Holiday in Belmopan

About Belmopan

Belmopan, the capital of Belize, is located in the heart of the country on the Belize River and is one of the smallest capitals in the world. After the destruction of Belize City by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, Belmopan was planned as the new capital in the safe interior of the country — with government buildings reminiscent of Maya pyramids. The city itself is compact and quiet, but as a starting point for Belize's natural wonders, it is hard to beat. The ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) is only an hour away — one of the most spectacular caves in Central America, where Maya offerings and crystallized skeletons have remained untouched for over a thousand years. The Maya ruins of Xunantunich, with its 40-meter-high pyramid El Castillo, can be reached in 90 minutes, as can Caracol, the largest Maya site in Belize, hidden deep in the jungle. The Belize Zoo, just 30 minutes to the east, exclusively showcases native animals such as jaguars, tapirs, and toucans in naturalistic enclosures. From Belmopan, the famous Great Blue Hole can be reached by domestic flight or boat tour — a circular underwater sinkhole 300 meters in diameter and 124 meters deep, which is considered one of the best diving spots in the world.