proves a powerful way to reshape your worldview and gain more perspective.
Xunantunich
The Mayan people may have splintered into several different ethnic groups, but their relics remain behind. And for those who are looking to get caught up on their history, these ruins prove to be some of the most exciting places in all of Belize.
Fortunately for the history lover in you, Belize is home to a number of different ruins that are sure to catch your fancy.
And Xunantunich is one of the most interesting ruins of all. This proud Mayan city still stand on top of a hill that sits on the Mopan River—and they provide a great window into the lost Mayan civilization.
Perhaps one of the best known monuments in what’s left of Xunantunich is El Castillo. This structure, a highly-decorated pyramid, is believed to have been constructed sometime starting in the 800s CE. Archeologists now believe that later construction on the pyramid was likely.
With that in mind, the ruins of this ancient pyramid still remain largely intact. This makes Xunantunich one of the most interesting cultural sites in the entire country. Those who are looking to experience Belize’s ancient culture should make sure to pencil in a trip to this long-lost city during their volunteering stay.
The Museum
But going out to see ancient ruins isn’t the only way that you can take experience the history of this proud nation.
Belize is also home to the Museum of Belize. Located in Belize City, this great museum is home to some of the nation’s most interesting artifacts. Those looking to get a better understanding of the nation’s culture and people should make a point to visit this museum early in their stay.
The museum itself boasts an interesting history. Originally built by the British over 150 years ago to house prisoners, the museum has since been repurposed to display some of the nation’s best artifacts.
This makes it the perfect place to brush up a little on the history of the nation, as well as see some interesting Central American cultural artifacts. Get a glimpse of Belize throughout time by taking a trip to the nation’s highest-rated museum.
In doing so, you can gain better perspective throughout your trip, giving you a better appreciation for the culture and for the people you’re working with.
Trust us—this will enrich your trip like nothing else. By having a deeper understanding of the culture, you’ll be able to feel more at home during your stay. Not only that, you’ll gain the ability to appreciate the culture like never before.
Caracol
Discovered in 1937, Caracol is one of the most interesting historical sites in all of Belize. Like Xunantunich, Caracol is an ancient Mayan city that once held great power.
Now, Caracol is the largest of the ancient Mayan ruins, and records indicate that this now-famous city was likely one of the strongest in the ancient Central American world.
While the first inhabitants in the area are believed to have settled around 90 BCE, the Mayans officially made their presence around 70 CE. It was then that they would go on to build one of their largest and most successful cities.
To be into perspective just how large of a site this was, consider this—Caracol covers a land area that is approximately twice as large as the current capital Belize City—and it had a larger population, too.
Now, many ruins from this ancient city still exist. And because you’ll have plenty of free time while volunteering with A Broader View, you can make sure to spend some time seeing everything that it has to offer.
The ruins of this ancient city prove to be some of the most important and most interesting in all of Central America. But don’t just take our word for it—come see them for yourself as you volunteer with A Broader View.
The Food
It’s not just the history of Belize that should excite you.
The food should, too.
The cuisine in this Central American country is some that you definitely don’t want to miss out on. With local restaurants serving up some of the best food the area has to offer, you can be sure that you’ll find a few new favorite dishes.
Much of the cuisine in the area relies on favorite staples such as beans, rice, pork, and beef. You’ll also find a large assortment of native fruits that will help keep your diet balanced and healthy.
You can be sure that these local dishes are bursting with flavor. With many of them being slow-cooked, you’ll have access to cheap hearty meals during your stay in the country.
But don’t forget that you’ll be provided meals with your homestay family as well. At A Broader View, we work to place our volunteers with vetted homestay families who help make your stay in Belize as smooth as possible. Many of them work to provide classic Western dishes to help make volunteers feel more comfortable.
Altun Ha
If you’re looking to experience Mayan history in the best way possible, a trip to Altun Ha is in order. The ruins of this classic Mayan city have provided archeologists with some of the most important finds in the entire nation.
For instance, archeologists have found over 300 ancient jade artifacts in the ancient ruins of Altun Ha. This has made the site the most-visited Mayan ruin in the nation—and one of the most interesting.
Here, you’ll be able to find traces of Mayan culture in nearly every aspect—helping set the atmosphere and take you back in time. By taking a trip to Altun Ha, you’ll gain a full appreciation for the richness of Belize’s ancient history. Because of this, we recommend that all of our volunteers make sure to not miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see one of the most important historical sites in all of Central America.
Hiking
If you’re looking for more everyday fun, we’ve got you covered there, too. We realize that you’re likely not going to be chasing down ancient Mayan ruins every day—and that’s okay.
Belize offers a number of other activities that are perfect for day-to-day recreation. One of the best of these is hiking.
We’ve already touched on just how great the natural scenery is. What we didn’t mention is that there are a number of safe hiking trails that will let you experience it firsthand in all of its glory. By visiting these trails for yourself, you can make the most out of your visit—and stay fit during your volunteering experience.
A Day at the Beach
Finally, you don’t want to miss out on the beach experience in Belize. One of the hottest spots in the Caribbean, Belize has some of the best beaches in the world.
Trust us—these are ones that you definitely don’t want to miss out on. We’ve talked about snorkeling already, but that’s not all that you can do at these famed tourist destinations. You’ll also have the opportunity to surf, play in the sand, or simply swim in the warm Caribbean waters.
This will prove a perfect way to wind down after a day of volunteering with others.
By keeping this—and the other tips—in mind, you’ll be able to take your volunteering experience with A Broader View in Belize to the next level.