At first glance, Belize City may seem chaotic and busy but it conceals a charm that tourists will simply find irresistible.

The country has a distinguished history - it was a British colony for more than 100 years and is thus the only official English-speaking country in Central America.

Belize was known as British Honduras until 1973 and became an independent nation in 1981. Today, this vibrant nation has the lowest population density in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world, making it an ideal holiday hotspot.

The 75,000 people of Belize City represent every ethnic group in the country, with the Creole descendants of former slaves and Baymen forming the dominant element and simply radiate an easy-going Caribbean aura.

Traditions and culture in Belize City

The Mayan ethnic group are the most established of all ethnic groupings and have been in Belize and the Yucatan region since the 500s AD. However, much of Belize's original Maya population was wiped out by disease and conflicts between tribes and with Europeans.

Three Maya groups now inhabit the country: Yucatecs (who came from Yucatan, Mexico to escape the Caste War), Mopans and the Kekchi.

Belize's cultural landscape has also been sculpted by waves of immigrants who have come into the country, including the English and Scottish and in the 1900s, settlers from China, India, Taiwan, Korea, Syria, and Lebanon.

The food tourists can expect to encounter in Belize City include stewed fish, oxtail and beef, fried chicken, rice, beans and fried plantains.

Popular breakfast dishes include sizzling fried jacks smeared with beans and hot Johnny cakes, which are flat, round and fluffy biscuits cut open and covered with melted butter.

Belizeans absolutely love pepper so hot pepper sauce is a typical accompaniment to many dishes. So those with delicate palates had better brace themselves!

Recommended in Belize City

The colonial buildings of Belize City are a fantastic sight for culturally-savvy tourists. The buildings have been preserved as heritage showpieces, museums, galleries or have been converted into hotels or restaurants.

The central Swing Bridge is also worth a visit. Made in Liverpool and opened in 1923, it is the only manually operated swing bridge left in the Americas. Tourists should make a point of watching the bridge being operated everyday at 5.30am and 5.30pm.

Weather in Belize City

The climate in Belize is tropical - very hot and humid. The dry season is from February to May, while the rainy season lasts from May to November.

Hurricanes and coastal flooding in the south of Belize tends to come around during the months of June to November.

Destination checklist for Belize City

The currency in use in Belize is the Belizean dollar, which is officially worth half of a US dollar.

Because of this simple and consistent exchange rate, US dollars are widely accepted, but this means tourists should be careful to clarify which "dollars" they are talking about when negotiating prices.

The official language spoken in Belize is English but Spanish is also widely used, so a holiday guide with stock phrases would not go amiss.